The Aurora Lions Club recently chose new officers and directors for the 2025-2026 club year.
The leadership team was inducted at the club’s July 18 meeting at Paulie’s Pub in Aurora. Arvid Meyer, past president, conducted the ceremony.
The officers are: Randall “Randy” Brown, president; Jay Short, first vice president and service co-chairperson; Susan Koepke, past president and service co-chairperson; Paul Buddy, treasurer and tail twister; and Bobby Menendez, secretary. Board of directors members sworn in were Joe Beary, Tom Muth, Michele Needham, Dick Schindel and Tom Voigt.
An Aurora Lion since 2022, Brown formerly served as membership chair and co-president. He received the club’s distinguished service award f in 2024.
Aurora Lions Club, formerly Aurora Noon Lions Club, has a proud history of serving the greater Aurora area since being chartered on Oct.30, 1922. With the motto “We Serve,” the club provides financial assistance to blind and vision-impaired adults and children, hearing impaired children, seniors and others in need within the community
Annual fundraising activities include Illinois Candy Day, Easter Pancake Breakfast, Halloween Pancake Breakfast and Salvation Army bell ringing,
Proceeds fund monthly youth vision exams at Santori Aurora Public Library, exams by a mobile vision and hearing van and a scholarship for a Waubonsee Community College student.
Aurora Lions volunteers serve the Aurora Salvation Army, East Aurora High School, Fox Valley United Way, Hesed House, Lions of Illinois Foundation , Aurora Area Interfaith Food Pantry, Marie Wilkinson Food Pantry, Mutual Ground, VNA Vision Clinic, Waubonsee Community College and West Aurora High School.
For more information about Lions International, visit lionsclubs.org.
—Al Benson