Contact: Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon
E-mail: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org
Surnames: Sydorowicz, Perkl, Opelt
----Source: Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark Co., WI) 12/25/2013
Sydorowicz Receives Coveted Award (Birch-Strum Fellowship – 12 December 2013)
Sydorowicz Receives Coveted Birch-Strum Fellowship Award
Neillsville Lions Club member Mark Sydorowicz (center)) is presented with the coveted Birch-Strum Fellowship award at the Dec. 12 meeting held at the Neillsville Country Club. Past Lions Club President Mike Perkl (left) nominated Sydorowicz for the Fellowship, with support from Lions Club President Tom Opelt (right) and the rest of the club membership. (Todd Schmidt/Clark County Press)
By Todd Schmidt
Mark Sydorowicz, 51, Neillsville, exemplifies the Lions Club motto “We Serve.”
Sydorowicz was recognized for his 17 years of dedicated service to Lionism with the coveted Birch-Strum award, which was presented at the Neillsville Lions Club meeting held Dec. 12 at the Neillsville Country Club.
Past Neillsville Lions Club President Mike Perkl, who submitted the nomination for the award, explained how it fits in the Lions Club mission.
“The Birch-Strum Fellowship is intended to recognize individuals who exemplify dedication and commitment to Lionism and is a way for district, clubs or individuals to honor them,” Perkl said.
The Wisconsin Lions Foundation created the Birch-Strum Fellowship in 1990. The Fellowship is named after Wisconsin’s only international presidents, Frank Birch and Clarence Strum, who were also great supporters of the Foundation.
The Neillsville Lions Club donated $1,000 to the Wisconsin Lions Foundation in recognition of Sydorowicz’s service. He received a lapel pin, plaque and a patch and had his name inscribed on a master plaque located in the Wisconsin Lions Foundation office honoring all Birch-Strum Fellowship recipients.
Neillsville Lions Club President Tom Opelt said the Birch-Strum donations go into a fund to support various activities, including the Lions Camp in Rosholt. Eligible youth and adults with disabilities are able to attend the Lions Camp free of charge.
“Last summer the Lions Camp served over 1,300 campers,” Opelt noted.
The Lions also promote eyeglass recycling, hearing and vision screening, diabetes awareness and youth activities.
Sydorowicz has been involved with Lions projects, including the Journey for Sight program, steak feeds, bowling tournaments, golf outings, raffle fundraisers, the annual calendar and the float committee.
He has held the local offices of lion tamer and tail twister and has served on the board of directors for a number of years.
In accepting the Fellowship award, Sydorowicz said his favorite things about being a Lion include the camaraderie of the members and their community involvement.
“This is quite an honor for me to receive this big award,” Sydorowicz said. “I am overwhelmed to think the club picked me to receive it.”
Sydorowicz is an avid golfer. He is currently president of the Neillsville Country Club. The past 16 years, Sydorowicz has played in a band. He is employed at Gross Motors in Neillsville.
He and Nicolet, his wife of 33 years, have four children, Nicholas, Alex, Allison and Mallori.
