Lions of Tennessee 2026/2027 Council of Governors

   William Evans Jones (Evan) of Lewisburg, Tennessee, USA, was elected to serve as District Governor of Lions Clubs District 12-I during the organization’s 107th International Convention held in Orlando, Florida, USA, from July 13 to July 17, 2025. Currently, District Governor Jones holds the position of Information Technology (IT) Specialist at First Commerce Bank in his hometown of Lewisburg. He has been with the company since 2016 and has been an integral member of his community through his involvement in various activities.

District Governor Jones has been a member of the Lewisburg Lions Club since 2017 and served as the club’s president from 2020 to 2022. He currently holds the positions of Sight Chairperson and Membership Chairperson. Additionally, he serves as the Multiple District Vice Council Chair. District Governor Jones is recognized as a Melvin Jones Fellow. He resides in Cornersville, Tennessee, with his wife, Chelsea, who is also an active member of the club.

District Governor Ann Butler began her Lions service with the Trimble Lions Club in July 2014. During her time there, she served as Sight Camera Chair, Meeting Chair, and LEO Club Advisor before being elected Secretary in 2016. She continued as Secretary until transferring to the Bartlett Lions Club in 2021.

Since joining the Bartlett Lions Club, she has served as LCIF Coordinator and Club President in 2024. She was also elected SVDG in 2024 and served as Zone Chairman from 2021 to 2024.

DG Ann has been active with Midsouth Sight & Hearing Service since 2016 and was elected President for the 2024-2025 year. Her honors include the Dahlstrom Award, the International President's Certificate of Appreciation, New Voices Awards for Marketing and Women in Leadership, and the District Governor Certificate of Appreciation. She also earned her master’s degree from Lions University, has attended two USA/Canada Forums, and is registered for the 2026 Forum.

In addition to her Lions service, DG Ann has served in many other civic and community organizations. She has also worked as Office Manager and Bookkeeper for CLIFCO, Inc. in Dyersburg for 16 years.

DG Ann is married to PDG David Butler. Together they have three children—Mandy, Jacob, and Garrett—and three grandchildren, Carlee, Noah, and Levi, who know her as GIGI. They live in Newbern, Tennessee, and both are members of the Bartlett Lions Club.

In her spare time, DG Ann enjoys being with her family, visiting their camper in Springville, Tennessee, at KY Lake, reading, and volunteering at the homeless shelter in Dyersburg, where she helps prepare and serve meals.

District Governor Thom has been an active and dedicated member of the Chapel Hill Lions Club since 1999, having served as Secretary, Membership Chair, and two-time Club President. At the district level, he served as Zone Chair for District 12-I and has contributed for several years as a Board Member of the Middle Tennessee Lions Sight Service. He currently serves as Chairperson for Learning Ally in Multiple District 12. District Governor Thom is a Lindsey-Jennings Award recipient and a Progressive Melvin Jones Fellow.

Beyond his Lions service, Thom has been deeply involved in Scouting, serving as both a Cub Scout and Boy Scout leader. He has proudly mentored numerous young men to the rank of Eagle Scout, including both of his sons.

Thom has been married to Past Council Chair Jill Smelser for 42 years. Together they have three children and are the proud grandparents of five grandchildren.

Dstrict Governor (12O) Janis Adams Kyser is a member of the Dunlap Lions Club. She has served her Club as President for two terms, Second and First Vice District Governor, Zone Chair, District Secretary and is a Certified Guiding Lion. Governor Janis Kyser is a Melvin Jones Fellow, received the Lindsey-Jennings Award, and has been awarded an International President’s Leadership Award. 

Janis graduated from Sequatchie County High School in 1968, earned a Bachelor’s Degree 1973, and a Master’s in 1975 from Tennessee Tech University. She retired with 41 years in the classroom and immediately went to work with the Sequatchie County – Dunlap Chamber of Commerce where she has served as the Executive Director for the past seven years.

Janis, as the Executive Director of the Tennessee Center for Civic Learning and Engagement, works with educators.

Personal

Retired Chemical Engineer - Eastman Chemical Company

Married to Carol with 3 grown children and one grandchild

Kingsport Lions Club

Active in the Kingsport Lions Club since 1980. Active in club service projects including the Vision Screening Committee, Lunch Packing at Shades of Grace, Challenged Picnic. Active in club fundraisers including the Turtle Derby and Golf Tournament. Has held multiple club officers including Director for many years, Membership Chair 11 years, club President 3 times. Lion of the Year and twice Lion of the Decade. Progressive Melvin Jones Fellow.

District 12-N

Active in District 12-N. Zone Chair twice, Region Chair, Environment Chair, Charities Board, East Tennessee Lions Eye Bank Board, Guiding Lion, 2nd and 1stVice District Governor.

Other Activities

Church activities including missions and youth, hiking, biking, basketball, volunteer at Barter Theatre. 

PDG Tawnya Buster first joined the Lebanon Lions Club in June 2011 as the club’s first female member and is now a member of the Lebanon Noon Lions Club as of October 2022. Lion Tawnya is currently serving her local club as Secretary and has previously served in multiple chair and coordinator positions in both her club and district. Lion Tawnya served as the District Governor for District 12-S for the Lions year 2018-2019. She is currently a board member for Middle Tennessee Lions Sight Service and World Services for the Blind. She also is serving as the District 12-S and MD-12 Global Leadership Team chair.

Lion Tawnya is married to Lion Sterling Buster and they both serve together in the Lebanon Noon Lions Club in Lebanon, TN. They have been married since 2007 and have two pot belly pigs, Hami Lou and Hank.

Lion Tawnya works at SERVPRO Corporate Headquarters in Gallatin, TN. In her free time, she enjoys kayaking, crocheting, reading, yoga and cooking.