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PROPOSED RESOLUTION
HONORING THE ARGO SUMMIT LIONS CLUB ON THEIR 100th ANNIVERSARY
WHEREAS, the Argo Summit Lions Club was established on October 20, 1925 in Summit, Illinois; and
WHEREAS, the Argo Summit Lions Club is part of the Lions Clubs International. Lions Clubs International is an international service organization, currently headquartered in Oak Brook, Illinois. As of January 2020, it had over 46,000 local clubs and more than 1.4 million members in more than 200 locations around the world; and
WHEREAS, the mission of Lions is 'We serve communities, give hope and impact lives. Where there's a need, there's a lion ready to help serve’; and
WHEREAS, the Argo Summit Lions Club has donated to Beds Plus Service Center in Summit, Saint Blase Food Pantry, the Argo High School football team, and Summit Fire Department; and
WHEREAS, the Argo Summit Lions Club takes an active part in the community. The Club has helped with the Summit Fire Department Blood Drive, attend the Summit Fire Department open house events, National Night Out with the Summit Police Department, as well as area festivals to grow the club and raise awareness to what the Argo Summit Club is about. The Argo Summit Club also donates toys to Loyola Hospital every year at Christmas for children; and
WHEREAS, the Argo Summit Lions Club partners with the Bridgeview Lions Club and Justice Lions Club to host a Super Sunday event each year to award Educator Of The Year, Business Of The Year, Veteran Of The Year, and a Community Impact Award. The three clubs also partner for an annual Oktoberfest Fundraiser to raise funds to give back to their communities; and
WHEREAS, the current officers of the Argo Summit Lions Club are President Tula Beene, Vice President Brian Ponczek, Treasurer Deshaun Wallace, Assistant Treasurer James Wolf, Secretary Carol McGowan, Marketing Chair Diane Ponce, Membership Chair Jose Rodriguez, and Service Chair Fernando Manriquez; and
WHEREAS, the Argo Summit Lions Club was on the verge of disbanding for lack of membership in 2023. President Tula Beene reached out to the community for new members as she did not want to see that happen. Seventeen community members stepped up and joined in March of that year. The club is now 26 members strong; and
WHEREAS, the Argo Summit Lions Club had the support of the Village of Summit to allow the club to work with students in Cook County School District 104 in Summit for students to submit a design to be on the 2025 village vehicle sticker. The winning design is now on every registered vehicle within the village. The village sticker commemorates the 100th Anniversary for the club; and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Argo Summit Lions club has contributed to the well-being and character of the communities they serve; and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the efforts of the leadership and members of the Argo Summit Lions Club should be recognized; and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the President and the Cook County Board of Commissioners, on behalf of the residents of Cook County, do hereby honor the Argo Summit Lions Club in September of 2025.end