Climbing Mountains With The Lions Club

By Cookie Steponaitis

photo by provided Competing at the Vergennes Lions Speak Out were Sophia Parker, Alyse Beauchemin, Brandon Cousino and Sarah Dee Webber. Sophia won the right to represent Vergennes at the state championships in Chester, Vermont in March, 2017.

photo by provided Winner Sophia Parker.

photo by provided Sarah Dee Webber speaks to the club.

photo by provided Brandon Cousino challenges each person present to look behind and ahead when taking on daunting challenges.

photo by provided Alyse Beauchemin speaks to the power of hope and its ability to break polarization.

Lions Clubs are familiar with undertaking projects the size of mountains and making them smaller until they disappear. There are 1.4 million Lions in 210 countries joined together who take on humanitarian projects locally, nationally and globally. The Lions started in 1917 and serve people they know in the communities in which they live and people around the globe they never meet. Adult Lions groups and junior Leos groups focus on programs that will improve eyesight and offer aid, need and change.
    The Vergennes Lions Club had their monthly dinner meeting Wednesday, January 18th and hosted several student guests who were there to participate in the Lions Club Speak Out. Each young adult offered their interpretation of the contest theme of ‘New Mountain to Climb’ and VUHS senior Alyse Beauchemin spoke about political turmoil and overcoming polarization through hope and unity in America. Alyse spoke eloquently about how the paths taken by our current legislators should include community service work and to learn the format and approach to civic engagement promoted by the Lions. Beauchemin remarked, “Great acts of humanity often highlight the bright potential of the human race to overcome struggles. And through hope we unite; through hope we conquer the mountain of polarization. Through hope humanity finds the courage to persevere when the demands of the modern world attempt to divide us and pull us into despair.”
    VUHS senior Sophia Parker also addressed the assembled Lions and spoke of working with others in the field of medicine to save lives, research cures and to see obstacles as brick walls and not there to keep people out but to show people how much you want to accomplish things. Parker challenged the group and remarked, “I began this next journey by training with the Red Cross to do disaster relief work. Then I joined my community’s rescue squad when I met their minimum age requirement, at sixteen years-old, where I continue to serve with the ambulance crew.  I am currently taking an EMT course as well. “
    VUHS senior Brandon Cousino saw timeliness in the theme of the Lions Speak Out Competition of climbing new mountains and his own life and shared with the group. “When I started to write this speech I saw the choices in front of me and in turn the choices I have made. Those many smaller mountains I have climbed such as winning States in wrestling, raising money for Lions club and just this past week giving my dedication speech during my Modern Skills and Expression class to my girlfriend, which I think is probably the hardest and most nerve wracking mountain I’ve ever had to climb all appeared before me and made me see.”
    NJCC student Sarah Dee Webber’s essay took the group on a more personal journey and reflected that for change to happen first the person must overcome obstacles within themselves to see worth, value, potential and growth. Webber reflected on her own life and discussed faith in God and in self as building blocks for change in life and changing the lives of others.
    All students presented a clear understanding of the role of Lions Club and how motivated citizens can implement change in a cascade pattern all over the world. As the dinner concluded and the winner was announced, the lessons learned from all the young people were supported and lauded by the Lions present with their applause, genuine enthusiasm for what they had just heard and the handshake from one generation to the next of people brought together in a common bond of helping others and celebrating life while doing it. It is one of the many programs offered by the Lions to enhance the education and communication of young people worldwide.