Club recognizes Lion of the Year

Terry Sandusky, Special to The County
14 hours ago

On Monday, Feb.2, the Mapleton Lions Club presented the club’s Lion of the Year Award to Michael Clark. 

This award is the highest local honor presented by the club to one of its members.Clark has worked on many club projects including the installation of the Mapleton Lions holiday lights.  He has also contributed many insights that have helped improve the club’s community services. 

At the Feb. 2 Mapleton Lions Club meeting, Lion Michael Clark (on left) was recognized as the club’s Lion of the Year by King Lion Rick Fowler. Clark was recognized for his substantial work on projects and for his willingness to share insights in the improvement of other new club directions and efforts.
(Courtesy of Terry Sandusky)

He began his membership in the club as a baby lion upon his induction into the club.  Baby lion signifies he was the newest member of the club and that members should assist him in learning about Lionism and the Mapleton Lions Club. 

He had that honor until the next new lion was inducted and became the next baby lion to go through new member orientation.  

However Clark has proceeded to become an active and supportive member of the club who has helped with in shaping the direction of club projects.  Following his award, all of the members congratulated him on his recognition.

Lights come down

On Jan. 10, the Mapleton Lions Club ended the holiday season with their tradition of removing the holiday lights the town enjoys each year.  

Mapleton Lions Bruce Guerrette and Steve Hanning work on a lift to take down Mapleton’s holiday lights. They were delayed when the vehicle needed a reset of its operating controls. The lights will return in November.
(Courtesy of Terry Sandusky)

This year the Lions Club did experience some slight difficulty in taking down the lights.  The first lift vehicle had an temporary malfunction, causing two lions to be stuck in the air until the machine’s controls could be reset.

  Lions Steve Hanning and Bruce Guerrette were lifted in midair for approximately 45 minutes.  Fortunately, Lion Mike Clark joined in with a second bucket truck and the lighting removal continued.  All the lights were taken down and stored almost on time as planned.  

The Lions Club thanks all who have helped over the past years with donations and support for the Mapleton holiday Main Street lighting.  Thanks to the Mapleton Town Office for its support.  

The new lighting donation and directory plaques have been installed on the front side of the Mapleton Lions Hall for all to see and know who donated to make the lighting possible and to whom each participant dedicated their lighting donation.

After-school skiing

The Mapleton Lions Club made a $3,000 donation to the Quoggy Jo Ski Club to support the Monday and Tuesday after-school ski program.   

This program provides training and practice time for school kids in the afternoon and evening, so they can become proficient in skiing.  Skiing can be a lifelong sporting activity for kids because they are learning to ski in their youth.  

There are 27 youth from Mapleton, Castle Hill and Chapman that are enrolled in this program.  

The club’s donation will cover their registration with some extra for youth from other towns who wish to join the program.  Youth services and activities are primary Lions Club causes across the nation, and the Mapleton Lions Club is pleased to join in this effort through its donation to the Quoggy Jo after-school ski program.

Terry Sandusky is the local correspondent for Mapleton, Chapman and Castle Hill and can be reached at 764-4916 or at starherald.Tsandusky@gmail.com.