DCTC Lions have accomplished a lot in their first year

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The Dakota County Technical College's Lions Club held a chili-cook off last April. The event was popular and will be held again.

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Just like any other Lions Club, the Dakota County Technical College club’s purpose is to serve. It just has its own way of going about meeting the mission.

In its first year, the DCTC Club has hit the ground running, hosting a number of events that help people at a number of levels.

“We keep ourselves pretty busy,” said club president Janeth Winkler.

Since the club chartered in Aug. 2010, the group has volunteered with Bridging Inc.; provided a leadership workshop to enhance students’ skills; sponsored a chili cook-off at DCTC; set up a resume workshop for all Lions members; helped other clubs with Christmas tree sales; collected glasses; and provided a photo shoot opportunity for the community in which participants could have photos done by a DCTC photography student.

Club advisor Brett Kolles said the club consists of about 35 dedicated people. While the club isn’t huge, Kolles said the members are energetic, creative and willing to step up.

“We have a super task-oriented club,” said Kolles.

That energy and will has already left a mark on the campus. For example Winkler said a Lions Club member, who is a student in the photography department, came up with the idea for the photo shoot. The club helped the student put the event together and it turned out to be a great success in a number of ways, said Winkler.

For one, it provided photography students at the school with a good opportunity to use their skills and fill their portfolios. It also raised funds and awareness for the club.

Another event that recently helped people was a resume workshop. Winkler said they invited Lions Club members to receive professional feedback on their resumes. She said some of the attendees of the workshop have already gotten more interviews because of the help.

“I think we’ll help a lot of people in even more ways than people might think,” said Winkler.

To help the young club through its beginnings, Kolles said the club has received a lot of advice and aid from other area Lions Clubs including the Rosemount and Farmington clubs.

DCTC is the only two year school with a club. That comes with its own challenges. Winkler said the club constantly recruits new members.

Winkler, who will graduate from DCTC in December, said she finds working with the club fulfilling and will continue her membership with the club even after she’s done with school.

Lions Club International is a network of 1.3 million men and women in 205 countries and geographic areas who work together to answer the needs that challenge communities around the world, according to the organization’s website.

Lions is the biggest service organization in the world. Locally clubs take an active part in the community through service projects and charitable donations. The clubs in Rosemount and Farmington hold fundraisers throughout the year which benefit a number of charities and organizations including the city of Rosemount, the city of Farmington, Meals on Wheels, University of Minnesota Eye bank and more.

Going forward, Kolles hopes the club will help whenever and wherever they can.

“Above all, the Lions have learned how to have a lot of fun while serving the community,” said Kolles.

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