By: Melissa Morgan
I’ve always been determined to live in a big city. Throughout most of my life, I convinced myself that anything but the fast pace of a bustling metropolis like New York City wasn’t worthy of even slight consideration. Lately, however, visiting and writing about Cranbury has helped me appreciate the charms of small-town life.
There is something very appealing about a place where you not only know your neighbors, but can count on them in a bind. Towns like Cranbury pride themselves on things, like good neighbors, that continue to make them tightknit communities.
But what’s even better is the community’s willingness to give back.
I’ve talked to a lot of people who told me that they live in Cranbury because they want to be able to have a relationship with the community and its members.
One township organization that prides itself on community unity and service is the Lions Club of Cranbury. I never knew much about the Lions Club, but always heard its name associated with Cranbury.
This week, Tom Reilly, past president of the club, filled me in on exactly what it’s all about. Mr. Reilly currently holds the title of Region 4 Chairperson of the Lions Club in District 16-D, but has been an active member since 1996 and a Cranbury resident for 41 years.
Recently, Mr. Reilly made his biggest accomplishment as a Lion. He was awarded the Melvin Jones Fellowship, the highest honor an individual Lion can receive. It’s given to a member who has exhibited a dedication to serving the community and being involved with the Lions on a local, state and national level.
"You have to be very active in what is going on," said Mr. Reilly about qualifying for the award. "You can just be a member that sits back and merely pays dues."
Throughout the years, Mr. Reilly proved himself to be more than an ordinary member. He never sat back and always took action and initiative. He worked hard at every Pancake Breakfast, Cranbury Day and Halloween party. He served as president for two consecutive terms and became a member of the board of directors shortly after he joined the club.
Even though he said he felt very honored winning the Melvin Jones Award, Mr. Reilly explained the recognition doesn’t compare with the other rewards of being a Lion.
"Getting awards is satisfying because you are recognized for doing something, but the real satisfaction comes through seeing the things you’ve provided for others," he said. "As soon as I joined and saw what they do for people, I felt like I wanted to be active on a state level."
Mr. Reilly joined the Cranbury Lions Club after he retired in 1996. He described himself as a charitable person and said he wanted to be a part of the group for a long time, but decided to wait until his retirement. That way, Mr. Reilly said, he could make sure he had enough time to give to the club.
"The club’s motto is we serve," he said. "You are expected to devote a lot of time to all of the local and state chapters. Any place I can help out, I’ve always been willing to give my time."
Established in 1917 by Melvin Jones, the club has grown to over 2 million members nationwide. Mr. Reilly said Cranbury currently boasts about 80 members, one of the fastest growing groups in the state.
The Cranbury chapter sponsors and is involved with events like the Memorial Day Parade, a golf classic and Cranbury Day. With the money it raises at several annual fund-raisers, the group gives donations to the local Boy Scouts, the rescue squad and fire department, the Cranbury Art Foundation, the Cranbury Historical and Preservation Society and a scholarship fund. Mr. Reilly said, however, that besides these larger organizations and causes, every club member should want to help the township in any way they can.
"Lions must be ready and willing to serve," said Mr. Reilly. "It’s never, ‘What can I get out of it?’ but ‘What can I do for other people?’ We never have to pounce on guys to get them to volunteer. They want to do it. If they don’t, they won’t be a Lion."
The Lions service motto seems to be catching on. Today, the International Lions Club holds the title of the largest service organization in the world, with members in 178 countries. One of its goals is helping those with vision impairments. The group founded a program of worldwide sight conservation called "SightFirst." As a result, 650,000 cataract surgeries and 48 eye hospitals have been funded all over the world.
Locally, the Cranbury Lions dedicates efforts to sight conservation but also focuses on community needs and bringing both members and nonmembers together.
"We have good camaraderie," said Mr. Reilly. "We really enjoy ourselves. It’s a good way to meet a lot of the town’s people you don’t see in months. And another way to get the community together and get them active in things we feel a community should be active in."
If you’d like to become active in the Cranbury Lions Club, Mr. Reilly said, the group is always looking for more people. He said the Lions rarely turns anyone away.
If you are interested in becoming a member or learning more about the organization, contact Lions Club President Bob Virgadamo at (609) 395-7050 or visit the Web site www.cranburylions.org.
Lions Club meetings are held at Cranbury Station, Route 130 South in South Brunswick, on the first and third Wednesday of each month at 7 p.m.
I’m glad Mr. Reilly was able to enlighten me about the Cranbury Lions Club and its importance to the community because I think he has the right idea. Sometimes, people take advantage of living in such a great town where residents genuinely care. The Lions Club is a great way to start giving back, showing you appreciate where you live, aiding others and helping stay true to the notion of a close-knit community.
As Mr. Reilly put it, "If there is anything going on in town, the Lions are there to participate. The Lions put out a lot of good things, and it’s never rough getting people to join. They are happy to be Lions because the want to be part of the town and the Lions is the town."
Melissa Morgan is social editor for The Cranbury Press. She can be reached via e-mail at mmorgan@pacpub.com.
