The Lions Club: The Ultimate Community Connector

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.

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.

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 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.”

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.

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 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 being on the SBDM (Site Bate Decision Making) council when I was in middle school and high school. My mom originally began volunteering at Old Mill when I was in elementary school and now, she actually works there in the office. They’ve always gone out of their way to help people, and it’s something I really admire about them,” Emily Frye said.

Mike Frye has some memories that have stuck out to him, as a member of the Lions Club. “Meeting and spending time, with so many mentors and friends, through the years (are some of his favorite memories). Some are now gone, but their memory lives on,” Mike Frye said. “Our monthly D.A.R.E. to Care food

distribution is a big part of what we do. We also sponsor the Mount Washington Spring Festival, and our fundraiser fish frys for the community. Hopefully soon, we can resume hosting events to help our youth.” Some of Mike Frye’s favorite events, that the club has participated in, are events such as D.A.R.E. to Care, and their fish fries.

Mike Frye has been able to accomplish quite a lot in his time as a member of the Lions Club and has a hopeful outlook for its future. “I serve a dual role. I’m also the Chairman of the Mount Washington Spring Festival. To have the opportunity to help our youth through the Spring Festival, with the Scholarship Program and volunteerism, is a point of pride for me,” Mike Frye said, “We will continue to grow as a community partner, and hopefully find more ways to reach out, and help others.”

Mike Frye, being president, is someone who is looked up to from the community. “It is an honor to serve as President. The people who have served in this capacity before me, helped lay a foundation for me to follow, but they also have given me the opportunity to help others, and hopefully be a leader that brings everyone together, for a better tomorrow,” Mike Frye said.

Davis has made quite a few enjoyable memories, in the Lions Club. “Our club members get most excited when we see a child receive special eye-sight testing, and treatment for a condition that may not have been detected otherwise, or when anyone is able to obtain eyeglasses that they possibly could not afford otherwise,” Davis said.

Some of the accomplishments that Davis has been able to do, are things like getting to be club president, at one point in time. “I was club president two years in a row, and the membership grew by five, or six, during that time,” Davis said, “I think the opportunity is there for the Lions Club to grow in membership, and expand the projects, so more citizens can be assisted.” Davis sees expansion happening, with the club, in the upcoming future.

Davis has a couple of favorite events that he, and the club, have participated in. “There are always ongoing projects to improve the community, such as expensive playground equipment in the City Park, or an American flag installed in a cemetery in honor of all military veterans,” Davis said, “The club has monthly fish fries year around, and many other projects, including selling the Community Birthday Calendar. They provide space, and assist the D.A.R.E. to Care food distribution activity each month.” Some of his other favorite events include the Mount Washington Spring Festival, and getting to help out future college students, with scholarships.

What Emily Frye sees happening, with the Lions Club, in the future, is just some more fun, and interesting events. “Well, we have two more fish fries coming up, in the next two weeks, and then we’ll be back to doing one a month. Then, the next big thing, I can think of is the ‘spring’ festival, that has actually been moved to the fall because of the virus. The Lions Club is the sponsor of the festival, so we get quite busy around that time of year,” Emily Frye said.

“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,” Mike Frye said.

The Mount Washington Lions Club building is located at 810 N Bardstown Rd. If you’re looking for a way to make a difference in your community, the Lions Club is for you.