Leaders are calendar ‘models’ [LaGrange Daily News, Ga.]

Dec. 30--For the second year in a row, the LaGrange Lions Club was able to persuade 12 local men to pose for its annual calendar.

In drag.

"They were all great sports and it really is for a great cause," said Bill Kuerzi, second vice president of the club and leader of the calendar effort.

Each "model citizen" with his calendar name and month featured are:

January: "Chloe Sin Cost," attorney and LaGrange City Councilman Jim Thornton;

February: "Ilene Tudy Left," Troup County Commissioner Richard English;

March: "Ilene Tudy Right," County Commissioner Buck Davis;

April: "Ivanna A. Prazit," Harris Satterfield, realtor with Spinks Brown Durand;

May: "Mia Linda Monee," Frank McRae, president of CB&T bank;

June: "Tally Alda Dollars," Paul Perrotti, vice president and CFO at West Georgia Health System;

July: "Patty Wagon," LaGrange Public Safety Director Lou Dekmar;

August: "Anna Biotic," Tommy Whitworth, pharmacist and co-owner of Corley Drugs;

September: "Rita D. I. Chart," Dr. Cliff Rainey, optometrist;

October: "Gladys A. Sybil Servant," LaGrange Mayor Jeff Lukken;

November: "Puddin' Out Blazes," county Fire Chief Jerry Heard, and

December: "Dee Ductible," Matt Orr, State Farm insurance agent.

"In retrospect, I'm not sure what I was thinking when I agreed to participate," Thornton said. "However, the Lions Club does a lot of good work in our community, and I did want to support them with this fundraiser. I'm actually a member of the Rotary Club, but they asked me to participate as a local attorney and City Council member. I don't know why anyone would really want to buy the calendar, other than for blackmail material, but I hope people will buy them as a contribution to a worthy cause."

The calendar raised about $3,000 last year, which Kuerzi said couldn't have happened without the models and the calendar's sponsors, which also are featured in the calendar.

Along with the calendar, the Lions host a spring golf tournament and a barbecue plate sale on election day in November. The club also supported the B.A.S.S. Elite fishing tournament in May this year, President Coleman Cody said in a message in the calendar.

Money raised goes to support Troup Cares, Community Action for Improvement, LaGrange Personal Aid, Leadership Troup, LaGrange Library, the Boys & Girls Club of West Georgia and Troup County Certified Literate Community Program.

The Lions also support the Georgia Lions Lighthouse Foundation, Georgia camp for the Blind, Lions for Canine Companions and Leader Dogs for the Blind. The Lions also aid in screening Troup County students in second-, fifth- and eighth-grade for eye and hearing problems.

"The Lions Club is a great service club with some of the strongest volunteers in our community," Lukken said. "Their calendar was a great project to raise money for community causes and a chance to poke fun at all of us. I was happy to take October, Breast Cancer Awareness month, to support those who have battled breast cancer, including my wife, Cindy."

Lukken's photograph includes a giant pink ribbon, the symbol for breast cancer awareness.

"Though, to be honest, pink is not really my color," Lukken said jokingly. "I think that a long, black dress would have made my hips look slimmer."

Kuerzi praised all the models for their willingness to take part in what he hopes will be an annual event for the Lions.

"The fact they were willing to do this shows their strong commitment to and support of the community," he said. "They truly are model citizens."

Lee Cathey of Multi-image studio was again the photographer for the calendar.

"It was a lot of fun," he said, adding that some of the models really got in to their characters.

--Calendars at $10 are available at Added Touch, Maize 'n Grace, Plum Southern, Stephens Exclusives, The Ritzy Roost, The White Orchid, Whimzey, Action Rehab and Jerry Cleaveland'sState Farm Insurance agency.

Jennifer Shrader can be reached at jshrader@ lagrangenews.com or (706) 884-7311, Ext. 236.

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