The Union County chapter of the Lions Club was chartered in October 2008 and has been serving our community well year after year. Not sure what the Lions Club is or what it does? It is a club composed of members of the community who embrace the motto “We Serve” in a variety of ways. Local Lions Club programs include vision conservation, hearing and speech conservation, diabetes awareness, youth outreach, international relations, environmental issues, and much more.

Recent activities of your local Lions Club that you may have noticed include the Vision Van that came to the High School in 2018, the eyeglass collection “mailbox” placed at Food City, or you may have enjoyed the taste of delicious Hawaiian Ice brought to you by the Lions Club at sporting and community events. But there’s more!

The local chapter began awarding scholarships a few years ago when donations were made in memory of Mark Martin and Brenda Mincey. This year Union county Lions Club awarded $300 scholarships to six deserving Union County High School seniors. Pictured left to right are scholarship recipients Bryson Sharp, Andrew Edmondson, Noah Henderlight, Kyla Pressnell, Jordan Walker, and Raley Tolliver. These scholars completed a detailed application, wrote essays sharing their plans for the future, and were interviewed by the scholarship awards committee. I must say, I have never felt better about the future leaders of Union County as when I spent a morning with these young people! Union County has many reasons to be hopeful but the forward-thinking youth our community is producing is yet another sign of more good things to come!

The Union County Lions Club is part of the 12-N District, which serves 23 counties in northeastern Tennessee. These clubs often work together to meet the needs of the wider community. For example, the Vision Van is supported by several clubs in the district and operates on the third Wednesday of every month at the Lions Club building in Fountain City Park in Knoxville. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, participation has been down and the club is limited to providing eyeglasses with a prescription. However, the hope is that in May the club will again be able to provide eye exams as well as glasses. If you or someone you know needs to set an appointment to visit the Vision Van, please contact Dr. Ronnie Mincey at 865-278-7430.

The local chapter also recently welcomed District Governor Millie Burke to our April meeting. She shared an overview of the history of the Lions Club International, beginning as a fraternal order of Chicago businessmen seeking to give back to their community. In 1925 Helen Keller encouraged Lions to become “Knights of the Blind”, which is probably what they are best known for today. Burke inducted new member Sidney Jessee Jr and thanked the club for remaining organized and staying active. She shared the starfish story. She also gave each of us a pin representing her leadership priorities:
- Lions logo: “We Serve” – two-headed lion looking at both the past and the future;
- Kindness Matters: In memory of International Vice President Haynes Townsend who would have been the 2020-2021 International President, this was his planned theme;
- The Ripple: In honor of International 1st Vice President Douglas Alexander – “Everything we do and say has a ripple effect, make sure your ripple is positive.”
- Tartan: The best dog ever and the reason Burke joined the Lions Club in the first place (guide-dogs for the blind).

Sincere thanks all those who have served as a lion and the community for supporting Lions Club events and fundraisers. To learn more about the Lions Club or to get involved please contact one of your local Lions:
Eugene Brantley
Kathy Chesney, President
Cindy Hudson
Sidney Jessee Jr.
Joe Kerr
Dr. Ronnie Mincey, Treasurer/Secretary
Jewell Morgan
Dr. John Osborne
Laurel Osborne
Travis Patterson
Bill Sexton, 1st Vice President
Brenda Sweet
Lowell Thomas, Membership Chairperson