Beltzville Lions Club held its Charter Celebration on Sunday during a banquet held at the Mahoning Valley Country Club.

During the evening, club president Joe Craig received gifts from 14-U District Governor Scott Dudley, Past District Govenors and the club also received donations and well wishes from other clubs who wanted to give the Beltzville Lions Club a good start in Lionism. Also the club was a recipient of Senate Citations from Senators John Yudichak and David Argall and House of Representatives Citations from State Representative Doyle Heffley. Heffley is also one of the charter members of the club.After Dellecker offered a warm welcome to everyone attending the event, Beltzville Lions chaplain Doug Bowman gave the invocation.Dellecker then led the approximately 60 people attending the event into the Lions and Lioness Toasts.Dudley, assisted by his father Ed Dudley, PDG, inducted the 33 members into the Beltzville Lions Club with a simple candlelight ceremony.Members are Stacey Alger, Martha Balagach, Edith Berger, Douglas J. Bowman, Samantha Bowman, Barbara Cahill, Ken Cahill, Joseph Craig, Barbara Dellecker, Duane Dellecker, Stacey Duerst, Stanley P. Haupt, Doyle Heffley, Kellie Heffley, Barbara Lambert, Carole H. Leslie, Kelly Leslie, William T. Leslie, James G. Logue Jr., Gail Maholick, Robert J. Maholick, Jana Metro, Scott Metro, Brandy Petricone, Melodia Pyne, Jonathan Quinn, Joseph Quinn, Linda Schoenberger, Cyrese L. Sciandra, Kenneth Sharp, Tammy Solt, Shelly Zellner and Thomas E. Zellner.Robert Miller, PID, who was an International Director in 2001-2003, installed the officers and brought good wishes from International President Wing-Kun Tam. Lions Clubs International's 95th international president. Miller also presented a gavel to Craig.Scott Dudley, then presented the International Charter and official club banner and Judy Dudley, welcomed the club into Lionism. Dan Swincinski, PCC, presented the State Charter.Paul Moyer, PDG presented the Gong and Lizanne McElwee, VDG, presented the Bank.A second gavel was presented by Robert Neumoyer, PDG.Judy Dudley, PDG, gave a brief presentation on the history of Lionism.DG Scott Dudley said that Judy Dudley, PDG, would receive the Extension Award for assisting with the formation of the club. The award will be presented after the club is one year old.Several clubs came forward to offer words of encouragement and to present checks to get the new club on a good financial footing. Presenters were Earl Reabold, president of the Bowmanstown-Parryville Lions Club; Virginia Leamendola, president of the Western Pocono Lioness Club; Bob Neumoyer, PDG, of the West Penn Lions Club; Christine Beck, secretary of the Weatherly Lions Club and Manny DaCosta, president of the Penn-Kidder Lions Club.President Craig then offered his goals for the coming year in Lionism. He said that he envisioned the club reaching out to the community."We've been doing that," said Craig. Craig said that he is proud of the club's heart and their humor."We're been granted our charter and we are proud to be part of the world's largest service organization," said Craig. "We have assembled quite diverse people," he said. "The club was the brainchild of Tom Zellner, Gail Maholick and Bob Maholick."Craig then singled out several of the club members and remarked on their talents."Each member has a unique set of skills and talents," he said. "Each member of our club has the opportunity to hear and vote on everything. I have the easiest job. Our club will have term limits so that each member will have the opportunity to govern, providing equality to everyone."Craig said that one of the best things he has done was to become a member of the Beltzville Lions Club.