FAST FIVE: Adrienne Morrow: Heart of a Lion
Meet Adrienne Morrow, current president of the Coeur d'Alene Lions Club. Adrienne became a Lion almost 20 years ago when she was invited to be a club member in Troy, Idaho. It was the perfect way for a newcomer to engage as part of the small-town community. She was born and raised in the Chicago suburbs and came to Idaho after college to pursue an advanced degree in forestry. She and her husband, Carl, started their family in Troy and brought their "cubs" with them to Lions meetings and activities, providing a youthful energy to community service. When the family relocated to Coeur d'Alene in 2021, they sought out the local Lions Club for a new community connection. In addition to being the club president, Adrienne is a full-time forester with the dream job of growing and managing young trees. With the unwavering support of her husband, she fills the rest of her time as a mother of three active, athletic and hungry teenage boys. Thankfully, she enjoys cooking and watching sports!
1) What is new and exciting with the Coeur d'Alene Lions Club at this time?
Our club has gained some new members over the past year who are eager to provide fresh ideas and lend their time to make projects successful. One new project is White Cane Awareness and Safety Day. In cooperation with the Coeur d'Alene Library, this Sunday, Oct. 15, we will commemorate National White Cane Day in the downtown library Community Room from 12-4 p.m. The event will include resources and activities to educate the community about vision impairment. The Lions will be accepting donations for the Northwest Lions Foundation, which provides grants to clubs for vision screening equipment and assistance to individuals who cannot afford needed vision care. Other partners include the Idaho Commission for the Blind, Leader Dogs for the Blind and a local low-vision support group. Lions will be grilling sausages to sell as well. We appreciate the library's support and are hopeful that this is the start of an annual community awareness event.
2) What are a few recent Lions accomplishments or highlights you'd like to let the community to know about?
Club members participated in the Independence Day parade, handing out white canes and promoting our service. At the end of September, the Coeur d'Alene Lions Club oversaw vision and hearing screening for elementary school children at Hayden Canyon Charter school and will be doing the same for Holy Family Catholic School in the coming months. The district governor for all clubs in Central Washington and the Idaho Panhandle, and fellow member of the Coeur d'Alene club, pursued a disaster relief grant for those affected by the Medical Lake and Elk fires. Lions Club International Foundation is one of the first humanitarian groups to respond during disasters worldwide. We are thankful to have had their rapid response during this disaster close to home. In a few weeks we hit the streets for our semi-annual highway cleanup along a two-mile stretch of Highway 95, south of town. On Nov. 4, we will be partnering with the Pappy Boyington Marine Corps League for our annual Toys for Tots and Holiday Food Drive outside of Walmart in Hayden.
3) Why serve in a civic organization such as the Lions Club, and what do you enjoy most about it?
I serve because it is a way to stand side by side with a diverse group of people working toward a common goal. It is very easy to look around as we bustle along with life and wish for change or improvement. Being part of an organization like Lions provides the outlet to transform ideas and wishes into tangible, positive outcomes. What I enjoy most about being a Lion is finding connections with people who have been touched by our service. It is very common for people to share a personal anecdote about receiving a scholarship from their Lions Club or being referred for glasses after a Lions vision screening at their school. It is hard to find someone who hasn't been directly or indirectly touched by the Lions mission. It is very satisfying to be part of this great group.
4) What is something people would be surprised to know about you?
It might surprise people that as a member of the Troy Lions Club, I was in charge of cooking and serving the "delicacies" from the harvested bull at our annual Buffalo Hunt. In addition to Rocky Mountain oysters, I served heart fajitas and liver and onions to the raffle winner, guests and club members in attendance.
5) How can community members support the Lions Club and what can we do to help your work go farther?
The best way to support the club is to consider becoming a member. We have no shortage of ideas on how to serve the community, but we often have a shortage of people and volunteer hours to pursue them. For those who cannot commit to membership, you can support the club by participating in our events or donating to our service fund: Coeur d'Alene Lions Sight and Hearing Foundation. Our annual fundraising events include a Spaghetti Dinner, Roaring Bingo Night with the Idaho Lottery Commission and Dinner in the Dark. Meetings and most events are held at the Lake City Center on Lakewood Drive. We have an e-clubhouse website (https://e-clubhouse.org/sites/coeur_d'alene/) and a Facebook page if anyone would like to follow current club activities or get in touch with our club.
