Hot Springs Village Evening Lions – 51 Years Strong! Roaring Like a Lion!

Celebrating its 51st Anniversary in style, the Hot Springs Village Evening Lions Club held the 2023-2024 annual Installation of Officers and Awards Banquet at the DeSoto Club on Thursday, June 15. The HSV E Lions is a merry group, but the members also address many serious issues in the world, while providing numerous services for the local community.

The group supports “sight, hunger, the environment, childhood cancer, and diabetes… to help address some of humanity’s biggest challenges.” With the ambitious goal of helping 200 million people annually, they are bringing more service to people in need than ever before.

To help support the lofty goals of the International Foundation, the HSV E Lions hold two annual events – Hamburger Day and Pancake Day while hosting bi-monthly bingo games. In addition to fundraising for medical treatment, HSV Evening Lions organize a cleanup every year and pick up trash along DeSoto Boulevard.

This past year or so, the group spearheaded a special effort to bring a phenomenal park and children’s playground to Hot Springs Village Balboa Beach. The Evening Lions Balboa Beach Park Committee, chaired by Larry Bauer, worked painstakingly with HSVPOA Parks and Recreation Department Director Terry Wiley to bring the park to fruition. Once just a dream on paper, Lion Bauer said they raised around $40,000 for this project. A big chunk of this money came from the pockets of Hot Springs Village Lions Club members. The team kicked off the park opening with a dedication ceremony and the 2nd Annual Lions Baggo Tournament on May 6, 2023. Funds from the Baggo Tournament were contributed to the maintenance of the park. Click here to read about the park kickoff.

Service Chair Nell Rocket said, “This is the last meeting of the year and is such an important meeting because it is a time for us to celebrate the achievements and talents of outstanding Lions. All of our members are important…”

Rockett continued, “Service is what the Lions is all about. Great acts are made up of small deeds. Goodness is the only investment that never fails. As we serve others, we are working on ourselves. Every act, every word, every gesture of genuine compassion, naturally nourishes our own hearts as well.”

Newly elected President Bob Peterson said that it is obvious from the work and help of everyone that the club was very, very successful and reached its goals.

The HSV E Lions made the finals for the “Club of the Village.” The Hot Springs Village Voice celebrates community organizations and businesses by sponsoring a contest in which the community votes for “the best.” The E Lions are in the top finals in the categories of “Best Club of the Year” and “Best Charity Event of the Year” (Hamburger Day).

This is the first year the club has honored non-members with Golden Lion awards to recognize individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the club.

What would a Lions Award Ceremony be without a raffle? Excitement was in the air as winning tickets were drawn for two complimentary tickets to Into the Woods from the HSV Players and a very unique bottle of African wine, donated by Cristina Davis.

District training for new (and old) officers is Saturday, July 15, in Arkadelphia at Trinity Temple Assembly of God Church at 10:00 a.m. The club is scheduled to meet at the DeSoto Club for the rest of the year.

Special Guests: Toni and Dave Shockey – Toni is the new District 7-L Governor.

Hot Springs Village Evening Lions Installation Of Officers

  • President – Bob Peterson
  • 1st V. Pres. – Cristina Davis
  • Imed. Past Pres. – Terry Sterzik
  • Secretary – Gwynn Lumpkin
  • Treasurer – George Parker
  • Service Chr. – Nell Rockett
  • Market/Com. Chr. – Cristina Davis
  • LCIF Coord. – Dave DeGraff
  • Program Coord. – Monica Lollar
  • Membership Chr. – Chris Davis
  • Bingo Chr. – Ed Smith
  • Lion Tamers – Dan Lord and Chuck Goble
  • Tail Twister – Mark Winburn
  • Website – Jackie Parker
  • Board of Directors
    • Yr. 1 – Chris Davis
    • Yr. 2 – Mark Winburn
    • Yr. 2 – Bonnie O’Day

Hot Springs Village 2022 Evening Lions Award Winners

  • Certificate of Appreciation – Chris Davis, Co-chair of Hamburger and Pancake Days
  • Certificate of Appreciation – Christ of the Hills Methodist Church
  • Silver Cane (WSB) – Bonnie O’Day
  • Roy Kumpe (WSB) – Pete and Marlene Beck
  • Crystal Cornea (AR Eye Bank) – Lloyd and Linda Sherman
  • Ed Dalstrom (Mid-South) – Chris Davis
  • Ed Dalstrom (Mid-South) – Bob and Jan Peterson
  • Melvin Jones Fellow (LCIF) – John Sawyer
  • Distinguished Service Award – Dave DeGraff 1999-2023
  • Distinguished Service Award – George Parker 2011-2023
  • Distinguished Service Award – Dick Gunderson 2011-2023
  • Lion of the Year – Cristina Davis
  • Presidential Certificates of Appreciation – Kelly Williams, Jackie Parker, Ed Smith, Mark Windburn, Carol DeGraff, Jim Sebestyen, Jackie Parker
  • Outgoing President –Terry Sterzik
  • Golden Lions: Bill Hall, Kathy Bracke, Joe and Cheryl Dowden

Click here to visit the HSV Evening Lions website.

By Cheryl Dowden; Photography by Joe Dowden