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Wednesday, Jul. 02, 2008

River Hills Lions induct new leader

By Staff Reports

Lake Wylie Pilot

On June 21, the River Hills Lions Club inducted Lion Dona Van Leer as president of the River Hills Lions Club.

Van Leer joined the Lions in September 2002. In her first year, she mentored the Clover High School students and volunteered at Clover Area Assistance Center.

In 2003, in addition to the above, she took on the role of the Club's FOCUS editor, which she is still doing; became club photographer; was influential in negotiating the S.C. Lions Health Screening Unit into the Clover School District screening for hearing/sight loss, blood pressure and glaucoma; worked on the pot luck supper; and sold ads for the Lions telephone directory.

She is a true leader. She has been co-chairwoman of the Juvenile Diabetes Walk to Cure Diabetes from 2003-08, secretary of the River Hills Lions Community Foundation 2003-04, and in 2004 ,was nominated "New Lion of the Year."

Van Leer's community involvement doesn't end with the Lions. Since 2002, she has been volunteering at the Clover Area Assistance Center, and this year became operations manager.

For the past 36 years, Van Leer also has raised, trained and shown golden retrievers.

She is married to Frank, also an active Lion who acts as Father Christmas every year at the Lion's Christmas tree sale. The Van Leers have two children and two grandchildren.

Other members installed on the River Hills Lions board are: first vice president Lion George Gessner, second VP Jerry Epping, third VP Dick Pastor, secretaryRon Kraft; treasurer Tommy Haughton; directors Jay Wolf, Gerry Orlick, Anita Rounds and Ralph Byra; membership chairman Bill Burgin; and publicity chairwoman Sandy Decker.

The River Hills Lions Club welcomes women and men of all ages to join and help give back to the community. For more information about becoming a Lion, call (803) 370-2828 and visit riverhillslions.org

-- Submitted by Sandy Decker