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02/14/2024 08:30 AMWhen Trey Neubert went to a general meeting of local Lions clubs, he was mistaken for the son of an attendee. Oops, try that again: Trey, at 21, is the president of the Deep River Lions Club. He was a mere 20 years old when elected.
At either 20 or 21, Trey’s age, at least as far as anyone has been able to determine, makes him the youngest Lions Club president in the entire country.
However, Trey is hardly a stranger to the Deep River Lions Club. His mother, Lisa Berube, is its longtime treasurer.
Trey volunteered to take on his post when past president Tim Carlson wanted to step down from the position.
“He still helps me out,” Trey says of Carlson. “I decided to take the initiative and take it on.”
Initiative is not something that Trey is lacking. Four mornings a week, he goes to class at Three Rivers Community College in Norwich, where he is studying cybersecurity. He is currently taking four courses and will graduate this December.
By 12:30 in the afternoon, Trey is back in town, but not lounging around. He puts in several hours of work at the maintenance department at Whelan Engineering from Monday through Friday. He would like someday to work in cybersecurity at Whelan.
Even when that work is finished, Trey still cannot relax. He works at Deep River Hardware for a couple of hours on Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday and also on Sunday mornings. Trey likes the hardware store work because, as he points out, people often come in with a problem, and the employee’s job is not simply to locate a part or a device, but to think through the problem to find the best solution.
According to Trey, all of this work pays for college, both now and after graduation when he will go on from community college to pursue a bachelor’s degree.
Still, Trey’s life is not all work and no play. He does some work for the Lions during the day on Saturday, but Saturday night is a time for him to relax with friends. And of course, on Sunday, after completing his stint at the hardware store, Trey’s time is his own.
“I just sit around like a potato,” he says. “My friends are supportive, though they sometimes don’t know why I am doing all of this.”
Trey admits that sometimes he is so busy he gets confused himself.
“I wake up and don’t know what day it is,” he says.
Trey is a Deep River native and a 2020 graduate of Valley Regional High School. His given name is Carl—the same name as his father and grandfather. The nickname Trey, by which he is always known, was suggested by a friend of his mother.
Trey says that, like many traditional community groups, the Lions Club needs to recruit younger members. He believes the next youngest member of the Deep River group is in his 40s. The club is open to both men and women, and Trey is eager to increase membership, particularly among younger people.
“We have a nice welcome package. We invite people to attend a meeting,” Trey says of the twice-a-month meetings at Essex Veterans Memorial Hall. “I have lots of friends who say they will help out with things, but they don’t want to commit to anything.”
The Lions Club’s community efforts concentrate on vision. They provide vision screening both at Deep River Elementary School and at Kirtland Commons, the town’s affordable housing for seniors and disabled people. They will also pay for eyeglasses for community members who cannot afford them.
The Deep River Lions Club also provides a $5,000 scholarship for a local student who plans to study a trade. However, the scholarship has had few takers, including one year with no applicants at all. Trey would like there to be greater awareness of the scholarship and, as a result, more applicants.
There are several annual fundraising events, including a food tent at the Deep River Muster, a barbecued chicken dinner, a golf tournament and, best known, the sale of Christmas trees at Deep River Hardware. Trey says some 175 trees were sold in a week at the store.
“It’s a great organization,” Trey says. “It raises money, it gives money, it helps people. That feels good, and there are interesting people.”
While growing up, Trey was a member of Boy Scout Troop 13 in Deep River and Chester and ultimately became an Eagle Scout. Like all scouts working toward the eagle rank, he had to oversee and complete a community project.
For his project, Trey made signs for the Hamburg Fairground for things like the main office and the medical tent. He designed, painted and installed the signs.
“They are all still there, with their copper tops on, with the paint on. Very clear,” Trey reports.
After he finishes college, Trey would like to travel. Trey explains, as if an explanation were necessary, that he just doesn’t have the time right now. Beyond that, Trey is not sure what will come next.
“There are plenty of opportunities out there,” he says. “I just have to keep my eyes open.”
For the moment, though, Trey does have one thing planned. He will once again be running president of the Lions Club.
To find out about the Deep River Lions Club, email Trey at: treyneubert@gmail.com.