VERGENNES — At the last meeting of the Vergennes Lions Club, two members were recognized for their many contributions to the community and to the club. Past International Director Tom Broughton, from the Middlebury Lions Club, presented Melvin Jones Fellowship Awards to Lion Debbie Brace and Lion Jim McClay.
Brace has been an active community support person for many years, having served on the Vergennes Area Rescue Squad and the American Legion Auxiliary. She joined the club in 2010, and very quickly became its hardest working member. Brace served on the board of directors, one year as president of the club, and has served on the annual charity auction, annual vehicle raffle, scholarship raffle, food drives, Memorial Day activities, Vergennes Day activities, holiday food basket collection and distribution, and helping at Vermont Teddy Bear where the club earns funds.
McClay joined the club in 2013 after retiring from the U.S. Marine Corps and U.S. Army with 25 years of service. He served on the board of directors, was president for one year, and has served on numerous other committees such as chair of the annual charity auction for a number of years, vehicle raffle committee, Toys for Kids, food drives, Memorial Day and Vergennes Day activities, ramp building, and the Green Mountain Lions Camp for Hard of Hearing Children. He also was a member of the Bixby Library board, the Mount Abraham School Board and the American Legion.
At this same meeting, Broughton installed the new club officers for the 2020-2021 year. Those in attendance were: Michael Winslow, president; Carol Mapel, secretary; Larry Simino, membership; Gary Russell, Lion tamer; and directors Tania Bolduc, Brian Gebo, Paula Mathewson and Jim McClay.
Paul Vachon reported that the recipients of the Vergennes Union High School $1,000 Lions Club Scholarships were: Emily Brinkman, Leah Croke, Michael Davis and Emily Rooney. He commented that they had written “thank you” notes expressing how much they appreciated the club helping them in their next phase of life.