Personal Journey

I am a Lion because being a member of Lions International gives me the opportunity to serve my community, be a part of a global family, have fun, share in fellowship, develop personal and professional leadership skills, and be a part of an organization that is welcoming to all who want to make the world a better place no matter what their perspective on life is.

#WeareLions My wife Jess Graham Elkins and I are proud to serve both our both our community and the world together as Lions because Lionism has given us a community where we are constantly challenged to learn and grow together while finding new ways to make a difference with other amazing human beings in both our local community and all over the world! The journey of becoming a Lion has been one of the most rewarding experiences of our entire lives.

Why are you a Lion or a Leo?

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A Lion and his dog.

Meet Madonna. She is a rescue dog.

She rescues me from the stress of long days spent doing community work. No matter how tired I am, or how late it is when I walk through the door, I am always greeted with pure and unadulterated joy.

If only we, as human beings, could learn to love as selflessly and perfectly as our canine companions, the world would be a better place for all.

I hope to one day be as good a human as she believes me to be.

#LifeGoals
#LionDogs

Leadership Service Record

District
•Charter President, Bellefonte Lions Club (2017).
•Seven (7) years on my club’s Board of Directors (2017–Present).
•Zone Chair (2019–2020).
•District IT Chair (2020–2021).
•Second Vice District Governor (2020–2021).
•First Vice District Governor (2021–2022).
•District Governor (2022–2023).
•District Membership Chair (2023–2024).
•District Marketing Chair (2023–2024).
•District Lions Quest Chair (2023–2024).
 
 
Multiple District
•Multiple District IT Chair (2021–2022).
•Multiple District 22 Council Treasurer (2022–2023).
•Multiple District Membership Chair (2023–2024).
•Multiple District Marketing Chair (2023–2024).
•Multiple District Global Leadership Team Chair (2024–Present).
 
 
International
•Chair, Membership Committee to the Young Lion Task Force Ad Hoc Committee (2019–2021).
•Member, Young Members and Women in Lions Ad Hoc Committee (2022–2024).
•Co-Founder of LionsVirtual.org (2020–Present).
•IT & Production Chair for the USA/Canada Lions Leadership Forum (2018–Present).
•Board Appointee for International President Dr. Patti Hill, serving on the Marketing Committee of the International Board of Directors (2023–2034).
•Coordinator, Growth & Impact Ad Hoc Committee (2025–Present).
 
 
Institutes
•Emerging Lions Leadership Institute – Participant (2017).
•Advanced Lions Leadership Institute – Participant (2018).
•Faculty Development Institute – Participant (2019).
•West Virginia Lions Leadership Institute – Faculty (2019–2024).
•Lions Certified Instructor Program – Participant (2021).
•British Young Lions Symposium – Faculty (2020–2023).
•Advanced Lions Leadership Institute – Faculty (2024).
•District Governor Elect School – Group Leader (2024).
 
 
Presentations
•USA/Canada Lions Leadership Forum (2018–Present).
•USA/Canada Leo Leadership Forum (2021).
•ISAME Forum (2022–2024).
•Europa Forum (2021, 2022, 2024).
•ANZI Forum (2024).
•Lions Day at the United Nations – Nairobi (2023).
•Lions Day at the House of Commons (2025).
•Multiple District Conventions worldwide.