THE LOCAL NEWS OF THE MADISON VALLEY, RUBY VALLEY AND SURROUNDING AREAS

First vice president of the Lions Club International, Dr. Jung-Yul Choi (left) addresses Lions Club members before a celebratory potluck at the Ennis, Montana senior center Wednesday, May 15.

Ennis Lions club welcomes 1st VP Lions International

First International VP to visit Ennis

ENNIS – Yellow fleece vests decorated with pins of community service achievements, and dark denim vests representing Montana District 37 of the Lions Club filled the dining area of the Ennis Senior Center, on Wednesday, May 15. 

It was the first time a Lions Club International officer visited the Ennis Lions Club. 

Brief glances out the window to see if a bus was approaching occasionally interrupted elevator-pitches of honorable reasons to join the Lions Club. As with any club, new members are essential and the Ennis Lions saw opportunity in the new reporter in town. 

A draped table presented homecooked foods displayed in a colorful array of personal dishware. The Lions Club flag stood in the corner, in between the American and South Korea flags. The potluck’s guest of honor: International First Vice President, Dr. Jung-Yul Choi.

Dr. Jung and his wife, Seung-Bak Yang, toured the county with Montana Lions’ incoming District Governor, Verna Love, and other Montana Lions. The tour ended at the senior center, which Lions Club International Foundation gave a $75,000 grant to remodel in 2017.

This July, Dr. Jung will be inaugurated as the Lions Club International President. He’s been a member of the Busan Jae-il Lions Club for 42 years and has held many positions in the organization. Among his many awards from LCI, Dr. Jung was awarded the its highest honor, the Ambassador of Good Will Award.

“Leadership people should be a servant to ordinary people,” Dr. Jung said. “A leadership role needs to have a humble attitude.” 

LCI is the largest service organization in the world, with over 1.4 million members in more than 200 countries. There are 67 Lions Clubs in Montana alone. The Ennis chapter serves the Madison County area.

“All the money received from the public is returned to the public,” First Vice President of the Ennis Lions Club, Corinna Christensen said.

Montana Lions Clubs provide services for Montanans in need, including its Montana Lions Sight and Hearing Foundation. The foundation enables Montana Lions to travel to surrounding schools and give vision screening for children at schools. In 2018, Lions member vision screened over 28,500 Montana children. The foundation also reaches out to Montanans in need of financial assistance with hearing aids, cataract surgeries, cochlear implants and detached retina procedures. 

“Every country has a different way of serving their community,” Dr. Jung said. “I like your way.”

The Ennis Lions Club inducted two new members, Madison Valley Hospital CEO, Allen Rohrback, and Mark Sixel. Dr. Jung pinned the new Lions Club pins to their lapels and the room broke out in gasps. The intended whispers of seated members were more of a roar. 

“Oh, what an honor.” 

Featured: 
Add Article to Front Page Categorized News

More Information

The Madisonian

65 N. MT Hwy 287
Ennis, MT 59729
406-682-7755
www.madisoniannews.com

Cori Koenig, editor: editor@madisoniannews.com
Susanne Hill, billing: s.hill@madisoniannews.com 
Ad orders, inserts, classifieds: connect@madisoniannews.com 
Comment Here