Cobden Lions Club hosts Christmas dinner, ladies night

The Cobden Lions Club hosted its annual Christmas dinner and ladies night program Monday night, Dec. 13.

The holiday season event was held at St. Joseph's Church parish hall in Cobden. Approximately 70 people attended the celebration.

The event offered an opportunity to reflect on the Cobden Lions Club's successes and achievements of 2010.

"We have had a very successful year," Cobden Lions Club president Bill Tweedy said.

"This year, the weather was great for our Peach Festival and our income was one of our best years,"  Tweedy said.

The Cobden Lions Club sponsors the Peach Festival each year in August.

"But it wasn't the weather that made it great," Tweedy added. "It was the many club members and friends who put a lot of time and effort to make things happen.

"Most of you who are visitors had a big hand in the Peach Festival.

"Debbie Stroehlein does a great job with selecting the queen and we provide about $1,000 for scholarships to the queen candidates.

"We like the income, but more than anything, the event brings our community and our club members together and that is one of our major goals."

Tweedy said the Lions Club "had a great year of recruiting new members. We were recognized by the district for having one of the best records in the country in our membership drive." New members were recognized.

Tweedy also recognized Ed Flamm for his 35th year in the Cobden Lions Club.

Tweedy also noted that "one thing that really adds to our club meetings is the delicious meals" that Betty Cerny and her crew from St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Cobden prepare for the Lions.

One of the highlights of the program was the presentation of checks from the Lions Club to community organizations and groups.

"We provide funds for many community projects and this is where our money goes," Tweedy said.

The club presented checks to the Cobden Women's Club (for peach cobblers and sliced peaches provided during the Peach Festival), Cobden High School students' clubs (students help to serve at the Peach Festival), the Cobden High School softball and baseball teams (members of the team also help at the Peach Festival), and the Cobden soccer league.

Tweedy also noted that the Lions Club had started two other activities during 2010.

The club hosts a coffee and donut time on Saturdays at the Old Feed Store. "We thank Rose and Ray Hogan for allowing us to use" the space, Tweedy said.

The club also had a pancake breakfast in the fall. "Red Beckly pushed us for over a year to hold this breakfast. It was pretty successful and at this time we plan to have at least one or two each year," Tweedy said.

Keynote speaker for the program was Christy Solverson of Carbondale, associate judge for the First Judicial Circuit in Southern Illinois.

Solverson is seated in Jackson County. She hears family, juvenile and domestic cases.

In her remarks, Solverson focused on the role of women who serve in the judicial system. She encouraged women, and men, as well, to serve as mentors for young people.

"It is important for women to be available to young people," Solverson said.

"You are a wealth of wisdom that young ladies need," she said. "Young girls and women need to know they can reach their goals."

The program also featured entertainment by Malina Heil Bonifield of Carterville. Bonifield, who is a Cobden native, performed a medley of Christmas carols on the piano.

Lions Club officers include president Bill Tweedy, past president Ron Moutardier, vice president Mike Dammerman and secretary-treasurer Will Travelstead.

Christmas program committee members were Ron Moutardier and Clifford Heil.