Community service isn’t just something you do once in a while; it is a way people stay connected and help their town grow. For the past five years, that spirit has been led by Diane Langmeier, the president of the Potosi Lions Club. Through her leadership, kindness, and real passion for helping others, she’s made a big impact on both the club and the community.
Diane’s journey with the Lions started with a simple goal: she wanted to try something new in Potosi and meet more people. “The Lions is a wonderful organization,” says Diane. Back in August 2013, she thought about joining the Potosi Jaycees, but they were losing membership nd nearing their end. Wanting to stay involved, she looked for another way to serve. That’s when Bill and Mary Uppena suggested she check out the Lions Club. She took their advice, and it turned out to be a decision that shaped the next part of her life.
At first, Diane didn’t see herself as a leader. But sometimes leadership finds you when you aren’t expecting it. She was nominated for president during a really busy time in her own life, and she wasn’t sure she could take on more responsibilities or make it to zone meetings. But the Lions’ motto, “Family is first,” reassured her that the club understood balance and support. With some encouragement, she accepted the nomination in June 2019. “I enjoy helping the community,” Diane joyfully said.
As president, Diane wanted to grow the club and bring in new ideas that would help the community even more. The more she saw the positive impact the Lions had in Potosi, the more her passion grew. She started attending more meetings, joining leadership discussions, and pushing to strengthen the club’s reach. Under her leadership, the Potosi Lions brought back the Peace Poster contest, created blessing bags for people in need, and stayed active throughout the community. All of this happened from the time she became president to today.
Diane loves talking about the Lions Club and always encourages others to join. She describes it as a welcoming group that constantly gives back. The Potosi Lions take on a ton of service projects—adopting families at Christmastime, hosting holiday dinners for seniors, collecting pop tabs for the Ronald McDonald House, gathering eyeglasses and hearing aids, supporting Post Prom, giving out scholarships, and even providing snacks for students. But it’s not just about service. It’s also about connection. The club gives people a chance to form friendships and become part of something bigger. Diane always reminds people that even small acts of service can make a huge difference.
After five years, Diane is preparing to hand the gavel to a new president. She’s stepping down from the role, but plans on staying involved with the club. One of the accomplishments she’s most proud of is helping restart the Potosi Leo Club at Potosi High School, which gives local teens a chance to learn leadership and give back to their community.
When she looks back on her time in the Lions, Diane is filled with pride and gratitude. She says Lions Club International is an incredible organization that lets her serve both locally and around the world. With more than 1.4 million members and about 49,000 clubs worldwide, the Lions’ mission reaches far beyond Potosi.
Through her dedication, compassion, and steady leadership, Diane has helped shape the future of the Potosi Lions Club. Her work has made the organization stronger—and helped keep the heart of the community beating bright.