As previously reported, the grand marshal of the 2014 Seal Beach Christmas Parade will be Seal Beach Lion and businessman Steve Meir, owner of Clancy’s on Main Street. The junior grand marshal will be local Leo club member Jennifer Lang. Both individuals are generous in their service to their community. Here, then, is a brief portrait of each of this year’s parade marshals.
Grand Marshal Steve Meir
When one thinks of the Seal Beach Christmas Parade, one of the key features is the “hometown hero,” the grand marshal. As Seal Beach celebrates its 36th Christmas Parade, and begins its stately journey into the Centennial year, one of the qualities that the Lions looked for in the Grand Marshal was a deep, long term connection to the town—through business, service, residence and more.
Steve Meier, the current owner of Clancy’s Saloon, which opened in 1957 and will be celebrating its 57th year of operation in town.
It is one of the oldest and in some ways most historic businesses in town. Meier is a cancer survivor himself and raised his two sons, Matty and Dillon in Seal Beach.
Matty currently manages the day-to-day operations of Clancy’s. Lion Shani Rae Erickson said, “Steve is so generous. People have no idea how much he wants to help others. He has been a huge supporter of the Lions for years. “
Meier will be riding with his wife Shelly. They have been married for 20 years. Additionally, his stepdaughter Rashelle will be flying out to join Steve and Shelly Meier and the rest of the Clancy’s family to see his ribbon cutting ceremony and procession down Main Street. Everyone in his family is so very proud of him and his accomplishments.
Asked about what he most wanted to share, Meier said, “This is such a surprise honor and just overwhelming.” He said “in particular I would really like to add a deep and abiding thanks to all the veterans and active service members past and present for their supreme sacrifice for our country.” Meier has been a long-time supporter of the Wounded Warrior Project® and feels very strongly about our great nation.
In a block of four Irish pubs, Clancy’s has been a mainstay.
Though retail shops, nail salons, coffee shops and more have changed over time, Clancy’s endures. Customers consistently cite the friendly atmosphere, great bartenders, affordable and, frankly, just a bit gritty bar.
Lions President Camille Romano said, “Steve is always so generous with gifts for the merchant raffle of the Fish Fry, all of our other events, even when we were raising money to help get an artificial limb to a young boy in Mexico.”
Junior Grand Marshal Jennifer Lang
Junior Grand Marshal Jennifer Lang has had an incredible journey so far, which has lead her from helping those in need in our community to Southeast Asia in the Philippines.
She has literally affected thousands of lives and her own life journey has only just begun.
Jennifer has been home-schooled her entire life and is now a senior at Village Bible Academy, where she is currently serving her second term as president for the VBA Leo Club.
Jennifer has a heart of service and has worked in the local community as well as abroad involving her local Leo Club, Seal Beach Leos, and Leos from the District.
Some of her volunteer service projects include raising a seeing eye dog through Guide Dogs of America (she is currently raising her second puppy), working alongside California Lions Friends in Sight, helping with a homeless shelter for women and children, working with various projects for children and adult cancer patients, helping at activities for veterans, providing support for crisis pregnancy centers, and supporting various other community projects.
Last year, Jennifer organized Orange County Leo Clubs to collect clothing for Filipinos as well as raise donations to purchase fishing boats for the fishermen that had lost everything in Super Typhoon Haiyan, which hit the Philippines. Jennifer then organized and funded a trip to Tacloban, Philippines to personally deliver the clothing and the money for the boats.
In addition to seeing the boats being built, she was able to deliver the clothing and to go out to feed people that still had no adequate housing or source of income five months after the typhoon had hit. Jennifer has been recognized for her many hours of service, almost 1,500 in the last two years and more than 4,000 over the last seven years.
Some of the awards she has received include the Congressional Award Silver and Gold Medals, the president’s “Call to Service” Lifetime Award, the president’s Volunteer Gold Medal, and the International Leo of the Year.
It is incredibly significant to have the International Leo of the Year here in Seal Beach. It is the second time in just a few years that the award has gone to a member of a Leo associated with the Seal Beach Lions Club. She was up against hundreds of nominees from around the world, and she triumphed based on the merits of her service. In addition to these awards, Jennifer was one of three Orange County award recipients of the “Teen Recognition Award” and was a Voice of Democracy winner for the VFW. Lastly, Jennifer represented Seal Beach Lions in Belgium this last summer for the Lion Youth Exchange.
Whether she is leading her Leo Club in local service projects or volunteering abroad, Jen has a heart to serve others. Parade organizers said they were proud to have her as the junior grand marshal of 2014.
Seth Eaker, vice-chairman of the Seal Beach Christmas Parade and owner of Black Marble Consulting, a boutique consulting firm.
