Archive: Around Town

Last Friday Lions and Leos club members gathered in Lansing Community Center to welcome a new member to the Leos.  Sean Streb (13) was sworn into the Leos as the club's newest member.  The Leos Club is the youth version of the world-wide service organization.  "My brother encouraged me to join," Streb says.  "I'm looking forward to going to Woodsedge and all those projects."

Streb was sponsored by his brother Brian (17), who is co-president of the club along with Marc Hoaglin.  Brian has been a member since he was 14.

The Lansing Leos had 13 members, and there are plans to induct three more including Streb.  He, Kate Adie and Rebekkah Leo will partially fill a gap that will be left by eight graduating seniors this year.  "We'll have to do some work to replace them," says Lions Vice District Governor Noni Krom, who advises the local Leos Club.  But she adds, "I don't  think we'll ever replace these kids.  They've been very active and very good."

Last year was the 50th anniversary of the national Leos Club.  Today there are over 5,500 clubs in more than 130 countries with about 140,000 members.  Leo clubs are encouraged to develop local projects, especially that help children in adverse circumstances.  December 5 is designated International Leo Day, on which the teens are especially encouraged to focus on children.  The Lansing Leos club is 5 years old.

The Lansing branch serves dinners at Lions Club meetings to raise money for their own service projects.  These have included preparing and serving dinners and pancake breakfasts at Woodsedge retirement home, ringing bells for the Salvation Army, providing a Christmas dinner for a Lansing family in need, highway cleanup, helping at Lions Club pancake breakfasts, given money for scholarships, and to a family whose home suffered a fire, among others.


Streb was sworn in by Past District Governor Rich Shaff, of Ithaca, who attended with his wife.  He promised to maintain high standards, personal responsibility, an attitude of cheerfulness and understanding, and extending a helping hand to those in need.  Streb's parents, Lansing Lion Joe Metz and his wife Emily, Shaff's wife Linda, and Leo Todd Corbin were all present to celebrate the new member.

The induction was postponed twice because of weather, and some new and existing Leos were unable to attend.  Krom says that Adie and Leo will be inducted at a later date.

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