By all accounts, the 2010 Mid-Winter Convention was a resounding success! While we may be partial, in our estimation the biggest thrill was the honoring, and dedication of the convention to, our own Lion Willie Welborn as the most senior Past District Governor. Our club was well represented at the convention by Mary McGuire, Patricia Carroll, David and Linda Lambeth and Gordon and Dixie McAdams and of course, Willie.

Here’s a couple of “eyewitness reports” of the event:

   From Lion President Patricia Carroll: “Willie was so surprised and so pleased that he was honored for the Mid-Winter Convention. The biggest surprise was when his son and daughter-in-law came for the banquet on Saturday night from Charlottesville, Virginia. He was just speechless and that doesn’t happen often with Willie. They had a picture of him when he was 30 yrs old - - the year our club was chartered - - and they had a copy of the program for everyone to sign. Lion Gordon presented this program to him when he was talking about all of the accomplishments during his 60 years in Lionism. It was such a fun weekend and fun was had by all especially on Friday night’s fun night. We had two different groups of cloggers and they put on a show. Then the group was asked to come out and dance and a lot of the cloggers danced with a lot of the Lions and the VIP’s.”

   From Lions Gordon and Dixie: “What a wonderful weekend to honor one of our own Fair Grove Lions, Willie Welborn. Willie was completely surprised and almost at a loss for words. (Almost). Not only is he a Charter Member of our club but he has been a Lion for 60 years. Willie was instrumental in the forming of several clubs in this area. He served as District Governor from 1955 to 1956. Everyone enjoyed the International Director, Deborah Wasserman from Faribault, Minnesota. What a wonderful speaker. She is visually impaired but she does not let that interfere with her daily life. It was a weekend all of us, especially Willie, will never forget.”

See our 2010 February Newsletter for more information