Letter to the Editor

Alan Chapman Awarded Lions' Outstanding Citizen of the Year Award

The Killingworth Lions Club, which has donated over $300,000 and innumerable hours of service since 1971, presented its annual Outstanding Citizen of the Year Award while celebrating 35 years of service on January 28 at the Clinton Country Club. Alan Chapman was invited under false pretenses to the Lions' anniversary dinner where he was surprised with the distinguished Outstanding Citizen of the Year Award and a Town Proclamation of Monday, January 30, 2006, as Alan T. Chapman Day.

John McMahon (left) presents Outstanding Citizen of the Year award to Chapman

John McMahon opened the tribute to Chapman's extensive charitable acts by noting that the Lions "understand that without the contributions of dedicated volunteers, our small community . . . would not be the exceptional place to live and raise our families that it is." Chapman has been active in the Volunteer Fire Company for 48 years where he began as a Junior Fireman and later filled most of the elected offices including Chief. He created a Rescue Squad and now serves as a KVFC life member and Trustee. Chapman was a Lions' Charter Member and has served as Ambulance Association driver and Medical Technician, Chair of Killingworth's Office of Emergency Management, and a member of both the Land Trust Board and the Land Committee. Because of his dedication to community service, Chapman was previously honored with CL&P/NU's Employee Volunteer of the Year Award. He has served as president for both International and Connecticut Associations related to his work with shade trees and conducts nature walks in town. McMahon said "Chapman is Killingworth's #1 Tree Hugger." Chapman and his wife Ginny (retired Killingworth Librarian) raised two children in town: Mark now in the US Army and Amy who resides in town with her husband and four children.

While presenting the Proclamation, Selectman and Lion Ed Sipples remarked that Chapman's vast list of accomplishments required the smallest type ever used for a Killingworth Proclamation. Chapman responded "It's great to live in a community like this because of the volunteerism." He recalled his mother-in-law's receipt of this award and, before thanking the Lions and encouraging them to keep up their good work, he said "the Killingworth Land Trust is something dear to my heart and should be for all of us. Remember the Wettish Property " I feel it's a great and wise way to spend our money."

Dignitaries, charter members, Melvin Jones Fellows, past presidents, and most of the 53 current Lions and their spouses enjoyed the 35th anniversary event where President Nathaniel Titcomb presided over the festivities and set the tone for the humorous anecdotes to follow " including a new theme song by Mark White. Charlie Martens offered an entertaining retrospective. Donations totaling more than $300,000 have been given to groups such as Killingworth's Youth League, Youth and Family Services, HK Recreation Department, Helping Hands, Scouts, Soup Kitchens, Bikes for Kids, Library, Town Picnic, and Land Trust. Last year, donations totaled over $25,000. For a complete list, see www.killingworthlions.org. The Lions accept contributions and raise funds through a variety of events such as selling Christmas Trees, renting tents, and selling corn dogs and fried dough at the Durham Fair. They also provide community activities such as a monthly Kids Night Out, a Senior Dinner, the Easter Egg Hunt, scholarships, and more. Not to be forgotten, John McMahon revealed some of the Lions' less successful efforts such as selling pumpkins by the pound " "anyone want to pay $30 for a pumpkin?" And, Charter Member Charlie Smith shared many remarkable examples of the selfless support Lions have given each other during times of need.

Volunteerism, service, laughter, community-spirit, and altruism seemed to be the common theme of the anniversary celebration and of the Killingworth Lions Club's efforts over the last 35 years.

submitted by Jamie Mowat Young

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