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Lions Ledger

 

Elizabethtown Lions Club

 

“We  Serve

 

October 2007

President's Message

Great job all Lions involved with both Bingo and the Car Cruise this year!  The final numbers were reported at the September 25^th meeting with Bingo earning a respectable $1441.00 despite the weather, and the Car Cruise continuing to grow to $3880.00.  Outstanding!  Considering some of the “competition” will be absent this year for our Pie Sale, Lion Paul has us scheduled for 2 White Cane events this year, and we’ll be adding at least one Hoss’s Dine-in Night I feel like our Club sits poised in a solid financial health for the coming year.  But, your efforts are still needed to make each of these projects a success.

            I announced at the last meeting that Lion Joe has agreed to assume the Chair of our new Campaign Sight First II committee.  This committee will explore what role and responsibility our Club will assume to help District 14-D and other Lions Clubs around the world stamp out blindness.  If you are interested in serving on this very important committee, please contact Lion Joe Ditzler.

            Thanks to Lion Glen for bringing a guest last month.  We hope to see Rick at future meetings as a new member!  Remember, Lions, to remain “on the prowl” for prospective Lions.  Along with Campaign Sight First II, growing membership is a top priority for our District and Lions International.  I’ll take a stab at a Yogi Berra type quote:  “If you ain’t growing, you ain’t growing!”

            Roar Lions …Bite ‘em, Bite ‘em, Bite ‘em!                                             

                                                                   Lion Dean

PLEASE NOTE:

          Until further notice, our regular meetings will be held at St. Paul’s

United Methodist Church, 398 North Locust Street, Elizabethtown.  The construction work at the Fire Hall is ongoing.

Programs for October

          Tuesday, October 9, 6:15p.m. at the Church – The Rev. Jacquie Church-Young will be our guest and will talk about the Leadership Now Program.  This is a program of the Lancaster Theological Seminary which strives to develop leadership skills in young people to strengthen the church and community.  Also, Jillian Ditzler, a student in this program, will talk about her experience on a trip to South Africa taken through this program.

            Tuesday, October 23, 6:15 p.m. at the Church – Mr. Clarence Krammes will be our speaker this evening. 

Mr. Krammes is a fellow Lion and a veteran of World War II where he served in the Army Air Corp.  He will speak about

his experiences in the war as a gunner in a B-24 bomber.

 Greeters for October

            October 9 – John Horst and Ray Powell

            October 23 – Bill Thorpe and Paul Lesoine

Bingo Statistics

            In the Presidents Message, President Dean mentioned the profit realized in the Bingo tent this year and, compared to previous years, we didn’t do well but, considering the fact that the weather was unpleasant every night of the Fair this year, we had a pretty good year.  Some other statistics provided by Chairman Chris Metzler may be of interest to you:

Number of regular games conducted:  293

Number of special games conducted:    45

Number of “man hours” given:  155

Number of minutes required to “tear down” at the end of the Fair:  22 (a record)

White Cane Project

Due to corporate policy changes at the places of business where we formerly conducted our White Cane Drive, we are presently without a location(s) for this project.  Any suggestions, or ideas, regarding possible places to consider for this solicitation should be directed to Paul Lesoine, the Chairman for this project.  (What’s that saying?  “Think outside the box.”)

Car Cruise

          In addition to a terrific profit (see the Presidents Message), the Cruise committee reported the following statistics:

Number of vehicles registered:  121

Amount earned on the 50-50 drawing:  $86.00

Amount earned on the Raffle:  $385.00

Amount earned via the chicken Bar-B-Q:  $600.00

Number of sponsors:  78

            The entire Car Cruise Committee (Keith Perry, Steve Roland, Chris Metzler, Dave Mueller, Mike Myers, John Lerch, and Glen Leib) deserves a loud round of applause for their efforts in this endeavor.  Also, commendations go to all Club members who assisted in making this project such an overwhelming success.  Way to go, Lions!

Yellow Book

            By now we have all had time to review this year’s Yellow Book and now is the time to make suggestions for additions/deletions/changes to be made in next year’s Book.  If you have such suggestions to be considered in the Yellow Book for 2008-09, please notify Chris Metzler.

Meeting Changed

            And, speaking of changes, please note the following in your Yellow Book and/or personal calendar:  The regular Club meeting listed for January 8, 2008 will not be held and, in its place, there will be a Quad-Club meeting on January 15.  That will be hosted by the Mount Joy Lions and will be held at The Gathering Place in Mount Joy.  Additional reminders of this change will be published in the Lions Ledger as we get closer to January.

Suggestions Requested

            President Dean is interested in having our Club conduct one or more “Family Activities” prior to the conclusion of his year in June.  If you have a suggestion for an activity or event which might involve our members and their families, please see that Dean receives your idea ASAP since, in many cases, planning must be done well in advance of such an event.

Next Project

          Yeah, I know.  It seems like we no sooner complete one activity and there is another one ready to kick off.  It only seems that way because that’s pretty much the way it is!  But, keep in mind, it is through these activities that we are able to “Help those less fortunate than ourselves.”  Without these projects we would have no funds to use for charitable purposes and, after all, our motto is “We Serve”.  So, take a deep breath and get ready to go to work on our next fund raiser – the Pie Sale.  Officially, the Pie Sale will begin at our regular meeting on October 23.  Joe Ditzler will again chair this project and that night he will provide all the information (and pies) we need to get the Sale off and running.  We have reason to believe there will be more opportunities for sales this year than in recent years so, perhaps, we have a void to fill with our pies.  Let’s hope so.

We Serve

          You should know that our Club recently delivered to the Susquehanna Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired (SABVI) a total of fourteen cases of used eyeglasses.  SABVI will see that these are recycled and provided to individuals who otherwise would not be able to obtain corrective lenses for their eyes.  Just another way “We Serve.”

Chairperson Needed

          President Dean has found a possible new spring project for our Club – one which is quite easy to do, and has the potential to raise some funds for charitable use by our group.  It is, for lack of an “official” title, the “Hoss’s Eat-in Night.”  More information will be coming out in the months ahead but, at this time, we need someone to chair the project.  So, if you are considering taking on a project to lead for the Club, here is your opportunity.  And, if you are NOT considering taking on a project to lead for the Club, look at this as an opportunity to change your mind.  The job should be relatively easy to do but we still need somebody to do it.  Dean can provide more information about what is involved and, after learning what will be required, you can still decline so there is no risk in asking.  However, we hope that after learning how easy this will be you will be pleased to assume this leadership role in our Club.  President Dean … is it first come, first served?

Volunteer at SABVI

            The Susquehanna Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired is asking for volunteers to help with their programs.  Their headquarters are in Lancaster and at the present time they need volunteer drivers to transport individuals, aides in the pre-school classrooms, and folks to be “Friendly Readers” for the participants in their programs.  If you are interested in serving the less fortunate in any of these ways, please contact Lindsay Fauth at SABVI.  Her phone number is 291-5951, Ext. 111.

New Number

            Our Club Secretary, Dale Horst, has requested that we notify you of his new phone number, which is 570-847-5949.  Please make note of this and change the number as it is listed in the Yellow Book. 

Beacon Lodge

            It has been reported that the future of Beacon Lodge, a camp for the blind which is run by the Lions Clubs of our District, could be jeopardized by its deteriorating water treatment system.  The repair of this system is estimated to cost approximately $95,000.00 – money which the District does not currently have.  However, they have chosen a method of raising the necessary funds – a Brick Walkway Fund Raiser.  An individual, or Club, may purchase either a 4 x 4, or an 8 x 8 brick, or a six foot park bench with an engraved plaque for $100, $250, or $500 respectively.  President Dean has the necessary forms to be completed if you wish to participate in this worthy endeavor.

Golf Challenge

            District Governor, Leonard Smith, has opened a challenge to any and all golfers in the District.  The challenge is to beat him in golf … regular golf, or miniature golf.  You name the course.  It’s a 50-50 type operation.  That is, half the $5.00 challenge fee will go to District 14-D and the other half goes into a pot which will be awarded at the District Convention on April 19, 2008.  A name will be drawn that day and that person will receive the pot collected via the Governor’s challenge.  Oh, did I mention, in order to get your name put into the hat you must BEAT the governor.  (Rumor is he is a 23 handicap.)  To schedule your match with Leonard please call him at 653-2019 (home) or 951-2057 (cell phone).

Whew … take a break

                * Homer Simpson’s three sentences which will get you through life:

                                Cover for me.

                                Oh, good idea, Boss!

                                It was like that when I got here.

                *  “Well,” says the farmer, “I reckon you’ve been a pretty good horse.  You work hard and I ain’t had to

                                call the vet on you too much.  I guess I wish you pulled the plow a little faster.”  The horse

                                neighs and stares at the farmer, then it speaks.  “No, I said feed bag, not feed back.”

                *  “Bob, why don’t you play golf with Jim anymore?” asked a friend.

                                    “Would you play golf with a guy who moved the ball with his foot when you weren’t

                                watching?” Bob asked.  “Well, no,” admitted the friend.  “Neither will Jim,” replied Bob.

                *  Ten percent of all car thieves are left-handed.  All polar bears are left-handed.  Therefore, if your car is

                                stolen, there’s a ten percent chance it was taken by a polar bear.

                *  Camping is nature’s way of promoting the motel business.

                                                                                                        Dave Barry

            *  Wife:  My two specialties are meatballs, and peach pie.

                    Husband:  And which one is this?

                *  Right now I’m having amnesia and déjà vu at the same time.  I think I’ve forgotten this before.

                *  My wife and I had words, but I didn’t get to use mine.

                *  I was always taught to respect y elders, but it keeps getting harder to find one.

                *  Frustration is trying to find your glasses without your glasses.

                *  The game warden stopped a deer hunter and asked to see his hunting license.  “This is last year’s

                                license,” the warden stated.  “I know,” said the hunter, but I shouldn’t need a new license.                                                   I’m only shooting at the deer I missed last year.”

OK … enough.  See you next month.