The Bowmanstown-Parryville Lions Club named its Lion of the Year for 2022 during its annual Christmas dinner held Dec. 19 at the Bowmanstown Volunteer Fire Company Hall.

The 2022 recipient, determined by a vote of the club members, was Lion Loraine K. Neal for her service as the club’s immediate past president for two terms (July 1, 2020 through June 20, 2022).

She is a member of Bowmanstown Area Residents Connected and her community service including the writing of the grant received by the club to refurbish and repair the Bowmanstown Borough Veterans Monument.

The club she volunteered untold hours to improving the club and insuring it provided needed services and funds to organizations and individuals in the club’s service area.

The dinner program opened with a welcome by President Lyle Augustine Jr., the Pledge of Allegiance, the singing of “America,” the invocation given by Chaplain Kathy Nunemacher, a moment of silence in memory of deceased members, and the Lion’s Toast.

After a meal prepared and served by the “kitchen crew” of the Bowmanstown Volunteer Fire Company, Augustine introduced the four invited guests who are nonmembers of the club, but have helped throughout the year at the concession stands at the Carbon County Lion/Lioness Fair, the West End Fair, the Palmerton Community Festival and during the monthly block shoots.

Club members thanked these people for volunteering their time to assist the Lions Club in its fundraising efforts, as profits of these efforts are donated to various local community groups and service organizations.

Augustine thanked the club members for their dedication to service in the community and to upholding the Lions’ motto “We Serve.”

He then said that the Lion of the Year Award is in recognition of a member’s “outstanding service, loyalty and devotion to Lionism.”

In addition to each club member being presented with a Lions Club International “WE SERVE” pin award, the following club members received an LCI “Paw Pin” Award for outstanding service on various projects during the year: Norman Engle Jr., Joseph Herzog, Jean Smith, Ruth Augustine and Tyeson Sargent (youngest member).

An official LCI plush “Lion Cub” was presented to Abigail Buffington – a Student Achievement Award recipient in 2021 who has continued to volunteer each summer at the concession stand at the Carbon County Lion/Lioness Fair (along with her mother Brenda and her sister Elizabeth).

Everyone present participated in a gift exchange game, led by Ruth Augustine, in which the participants pass the gifts to one another on command of the words “left” or “right” contained in a special version of “T’was the Night Before Christmas.”

Chaplain Kathy Nunemacher gave the benediction, and the assembly joined in singing “Joy To The World.”

The duo “It Takes Two” provided entertainment.

The club is always accepting new members. Anyone interested in becoming a Lion may call Loraine Neal at 610-597-1875. Members do not have to be a resident of Bowmanstown or Parryville to join.