SunBIrd Lions Club Members Honored

Marilyn Hespel

At the 94th annual Convention of the Arizona Lions held in Ahwatukee, May 18-20, three local SunBird Lions Club members, Fred Garmeson, Carol Zittel and Ray Clark, received special recognition for donations to Lions Club International Foundation. They were awarded the Progressive Melvin Jones Fellowship (PMJF). The Fellowship program was established in 1973 to recognize support for the Lions Clubs International Foundation. The Progressive program began in 1986 in response to Lions’ request for recognition for extended commitment to LCIF. There are 54 recognition levels of contribution with a unique pin for each given level. Lions Ray and Carol received their one-diamond level two Progressive Melvin Jones Fellowship, and Lion Fred received his nine-diamond level 10 Progressive Fellowship.

Lions Clubs International Foundation is the charity arm of Lions Clubs International. One hundred percent of donations to LCIF are returned to Lions’ community service. Melvin Jones Fellowships and Progressive Fellowships are presented in recognition of $1,000 donations made in the name of the recipient.