International President stops by IWU and visits local Lions Clubs

BY KARYN SPORY

Mt. Pleasant News

The Iowa Wesleyan University chapter of the Lions Club may still be getting their legs underneath them, but the newly-minted branch attracted attention from its head honcho this past weekend.

Lions Club International President Robert ?Bob? Corlew stopped by IWU?s Chadwick Library Sunday afternoon during his 20-state bus tour, which is part of a kick-off to the club?s 100th anniversary. Corlew visited with members of local chapters including the college chapter, which chartered in April and is one of the newest chapters in the state.

?We feel like it?s real important to cultivate the new campus clubs,? said Corlew. ?Lions (Club) is no different from so many different service organizations. We have a large number of members, but a large majority of our members are over the age of 40. We are working really hard to cultivate new members who are college age, young business people or (individuals) new in the world of employment.?

Corlew said Lions Club is also working on creating Leo Clubs, which would be for high school aged individuals. ?We feel like it?s important to cultivate the spirit of service in young people; particularly the high school and college (aged) people,? he said. ?We hope, of course, that those in campus clubs that when they graduate, they?ll take the opportunity to continue their service and continue to be Lions by either helping with their own campus club and the students as they come along or join other Lions Clubs in the community.?

Corlew said his visit to Mt. Pleasant had been ?very pleasant.? ?Seriously, it has been very nice. The Lions here have been so friendly and welcoming. The warm hospitality has been so wonderful.?

The best part of Corlew?s nearly two-hour visit, he said, was speaking to the members of the campus club and hearing their thoughts on starting a new chapter.

?They continue to look for new projects and new ways they can serve their campus community,? he said.

That only rivaled being able to induct two new members to the IWU chapter, he added.

The two new members of IWU?s chapter are Sabin Khatiwada and Jalin Noel.

Noel, a freshman, said the idea of helping out those in need is what drew him to the organization, but the fact the Lion?s Club has a global impact is what made him sign up. ?I don?t see why one spot in the world should be doing better than another,? he said.

?At first I just wanted to know more about the Lions Club,? said Khatiwada, who is an international student from Nepal. And after hearing Corlew speak about all of the different service projects the club is involved in, Khatiwada pledged his allegiance with the organization. ?I would like to give service to the people, that?s why I joined the Lions Club.?

?They are very willing to work on projects. They don?t so much want to come and have a lengthy meeting, but you mention helping people and they are right there,? said Joan Thompson, a member of Winfield?s Lions Club.

Thompson has been a Guiding Lion for the campus group. ?We?ve been meeting with them for two years to get them chartered,? she said. Since they?ve been chartered, Thompson said her role has more to do with being ?guiding hands? for the young adults.

Corlew will continue on his bus tour, which has 52 stops, including one in Canada.