Pleasant Valley Middle School seventh-grader Josh Sliker had a front-row seat at the Lions of District 14-U 23rd annual district convention.

His family, including mother Kim and his grandparents Ruth and Walter Freilicher, all of Brodheadsville, joined him for the Saturday luncheon at the Best Western-Lehigh Valley in Bethlehem.Together they heard Past International Director Lion Gary Anderson of Grand Rapids, Michigan, speak about how Lions had affected his life: from allowing him to serve others and making a difference, to encouraging him to grow in confidence and leadership, to also growing friendships in various ways, including mission trips.Anderson also presented three certificates of appreciation from the international president, including one to Lion Holly Ellis of Nesquehoning, for serving as zone chair. He also presented patches in recognition of services already done for the Lions International Centennial Service Challenge goal, that of impacting the lives of 100 million globally by 2018, in celebration of the 100th anniversary of Lionism. The three Lions Clubs so honored are Tri-Valley/Valley View, Lehighton Lions Lioness and Weatherly.For Josh, that luncheon invitation was to honor him for winning the Lions District 14U peace poster contest after being chosen the winner for the Pleasant Valley Middle School and then competing against all other club winners in District 14U.His poster, which he said came to him "in stages" after he heard the announcement on the school's public address system and thought about it for a few days. It was hung at a place of honor on the speakers' platform.It fulfilled the theme for this year's Lions competition of "Peace, Love and Understanding" with a dove holding an arrow with a heart as its tip and three people holding hands looking at that dove.His personal explanation of his poster is "War kills, peace builds. Hand in hand we can achieve peace."Lion Joyce Aylsworth, who served as chairwoman of the local competition at Pleasant Valley Middle School for the Western Pocono Lions Club said, "His poster exceeded the others because of his understanding of the concepts of peace, love and understanding."District peace poster co-chairs Gerald and Kathryn Reichert had help from the entire Schuylkill Haven Lions Club in judging the district entries.The judges chose Josh's poster because, "They liked the concept and thought he (Josh) met the criteria better than others," said Kathryn Reichert, adding, "They liked his drawing."When Lions District 14U Gov. Sharon Kimmel introduced Josh as the district winner, she shared that she herself had won that peace Poster contest when she was in school, suggesting that Josh might well be on the way to becoming a Lion himself.The Western Pocono Lions Club had already recognized Josh at the middle school, and this district recognition included not only being presented to district Lions from various areas of Carbon, Monroe, Pike and Schuylkill counties, but also a check for $100.