Pea Ridge Lions Club chartered

— The Pea Ridge Lions Club charter for the newly organized civic club was presented at the Charter Night program and banquet held Saturday, May 1, at the Pea Ridge Middle School cafeteria. In addition to members of the local club, guest Lions were present from numerous neighboring clubs, as well as representatives of Lions ClubsInternational and Lions District 7-I.

District 7-I Governor Lion Earl Sears inducted the local members and installed the club officers.

Sears, whose home club is the Russellville Lions Club, was instrumental in recruiting many of the 26 charter members of the new Pea Ridge Lions Club, and in helping the new club through the steps of organizing. Darline Shelton, a member of the Bentonville Lions Club, the sponsoring club, is serving as Guiding Lion. The keynote speaker for the program was Past International Director Lion George Hazelbaker of Duncan, Okla. The banquet was catered by Darla Nix of the Cannonball BBQ Restaurant.

A miscellaneous auction was held to raise start-up funds to help the Pea Ridge Lions Club initiate its community service programs.

Traditionally the major service program of Lions Club is sight conservation, which often involves helping persons in need of eye exams and eyeglasses, especially school children.

Pea Ridge Lions officers for 2010-2011 are: Jerry Nichols, president; Ken Hayes, first vice-president;

John Tjarks, second vicepresident; Bea Watkins, secretary/treasurer; MelissaTjarks, Lion tamer; Jennifer Todd, tailtwister; Peggy Stone, membership chairman; Ann Cotton, sight conservation chairman;

and board members Sheree Hayes, Nancy Nichols, Nadine Telgemeier and Keith Martin.

The Pea Ridge Lions Club will meet regularly at 6:30 p.m. the second and fourth Thursday evenings at the United Methodist Fellowship Hall, 1209 N. Davis Street in Pea Ridge. There will be a meeting at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, May 13.

Those interested in the Lions Club are invited to contact Jerry Nichols by e-mail at [email protected], or to call 621-1621. Inquiries may be mailed to Pea Ridge Lions Club, P.O. Box 646, Pea Ridge, AR 72751-0646.

Community, Pages 14 on 05/12/2010