The Lions Club: The Ultimate Community Connector by brodie curtsinger everything that happens in our community. The good that surrounds us, and the kindness that makes each of us better.” Frye takes a larger awareness of what goes on in Mount Washington, from being in the club. The Lions Club has impacted Frye, by making him more kind, nice and caring. “It has made me more kind, and caring. When you realize the people that the club helps, in both a direct, and indirect way, it is truly amazing,” Frye said, “My wife, Renee, has always made me better than I am. Through her, I learned how good it made me feel, to help others.” Longer-time member Melvin Davis has been a Lions Club member since around 2004, and was President of the club from 2007 to 2009. “I love being a citizen of Mount Washington, so much so that I feel driven to try to make it a better place for everyone. I fulfill that desire by helping others. The Lions Club is an ideal organization to use for that purpose. Everything we do, all our projects have a focus toward helping others in our community and in our world,” Davis said, “The Lions Club is a wonderful organization to belong to, and work as a team of likeminded citizens, that are willing to sacrifice a small amount of time to accomplish a project that just one person could not do.”
The International Lions Club sign, off of Bardstown Road. The International Lions Club dates all the way back to October of 1917, but the Mount Washington Lions Club wasn’t founded until 1948. “The Mount Washington Lions Club has served our community since 1948. Since that time, many things have changed, but the foundation our club was founded on, has not. To help our community, whenever and wherever, we can, still applies today, just like it did in 1948,” current President Mike Frye said.
The Lions Club is here for you. The Lions Club is an international non-profit organization that helps out the community, in any way possible.
Davis considers himself, along with the other Lions Club members, to be very passionate about what they do. “All our members are passionate about that very purpose, and demonstrate that by dedicating many hours, annually. The Lions Club is a volunteer organization, so not all the members are helping at the same time,” Davis said, “Just knowing there are needs, and knowing I have been blessed with some abilities to help someone have a better life, gives me a purpose.” The thing that inspires Davis to help out others, is him knowing that there are people out there, who could use the help.
The Mount Washington Lions Club has been around for almost 75 years. The club has impacted members in a majorly positive way. The club has high hopes for the future. The International Lions Clubs, was established back in October of 1917, in Chicago, Illinois, by Melvin Jones. Although, the headquarters of the club is in Oak Brook, Illinois. Now, the Mount Washington Lions Club has been around since 1948. The club participates in events, such as D.A.R.E. to Care, sponsoring the Mount Washington Spring Festival, providing scholarships to college-going Bullitt East students, providing vision tests, honoring fallen veterans with American flags, and, of course, their well-known fish fries.
Newest member Emily Frye has been a Lions Club member for only a few months. “My parents have both been members for years, now, so I’ve been volunteering with things, like the fish fries, and D.A.R.E. to Care, for a hot minute. I had already been doing all of the volunteer work, so we figured it was time to go ahead and just make me an official member,” Emily Frye said, “It’s taught me a lot about how rewarding it can be to volunteer and help your community. You get to know a lot of interesting people, and you form some pretty cool friendships too.” The thing that Emily Frye takes away from the club is a feeling of reward and close friendships.
The Lions Club motto is, ‘We Serve.’ “(We want to provide) service to others without asking, or expecting anything in return,” Frye said. The second ever mayor of Mount Washington, Sid Griffin, was one of the members of the Lions Club, and he joined in May of 1959. Griffin is one of the most well known former members of the club. “Sid was a mentor, and friend. He meant so much to our club, but even more to our club. He did so much and impacted so many,” Frye said. He was President from 1982-1983, and 1969-1970. Frye has been a Lions Club member for around eight years now, and has been president for around two years. “I was volunteering with the Watch D.O.G.S. program, in our schools, and was invited to join the Lions Club. It was a natural progression in service,” Frye said, “I think it has made me more aware of
The Lions Club has had a big impact on Emily Frye. “I feel as, though, it’s (the Lion Club) made me more compassionate, and it’s also expanded my worldview. Getting to interact with people, from all over the community, has really helped with that,” Emily Frye said. Emily Frye’s inspiration, to help out the community, comes from her parents. “My dad has been volunteering for years, from being a watchdog parent, when I was in elementary school, to 17
