It was a special Western Pocono Lions meeting, times three.

The Lion of the Year was announced and honored.The 2011-2012 club officers were installed.And two Lions couples, strangers to each other, but all Virginia Lions, visited the Western Pocono Lions Club due to being visitors in the area and doing a make-up visit.Those visitors were Lions Carol and Jack Treece of Winchester, VA, members of the Stephens City Lions Club, and Lions Alan and Pat Morrell, from Newport News, of the Warwick Lions Club.Local guests included six Western Pocono Lionesss and a Stroudsburg Lion in addition to spouses and guests of Western Pocono Lions Club and two of the youth who attended the Lions Youth Leadership Camp at Camp Victory in Millville, PA.Both Samantha Frable and Molly Smith, sponsored by the Western Pocono Lioness Club, gave the camp experience high marks in their individual reports.Letters from other youth who attended the camp in April were read as they could not be present due to being in Europe or working.District Governor Bob Kelsey, a member of the Western Pocono Lions Club, installed the new officers. Those Lions are: Charles Rush, president; Michael Piersa, 1st vice president; Bob Argot, 2nd vice president; Jon Evans, secretary; Matt Held, treasurer; Herman Green, Lion Tamer; Jeff Hinton, Tail Twister; Board of Directors- Cathy Pagano and Pat Buccieri, 2-year terms; Christopher Sweeney, Bethlinn Mackes, and Mary Jane Lucrezi, 1-year terms.The Membership Committee will consist of: Chairperson, Helen Koshensky; Vice Chair, Herman Green; and Member, Bruce KoshenskyHelen Koshensky is also the Immediate Past President.Robert Kelsey will serve as Eyeglass Chairperson, while Cindy Rodenbough is the chairperson for the Program Committee. Adele Argot will be the Lion/Lioness Liaison.It is Mary Jane Lucrezi who received the yearly honor of being named the club's Lion of the Year by President Helen Koshenski. That award was presented on President Helen's behalf by PDG Bob Argot who stated President Helen had chosen Lion Mary Jane due to her unending willingness to serve where needed. Specifically, Lion Mary Jane has been the primary keeper of the flower bed at the Brodheadsville junction of routes 209 and 115. Said Lion President Helen, "She is always there when there is a need for help."Lucrezi's family members were also among the meeting's visitors, but the Lion of the Year honoree admitted she just thought they had come to spend family time with her and friends.Getting recognized for all her Lions-related efforts had her saying there are others who deserve the honor. It will be up to 2011-2012 president, Charles Rush of Saylorsburg, to choose the next Lion of the Year, but in the meantime, all club members are challenged to put the Lions motto, "We serve," into action as the club continues its many projects, with the next large one being the West End Fair booth.That is a club fund-raiser so that the club can then impact others through its outreach projects, such as sending youth to Camp Victory, purchasing glasses for folks in need, sending a vision impaired adult to Beacon Lodge for 10 days, or beautifying the Route 209-Route 115 triangle in Brodheadsville.