Courtesy photo Lakemont Lion Sondra Stacey (left) wears the Leadership Award presented by Past International Director Larry Edwards (right) on behalf of Lions Clubs International 2023-24 President Dr. Patti Hill.

Lakemont Club member recognized for leadership

Lions Clubs International has awarded a 2023-24 Leadership Medal to Sondra Stacey of the Lakemont Lions Club.

Past International Director Larry Edwards, who nominated Stacey for the award, presented it on behalf of the 2023-24 International President Dr. Patti Hill.

During her term as LCI President, Hill’s focus was to embrace the Lions motto, “We Serve,” stating that, while service is the priority, it takes the collective impact of all Lions to make the world a better place.

“Changing the World,” she said, “begins when we take the first brave steps forward to lead the way.”

In soliciting nominations for leadership awards, Hill asked that Lions be recognized for not just serving in current or past leadership roles, but for also “demonstrating uncommon kindness, a spirit of innovation, and a commitment to service within their communities.”

In nominating Stacey for the award, Edwards listed her abilities to organize larger club projects.

These included several of the club’s annual spelling bees, the latest of which included participation by five schools and 12 fifth- and sixth-grade students. Stacey and her husband, Lion Terry Stacey, co-chaired two projects to raise funds for Leader Dogs for the Blind, each time having the Lakemont Club designated as a Top Dog Club, by raising more than $5,000 each year.

Sondra Stacey has served as Lakemont’s club vice president, club president, membership chair, marketing chair and director. She also chaired several Peace Poster contests, collects funds during Lions’ White Cane Days and participates in most club projects, including the environmental activities of recycling and Household Hazardous Waste collections run by the county and by the Intermunicipal Relations Committee.

As part of the Lions for Sight program, Stacey also services used eyeglasses collection sites and delivers the club’s eyeglass collections to the Brother’s Brother Foundation in Pittsburgh, for their further distribution to underdeveloped countries.

Stacey, who joined the Lakemont Lions Club in 2014, had previously been named by Lions as a Melvin Jones Fellow, Lions of PA Fellow, Carl Shoemaker Fellow and as Lakemont Lion of the Year.

Edwards also noted that Stacey is active both in the community and in her church.

Lakemont Lions Club serves the local community through activities related to the five key Lions project priorities of Vision, Environment, Hunger, Childhood Cancer and Diabetes.

The Lakemont club also conducts activities benefiting veterans, delivers holiday flowers to shut-ins and many other activities.

Lions Club International Foundation provides monetary assistance across the globe in support of persons affected by disasters.

Lakemont Lions welcomes new members. Information on the club is available by calling Club President Joe Faretta at 814-232-5944.