By Chris Hagan
Review Staff Writer
In 1938, community members from around Orion congregated together with a common goal ? help people.
Their drive to help the less fortunate led to the creation of the Lake Orion Chapter of the Lions Club.
Fast forward to today and that drive has only gotten stronger, developed more momentum, and created a palpable passion amongst its members.
On Wednesday they hosted their annual Installation of Officers Dinners at the Knights of Columbus hall on Orion Rd. The event is a ‘changing of the guard? sort of affair which instills new members to head up the Lions Club of Lake Orion.
Outgoing President, Bob Erickson, passed the gavel to incoming President John ‘Flaco? Kontos in front of nearly 100 people including the families of both men.
Before Erickson formally bestowed the honor to Kontos, he was recognized for his service and was presented with the Melvin Jones Fellow Award. The award is the highest honor given to a member of the Lions Club and brought with it a touching tribute as his father, Maury Erickson, was recognized several years for the same award.
Kontos comes into 2015 with a sense of powerful excitement as he looks to craft new ideas and programs aimed at helping locals in need. The 12-year Lake Orion Resident has been involved with the Lions Club for more than 25 years and is now in his fourth year with the Lake Orion Chapter.
‘I love it and to be able to touch lives and make a difference, I’ll do anything,? Kontos said. ‘I’ll stand in traffic in the rain and snow because at the end you’re helping someone.?
Kontos also brings with him a change in the Club’s theme: ‘Today’s Visions ? Tomorrow’s Future.? He was wants to evoke an even stronger sense of community service that will bring with it long lasting results.
Additionally, Kontos as well as the rest of the Lions Club, remains very grateful of the active community involvement many Orion businesses provide. But with that involvement, he reminds people that if given the opportunity, we can’t afford to forget those places.
‘So many businesses here give so much back to the community and we can’t always be hitting them up for things,? he said. ‘So we gotta remember to go in there and say thanks and when we have a chance to go out, we should be going to their establishments to pay them back.?
As the night continued, the Lions Club also presented several awards and honors to its members including inducting a long time Lion’s Club member to be an Official Lion. Debbie Stephens moved to Lake Orion in 1981 and 10 years later she began working with the community through the Lion’s Club. Her passion grew and so did her commitment to helping people.
‘This is a group of very nice people whose common goal is for the people who are less fortunate,? she said. ‘We helped during the recession for people who didn’t meet government standards for poverty but were struggling just the same.?
The Lion’s Club handed out another award that benefited two deserving high school seniors. Holly Rydquist, 17, and Ryan Wood, 18, were selected by the Lions to receive academic scholarships.
Both Rydquist and Wood submitted essays of achievement which include National Honor Society and both racking up more that 200 community service hours.
They’ll each receive $2,000 as long as their GPA remains above a 3.5. Rydquist plans to attend Central Michigan University to study Elementary Education while Wood is attending Michigan State University to study Business.
Members of the Lions Club are eagerly awaiting the Jubilee in Downtown which goes from June 26-28. People who would like to receive more information about upcoming events like the Jubilee or the Fireworks over the Lake on June 27, can visit lakeorionlions.org