CEDAR KEY LIONS CELEBRATE GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY
International Lions Club Dignitaries, Regional Lions Club Officers, Community Leaders and Guests Join Local Lions Club Members Celebrating the Club’s Fifty Years of Community Service
May 4, 2018
Cedar Key Lions Club President Dale Register beamed as he took the podium to welcome over 65 Dignitaries, Community Leaders, Club Members and guests to the Cedar Key Lions Club’s 50th Anniversary Celebration. On Tuesday evening, April 24th, the Cedar Key Community Center was comfortably crowded for the festivities. In his opening remarks Register took special care to recognize those individuals and families that helped form the Club in 1968. Among those honored:
Burton J. Walrath, Jr., Charter Member 1968
Lion Bill Delaino, representing his Father, W. E. Delaino, Charter Member 1968
Ronnie Taylor and his mother Louise Taylor representing his father, Floyd Taylor, Charter Member 1968
Incoming Cedar Key Lions Club President Lion Mike Hodges and his mother Francis Hodges, representing his father, Gene Hodges, Charter President 1968
Numerous dignitaries from Lions Clubs International were on hand to honor Cedar Key’s half century of service to the community. Those attending included:
Lion Neil Spencer, Past International Director
Lion Diane Melnick, District Governor
Lion Bob Melnick, Past District Governor
Lion Bobby Wright, Incoming District Governor
Lion Blanche Day, Chairperson for Lions Quest
Lion Tony Stefanowicz, Past District Governor
Lion Ralph Vierling, Turkey Creek Lions
Lion Jerry Skufe, Past District Governor
Lion Bob Barto, Past District Governor
Lion Dick Donaldson, District Treasurer
Lion Mary Spry, Zone Chairperson
Representing the City of Cedar Key, Vice Mayor Sue Colson
Also attending her first meeting was the Club’s newest member, Lion Dog Sola Bushnell. Sola is a comfort dog, that now travels with Cedar Key Lions KidSight program volunteers as they screen children across Levy County.
Lion Stephen Rosenthal, a former Cedar Key Lions Club President, offered the Lions traditional toast to commemorate the evening. Immediately following Rosenthal’s salute, the crowd settled in for a genuine Cedar Key style meal. Incoming President Mike Hodges offered up his cooking skills with a low country boil plus steamed Cedar Key clams and shrimp. Smoked chicken accompanied by Lion Anna Hodges’ homemade potato salad satisfied the landlubber appetites in the crowd. The dessert table featured Lion Susan Rosenthal’s blue and gold Lion logo candies. Lion Joan Selby’s fresh fruit plate was enjoyed by guests, as was a vanilla/chocolate marbled cake decorated with the Lions logo and 50th Anniversary message.
Following dinner, Lions Club Past International Director, Neil Spencer joined current Lions Club District Governor Diane Melnick and Vice Mayor Sue Colson in remarking on the accomplishments of the Cedar Key Lions Club over the past 50 years. District Governor Diane Melnick reminisced about her first encounters with the Cedar Key Lions Club, recalling her early days as a Zone Chairperson. In her introduction of Past International Director Neil Spencer, Melnick cited his professional career at Kennedy Space Center for Boeing. She also mentioned Spencer’s many Lions Club posts including Club President, Zone Chair, Vice District Governor, District Governor, Convention Chair, Lion of the Year and more.
After sharing greetings from Lions Clubs International Board of Directors, Past International Director Neil Spencer framed his remarks around historical facts from 1968, the year of Cedar Key Club’s founding. Spencer then went on to recount Cedar Key Lions 50 years history of service to the community and compliment the Club on its outstanding leadership. Mentioning the Seafood Festival, KidSight Vision Screening, and more Spencer praised the Lions Club for providing everyday miracles of service in the community.
Incoming Cedar Key Lions Club President Mike Hodges spoke next and revealed that he had not known that his father, Gene Hodges, was Charter President of the Club. Mike went on to reaffirm his sense of pride in following in Gene’s footsteps, by assuming the role of Club President fifty years after his father’s term. Citing the growth of Cedar Key, Hodges pledged to keep the community’s trust while continuing to expand the Club’s service to the city of Cedar Key.
Vice Mayor Sue Colson concluded the evening’s remarks by reminding everyone attending that incoming Club President Mike Hodges is a working waterfront person with salt water in his shoes. Sue prompted Hodges and all those attending to remember the importance of holding on to our island roots while moving forward into the future.
