FEBRUARY 24, 2026 CLUB MEETING

 Feb. 24, 2026 - Meeting Minutes - FREEPORT LIONS CLUB

Meeting was held at the Freeport Eagles Club, and was called to order @ 6:00 PM by Club President Jason Carter.

Attendance: Guests: 1 Members: 16 

Pledge of Allegiance: led by Lion Dave Marcum

Invocation: given by Lion Terry Anderson 

Guests: Jacob Wagner - Veterans Assistance Commission 

Communications/Happenings: Happy March Birthday wishes to Lion Dave Marcum 3/23.

We received the following thank you notes/letters from:

• Letter and patch from LIF (Lions of IL Foundation) for our $290.00 donation to Children’s Low Vision.
• Letter and patch from LIF for our $200.00 donation for Adult Low Vision.
• Letter and patch from LIF for our $550.00 donation for Camp Lions Adopt-A-Camper.
• Stephenson County 4-H Extension for our $200.00 donation.
• Lifeline Coalition for our $100.00 donation.
• Voices for our $1,000.00 donation (11/25/25).
• LIF patch for our 2024 Sight & Sound Sweepstakes participation.
• LIF Certificate of Appreciation for our 2024-2025 Trustee Challenge contributions (both Adult & Children Low Vision)

Reports:

• Secretary’s Minutes: Motion to accept the February10th Minutes was made by Dave Snyders, 2nd by Shiloh Bausman, motion carried.
• Treasurer's Report: Admin. Acct: $535.08, Activity Acct: $2,995.27 Memorial Acct: $2,637.49; Motion to accept by Dave Snyders, 2nd by Dave Marcum, motion carried.
• Membership: Lion Dave Marcum says nothing new to report.
• Marketing: Lion Shiloh Bausman says Lion Faith Freeman has nothing new to report.
• Car Show: See below.
• Vision: Chairman Terry Anderson says Shopko is providing 5 vouchers and we have already used one. A family with three children may need help, club agreed no limit on any one family.

Old / New Business:

A. 12th Annual Lions Car Show May 2 1-5PM: 

Chairperson, Lion Shiloh Bausman, held a second meeting 2/3. Committee has agreed on a purple shirt, with son Connor worked on the design. Pricing is $12.00 for S/M/LG/XL and $15.00 for 2XL. If you wish to be on the committee and help by calling on sponsors, let Shiloh know. This year we will have a Platinum level sponsor at $150.00. Flyers are available for posting on bulletin boards.

B. Northwest Central Zone Meeting: Pres. Jason says meeting in Cedarville on 2/23 was well attended. Each club gave a report on activities from last Fall and for the upcoming Spring. Lions attending: Jason Carter, Kathy Digiovanni, Dave Marcum, Terry Anderson, Dennis Zimmerman, Richard Montgomery, and Joe Serafini.

C. Rockford Ice Hogs Game: for 3/14 7PM: Cost is $25.66 per ticket and must be ordered online. If interested, contact Lion Shiloh Bausman for more information.

D. Lions Service Carnival: 3/21 Lincoln Mall: District Governor Marcia Myers is trying to get 20 to 25 tables so organizations can display what they are about and how they help the community.

E. Cub Food Brat Stand: Lion Shiloh Bausman completed an application and filed for this year. Since we had it last year, it is unlikely we will be selected but we need to show our interest and keep our name in for 2027.

F. LIF Diabetes Awareness Funds Drive: April 17-18: Lion Brian Burke volunteered to chair. He has checked with Cub Foods and locked in April dates. Lion Shiloh says we still have Tootsie Roll Pops left from last year. She will check, verify, and advise Lion Brian.

G. District Convention April: 24-25: Will be at Farm Bureau building in downtown Freeport. Motion by Brian Burke to pay for a full-page ad in convention booklet for $100.00, 2nd by Oscar Morsbach-Untersee, motion carried. Motion by Joe Serafini to purchase a gift card for $25.00 for Silent Auction, 2nd by Nelson Julius, motion carried.

H. Officers for 2026-2027: We are looking for officers for the upcoming year, 7/1/26-6/30/27. We handed out a sheet reflecting positions that are open. Please review and we will discuss it at our next meeting and need to finalize by our March 24 meeting.

I. Lion of the Year: Give your nomination(s) to Lion Joe Serafini who will prepare a ballot for vote at our 3/24 meeting.

J. 90th Year Celebration: Pres. Jason Carter reminded us that our club is celebrating our 90th Year Anniversary (chartered on April 7, 1936). Do we want to have an Anniversary Celebration? Brief discussion was held, please provide your input at our next couple of meetings.

Monetary Requests:

• $100.00 Freeport Bunny Trail, April 4, motion by Dave Snyders, 2nd by Shiloh Bausman, motion carried.
• $??.00 Hike for Hearing 5/2 at Rock Cut State Park, Rockford Lions seeking donations. Motion by Joe Serafini to table as we sponsor Fish and Fun Day in June and this is also same date as our car show, 2nd by Dennis Zimmerman, motion carried.

Future Guest Speakers Schedule:

• 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 – Lion Jason Carter – Friends Forever Humane Society
• June 9 – New Member Orientation/refresher for all Lions

Tail Twister and 50/50 Drawing: Waived tonight in order Lions could get home early to watch President’s State of the Union presentation. We did pass a bucket and collected $38.00 for our Admin. Account. Thank you for your generosity.

Program: 

Lion Oscar Morsbach-Untersee introduced Jacob Wagner,

Veterans’ Assistance Commission of Stephenson County, 10 N. Galena Avenue. Jacob was a Marine for 8 years, 1 month, and 1 day. He worked for Sheriff’s office in AZ then moved to IL and worked for the Winnebago Sheriff’s office and Colony Brands before taking the lead at VAC. They advocate with integrity and commitment, in addition to supporting and making a difference, for the Veterans of Stephenson County who served our country with honor. VAC was established in 2005 and provides free vans to transport veterans to Rockford IL and/or Madison WI. VAC has a "Footlocker" program that accepts donations of food, clothing, and personal hygiene products. They can also help those in need of financial assistance for food, shelter, utilities, and personal needs. If you apply for assistance, you will need a copy of Form DD214, military discharge paperwork. Thanks, Jacob, for an informative program.

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

Adjourned – 7:10 Secretary Joe Serafini

NOTEABLE HAPPY DAY QUOTES:

• "Never regret anything that made you smile."~ Mark Twain
• "Most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be."~ Abraham Lincoln
• "Life is 10% what happens to you, 90% how you react to it." ~ Charles R. Swindoll
• "The only thing that will make you happy is being happy with who you are." ~ Goldie Hawn
• "Happiness is letting go of what you think your life is supposed to look like." ~ Unknown
• "Create the highest, grandest vision possible for your life, because you become what you believe."~ Oprah Winfrey

Up-Coming Dates (mark your calendar):

• 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
• Apr. 7 - 6:00PM Regular Meeting - Eagle's Club
• April 24-25 – Dist. 1 D Convention @ Farm Bureau, Freeport
• May 2 - 12th Annual Freeport Lions Car Show

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