Klemish leads North American Lions Leadership Conference

Special to the Times Vedette

Ardie Klemish from Anita, a member of the Adair Lions Club since 1999, was appointed by the Lions Clubs International President to serve as the Chairman of the 2026 USA/Canada Lions Leadership Forum in Memphis, Tennessee, in September.

Nearly 2,000 Lions from the USA, Canada and 16 visiting countries will attend more than 90 educational seminars in three days, along with four general sessions where keynote speakers will inspire Lions. Ardie chairs a team of 24 planning committee members. They began coordinating the 50^th anniversary of the leadership conference a year ago.

Ken Klemish, a 40-year Lion in the Adair Lions Club, is transportation chair for the 2026 event. Their teams are responsible for all seminars, facilitators and moderators, registration at 14 hotels, the audio visual needs in the convention center, the meals in the ballroom, entertainment, keynote speakers and the bus transportation. A host committee in Memphis assists the planning committee with volunteers to help in all the venues.

Ardie and Ken have attended 24 USA/Canada Leadership Forums in the USA and Canada. Ardie has served 10 years, and Ken has served five years on either the planning or host committees for the USA/Canada Lions Leadership Forum, helping to develop the Lion leaders of the future.