Sweetser Lions Club gets new leadership

On Jan. 16, the Sweetser Lions Club swore in a new president and discussed the club’s 2025 ambitions months after the group voted to disband due to struggling to find new leadership.

Brad Needler was born and raised in Sweetser. He lives there with his wife and two children. 

Needler said he has attended many Lions Club events with his family and saw the importance of the group continuing.

“When I read the article that the Lions Club was disbanding but there were still many members interested in continuing, I just took it as they needed somebody to come in, provide leadership and energy to continue the group,” Needler said. “As a citizen of Sweetser this was important to me to see this group continue on. It just felt like it was my civic duty to jump in and help out where I can.”

Needler’s transition into presidency began in fall 2024 when he connected with former president Chuck Briede and began attending monthly meetings.

After actively participating in the Sweetser Lions club for nearly 25 years and serving as president for 10 of those years, Briede announced last year that he and his wife Jamie would be moving out of state.

Briede sought a leader to fill his absence but as of mid-September there was no one willing to step up. 

On Sept. 19, Briede oversaw a meeting where the club members discussed the issue and voted to disband the chapter if there was no leader found by the end of 2024.

A few days after the meeting, Needler heard the news and stepped up.

“We’re very proud of what our club has been able to accomplish around the community and I have high hopes that it will continue into the future with Brad stepping up and some of the great ideas that he has,” Briede said.

Needler said he plans to keep many of the Sweetser Lions Club traditions including a breakfast fundraiser at the Sweetser Volunteer Fire Station, distributing Thanksgiving meals to local families in need and breakfast with Santa at the Sweetser United Methodist Church. 

The group also plans to serve the community through other service projects as needs arise.

A new opportunity that Needler has pursued is bringing the Culpepper & Merriweather Circus to Sweetser on June 15. 

The circus will include live animals, magicians and other forms of entertainment under a big top circus tent. 

Continuing A Legacy 

Needler said he sees a need for young leaders to step up to continue to build the legacy of local organizations such as the Lions Club.

“A lot of times, these types of organizations, like the Lions, are built on the backs of folks that have been at it for 20, 30 years,” Needler said. “As the generations move on and retire, move out, it’s just critical that a younger generation comes in to continue to carry that torch and that sense of community.”

The Sweetser Lions Club will celebrate 80 years as a chapter this fall. 

Chuck and Jamie Briede plan to join their local Lions Club chapter in their new community in Tennessee. 

Briede said he thinks the heart of being a Lion is to serve others and make their lives better. 

“When you do things, you do it with the kindness of your heart, not for recognition. You just do it because there’s a need and you’re able to help and that’s satisfaction enough for me,” Briede said. “Sometimes awards come along but I don’t do it for that. I’m able to do it and get the satisfaction that I hopefully helped somebody to improve their life a little bit.”