LION TALK - SEPTEMBER 2014

Recapped reports about the August 2014 business of the Freeport Lions Club

 

Compiled, printed and mailed to all club members by Lion Duane Smith, Publicity Committee

Scanned, edited and blogged by Lion Rich Montgomery, Publicity Committee Chairperson

At our August 12^th meeting Lion Kara Kelly, our guest speaker from the Illinois Eye Bank, gave a very interesting power point presentation about the Eye Bank and the corneal transplants that they do. They restore sight for many people every year. Some of the facts presented included: The first corneal transplant was done in 1905. Corneal tissue must be recovered within four hours and transplanted within 48 hours. About 100 transplants are done each month. The youngest transplant recipient so far is a 9-day old baby and the oldest person was age 107. Lion Rebecca Shriver was responsible for the evening’s program, and presented Lion Kara with a donation from our club to help them continue their good work.

Lion Rick Eastman gave a report on the August 10th Friends Forever Humane Society’s “Dog & Pony Car Show” benefit. The show was very successful and raised a record amount of money this year. Several good Lions helped by selling ice-cold bottled water and 50/50 raffle tickets to attendees and participants in the summer heat. All proceeds went to Friends Forever. Thanks to those Lions who gave their time to this good cause.

Lion President Rich Montgomery introduced his dinner guest, longtime Freeport resident and possible new member, Larry Trimble.

Lion Brian Burke reported that District Governor Jim Kloepping will visit us at our September 9th meeting.

Lion Joe Serafini said our guess/pledge for the number of birdies at the John Deere Classic Golf Tournament came very close to winning this year. 100% of every pledge collected goes directly to charity. 2,040 birdies were scored in the 2014 tournament. Since 1971 the John Deere Classic has delivered over $50 million to regional charities, most of it through its innovative Birdies for Charity program. A motion was passed that we round off our monetary contribution for scored birdies to the nearest dollar as we have done in the past.

Lion Terry Anderson reported that the wheel chair ramp, for which we donated money for materials, was completed and the cost was much less than expected. The labor was donated by the disabled person’s fellow church members. Lion Terry passed around a photo of the finished result. Nice job.

At our August 26^th Board Meeting we received a thank you from the FHS Robotics Team for our monetary contribution to help students with expenses.

We also received a framed photo (with player autographs) of the Freeport Lions Little League Team that we sponsored, all teammates looking good in their bright Lion-yellow T-shirts. Congratulations on the end of the season! Good luck next year.

Lion President Rich Montgomery also informed us that he had received an E-mail "thank you" from 3^rd Ward Alderman Ronnie Bush for our help with his Back-to-School Celebration “backpack” program. There were even a couple of photos of Lions helping in the local newspaper’s print and online reports.

Lion Terry Anderson reports that we will hold our Candy Day donation collections on Friday, October 3^rd and Saturday, October 4^th. We will collect at our usual spots at Sullivan’s Foods, Cub Foods and the ShopKo store. We also added another collection point on Friday night at the Route 26 Bar and Grill. We will pass out the Sugar-Free Mints that we already have rather than buying more of the new Candy Day (Sweet Tart) packets. Lion Terry said he has ordered 75 new mint boxes to display the new candy mints. The (suggested) NEW PRICE of 50 cents per candy roll replaces the old 35 cents price.

It’s time to sell roses again!!! Rose Day Chairman, Lion Serafini, passed out Rose Day (October 25^th) tickets and past sales lists at our meeting. Check Lion Joe’s minutes for more details.

Lion Brian Burke reported programs have been arranged for the next three months. September 9th, District 1-D Governor, Lion Jim Kloepping; October 14th, Dan Schmitt, Freeport Community Foundation, and November 11^th, Danielle Rogers, Freeport Downtown Foundation. Sounds great! Thanks, Lion Brian, and members of the Meetings Committee for your hard work.

Membership Committee - Lion Rebecca Shriver is assembling a packet of material about Lions and our club that will be helpful to potential club members or anyone interested in knowing more about Lions - a worthy project.

Lion Rick Eastman showed us some examples of updated badges that he (Eastrich Printing) could make for club members to wear during our meetings and events where people may not know who we are. They look very contemporary and attractive and met with board approval. The cost for each one is small.

Zone Chairman, Lion Darla Van Buskirk, told us about District Governor Kloepping's pet project this year: Help the Center for Sight and Hearing accomplish many needed improvements for their building and their services. She made a motion that we support DG Kloepping’s project with a pledge card of at least the amount we donated last year. A vote passed to pledge our support.

Tail Twister Anderson tested us with Back to School Trivia (things any 5th grader should know). Perhaps next time he could ask us trivia that any 1^st GRADER should know!

It was good to see Lion Roland Caruso back with us after his surgery. We wish him a speedy and complete recovery.

NOTE TO MEMBERS: CHECK THE MAIL FOR LION JOE'S MINUTES FOR MANY MORE DETAILS - CALENDAR, ETC.

NOTABLE QUOTES:

·         “Sometimes the questions are complicated and the answers simple.” - Dr. Seuss

·         "lf more of us valued food and cheer and song above hoarded gold, it would be a merrier world.” - J.R.R. Tolkien

·         "I asked a ref if he could give me a technical foul for thinking bad things about him. He said, 'Of course not.' I said, 'Well, I think you stink!' And he gave me a technical. You can't trust ‘em." - Jim Valvano

·         "When you were born you cried and the world rejoiced. Live your life in such a manner that when you die the world cries and you rejoice." - Indian Proverb