Local lion receives prestigious award

Times Contributor

 

The Standard Lions Club proudly nominated Al McKinnon to receive a Melvin Jones Fellowship award. The fellowship is awarded for exemplary service to the club and community.

The Melvin Jones Fellowship is named after the founder of Lions Club International. It is largely due to the growth of the fellowship program that LCIF has been able to meet humanitarian needs in communities around the world.

Fellowship contributions help to bring medication to prevent river blindness to people like 67-year-old Hilario and her family, or teach children like 12-year-old Stefan to avoid drugs through Lions Quest. Each Melvin Jones Fellowship contribution can restore the sight of 167 individuals or provide Lions Quest to 67 youth. LCIF is able to continue and expand programs through the generous support of fellows such as McKinnon.

Al McKinnon has been a member of both Rosebud and Standard Lions Clubs. He served as President of both clubs and has also served many terms in other executive positions. Lion Al is one of the thoughtful leaders of discussion at club meetings in Standard and his opinions are carefully considered and well respected.

In the community of Standard, McKinnon served as village councillor for 33 years, including several years as Mayor. He received a provincial award for his service to the village, one of only five given out in the entire province that year. Over the years, McKinnon has been a member of many organizations and has always been an active promoter of the village. 

A devoted family many, in partnership with his wife Rita raised a fine family and is now at least once, a great-grandfather.

The Melvin Jones Fellowship represents the dedication of McKinnon to humanitarian service of the highest degree.