By Debbie Adams
The Vinton Breakfast Lions Club held their annual Awards Dinner on August 27 at the Vinton
Moose Lodge. New officers were sworn in, new members were recognized, and several
prestigious awards were presented.
This year marks the club’s 41st year of service to the Vinton community. They were founded in
1985.
The meeting opened with the “passing of the gavel” from Past President Justin Fix to new
president Ryan Mason.
Other officers installed during the meeting included 1st Vice President Sabrina McCarty,
secretary and LCIF Coordinator Gary Myers, Treasurer Bob Benninger, Club Administrator Joel
Lytton, Club Marketing officer John Berry, Tail Twister Chris McCarty, Lion Tamer Keith
Lafferty, Club Membership Justin Fix, Alternate Treasurer Hal Mabe, and Alternate Secretary
Joel Lytton.
President Ryan Mason, past president Justin Fix, 1 st Vice President Sabrina McCarty, Tail
Twister Chris McCarty, Lion Tamer Keith Lafferty, Secretary and LCIF Coordinator Gary
Myers, Board members Sam Cundiff and Dennis Dickens, Treasurer Bob Benninger, and Board
members Jeff Stovall and Dave Jones.
Board members were also recognized: Jeff Mason, Sam Cundiff, Jeff Stovall, Dave Jones,
Dennis Dickens, and Steve Haldren.
Ryan Mason was named “Lion of the Year.” He was described as “very deserving of the award”
and a member who “demonstrates what it truly means to be a Lion and the best of what the Club
stands for—being a Lion isn’t about one person—it requires a team.”
The prestigious Melvin Jones Award was given to Jeff Mason for his service to the club as
president in 2023-2024 and his participation in numerous service activities involving the local
Lions.
Sam Cundiff received the Progressive Melvin Jones Award–the first presented by the club. He
was a founding member of the Breakfast Lions and has served in most offices over the years. He
was also recognized as the “Pancake Flipper” for the annual Lions Pancake Breakfast held
during the Vinton Fall Festival (coming up in October).
Pins were awarded for 100% attendance during the year. Special presentations were made to
Northwest Ace Hardware and the Vinton Moose Lodge for their contributions to the Vinton
Lions projects and their mission. Northwest Hardware allows the Lions to sell their signature
brooms there. The Moose Lodge allows the Lions to meet in their building and host many of
their events there.
Mason presented the Past President’s plaque to Justin Fix for his service to the club and
community.
Lion Eric Mills recognized new members and their sponsors: Eddie Glover inducted by Steve
Newcomb, Matt Townley inducted by Gary Myers, Jeff Thomas inducted by Chris McCarty,
Chen Yang inducted by Ryan Mason, Karenna Glover inducted by Eddie Glover, and Tim
Robers inducted by Lisa Stover.
Mills noted that Lions Club International has 1.38 million members in 50,000 clubs in 300
nations—all “dedicated to making a difference” in their communities and the world. The Vinton
Breakfast Lions Club currently has 57 members. Last year those members donated a total of
1,135.5 volunteer hours across 124 activities, categorized as follows:
Vision Programs (42 activities): Eyeglass collection/recycling, White Cane initiatives,
and school vision testing.
Hunger (42 activities): Food collection, Meals on Wheels program.
Environmental (17 activities): GladeTown cemetery and trail maintenance.
Humanitarian Aid (12 activities): Fundraising efforts such as the Dogwood Festival,
Bingo, Senior Expo, and holiday gift programs.
Youth (8 activities): Hearing screenings, Bland Music Competition, Reading Across
America, HLH school orientation for new students, school supply donations.
Diabetes (2 activities): Annual Type 1 Diabetes walk, Camp 2 Sweet for youth
Childhood Cancer (1 activity): Assistance in purchasing equipment for the new Pediatric
Cancer Center at Carilion.
The Lions also made a significant contribution partnering with the Town of Vinton to support the
new multi-generational Vinton Memorial Park.
In addition, their eyeglass processing facility on Elm Avenue continues to receive significant
contributions from local partners. This year, the Breakfast Club collected 1,857 eyeglasses from
Bonsack (Kroger, Walmart, and Magnolia Eye Center) and 995 eyeglasses from Vinton (Kroger,
Pinnacle Bank, Northwest Ace Hardware, Moose Lodge, Lotz Funeral Home, Blink Optometry,
National Optical, and Oakey’s).
The Lions Club motto is “We Serve” and the Vinton Club is dedicated to carrying out that
mission, and doing it well.
