Jasper Leos attend international board meeting in San Antonio

Courtesy photo FUTURE LIONS met with Lions Club International president Jimmy Ross in San Antonio recently. Shown: Penny Gregrich, Maurica Cheatham, Dorlexit Cheatham, Jimmy Ross, and Ruby Avant, with Ashley Bodin and Reba Dougharty in front.

Five Leos, the youth arm of Lions Club International, attended the Board of Directors meeting in San Antonio March 18. The Lions Club is a community service organization founded in 1917 and has 1.3 million members in 200 countries.

Past district governor Penny Gregich took Reba Dougharty and Dorlexit Cheatham from Jasper High School and Ruby Avant, Manurica Cheatham, and Ashley Bodin from Jasper Junior High to the meeting to serve as greeters. Each student received a pin from international president Jimmy Ross, who is from Quitaque.

Eighth-grade student Ashley Bodine said, "Today we had a one-time opportunity to meet with the international president of Lions Clubs and others from all over the world such as Korea, India, Japan, Iceland, Canada, Greenland ... We heard reports in their native languages as well as many in English."

Speakers were often in native dress and translators using headsets translated the reports.

Local Leo Club members will assist at the Easter egg hunt and parade this Saturday at the gazebo beginning at 9 a.m. They will also serve at the Jasper Lions Benefit Rodeo May 9- 12.

All Jasper students ages 12-18 are eligible to join Leos. For more information, call Gregrich at 384.7586.