CLUB MEETING JANUARY 27, 2026

 

                                                                                                                                                         

Jan. 27, 2026 - Newsletter / Meeting Minutes - FREEPORT LIONS CLUB

 

Meeting called to order @ 6:00 PM @ Eagle’s Club by President Jason Carter

Attendance: Guests: 1  Members:  16   

Pledge of Allegiance: led by Lion Kathy Digiovanni     

Invocation: given by Lion Terry Anderson         

Guest(s): Rob Boyer – Freeport City Manager

                                                                                   

Program: Rob Boyer, Freeport City Manager.

Club President, Jason Carter, introduced. Mr. Boyer who said he came to Freeport in 2020, He likes the town and his job. Previously, he was a CEO in the Auto Industry. In 2021, the city started doing their own street paving which has netted more improved streets for less money. The Adams Street project was completed making entry into the city from the southeast much safer So far, twenty-five miles of streets have been completed. Some up-coming street projects are: South Street, Clark Street, South Demeter Street, Dewey Street, and Stewart Avenue.

Other future projects noted:

·   The old Holiday Inn on South Street should be demolished in 30-60 days!

·   The city received $85 Million in outside funding to remove all lead pipes, and that will be completed this year.

·   Water Well #12 on the South end of Krape Park is completed, and will provide support for that end of town, including Walmart, Menards, and other southside businesses. There will be no water tower located there.

·   Please go to www.cityoffreeport.org for other projects/planning.

·   REMEMBER, THE SAFETY of City Workers is of utmost importance – please give them space when approaching or entering any construction zone.

 Thanks, President Jason, for arranging a highly informative program and guest speaker.

Communications/Happenings: Happy February Birthday wishes to Lion Sean McDanel 2/18.

We received a thank you card from Lions of IL Foundation (LIF), for participating in Annual Candy Day Campaign.

Reports:

Secretary’s Jan. 13 notes: Note corrections for spelling of guest Barbara Vines (not Fines) and convention dates. Motion by Roland Caruso to accept with corrections, 2^nd by Shiloh Bausman, motion carried.

Treasurer: Admin. Acct: $530.71        Activity Acct: $5,586.45          Memorial Acct: $2,637.41

Motion to accept by Shiloh Bausman, 2^nd Roland Caruso, motion carried.

Membership: Lion Shiloh says they are working on a meeting for Leo’s Club. Lion Jalen Dunbar assisting. New Member Orientation and refresher for all Lions set for June 9^th meeting.

Marketing: Lion Faith Freeman has developed a calendar. Lions Faith and Shiloh have a new website: FreeportILLions.org

Lion Shiloh showed us the site and while it is under construction, it will be easy to use and help others who may have an interest in joining our club. Lion Faith also asks for head shot photos so she can place them on the new website. Nice job – more to follow.

Car Show: Chairman Shiloh held a meeting on Jan. 20 with a follow-up meeting set for 2/3 5PM at Eilert’s. If you wish to be on committee, try to be there. She did note that this year we will have a Platinum level sponsor at $150.00. Flyers are available.

Scholarship: Chairman Terry Anderson confirmed applications have been placed.

Vision 2025: Chairman Terry Anderson’s report shows we had thirty-seven requests and purchased twenty-three pair of eyeglasses/exams with a cost of $3,470.69 which includes ten vouchers provided by Shopko Optical. Nice work Terry!

Mints 2025: Chairman Terry Anderson’s report showed deposits of $3,074.42, expenses of $1,380.00 for a net profit of $1,694.42. He thanked Lions Zimmerman and Serafini for running the routes for him this year. The mints help us offset cost of our eyeglass program. Currently, we have trays in seventy locations.

 Old / New Business:

A. Sight & Sound Sweepstakes Tickets for LIF: Lion Joe Serafini asks that you turn in your money and books by Feb. 10 meeting. If we get them mailed to LIF before March 1, we will be eligible for early bird drawings, March 4, April 1, and May 6. The main drawing is May 17, 2026.  

B. 12th Annual Lions Car Show May 2 1-5PM: Contract with 3D Sound was signed by Chair Lion Shiloh Bausman and she has printed three hundred flyers (black and white) for 3D to hand out at their early shows. Plan is to have a second committee meeting Feb. 3 – 5:00PM at Eilert’s. If you want to be on the committee, be there and if you do but cannot make it, let Lion Shiloh know of your wishes.

C. NW Central Zone Meeting 2/23 6PM: The next Zone Meeting will be in Cedarville, hosted by Orangeville Lions. We will need a final head count by 2/10 meeting. A preliminary head count revealed eight who may attend: Shiloh Bausman, Brian Burke, Dave Marcum, Terry Anderson, Dennis Zimmerman, Joe Serafini, Jason Carter, and Kathy Digiovanni.

D. Rockford Ice Hogs Game for 3/14: Dist. 1 D just announced this fundraiser. If interested, contact Lion Shiloh Bausman for more information.

E. Lions Service Carnival 3/21 Lincoln Mall: More to follow on this event.

F. Guest Speaker Schedule: 

·         February 10: Lion Oscar Morsbach-Untersee has Jacob Wagner, Stephenson County VAC

·         March 10: Lion Shiloh Bausman has Freeport Middle School Dance Team

·         April 14: Lion Richard Montgomery has Amanda Faivre, Stephenson County Senior Resource Center.

·         May 12 – open

·         June 9 – New Member Orientation/refresher for all Lions

·         Monetary Requests: All motions passed were unanimous unless otherwise noted.

·         $550.00 Camp Lions-Adopt a Camper, motion by Roland Caruso, 2^nd by Shiloh Bausman

·         $290.00 LIF Children Low Vision, motion by Joe Serafini, 2^nd by Dennis Zimmerman

·         $200.00 LIF Adult Low Vision, motion by Shiloh Bausman, 2^nd by Roland Caruso

·         $100.00 Lifeline Coalition (Pregnancy Center), motion by Dave Snyders, 2^nd by Aaron Davis

·         $200.00 Stephenson County 4-H Extension, motion by Dave Snyders, 2^nd by Brian Burke

·         $200.00 RAMP, motion by Shiloh Bausman, 2^nd Roland Caruso

·         $200.00 Malcolm Eaton Enterprises, motion by Brian Burke, 2^nd by Dave Snyders

·         $250.00 Stephenson County Animal Control, motion by Dave Snyders, 2^nd by Shiloh Bausman

·         $100.00 New Club Website, motion by Joe Serafini, 2^nd by Aaron Davis

·         $100.00 Club to purchase ten Sight and Sound books, motion by Joe Serafini, 2^nd by Dennis Zimmerman

 Tail Twister:

Due to length of meeting, we waived the Tail Twister.

 50/50 Drawing:

Due to length of meeting, we waived the drawing but passed the bucket and collected $37.00 for our Admin. Account. Thank you for your generosity!  

"LIONS" - Liberty, Intelligence, and Our Nation's Safety***

                                                Adjourned – 7:35 Secretary Joe Serafini

 NOTEABLE VALENTINE DAY QUOTES:

• "A kiss makes the heart young again and wipes out the years."~ Rupert Brooke
• "We are most alive when we’re in love."~ John Updike
• "When you love someone all your saved up wishes start coming out."~ Elizabeth Bowen
• "If you have only one smile in you, give it to the people you love." ~ Maya Angelou
• "All you need is love. But a little chocolate now and then doesn’t hurt." ~ Charles M. Schultz
• "Everything’s coming up roses – for me." ~ Ethel Merman

                                      Up-Coming Date (mark your calendar):                             

Feb. 10 - 6:00PM Regular Meeting - Eagle's Club

Feb. 23 – NW Central Zone Meeting – 6:00PM - Cedarville

Feb. 24 - 6:00PM Board/Regular Meeting – Eagle’s Club

Mar. 10 - 6:00PM Regular Meeting - Eagle's Club

Mar. 14 – Rockford Ice Hogs Hockey Game

Mar. 21 – Service Carnival @ Lincoln Mall, Freeport

Mar. 24- 6:00PM Board/Regular Meeting – Eagle’s Club

April 24-25 – Dist. 1 D Convention @ Farm Bureau, Freeport

May 2 -  12th Annual Freeport Lions Car Show

 

Think Membership – ASK 1 - to visit our club and consider becoming a Lion!