LION TALK - November 2012

LION TALK - A Newsletter for the Freeport, Illinois Lions Club.

November 2O12

District Governor Ruth Lyle met with us at our October 9, 2012, meeting. District Governor Lyle gave us a good pep talk with many humorous remarks such as, “The Lion is King of the Jungle mainly because he believes he is and lets everyone know it.”  D.G. Lyle feels members should also be like that. D.G. Lyle also presented Lion Duane Smith with a letter from Lions International President congratulating him on his 40 years as a Lion. Thank you Governor Lyle for your visit and your encouragement to our club.

SENIOR DANCE - Thanks to the good Lions who helped with the Senior Center Dance October 7th. Read more online at: http://freeportlionsclub.blogspot.com/2012/10/senior-resource-center-event.html.

SALVATION ARMY BELL RINGERS  - Vice President, Paul Rampenthal, announced that we are again signed up to help the on December 1^st at SHOPKO from 8-4PM. He also mentioned that this year’s All Service Clubs Luncheon will be held Monday, December 10^th, at the Masonic Temple with the Freeport High School Choir performing, and our Christmas gathering will be held December 11^th to the smooth sounds of the Freeport High School Jazz Band.

CANDY DAY - Collections were good this year. The club gave the Lions of Illinois Foundation $850 and voted to give our high school helpers $200. The remaining $356 will go to our treasurer. The club also expresses its appreciation to Lion Troy Pettis for collecting all day at K-Mart where members at other locations took turns in shifts. Thanks so much Lion Troy. Read more about Candy Day online: http://freeportlionsclub.blogspot.com/2012/10/2012-candy-days-cool-and-sweet.html

ROSE DAY - Fifteen good Freeport Lions met at Lion Paul Tormohlen's Good People Automotive to sort and pick up roses for delivery. The weather was crisp with no rain. Rose chairman Joe Serafini thinks that sales were from 535-540 this year. He will give an exact account later this month with correct numbers, expenses, profit, etc. Extra roses not sold were distributed to nursing homes in town, Judy Hayner and Eleanor Chance. The roses were especially beautiful and many compliments have been received. Lion Joe did mention our super salesman Lion Terry sold 155 dozen. Way to go Lion Terry and way to go Lion Joe. For a great picture and article about Rose Day, visit Lion Richard Montgomery's Lion Blog:  http://freeportlionsclub.blogspot.com/2012/10/rose-day-2012.html

A SHORT BIOGRAPHY

Lion Joe Serafini was born in Chicago but grew up in Carmi, Illinois, a town in the Southeast part of our state. Lion Joe graduated from Carmi high school (home of the Carmi Bulldogs) and worked a year for an oil field salvage company before joining the Air Force. Lion Joe served as a Radar Operator for four years in places like the Philippines and Vietnam.

Following his military service, Joe started working for Economy Fire and Casualty in Freeport in 1970.

The company moved him to Cincinnati and back to Freeport in 1974. In 1976 he was assigned to Centralia, Illinois where he attended and graduated from Kaskaskia Jr. College. .He also met and married a young lady named Nancy in Centralia. In 1995 they moved back to Freeport. Economy was taken over by St. Paul Causualty, and in 2000 St. Paul was purchased by Met Life. Joe has spent 42 years in the insurance business. He has three sons and just recently welcomed a fourth grandchild. For fun he likes to play golf, sell roses, go to Lions club meetings and hunt deer (which he does regularly near his boyhood home in Carmi IL). We do hope Lion Joe will have a good vacation and safe hunting.

IMPORTANT NEWS ITEMS

. Lion Paul Rampenthal just recently was married. The club wishes Lion Paul and his bride every happiness. We are very pleased for you.

. Lion Paul Tormohlen has arranged to have our State Representative Jim Sacia be with us at our November 13^th meeting. You won't want to miss it.

. Be sure to read Lion Joe's excellent minutes for more details and check Lion Richard's Blog.

Don’t forget to “like” us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Freeport-IL-Lions-Club/181458685261615