Steve Southwick

Donna Gilger, who has been serving as first vice president and was recently honored with her husband Duane as "Payson Lion of the Year", will serve as president of the Payson Lions Club beginning this summer.

Gilger was elected at the April meeting along with first vice president Rick Moore and second vice president Dick Allen.

Donna Gilger of Spanish Fork has been a member of the local club for the past three years after she and Duane moved from Tustin, California, where they had been active the service club for three decades.

Gilger has been instrumental in organizing the new Lions chapter in Salem. She personally recruited 21 new charter members who are currently holding their first meetings.

While in Tustin, Donna Gilger served as a director of the Chamber of Commerce and as president of "Women in Chamber." She organized the Tustin 'Miss America' competition and was voted for two consecutive year's second runner up as California Woman of the Year.

Other officers elected include Connie Moore as secretary, Doug Huff as treasurer, Ned Deuel as tail-twister, Van Canann as activities chair and outgoing president Steve Southwick as membership chairman.

The most recent new member of Payson Lions is local Farmers agent Troy Thompson and his wife Michele. Troy and his wife moved to Payson from Provo ten years ago and in 2003 Troy set up an insurance office in a medical building on 8th South. Last year he and his partner Carlos Corzo re-located to their current office on Main street at Fourth North.

The firm offers a complete line of auto, home, personal and business insurance. "We specialize in service," says Thompson. "People want confidence in their agent and in their coverage. In the long term, insurance prices even out. What Carlos and I offer is premier service; that's really what we sell."

Thompson grew up in Roy, Utah. He attended Weber State, Utah State and completed graduate work in economics and financial planning at the University of Arizona. His partner Carlos taught for the LDS church in Spain before coming to America.

Thompson says he was attracted to the Payson Lions Club because of service and networking opportunities.

Payson Lions are currently gearing up for their third annual Crafts and Garage sale at Payson High School Saturday, June 20th. Several hundred dollars for needy children in the Nebo School District with eye-sight problems has been generated over the years. Stalls are sold for $15.00 to $25.00 so people can sell arts, crafts and garage sale items with participants retaining all their profits. Sellers have the benefit of Payson Lions advertising for the event plus the event is billed as "the largest Craft/Yard Sale in Southern Utah County." If you have items to sell, contact Duane Gilger at (801) 798-9080.

Payson Lions meets twice monthly; new members are invited. The next dinner meeting is Thursday, May 14.

Payson Justice Court Judge David Dahlquist will be the speaker. The meeting will be at the mini-mall across from Payson Post Office. For further information, call Steve Southwick (801)822-1705.