Jeri Seely, Milford, received the Indiana Distinguished Lion Award for 2018, at the Indiana Lions State Convention in Muncie. The convention was held April 27-29. Shown during the presentation, from left, are Robert Booher Jr., past council chairman; Seely and Al Dybel, vice president of Indiana Lions Foundation. (Photo by D.G. “Bud” Seely)

MUNCIE — “It is one of those things you’re just happy and proud to be nominated,” said Jeri Seely, Milford, who received the 2018 Indiana Distinguished Lion Award, last weekend at the Indiana Lions State Convention, Muncie. She is the first woman to receive the award.

Nominated by Syracuse Lion Ann Haffner, Seely’s Lion career spanning from 1991 to the present indicates her commitment to the service organization.

The Indiana Distinguished Lion Award recognizes an outstanding member of the Lions of Indiana and who has been a Lion in good standing for at least 25 years prior to the nomination.

Seely received a framed certification recognizing her nomination and a standing Lion replica. A brick bearing her name will be placed at the Lions State Office in Indianapolis.

However, the state distinguished Lion award is not the first Lion award she has received. She received the Melvin Jones Fellowship Award through the Lions Clubs International Foundation and the Progressive W.P. Woods Award from the Indiana Lions Foundation Inc.

The Melvin Jones Fellowship recognizes donations of $1,000 and is an honor presented to those making the donation to Lions Clubs International Foundation or to those whom a donation was made by others.

The Progressive W.P. Woods Award was established to honor the first president of Lions International W.P. Woods, an Indiana Lion from Evansville. It is a way Indiana Lions may honor their dedicated Lions.

Her commitment to the club began and continues at the local level where she has served Milford Lions Club as club president and has held the position of club secretary for numerous years. She also actively participates in the club’s local projects.

She has served as zone, regional and district chairman, and from 1996-1997 served as governor of District G. She has also been district public relations chairman, and was appointed as the Centennial Chairman, three years ago, with her term ending in July at the International Lions Convention.

Additionally she has served as convention promotions chairman, protocol chairman and district trustee for Leader Dogs for the Blind. She has also served two terms as cabinet secretary and cabinet treasurer at the district level.

At the state level she is state PR chairman, serves on the Midwinter Committee, where she has also served as a presenter. She also served as vice chairman of the credentials committee in Germany in 2013, on the international level.

For a number of years she has served as managing editor of the Hoosier Lion.

Seely was one of the first two women to serve on the Indian Lions State Council. She, along with her husband D.G. “Bud” Seely, have gone on numerous Lions Clubs eye related mission trips to Guatemala, Mexico and Kenya.