Leo Club Recognition
Leo Club is an adjacent volunteering organization to Lions Club International, and focuses on community service opportunities for high school students. Leo Club volunteers for and donates money to a plethora of local organizations such as Sussex Outreach Services, Ronald McDonald House, Milwaukee Street Angels, The Women’s Center, and more. Leo Club is not directly affiliated with any school, but rather focuses on being a community-based organization to help out in a wider expanse of the Milwaukee area.
Leo Club’s members have volunteered in numerous ways to aid these organizations and make a positive impact within the community. Leos have made tie blankets and toiletry kits for Street Angels, collected food for Sussex Outreach Services, and made holiday cards for senior assisted living homes. The Leo Club Executive board consists of exemplary students and community members who dedicate themselves to servitude and leadership. The executive board is as follows:
Avery Gilmartin - President
Tejasi Hublikar - Vice President
Autumn Schaumberg - Secretary
Arshia Parashar - Treasurer
Colsen Myhre - Leadership Director
Angelika Bourke - Membership Director
Eva Wellens - Social Media Director
Kayla Courchaine - Event Director
After asking a few of these board members interview-style questions, they then offered in-depth answers regarding club membership and volunteer opportunities. The questions and responses are as follows:
How long have you been a Leo?
Tejasi has been a Leo for 3.5 years, Angelika for 3 years, and Arshia for 4 years.
What is your favorite event to volunteer at?
Both Tejasi and Arshia’s favorite event to volunteer for is Lunch With Santa. Lunch With Santa is a Christmas event that helps bring holiday spirit for the community. Arshia said, “Every year, I love helping out and meeting new people from the community.”
One of the other holiday events Leo Club helps with is Trick or Can, which Angelika said is her favorite event for Leo Club. Angelika responded by saying, “It was my favorite because a bunch of my friends and I were still able to dress up and hang out on Halloween, but we were also helping the community in the process.”
What advice would you give to individuals interested in joining Leo Club as either a member or executive?
For anyone looking to join Leo Club, Tejasi encourages individuals “to make an effort to build friendships within the club and to sign up to volunteer at events with peers. Over the past four years, I’ve grown much closer to the friends I joined Leos Club with during my freshman year, and those friendships have made volunteering at each event way more fun!”
Both Arshia and Angelika mentioned that participating in the community not only helps with preparing for your future, but engaging in ways that will help others. Arshia clarified for people looking to join the executive board to take the initiative which shows commitment to volunteering.
Sussex Leo Club is overseen by Joe Gonzalez, and I asked him a few questions regarding the club to get an inside perspective from an advisor. The interview conversation is below:
How long have you been the advisor for Leo Club?
Joe mentioned that this is his tenth year in Sussex Lions Club as a member, and he has been a Sussex Leo Club advisor since 2017.
What is your favorite event for Leo Club to attend?
Joe elaborated on his favorite event being Trick or Treat for Sussex Outreach Services to collect non-perishable goods from the community. Joe reported on statistics from Trick or Treat by mentioning, “We have collected from 800 to 1800 lbs. of food,” and Trick or Treat is a “long term activity that we have been doing since 2014.” One of the best parts of the night is when Leo Club volunteers get together for a campfire and pizza after “really a high-quality event” according to Joe.
What led you to participate in Leo Club as an adult leader?
Joe joined Lions Club after he retired from his career at WE-Energies so that he could still maintain involvement in the community. While being a member at Lions Club, the role and responsibilities of Leo Club advisor was introduced. Joe explained, “I felt I could utilize my past work experience and skills to help with the continued growth of the club and development of its members.” As a member myself, I can personally attest to Joe’s accomplishments as a club advisor, and he consistently encourages service in a positive manner. Joe concluded our interview by stating, “[being an advisor] has been the most rewarding work that I have ever done.”
Interested in joining Leo Club? Reach out to a member or attend a monthly meeting. Meetings are held one Wednesday a month at Hamilton High School. Check out the Sussex Leo Club Website for more club specifics!
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