Shown (left to right) Lions International Trading Pin Club President Jim Minnich from Delaware, event hosts Jim and Donna Schiebel, and Lions International Trading Pin Club Past President William A. Smith shortly after Jim and Donna received the William A. Smith Fellow for their generous contribution to the Lions scholarship program. Provided photoThe Pin Traders Club of New York and Bermuda were the general hosts for the twenty-sixth Northeast Pin Swap. At a typical pin swap, Lions Club members show up to share fellowship and perhaps exchange a few lapel pins produced by individuals, states or countries.
This swap started on Wednesday, August 15 with an informal reception at Jim and Donna Schiebel’s barn. Lunch and a chicken dinner were served by members of the Hamlin Lions Club, the Churchville Lions Club, and the Rochester Downtown Host Lions Club. Eighty-four members from Quebec, Ontario, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Indiana, Iowa, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, New Hampshire, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Virginia attended the barbecue.
Lion Janet Walker from the Barker Lions Club did a wine tasting before dinner for the group with five wines from the family winery, Marjim Manor Winery in Appleton. After a welcome by Chairman Mike Morris from the Churchville Lions Club and a welcome by District Governor Forest Shaner from the Bolivar Lions Club, President of the Lions International Trading Pin Club, Jim Minnich, from Delaware, made several remarks and then presented recognitions to Lion Howard Yonce from the Ovid-Willard Lions Club, Lion Mike Morris from the Churchville Lions Club and Lion Jim Schiebel and Donna from the Hilton Lions Club for their donations to the Lions’ scholarship program for graduating seniors.
Among the many who attended the mid-August Lions Club pin swap were: (left to right) Ralph Dolan from Connecticut, Richard Durham from North Carolina and Sy Shribnik from Massachusetts noting the variety of pins from each state. Provided photoThe next day, the group met at the Elk’s Lodge in Brockport for pin trading throughout the day which also included a book exchange coordinated by retired librarian Gloria Morris from Churchville and an address by Ed Evans from Hamlin on the CCC Camp and Prisoner of War facility in Hamlin. About 30 from the group then joined the Kendall Lions for their annual steak roast.
Friday included more fellowship, more pin trading, and a live auction of pins before most headed to the Rochester Red Wings baseball game. Saturday was a farewell breakfast at 58 Main Restaurant in Brockport with a past president of the group, Bill Smith from Virginia, speaking on the history of the pin trading clubs.
Next year’s Northeast Pin Swap will be hosted by members from Connecticut. Area clubs have another opportunity to host in about four years.
