A few years ago, at the insistent urging of club member Jim Stork, the Crozet Lions Club created two $500 scholarships intended for local students who plan to go to Piedmont Virginia Community College or other similar schools. At their meeting June 28, the club honored Stork’s memory—he died last fall—by naming the scholarships in his honor. His wife June was on hand to see a framed certificate of the act hung on the wall at the Meadows Community Center in Crozet, where it took a prominent place among the club’s other trophies and memorabilia. Another framed copy was presented to her as well.
“Jim had a passion for this scholarship and for our motto: ‘We Serve’,” said Phil Eaton as he made the presentation.
Jon Mikalson recalled the occasion when the idea happened. “All of the best ideas of the Lions Club happen at these tables at dinner. Jim wanted a scholarship that was meant for a student who simply would not go to college unless he or she got this help. You don’t need a lot of money to help get somebody moving on that track.”
This year’s recipients of the scholarships are Eric Nelson from Western Albemarle High School and Baird Lantry from Miller School, Mikalson announced.
“Jim was most proud of the Lions Club and for this scholarship,” said June Stork in accepting her certificate. “This means a great deal. Thank you.”
In other business, the club elected new officers and inducted new members. Karl Pomeroy will serve as president for the upcoming year. He promised not to indebt the club in accepting the office.
Phil Eaton and Skip Thacker were chosen as vice presidents. Becca White will be secretary and Leigh McCauley will be treasurer. Elected to the board of directors were Russell Gough, Jenny Rolf, Ruth Chiles, Chris Suh, Ben Hurt, Don McIlwee and Susan Miller, who is also the “tail-twister.”
The club also inducted Connie Sandridge and Alex Gianitsaris as new members. There are more than 1.4 million Lions in some 45,000 chapters around the world.
Susan Miller merrily snipped the tie of Bob Stramara into parts to mark the completion of his term as president. Stramara may have forgotten about the tradition when he put that tie on. “That was a $50 dollar tie,” he lamented as two useless strips of it were handed back to him.
Last year, the Crozet Lions Club donated more than 750 volunteer hours of effort to local projects and raised and donated more than $8,000 to local charitable needs, Stramara reported. The Crozet club is in its 71st year.
