Archive: Around Town

You might say that Saturday say about $40,000 worth of people at a luncheon at Lansing United Methodist Church.  That's because the Lansing Lions Club hosted the region's Melvin Jones Fellows recognition luncheon there.  "It's a recognition ceremony of people who have received the Melvyn Jones award," says Vice District Governor Noni Krom.  "Clubs donates $1000 to nominate a recipient.  At one cabinet meeting each year, usually the third one, we do recognize Melvin Jones fellows."

The fellowship was created in 1973 to provide funding for the Lions Club International Foundation (LCIF), which provides funding for people in need around the world.    Today 70% of LCIF's funding comes from clubs nominating Melvin Jones fellows.   "It's a form of recognition that was developed by the Lions Club International Foundation as a way for clubs and individuals to raise money for LCIF for disaster relief, grants for eye care centers both in the United States and around the world," said current District Governor Robert E. Jensen.  "Because of the dedicated efforts of a lot of the Melvin Jones fellows in this room and elsewhere around the world LCIF has achieved a rather formidable reputation as a great service organization."


In July the London-based Financial Times named LCIF the number one non-governmental organization worldwide. With more than 1,300,000 members in 200 countries, Lions clubs boast more members than similar service organizations such as Kiwanis and Rotary clubs.  In the last fiscal year the organization received a record $54.4 million in donations.  Jensen says that some nominations are driven by natural disasters like Hurricane Katrina, when clubs raise money to nominate a Melvin Jones Fellow and provide funding for disaster relief.

But the foundation also funds ongoing programs such as The SightFirst program, which provides eyeglasses and helps train ophthalmologists.  Every dollar donated to the foundation is used for grants for these projects.  The foundation itself is funded by interest earned on the money.


Lansing Melvin Jones fellows Raymond Buckley, Howard Longhouse, and James Howell were on hand, along with Lansing club President Lin Davidson.  In all 47 people attended.  Lansing Lion Joseph Metz is also a Melvin Jones fellow, as well as deceased members Robert Baker and Arthur Bratton.  Members who perform humanitarian work are nominated for the honor.

Jones was the founder of LCIF in Chicago in 1917.  He eventually left his insurance agency to work full time for the foundation.  In 1945 he represented LCIF as a consultant at the United Nations in San Francisco.  He died at age 82 in 1961.

This summer Krom will become District Governer for the 2008-2009 fiscal year.  District 20-E2 encompasses the Fingerlakes region od New York State.  She Krom hopes to be inducted into the position at the The 2008 Lions Clubs International Convention in Bangkok, Thailand if her health allows her to go.  Each year the convention is held in a different city around the world.  "Last year it was Chicago," Krom explains.  "This year it's Bangkok.  Next year it's Minnesota.  It's just like the Olympics.  Different countries and towns apply to have it.  And it's huge, because you have Lions Clubs in two hundred countries."

If she can make it Krom will spend the first five days training along with new governors from Lions Club districts around the world.  She says there is a cap and gown graduation at the end of the session.  18,000 members are expected to attend the convention, where they will share ideas, information about local projects, and enjoy fellowship of their fellow lions.  Another New Yorker, Al Brandel, will become International President at this year's convention.  Melvin Jones fellows are also honored each year at a luncheon at the convention.

If she is unable to attend, Krom says the Lions Club offers training in Binghamton.  "They have a District Governors school in Binghamton the 4th, 5th, and 6th of April that I have to go to," she says.  "I've got to make that if I have to crawl there!"


Krom is excited about the challenges she will face in the role.  Part of her responsibilities will include visiting every single club in the region.  "I've been in the Lions for 15 years and I'm still learning something new every day," she says.  "I feel like I have been a Lion for 50 years, because my father was one of the charter members of the Lansing Lions Club."

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