New Club President Starts 2017-2018 Term

Lion Caruso (right) received Lion of the Year Award
from outgoing Club President Brian Burke

Lion Roland Caruso was voted in as Club President during the 2016-2017 term of then-Club President, Brian Burke. Lion Caruso is known for his dedication to the cause of Lionism and for his sense of humor. He became a Lion in 2011 and has served this club and the Freeport community in a variety of volunteer, public relations and fundraising roles. Lion Caruso received the "Lion of the Year" award at the June 27, 2017, new officer induction ceremony, for his many efforts. 

Following are the meeting minutes from Lion Caruso's first meeting as Club President as recorded by Club Secretary, Lion Joe Serafini on July 11, 2017.

Communications: July Happy Birthday wishes go out to Lion's Terry Anderson 7/2; Keith Brown 7/4; Joe Serafini 7/10; Lillian Osran 7/14; Liz Moshure 7/22; Stacie Dixon 7/23 and Jeff Cowman 7/30.  We received a thank you from Eversight of IL thanking us for our $300.00,donation.   

Old / New Business:  

A.  Club Scrapbooks:  We have two binders and up-dates are continuing.  Check them out at our meetings.
B. Dist. 1D Golf Outing 8/26 (Saturday): Lion Joe Serafini says to let him know if you are interested in being on this committee as we will be scheduling a meeting in near future.  Lions who have expressed committee interest: Roland Caruso, Dave Marcum, Liz Moshure, Gary Hutmacher, Terry Anderson, Dennis Zimmerman and Joe Serafini - anyone else? 
C "Say Cheese" Sale Fundraiser:  Chairman Roland Caruso says final report will be presented at 7/25 meeting.
D. Flapjack Fundraiser 9/16:  Lion Dave Marcum will have more for us at the date gets closer.
E. RAMP/ITAC: Lion Liz Moshure has flyer for the  RAMP/ITAC open house on 8/16 from 11:00-2:30.  We will need a couple Lion's to man a table.  Further discussion at 7/25 meeting.
F. 6/26 Lena Lions Golf Outing:  This is a 9-hole outing - Lion's Anderson, Caruso and Serafini are interested, do we have one more to make a fourth?  Let Lion Joe know - email or call 815-275-8737.

Tail Twister: Lion Paul Rampenthal kicked off his 1st meeting as Tail Twister with Baseball All Star Game Questions (All Star Game is tonight and was won by the American League 2-1 in 10 innings).  When was the 1st All Star Game?  84 years ago at Comiskey Park, Chicago.  Largest crowd was?  72,000 and in Cleveland, OH.  Thanks Lion Paul "nice job" and you collected $15.00 for our Admin. Account.  

50/50 Drawing: Lion Joe Serafini conducted & $15.00 winner was Lion Brian Burke who used it to buy an extra meal and donated balance to the club - thanks Lion Brian.  Thanks Lion Joe as a total of $15.00 ($18.00 total) will be added to our Admin. account.

Program: Lion Joe Serafini introduced Laura McKenzie, Money Management Coordinator, Stephenson County Senior Resource Center. 

Laura was born in Libertyville, IL and moved to Dakota where she graduated from Dakota High School.  She wanted to be a nurse and ended up as a Nursing Home Administrator.  Her son went to college in Hawaii and lived there for about 8 years.  She took a sabbatical and moved to Hawaii for a year.  She returned to our area and has been at the SRC for about 2  1/2 years.  Her role along with about 12 others is to help seniors in writing checks to pay monthly bills, balance a checkbook and reconcile their bank statements.  Other services they provide are referrals for benefits or services they may be eligible for, set up monthly income/expenses, develop financial goal, help fill out forms, set up filing system for paid bills and other related correspondence.  They can help intervene with creditors.  Benefits from their service?  Can help in bill paying process for those with loss of sight, tremors, etc.  Help eliminate late fees, overdrafts, and give a peace of mind for the clients and their family.  They don't touch any cash, debit or credit cards, serve as power of attorney, nor advise as to investments.  If you have any interest or know of someone who could use their expertise, be sure to refer them to the SRC at 815/235-9571 or email Laura at: lmckenzie@srcntr.org.  Great program and we applaud Laura and her crew for the work they do - President Roland presented Laura with a Lion's pen to thank her for coming to be with us.

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

"EVERSIGHT OF IL" -  Who can be an eye donor?  Anyone can donate eyes.  If the corneal tissue is not transplantable, due to age or medical condition, the donation can, with consent, be considered a gift for research and education.

 NOTEABLE QUOTES:

• "You may have to fight a battle more than once to win it." ~ Margaret Thatcher
• "You must expect great things of yourself before you can do them." ~ Michael Jordan
• "There is no traffic jam along the extra mile." ~ Roger Staubach
• "Don't let the fear of losing be greater than the excitement of winning." ~ Robert Kiyosaki
• "As we look ahead into the next century, leaders will be those who empower others." ~ Bill Gates
• "To accomplish great things, we must not only act, but also dream, not only plan, but also believe." ~ Anatole France

Up-Coming Dates (mark your calendar):

• Jul. 25 - 5:30PM Board Meeting - Eagle's Club
• Jul. 25 - 6:30PM Regular Meeting - Eagle's Club
• Jul. 26 - Lena Lions Club Golf Outing - 4PM Wolf Hollow
• Aug. 8 -  6:00PM Regular Meeting - Eagle's Club
• Aug. 16 - RAMP/ITAC Open House 11-2:00PM
• Aug. 22 - 5:30PM Board Meeting - Eagle's Club
• Aug. 22 - 6:30PM Regular Meeting - Eagle's Club
• Aug. 26 - District 1D Golf Outing
• Sept. 16 - Applebee's Flapjack Fundraiser
• Oct. 28 -  Rose Day

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

EYEGLASS COLLECTION BOXES - WHERE ARE THEY?

EYEGLASS COLLECTION BOXES 2017 - WHERE ARE THEY?
Since 1994 the Lions of Illinois Foundation have distributed more than 5,000,000 pairs of graded, used eyeglasses. These recycled eyeglasses are given to people in need, with the help of various medical missionaries, in Central and South America.

 Eyeglasses collected in Freeport IL are given to the Lions of Illinois Foundation where they are sorted for recycling to those who cannot afford it. The public can also support this program by donating used eyeglasses at one of the many eyeglass collection box locations in Freeport.

BUSINESS NAME - FREEPORT IL LOCATIONS
Northwest Eye care, 1000 Kiwanis Drive
FHN Burchard Hills Clinic, 1010 Fairway Drive
FHN – Doctor’s Offices, West Stephenson Street
Shopko, 555 West South Street
Midwest Community Bank, 1725 South West Ave
Dr. Hanny Isawi, Ophthalmology, 1045 West Stephenson St.
St. Thomas Aquinas Church 1400 Kiwanis Drive
Lutheran Social Services 1730 South Hance Drive
Senior Resource Center, 206 East Stephenson Street
Tormohlen's Good People Automotive, 1800 South Ihm Blvd
Provena St. Joseph Center, 659 East Jefferson Street
YMCA, 701 West Empire Street
Eagles Club, 1200 West Galena Street

WHAT CAN BE DONATED?
Any type of eyeglasses and visual aid is welcome. The program can use sunglasses, telescopic, magnifying, and prescription eyeglasses. Eyeglass cases cannot be redistributed due to sanitary issues and health guidelines.

WHO RECEIVES THE GLASSES?
When Freeport Lions’ eyeglass collection boxes are full they are combined and dropped off at the Lions of Illinois Foundation office in Sycamore, Illinois. Previously owned eyeglasses are typically sent out of the U.S.
 
Due to the legal constraints concerning the dispersal of prescriptive devices, and the shipment of certain types of metal, glasses are sorted and restricted frames are sold for recycling. Funds from the sale of restricted metal frames help pay for the program and other humanitarian services of the Lions of Illinois Foundation.

Nine Among Millions

AS OF May 15, 2017, the Freeport Lions Club had nine vision magnifiers loaned to area residents who are visually impaired. Their names shall remain anonymous for this article, although they would all, more than likely, gladly tell you of their experiences.

It is hard to describe the happiness witnessed when a person who has been struggling for years to see the simplest things like a favorite book, a utility bill, a shopping list, or a prescription label, can see those things normally again for the first time in a long time after using a hand-held magnifying glass or other vision-enhancing tool.

These nine area people can once again read entire books, thumb through old family photo albums, and regain some independence lost when others had to do the simplest chores for them.

The amazing transformation of hope can be seen beaming from their faces as they sit comfortably in front of their new vision magnifier for the first time, beginning to realize all the visual things they can do again.

When a Lion member witnesses this transformation firsthand, it is not unlike watching a child who hears for the first time. There are few words to describe that feeling either.

These nine people in the Freeport IL area represent a tiny portion of what Lions do on an international level for visually-impaired and hearing-impaired people of all ages. But these nine are every bit as important as the millions continually served by Lions on a daily basis around the world.

If you know someone who struggles with the simplest tasks because of their low vision condition, contact the Lions Joe Serafini (815) 275-8737 or Terry Anderson (815) 566-7977 for assistance.

2017 SCHOLARSHIP ANNOUNCED

Official Release: 

Freeport Lions Member Terry Anderson presented Freeport High School graduate Chad Foltz a $1,000.00 scholarship on May 18, 2017. The scholarship is presented to a high school graduate planning to attend Highland Community College following graduation. Chad was selected based on his qualities of service, dependability, academic achievement, financial need, and an essay. Chad's parents are Phil and Lina Foltz of Freeport IL.

The Freeport Lions Club, established in 1936, is a non-profit service club assisting hearing- and sight-impaired persons, and supports appropriate community projects as well as other Lions programs at the local, state, national and international levels.

Freeport Lions Club meets in the evenings on the second and fourth Tuesday's every month at the Eagles Club. For more information or to attend a meeting as a guest, please contact Joe Serafini at (815) 235-9710 or Terry Anderson at (815) 235-0834.

Discover the Freeport Lions Club online at: http://freeportlionsclub.blogspot.com

Become Lions’ Facebook Friends at: https://www.facebook.com/FREEPORTLIONS

A BUSY PLANNING MONTH

Lion Joe Serafini has been the club secretary for Freeport IL Lions Club for many years, and always captures the flavor and fun of the club's two regular meetings and one board of directors meeting each month. With the exception of an occasional club golf outing (Joe's favorite sport) and a couple of hunting days, much that happens at these meetings would be forgotten if not for "Joe's Minutes".
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To all Freeport Lions & our dignitaries:

Attached find our Newsletter/minutes from Tuesday's meeting's.  The Board was quite busy with requests and there was a lot on our agenda.

Zone Meeting is 1/30 - Forreston, and we have eight members planning to attend.  Great turnout!

Reaching out for Chairman and Co-Chairman for Diabetes Awareness - mid April for our club.

Also, for Diabetic Retinopathy Van Screening - need to schedule a date between 10/2 & 10/21.

May 6 is our 4th Annual "Cruisin' for a Cause" Car Show - Flyers/posters are ready and committee will meet week of 2/6.  50/50 Raffle (sales) net will go towards (District) Governor Pam Graney's project: : "Eversight" https://district1dlions.org/

Need your support for LIF (Lions of IL Foundation) & District 1D:

• LIF - Sight & Sound Tickets are here, see Lion Dave Snyders to get your tickets ($10.00 for book of 4 tickets or $4.00 for individual tickets.
• District 1D "Twenty for Plenty" Raffle tickets - $20.00 for a ticket, gets you a number for 156 chances to win plus additional drawing at District & State Meetings.  See Lion Joe Serafini - tickets numbers left to select for winner: 713; 714; 716; 719; 720; 721; 723; and 725. 

Thanks,

Lion Joe Serafini

Secretary

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2017-2018 SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION

ATTENTION SENIOR STUDENTS

ALL FREEPORT HIGH SCHOOLS.

Print $1,000 Scholarship Application below

Complete Application

Postmark / email by April 8, 2016

EMAIL TO: andersontg@aol.com or serafini77@comcast.net

Scholarship must only be used at Highland Community College.