Southern Regional Leo Club

A new student service club is active at Southern Regional. The Leo club is the youth volunteer division of the Lions Club International service organization, sponsored locally by the Stafford Township Lions and overseen at the middle school by Family and Consumer Sciences teacher Sue Stinson.

Stafford Lions Club members addressed the Southern regional Board of Education January 2012 to thank the board for the opportunity to sponsor the new club. For the last few years budget constraints have prohibited creation of any new school clubs but as district superintendent Craig Henry explained, the board sees fit to make an exception in this case, given the value of the Leo club's community service component and the life lessons to be learned.

The Stafford Lions Club conducts vision screenings and eye exams for children from Tuckerton to Waretown, awards scholarships, collects food donations, and is involved in disaster relief projects. The Leo club is the official youth program of Lions international and is an acronym for Leadership, Experience, and Opportunity. Today thousands of Leo clubs in about 140 countries introduce young people to the rewards of humanitarian work.

Susan Mueller, the Stafford Lions Club liaison to the new Leos, explained to the board that the middle school age group is one that often misses out on community service opportunities but can reap considerable benefits of the program. She added that the Leo club membership doesn't interfere with any other activities a student might have such as sports, recreation, or faith since the idea of community service is compatible with every type of person and fits into every lifestyle.

The Stafford Township Lions Club is excited about giving middle schoolers a new path for personal development teaching them to make a difference in the world around them and building the next generation of volunteers.