By Howard Lestrud

Celebrating its 45th year in 2005, the Forest Lake Lions Club continues to serve its local communities and also contributes to world-wide Lions causes.

The Forest Lake club, which was chartered in May of 1960 by the White Bear Lake Lions Club, recently honored its own members at an awards night meeting at The Golfview Lobster Shop, Forest Lake.

Art Anderson received one of Lions Internationalís most prestigious awards, the Melvin Jones Fellowship. The Melvin Jones Fellowship is recognition of a commitment to humanitarian work. The fellowship is the foundationís highest honor and represents humanitarian qualities such as generosity, compassion, and concern for the less fortunate. The fellowship was created in 1973, and named for the founder of Lions Clubs International, Melvin Jones.

Anderson and wife Amy reside in East Bethel and are both longtime members of the Forest Lake Lions Club. Both have served on the board of directors and Amy is the clubís Lion Tamer (in charge of Lions properties, leads opening ceremonies at club meetings).

The 2005 Lion of the Year Award was given to Mike Rud of North Branch. He and wife Betsy are both members of the Forest Lake Lions Club. Mike has chaired many club events and helped set up the new club lunch wagon.

Twenty-five year service awards were given to El Ewert and Jay Matheson. Perfect attendance awards went to John Abbott, Amy Anderson, Art Anderson, Norman Anderson, Bob Beattie, Bob Brunfelt, Bob Carter, El Ewert, Jim Hillman, Nancy Immel, Rich Jabas, Dick LaMere, Jack Lannon, Howard Lestrud, Bob Lindell, Jay Matheson, Jim McGee, Harris Miller, Dick Reinhardt, Betsy Rud, Mike Rud, David Sandberg, Lloyd Sather, Bud Sell, Rollie Sibbald, Norman Tolzmann and Tom Waldren.

Lloyd Sather, President, complimented the club on an outstanding year of accomplishments. ìYou are a tremendous group and this year we celebrate 45 years of service to our community,î he said.

Sather distributed a list of projects the Lions completed during the year, 24 separate projects. About 50 percent of the membership works on projects. ìI am so proud of you all,î said Sather. Lions Club raised $42,000 in 2004-05. The club donated $39,500 back to the community. Most of the donations went to child-youth-community projects.

The Forest Lake Lions most recently have committed $12,000 a year for four years to helping redevelop Lakeside Memorial Park in Forest Lake. Over the years, the local club has also donated more than $115,000 in implementing and supporting the Lions Quest drug awareness program in ISD 832 elementary schools. Forest Lakeís Lions club has 48 members.

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Forest Lake Times
P.O. Box 218
880 SW 15 St.
Forest Lake, MN 55025
651-464-4601
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