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Lions Ledger

 

Elizabethtown Lions Club

 

“We  Serve

 

June 2007

 

 

 

President's Message

   

      If Ray Deiner hadn’t been brutally murdered the evening of May  3^rd, he  would have joined our Club at our first meeting that month.  Ray had attended two or three meetings prior to that to learn about Lionism and meet our members.  After his first visit I asked him what he thought about joining us.  He told me our Club was exactly what he was looking for, saying that the Club was a great group of guys and that he enjoyed the meeting..  Let’s not forget that while we serve the community, we also help each other.  Whether it’s the fun and laughs at our meetings, or the satisfaction of helping someone, we help each other, too.  After all, we could support the service work that we do by sitting at home and writing donation checks, but a valuable benefit would be lost.  

     This is my last newsletter message as Club president and I know it’s time to step down.  Our last meeting offered evidence to support that feeling:  I couldn’t keep track of the bell, I forgot to hang the banner, and I called Lion Dan Connelley Lion Dean Dochterman.  I felt that the little control I have managed to maintain was slipping away.  I think the pressure has gotten to me.  As president I learned early that our membership is a demanding group, wanting to have precise, predictable, informative yet entertaining meetings.            (Remember my second meeting where I mistakenly announced we would sing “God Bless America” at the beginning of the meeting?  I still hear the boos and cat calls.)  And now, after months of ensuring your every expectation was met, I’m finished.  At a recent meeting I felt like a complete clown.  Consider all the visitors and visiting Lions Officials I’ve met on behalf of the Club this year.  That’s no small task for a guy who usually begins conversations with phrases like, “Let me see some ID,” or “What’s your story?”  I’m not one to give up easily, but Red Hats have come to my house;  it’s time to step aside.

            I’ve had a good year and hope you have enjoyed it with me.   My thanks to everyone who helped make it so.

                                                       Lion Joe

 

Two Votes

     At our regular meeting on Tuesday, June 12 we will conduct two important votes.  One will be the election of the slate of officers for the coming Lions year (see list of candidates in last month’s newsletter), and the other will be to act upon a recommended new policy pertaining to the late payment of dues.  This proposed policy was also published in the newsletter last month.  It is important for all members to participate in these important matters so please plan to be in attendance at our first meeting this month.

 

Greeters for June

            Tuesday, June 12:  Glen Leib and Brian Leatherman

            Tuesday, June 26:  Paul Lesoine and Tom Trayer

 

Family Picnic

          At the suggestion of President Joe, the Board of Directors has approved the revival of an old tradition in our Club – the Family Picnic!  Long-time members will remember this was an event we normally held in early August and that will be the plan for this year, also.  Here is what you need to remember:

 

DATE:  Tuesday, August 14 (our regular meeting date)

TIME:   6:15 p.m.  (our normal starting time)

LOCATION:  Elizabethtown Park (we have reserved the pavilion located behind

 the Mennonite Church on South Spruce Street; parking is available there)

COST:  $8.00 per person; children under age 12, Free

FOOD: Traditional picnic-type food and beverages will be provided

by Enck’s   Catering (these are the folks who provide the meals forour regular

meetings so you know it will be delicious and plentiful)

ATTENDANCE:  All members of our Club and their families

(you may decide who is included in the “family” – friends are welcome to attend, also)

GAMES/ACTIVITIES:  To be announced (if you have ideas, or perhaps are

willing to organize one or more of these, please contact President Joe)

 

     It has been several years since we held a Lions Club Family Picnic so please mark your calendars now and reserve the date.  You won’t want to miss out on the fun.  More information will be provided at our regular meetings this month.

 

Programs for June

 

Tuesday, June 12, 6:15 p.m. at the Fire Hall – Most of us probably know less than we should about the original inhabitants of the Susquehanna Valley, but you will have an opportunity to gain some insight by attending this meeting.  Mrs. Tina Mark will be speaking about the Native Americans who inhabited the area where we now live. She will bring artifacts for display, as well. 

 

Tuesday, June 26, 6:15 p.m. at the Fire Hall – This will be the final meeting of the Lions year

2006-07 and, as you already know, the elected and appointed officers who will serve our Club in the 2007-08 year will be officially installed at this meeting.  This will also be a time to express our appreciation to those members who have served in the various offices and positions this year.

 

Committee Chairperson Needed

     Lion John Horst has served as the Chairman of the Health and Welfare Committee for the past few years and has asked to be relieved of those duties in the coming year.  This is pretty much a “one person committee” whose duties are to try to learn of any members who are ill, or who have suffered a loss, and to send them a card or other appropriate recognition from the Club, and to inform the members at regular meetings of the status of any members who are suffering in some way.  We certainly need this function in our Club and, although it does not require a lot of time, it is essential that we have someone carry out those responsibilities.  So, if you would like to serve in this capacity in the coming year, please contact in-coming President, Dean Dochterman, ASAP.

 

Lion King

     Our reigning Lion King, Bob Fackler, has been receiving his “air time” and other significant benefits which come to the esteemed position which he currently holds, but isn’t it time we replace him?  All you need to do to ascend to his throne and replace him is to bring a new member to join the Club.  Give it some thought.

 

Thanks, Tom

     For the past few months we have been seeking a candidate for the important position of

Third Vice-President for the 2007-08 year.  That need has now been filled, thanks to Tom Trayer stepping up to state a willingness to fill this role if elected.  Assuming that happens, Tom will serve as our Club President in the year 2010-11, after going through the three levels of Vice-President.  For the past few years Tom has served as Chairman of the Elizabethtown Ornament Sale our Club conducts in the fall.  Thank you, Tom!

 

On the Horizon

     As it usually does, this summer will likely fly by much too quickly and, before we know it, the Elizabethtown Fair will be opening.  This year it will run from Monday, August 20 through Saturday, August 25.  Of course, for us it means BINGO each of the six nights.  Chris Metzler and his committee have already begun preparations for this important fund-raiser for our Club.  Each of the able members of our Club will be needed to assist with BINGO at some (several?) times that week.  We will need as many hours as you can possibly spare and we can be flexible with the scheduling, but please be sure to sign up at our meetings this month, or contact Chris to advise him of the times you are available.  That is an important week for us.  We gain a great deal of public exposure, and we earn some of the money which enables us to meet community needs throughout the year.  (And we also get to show off our terrific Bimini blue shirts.)

 

Recent Service Activities

 

     We have a poor track record of publicizing the good things we do in the community

but we think you should know about the following:

 

*   In April we purchased eye exams and glasses for seven individuals from our area.

 

*    We will be sponsoring an Elizabethtown Area High School student to participate in

 the Lions All-State Band, which will perform at various functions around     

       Pennsylvania this summer.

 

*   At the local High School Awards Night held May 21, our Club presented  $250.00 savings 

 bonds and plaques to the outstanding male athlete, Joshua Gunnett, the outstanding

 female athlete, Elizabeth Bard, and the outstanding student in the business department,

 Megan Neidig.

    

*   Additionally, we presented twenty-six plaques, one to each of the outstanding seniors on

each of the interscholastic sports teams, both boys sports and girls sports,  provided at the       

      local high school.

 

Jay Walmer represented our Lions Club on stage that evening and made the presentations on

behalf of all of us.   Thank you, Jay.

 

Nametags

    

     If you need a name tag – the gold colored, magnetic type most of our members are currently wearing – contact Dale Williams and he will see that you receive one.

 

Future District Events

     Ride-for-Sight – this has become annual event in District 14-D.  This year it will be held on Sunday, June 17, and will involve Lions members from around the District riding their motorcycles on a designated course  through Lebanon and Lancaster Counties.  It’s a fund-raising event – the riders solicit sponsors – and our Club will sponsor at least one(Dean Dochterman) and perhaps a second (Dale Horst) rider.  If you would like to participate as a rider or a sponsor, contact Dean.

 

     Beacon Lodge Bus Trip – Beacon Lodge is a camp for the blind and visually impaired which is funded by Lions Clubs from our District.  Each year our Club contributes to its operation via our donations to the District Governor’s projects.  To familiarize area Lions with the work of the camp, the District is sponsoring a bus trip to the Camp on Sunday, July 15, and you may join the trip if you wish.  The cost of the day, including transportation, will be $22.00 and if you want to purchase dinner there, the meal charge will be an additional $8.00.  Contact President Joe for additional information and for arrangements to participate in the trip.

 

Rock-Paper-Scissors Tournament

     We began with 43 competitors back in mid-winter and we are now down to just eight contestants remaining.  We will be crowning our Champion at our second meeting this month but we still have to conduct four matches at our first meeting.  So …

 

THE FOLLOWING MATCHES WILL BE HELD ON JUNE 12:

 

Bob Brain            vs.            Bill Thorpe                 (A)

John Horst           vs.            Glen Leib                 (B)

Dale Horst           vs.            Mike Myers              (C)

Joe Ditzler           vs.             Bob Ulmer               (D)

 

                    

THE FOLLOWING MATCHES WILL BE HELD ON JUNE 26:

 

Winner of match A  vs.  winner of match B

Winner of match C  vs.  winner of match D

 

And then, immediately following the above matches, the two winners will meet to determine the 2007 Champion of the Elizabethtown Lions Club Rock-Paper-Scissors Tournament.  ESPN has shown an interest in the June 26 matches but they haven’t yet made a firm commitment.  It will all depend on whether or not the Hog Calling Contest at the Paducah County Fair in Iowa gets rained out.  So, keep your fingers crossed.  As it has been throughout the contest, the first player to win five “throws” is declared the winner of the match, and if you are absent when you are scheduled to compete, you will lose by forfeit.

 

Rock-Paper-Scissors Matches for May

 

THE FOLLOWING MATCHES WILL BE HELD ON MAY 22:

 

Steve Roland  vs.        Dale Horst

Eric Metzler     vs.        Mike Myers

Bob Fackler    vs.        Joe Ditzler

Bob Ulmer       vs.        Jay Walmer

Bob Brain        vs.        winner of match A, above

Bob Ardner     vs.        winner of match B, above

winner of match C, above   vs.  winner of match D, above

winner of match E, above    vs. Glen Leib