Seeley-Swan High School Leo Club Advisor Lion Tim Berry and Lion Roger Johnson shake hands with the new Leo Club Board of Directors following their Charter Night June 7.
Faculty Advisor Mary Stone charging all of the members while they repeated their oath to her that they would abide by the rules and regulations during the induction. The students all came forward with their parent or sponsor and then they read their oath of office. Each of the Seeley Lake Lions Club officers swore in the complimenting Leo Club officer.
Roger Johnson presents the Leo Club officers with their official charter. Johnson was one of the charter members of the Seeley Lake Lions Club in 1978.
The Seeley-Swan High School Leo Club Officers (L-R): Treasurer Hunter Shelmerdine, Secretary Ashley Miller, Vice President Taylor Cahoon, President Ibby Lorentz, Director Keaton Johnson and Director Kara Good. Not pictured: Director Jory Towe.
SEELEY LAKE – The Seeley Lake Lions Club chartered the Seeley-Swan High School Leo Club Wednesday, June 7. Seventeen high school students were inducted into the club with applications for six more members for next fall. This is the fourth Leo Club in the state of Montana.
The objective of the Leo Club is to provide youth with the opportunity for development and contribution, individually and collectively, as responsible members of the local, national and international community. The Leo motto is Leadership, Experience and Opportunity.
The program has continued to grow and there are now more than 6,500 clubs in more than 140 countries. Community service remains the cornerstone of the program, fostering a lifetime commitment to helping others.
The Seeley Lake Leo Club charter was approved May 19. The Leo Club falls under the umbrella of the Lions Club International's insurance program and the Seeley Lake Lions Club provides an advisor. Current Lions Club President Tim Berry is the advisor for this year.
"We pretty much let them run their own show with the advice of the Lion advisor and the faculty advisor [Seeley-Swan High School Teacher and Lion Mary Stone]. They hold their own meetings, they have their own treasurer and manage their own funds," said Berry.
Berry pursued starting a Leo Club in Seeley Lake. He approached math teacher Mary Stone. Stone attended a few of the Lions Club meetings and Berry said realized how "old" the club membership is.
"The Lions Club as a whole has declined somewhat because we are getting old and we need to get younger people involved. The Leos in an ideal way to do it," said Berry. "Kids in high school and college can't afford to pay $85 per year in dues. The idea is we need more of these clubs throughout the state to get people to think about service and then hope that later on they will join and become full Lions members."
Berry said the students seem really excited about it. They held their first fundraiser before their charter night. The car wash made nearly $450 and will support service-oriented projects for the community that the club approves.
The Seeley-Swan High School Leo Club will start monthly meetings in the fall. Although the name includes Seeley-Swan High School it is open to any area students entering ninth grade through 12th grade.
For more information contact Lion Advisor Berry at 406-291-9005.
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