Vergennes LEOS

LEOS SERVE WITH OUR HEARTS, MINDS, AND HANDS

     Purpose - Service & Growth

Featured Event: Otter Creek Wildlife Rescue

Featured Photos

2023 Events

Tuesday, January 16th Rotary Speech Contest & Wednesday, January 17th Lions Speech Contest

LEOS Collin Clair, Kenzie Flint, Jing Williams and Scout Jacobson stand with Vergennes Rotary president Susan Burdick just after the Rotary Speech Contest on Tuesday, January 16, 2024. The Theme of the contest was " Instilling Hope in Our Schools". Scout Jacobson won and will go on to the district level.

The next day Collin, Jing, Kenzie and Scout also competed in the Vergennes Lions Speech Contest and are seen here with King Lion Macky Gaines and LEO Mentor Lion Mason Charlebois. It was an incredibly close contest, but Collin Clair will go on to represent the Vergennes Lions Club at the state contest on May 4th at the Fireside Inn in Lebanon, New Hampshire.

Then came the weekend and LEO Megan Mentzer competed at the local division of the American Legion Oratorical Contest. Her 9 minute speech on the US Supreme Court was scored by local judges as well as her second 5 minute speech on the Second Amendment. Megan will represent American Legion Post # 14 in February at the district level and will then compete for the state title in March.  Seen here are Megan( middle) and Legion Members Karlene Devine and JT Vincent, Sons of American Legion Commander Michael Davis, and Judge Diane Shortsleeve. Megan went on to take third at the state championships!

At the March 9, 2024 Daughters of the American Revolution Awards Ceremony, four LEOS were honored. Winning in essay contests were LEO Ben Hargett, Leo Megan Mentzer, LEO Scout Jacobson and LEO Wilder Jacobson.

Also honored for being selected as the DAR Good Citizen of the Year was LEO McKenzie Flint. She read her essay and was presented with her name on a plague of winners since 1946 at VUHS and a 250.00 scholarship.

At the Spring Lions District 45 Conference, held in Lebanon, New Hampshire, LEO Collin Clair won the state championship for the Lions Club Speak Out Contest and LEO advisor Mason Charlebois was awarded a Melvin Jones Award for his efforts as a Lion. Seen in the photo (l-R) Immediate Past District Governor Lion Kathy Dorman, King Lion Macky Gaines, Past District Governor Lion Larry Simino, LEO Adivor and Lion Mason Charlebois, LEO member Collin Clair and Vergennes Lion Cookie Steponaitis

May 2024 was yet another busy month for the LEOS. In addition to the normal Fish Fry, Reading to the Littles and collecting plastic to reach TREX goals, the LEOS completed a special environmental project. With the guidance of LEO parents and contractors Chris Clair and Eric Jacobson, the LEOS designed and built seven raised garden beds that are accessible to anyone in a wheel chair or with limited mobility. Three were delivered to the senior apartments ( Valleyview and Willow Apartment), one to the John Graham Emergency Shelter and three still to be delivered. It was all hands on deck for learning to use power tools, proprer measurements, angles, and then staining the garden beds. Congratulations to all involved, Parents Chris Clair, Eric Jacobson, LEO advisor Mason Charlebois and LEOs Ben Hargett, Collin Clair, Megan Mentzer, McKenzie Flint, Scout Jacobson and Wilder Jacobson.

Left to right Kenzie Flint, Scout Jacobson, (Mentor) Eric Jacobson, (Mentor) Chris Clair, Ben Hargett, Wilder Jacobson and Summit Properties Manager Carly Lehrer. Missing LEO Collin Clair, LEO Megan Mentzer

A great project. We thank our sponsors Vergennes Lions, Vergennes LEOS, Women of Wisdom,  JRL Landscaping and Plowing and SWB Landscaping and Plowing.

Just before our seniors graduated, we got together at the American Legion Post # 14 for a LEO Party and we were lucky enough to have the LEOS from Mount Mansfield Club and several of the District 45 Lions Leadership attend. We played some games, ate some food and shared ideas about how LEOS do serve and can serve. This was the first meeting of this kind for LEOS in the state and we look forward to more!Also, congratulations to Four of our LEOS who were awarded 1,000.00 scholarships from the Vergennes Lions Scholarship Fund. Selected were Collin Clair, Ben Hargett, Calvin Grambling and MacKenzie Flint.

At the year end meeting of the Vergennes Lions on 6/19/2024 a first time event happened. Three of the Vergennes LEOS became Vergennes Lions. Past District Governor Kathy Dorman swore them in. The Lions Club was proud to welcome  Ben Hargett, Collin Clair and Kenzie Flint as Lions. Also, a wonderful side of all this LEO work, Chris Clair, Collin's dad and lead contractor/carpenter on many LEO projects also became a Lion.

L-R Past District Governor Kathy Dorman, Lion Chris Clair, Lion Collin Clair, Lion Kenzie Flint, Lion Ben Hargett

Fall 2024 Projects

The Vergennes LEOS are excitedly working on the following projects this fall 2024

1. Construction of a 14X28 foot Bird Flight Cage at Otter Creek Wildlife Rescue. This flight cage will allow for all owls and rehabilitating birds to practice flight, strengthen their wings and abilities and then be ready for release into the wild. Donors for this project include: Chris Clair, Eric Jacobson, Vergennes Lions/ LEOS, Goodro Lumber, rk Miles, Livingston Farms,  Taylor Rentals,  Neat Repeats , BJ's Farm Supply and Protect Our Wildlife. At present, the goal is to complete the building by September 29th.

A Mural for the John Graham Shelter

2.  Finishing up our commitment to the John Graham Shelter of a playground, grill, raised garden bed and mural, The LEOS are working on a 34 inch high X 19 feet long mural that will run along the bottom of the Graham Shelter lattice work near the play yard. The project is slated to be drawn in September, painted in October and installed in the first week of November.

Excited to announce that LEO Sophia Johnson is designing the mural. It will be sketched onto the plywood by Lions Karen & Pam Taylor and hand painted by LEO Sophia Johnson and other VUHS art students.

3. Fundraising and Purchasing for the Vergennes Community Food shelf

The LEOS as a senior leadership project are fundraising to raise approximately 10,000 to purchase and install a heat pump and insulation for the Vergennes Community Food Shelf. This project reflects the LEOS goals of working on environmental projects that increase the quality of life for people and help both short and long term energy goals for the planet.

Project leader LEO senior Jing Williams is working with LEO advisor Cookie Steponaitis and Lion and Food shelf Coordinator Paul Vachon on grant writing and planning to complete this project by March 2025. Fundraising includes 50/50 raffle, popcorns sales, Bingo at St. Peter's Church, Dance at the American Legion and a letter to local organizations.

More details to come.

4. Reading to the Littles & Creating Children's Books to Share

The LEOS are returning to the local elementary schools and are again reading to the youngest children and are helping promote the joy of reading and literacy. In addition, LEO project leader will be working with LEO advisors and other LEOS to create and publish some children's stories related to local history, helping the environment, using your imagination and being a good friend. These books are being published using a software called Story Jumper and grants from Women of Wisdom , Neat Repeats and Green Mountain Power.

The first book will be published in November 2024 and is an A-Z of Vermont wildlife

November 2024 LEOS IN ACTION

LEOS Scout, Jing, Quinch and Megan are seen here with King Lion Macky Gaines after presenting to the Vergennes Lions Club a Year at a Glance about LEOS.    LEO Presentation 

Once a month the LEOS are on duty in the kitchen of the American Legion Fish Fry and help deliver between 130-160 meals in two hours. Lots of yummy fish, lots of conversation and lots of fast pace fun.

November wrapped up a 75 hour project building a large raptor flight cage for the rehabilitating birds at the Otter Creek Wildlife Rescue. Seen here are Lions, LEOS and volunteers who completed the work. 

The LEOS have entered into a partnership with the Vergennes Food Shelf and joined Lions, LEOS and volunteers to clear out the food shelf attice in preparation for electrical work and insulation. This large project is the senior project of LEO Jing Williams.

Here a rake, there a rake, and let's fill those garbage cans! Lots of leaves and plants that needed some clean up in our Little City. Here the LEOS helped out the Vergennes Partnership for a season end clean up of Main Street.

Projects take lots of work and so does fundraising. Here are LEOS Megan, Jing and Quincy on the job at a BINGO we were allowed to hold at Saint Peter's Parish Hall. Many thanks to Father and the committees who let us earn 741.00 that evening.

With a quick smile and lots of people skills, LEO Georgia Krause waits on people at the Bingo.

 Top LEOS  Wilder Jacobson, Scout Jacobson, Georgia Krausse and VUHS Senior and winner of the DAR Good Citizen Award Spencer Gebo. Bottom left-March 2025-Leo Georgia Krausse accepts her certificate and check for her winning essay on a patriot from the American Revoultion. M=(Middle)LEO Wilder Jacobson accepts his certificate and winning essay prize. Right- VUHS Senior Spencer Gebo takes his place on the plaque bearing the names of the DAR Good Citizen Award and Scholarship Recepients from VUHS since 1944. Also LEO Megan Mentzer for earning her Global Seal of Biliteracy for German.