LION TALK - MARCH 2012

LION TALK - Newsletter for the Freeport, Illinois, Lions club March, 2012

February 28^th Board Meeting Notes

Zone Chairman Gary Meyers attended our board meeting. The Board considered a slate of officers for the next fiscal year. We were pleased to have Lion Gary with us. A slate was partially completed but a couple of key vacancies remain. The Board voted to give $100 to-the "Earth Day" program for school grades 1-4. They also voted to donate $300 for RAMP'S "Wheel-A-Thon" and $250 for the "Stroll-A-Thon” to benefit the Senior Center’s bus service. A $100 donation was also received from Lion Lillian Osran for a camper to go to Camp Lions. This was given in memory of her husband and good Lion Ed Osran. Thank you Lion Lillian.

February 28^th Regular Meeting Notes

Zone Chairman Gary Meyers addressed the group outlining how he became more involved each year since his start date. Lion Meyers encouraged everyone to keep up the good work our club is doing.

Lion Rich Montgomery sponsored the evening program and introduced us to his long-time friend and coworker, Mike Mudge, from Rock River Energy Services Company in Oregon, Illinois. Mike spoke to us about his company's plan that offers villages and cities the opportunity to save their citizens 10 -15% on their ComEd bills. The first community to participate was Fulton, Illinois. The plan takes advantage of lower cost energy sources than what ComEd charges. Several members have already taken advantage of this savings. People who reside outside a village’s or city’s limits or on farms, and who wish to have the same opportunities and lower their energy supply rates can contact Lion Rich Montgomery for details on this unique savings opportunity. The plan is approved by the Illinois legislature. (Freeport citizens voted on a referendum March 20th to have Freeport offer Electrical Aggregation rates to its citizens.)

Lion Terry Anderson submitted his 2011 Eye Care Report. The number of glasses approved for purchase last year was 47 at a total cost of $1863.11. Over the last seven years a total of 314 requests for glasses have been approved at a total cost of $15,532.83. You might also want to consider that our club has been purchasing glasses for the Freeport community for most of its 75 years. That must come to a significant number. For many years our school nurses asked us to provide glasses for needy students. We were their only source for help at that time. We owe Lion Terry big thanks for all the work he does to provide this service". It’s a big job.

March ROARS In

March is generally quite a “roller coaster” month in Freeport and most of the Midwest. It comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb, and is also the time of "March (basketball) Madness". Lent lasts all month long. We set our clocks ahead one hour. Spring arrived. Flowers started popping up and sweet fragrances from magnolia trees blew all over town. We celebrated St. Patrick's Day, and this year had an opportunity to go to the polls and exercise our right to vote in a Primary Election as well. We started out in long coats and sweaters, changed to shorts and sandals, gave our furnaces a rest, maybe played a few rounds of golf, then got the sweaters out once more. Some of us even mowed our yards!

March 13, 2012 Regular Meeting

Freeport Lions hosted Illinois Lions District 1-D Governor, Paul Lindstrom, and his wife from Leaf River IL, at the March 13, 2012 regular meeting. We had a good turnout to greet our good Governor in spite of all the "snowbirds" AWOL in southern states. DG Lindstrom spoke about commitment and service, and spoke of his attending the International Convention in Anchorage, Alaska. He told the story about a man blinded by a bear attack while fishing for salmon with friends, how the man struggled to get his life back on track, and how the Lions played an integral part in his life. Stories like that help put our community service into perspective.

Lions seated, (l-r) Roland Caruso, Duane Smith, Rebecca Shriver, Darla VanBuskirk, Brian Burke, Paul Tormohlen, standing (l-r) Joe Serafini, Rich Montgomery, David Snyders, Paul Rampanthal, District Governor Lindstrom, President Bert Kersten, Denis Zimmerman and Terry Anderson.

New Member Inducted

Lion Joe Serafini, new member sponsor, congratulates Lion Roland Caruso during his formal induction into membership by Lion District 1-D Governor Paul Lindstrom.

ASK SOMEONE TO JOIN LIONS _ BRING A FRIEND

Great way to start off February with Dr. Roland Tolliver, author and podiatrist, as guest speaker at our 2/14/12 dinner meeeting. Past-president Darla VanBuskirk sponsored the program.President Bert Kersten presented Dr. Tolliver with a Lion pen as token of our gratitude. It's all about service to our community. Lions get involved, make a difference, and bring real change into someone's life. Contact us if you want to be one of us.

Students - Teachers - Parents / $1000 Scholarship Form Here

Click HERE to Download Lions High School Scholarship Form

or Click HERE

or Click HERE

Lion Talk December 2011 - January 2012

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

December, 2011 – January 2012

Regular Meeting

The Freeport Lions journeyed to Rockford for our November 8th meeting at the Center for Sight and Hearing. Eleven members and four guests enjoyed the informative tour of the facility with an-explanation of the services that take place. A good meal was also provided. We're proud that Lions originated this facility and the services provided for the sight and hearing impaired.

Board Meeting Notes

T\he Board voted to donate funds to the following organizations:

(1)   $1500 to the Center for Sight and Hearing, our largest donation yet to the Center.

(2)   $3000 to the Leonard C. Ferguson Cancer Center for their new building addition.

(3)   $150 to the Freeport Community School Fund for the purpose of helping fund a trip for 6^th graders next spring to Medieval Times.

(4)   $200 to FHS Choir.

(5)   $200 to FHS Jazz Band.

(6)   $150 to Salvation Army..

We are happy to contribute to these important assets that help so many unfortunate people from our community.

A free eye exam was offered on the third Wednesday of last month with our new sponsoring ophthalmologist, Dr. Isawi. We are also pleased with the cooperation received from Shopko and Wal-Mart in providing glasses for those in need. Thanks to Lion Terry Anderson for coordinating our club’s Eye Care Project.

Lion Anderson has also been working to meet a request for a hearing aid needed by a local man. A reconditioned aid is available for under $500. Our local “Quota Club" will pay $190 toward the hearing aid. We decided that we will add what is necessary to get the hearing aid, up to $300.

Club Activities

Freeport Lions rang the bell for the Salvation Army Red Kettle on Saturday, December 3d from 8AM to 3PM. We are always happy to help the Salvation Army, a great organization.

Shown are Lions Rick Eastman, Rich Montgomery, Joe Serafini and Duane Smith.

The All Service Club Luncheon was held on 12/12/2011 at the Masonic Temple. Members, spouses and guests were treated to entertainment by the Freeport High School Chorus to help give everyone a dose of Christmas Spirit.

Our annual Lions Christmas Party was held on 12/13/2011 at the Eagle's Club. Following social hour and dinner, members, spouses and guests were to entertained by the Freeport High School Jazz Band, about twenty excellent young artists and performers whose effort were enjoyed by all.

This group is not sponsored by the school district, plays on their own time, and raises their own money for instruments and expenses. Thanks to Lon Paul Rampanthal for making the evening’s arrangements.

Feedback from our Club’s Facebook and Blog postings has been positive. The Club wants to establish and continue to improve this wave of future communication with hopes of a younger, growing audience leading to increased membership.

Click HERE to download Lions Club High School Scholarship Form.

2012-2013 SCHOLARSHIP FORM AVAILABLE HERE!

Click HERE to Download Scholarship Form:

 

**********************************************************************

FREEPORT LIONS CLUB

$1000.00 SCHOLARSHIP / 2012 - 2013 GRANT PROGRAM

BASIC REQUIREMENTS FOR ELIGIBILITY

A. Student must currently be a senior in a Freeport High School and after seven semesters of high school must have a minimum "C" or better GPA. This Scholarship Grant will be given to help underwrite the costs of full-time courses of study after high school.

B. No later than the 1st semester of the year following high school graduation, the student must enroll at Highland Community College.

1. The course of studies selected must have the student carrying no less than ten (10) semester credit hours.
Student must maintain a "C" or better GPA at the end of each semester to qualify for full scholarship payment. "GPA Pay Out Table"shows pay outs based on GPA average:

GPA Pay Out Table
2.5 and above = $1000 2.0 - 2.24 = $400
2.25 - 2.49 = $700 < 2.00 = $0 Paid

C. The "APPLICATION FORM" and a "TRANSCRIPT OF HIGH SCHOOL GRADES" must be returned to Freeport Lions Club at the address or email(s) shown below postmarked or emailed no later than April 13, 2012. Late applications will not be considered.

FREEPORT LIONS CLUB
% Terry Anderson - Scholarship Committee
2328 Swan Drive
Freeport, Il 61032
or email to:
andersontg@aol.com  and serafini77@comcast.net 

 Freeport Lions Scholarship committee shall select the recipient of this award and
will present the scholarship certificate during awards ceremony at their school.

D. Payment of this Scholarship will be made in one-half increments. Student will be paid first installment of $500.00 upon submitting verification to Freeport Lions Club on completion of his/her first freshman semester. Student will present copy of their transcript for that semester’s earned credit hour grade report (GPA). Student will receive final installment of $500.00 upon submitting a copy of their transcript of the second freshman semester’s earned credit hour grade report (GPA).

E. The Scholarship Grant will be canceled if the Applicant is arrested or charged with the use of drugs or alcohol at any time during the year.

F. If the student withdraws or transfers from Highland, any Scholarship payment made is expected to be repaid to the Freeport Lions Scholarship Fund.  

All questions on the APPLICATION must be answered completely and truthfully. If answers are found to be not true, the Scholarship Grant will be void. If more room is needed to answer any questions, use another sheet and attach to  

Application Form.

G. HUMANITARIANISM
This award shall be made to the student who practices, through their expressed thoughts and actions in their daily life, concern for the welfare of the human race, regardless of creed, race, sex or ethnic background.

LEADERSHIP
Shown an interest in college by participating in extra-curricular activities.

DEDICATION
Active dedication to promotion and growth of high school/church/community.

COMING SOON! 2012 College Scholarship Information.

High School Students, Parents and Teachers,

Watch our Facebook page as well for important Scholarship Application information.
Here's our link:
https://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Freeport-IL-Lions-Club/181458685261615

Click HERE