By Nicole Coleman<br><a href="mailto:colemann@gnnewspaper.com">E-mail Nicole</a>
Two milestones at the Medina Lions Club banquet Tuesday created a special evening for all.
Last year’s first vice president Donna Bushover stepped up to become club president, making her the first female to direct the club in its 72-year history. Her position will become official July 1. President Jim Hancock will step down June 30.
A member of the club for more than a decade, Bushover spoke of her great love for the organization in a brief speech. She first joined to give back to those who were there when she needed them the most, she said.
When her daughter, now Nicole Mullin, was headed for Boston University to study applied physiology, they awarded her with a scholarship to help cover the cost of books.
And when her husband, David Bushover, was in need of a costly leg prosthesis from a diabetes-related illness, they were there to host a full-out benefit.
When Bushover took the stage Tuesday, she received a standing ovation.
“I was very honored,” she said. “It just blew me away.”
The second significant event of the evening was the announcement that Medina ophthalmologist Arthur Mruczek was awarded the prestigious Melvin Jones Fellowship Award. The recognition has been given to only five Medina Lions Club members previously, Hancock said. Melvin Jones was the founding father of the national Lions Club organization.
Lions Club District Governor Jerry Bliss and the surviving Melvin Jones’ recipients surprised Mruczek with the award.
“That’s the fun part,” Hancock said. “He was totally taken aback.”
Mruczek has been involved with the Medina Lions Club for approximately 35 years. During that time, he has managed to remain active with programs geared toward the blind, the disabled and improving the community’s eye health, Hancock said.
He was also instrumental in establishing Lions Park by the Medina lift bridge where a large red apple and picnic table rest today.
“It’s probably the highest award that any Lion can get in their career,” Hancock said.
The presidential awards were bestowed upon David Hahn and John Slack.
Peter Kaiser was named Outstanding First Year Lion and Sherry Wheatley was named the Lion of the Year for her superior participation in a club project.
The Robert J. Uplinger Service Award was presented to Steve Morse.
Officers for the 2008-09 year are: Clayton Ehrenreich, first vice president; Dean Bellack, second vice president; Marsha Winters, third vice president; Peggy Crowley, treasurer; and John Slack, secretary. The Tail Twister is Earl Bell and the Lion Tamer is Bob Winters.
“The Tail Twister is kind of a fun position,” Hancock said. “They help put money into our treasury by (presenting) fines for odd things — like having a new car or being a new grandfather. (It’s) kind of like an inner-club fundraiser.”
The Lion Tamer is in charge of all the club’s property, equipment and supplies when events are held, he said.
The Medina Lions Club meets the first and second Tuesday of every month at the Medina VFW. They will be fundraising at the Medina Yard Sale this weekend. On June 21 and 22, they will sell Lions Mints at Tops Friendly Markets to help pay for glasses and eye exams for those in need.
Contact reporter Nicole Colemanat 798-1400, ext. 8227.
