November 2004

President's Message

Remember what I wrote in February – that I liked that month’s ambiguity? Now I’m ready for some consistency and predictability, and I’m ready for spring. As I write this, we’re in the middle of what has been described as the coldest April in 113 years. Such a distinction I could have done just as well without. I’m hoping soon we get a nice progression to normal.

I think the traits of consistency and predictability are two hall-marks of our Club. Let me give a recent example. It was predictable that Lions Jay and Ken Greider would do a good job with our annual Easter Egg Hunt because they consistently have done so in the past. Just as it was predictable that other Lions would help with this project because they have consistently helped in the past. I know there have been times when maybe the help for projects wasn’t as good as it could have been, but I also feel whenever an effort is made to advise the Club of the importance of a project and the need for adequate help, the challenge is usually met.

I’ve also learned by being president that there are a number of Lions who predictably and consistently perform routine jobs to help the Club. Often these important tasks are done without any fanfare or recognition, almost anonymously.

I offer my appreciation to all who help, as they can and when they can, in service to the Club and to the community. Your actions have certainly made my term as president enjoyable and meaningful.

I think my presidency has been one of consistency and predictability. I’m certain some of you approach each meeting with a prediction or two fore-telling how and when I’ll screw up. I know no matter which system I try to use in determining the eating order, I’ll consistently get booed. How about the consistency of Lion Mike Myers’ stories? You can predict that our Tail Twister will have issues. This time of year “Take Me Out to the Ball Game” will be sung (often). And, at least once a month, one of the Metzlers will win the 50-50 Club.

I’ll close with one more prediction. Good things will happen to those Lions wearing Bimini Blue this month.

Lion Joe

Greeters for May

Back to a regular schedule this month – at the Fire Hall. Greeters will be ….

Tuesday, May 8 – Dean Dochterman and George Kishbaugh

Tuesday, May 22 – Marty Risser and Jay Walmer

Programs for May

Tuesday, May 8, 6:15 p.m. at the Fire Hall – This night we will hear from Bill Hall, who is an instructor at the Lancaster County Public Safety Training Center, teaching young men and

women to become firefighters of tomorrow. You will be impressed by the work being done to

improve the safety of our communities.

Tuesday, May 22, 6:15 p.m. at the Fire Hall – Mr. Matt Royer, President of the Tri-County Conewago Creek Association. This group is dedicated to maintaining and preserving

the Conewago Creek.. This is yet one more effort about which you probably have not heard but is another example of the good work going on “out of the public eye”. You will want to learn more about this group and the work it is doing.

Successful Easter Egg Hunt

Despite the cold windy weather on the morning of Saturday, April 7, the annual Easter Egg Hunt for the children of the area was an overwhelming success. We need to recognize, and thank, those folks who made it all possible:

Jay Greider and Ken Greider – these two Lions chaired the entire project, which is no small task, and again this year did a marvelous job. Congratulations, to both, for a job well done!

Wenger’s Feed Mill and Master Foods – these two corporate partners provided the eggs and the candy bars which were distributed to each child who participated in the Hunt. Both these contributions were offered freely, and we appreciate that. This kind of support from these two organizations makes the Hunt financially feasible for our Club.

Club members – those who helped cook and dye eggs on Tuesday afternoon, those who helped “paint” the eggs that evening, and all the Lions who showed up at the Park on Saturday morning to hide the eggs and supervise each age division during the event. The Saturday turnout was one of the best showing of Lions in memory.

President Joe – who provided the delicious donuts which were eaten (devoured?) by Lions prior to the beginning of the event.

From beginning to end, this was a great opportunity to serve the community and put our Club in the public eye by doing a service project. Great job, everyone!

Election Coming

Once again we remind you that we will be electing the Officers of our Club this month, with the official nominations being announced at the regular meeting on May 8, and the voting at the regular meeting on May 22. One more time we present the following proposed slate of Officers for the next Lions year:

First Vice-President . . . . . . . Bob Ardner Director 07-08 . . . . . . . . Tom Trayer

Second Vice-President . . . . .Dan Connollely Director 07-08 . . . . . . . . . Paul Lesoine

Third Vice-President . . . . . . VACANT Director 07-09 . . . . . . . . . Mike Rochkind

Secretary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Dale Horst Director 07-09 . . . . . . . . . Bill Thorpe

Treasurer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Bob Ulmer Membership . . . . . . . . . . Bob Brain

Asst. Treasurer . . . . . . . . . . Chuck Shaffner Retention . . . . . . . . . . . . Eric Metzler

Chaplain . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Gary Epler Public Relations . . . . . . . Steve Roland

Lion Tamer . . . . . . . . . . . . . VACANT Sight Directors . . . . . . . .. Mike Myers and

Tail Twister . . . . . . . . . . . Dave Mueller Jerry Lorson Web Master . . . . . . . . . . Mike Myers

Installation of elected Officers will take place at the regular meeting on June 26.

New Dues Policy Proposed

Like every organization, our Club desires to maintain a sound financial foundation and, like every service club, much of this foundation is derived through assessed dues. Although we have been fortunate in having members who are diligent and prompt in paying their dues, the Board of Directors is looking ahead to a possibility which they hope will never arise but, just in case it does, they want the Club to have in place a policy to deal with delinquent dues. Therefore, after several months of discussion at Board meetings, the following Delinquent Dues Policy is proposed

1. If a member’s dues and/or any other outstanding financial obligations are not paid within thirty (30) days of the dues statement being mailed, a letter will be sent reminding him/her of the oversightencouraging prompt remission of the full amount due. This letter will be signed by the Treasurer.

2. If, after another 30 days the payment has not been received, another letter will be sent to the member,

signed by the Club President. This letter will notify the member of the overdue payment and advise

him/her that further actions will be necessitated if the dues remain delinquent. Arrears totaling six

months will result in his/her membership being made provisional, and arrears totaling nine month will

result in him/her being dropped from Club membership.

3. If a member’s dues become delinquent by three quarters (i.e. nine months) a letter will be sent to that

member by the Club President. This letter will advise the member that he/she has been dropped from

Club membership because of their delinquent financial obligation, and that they may be reinstated

within the next six month period by paying in full all monies owed to the Club at the time they wish to

be reinstated.

4. Prior to being dropped from Club membership the member may appeal to the Board of Directors. The

Board is authorized to extend the membership on an individual basis, and for a specified amount of

time, if the member’s circumstances warrant it. The member shall be notified of the Board’s decision

within seven days of the Board’s action.

The Board intends to take final action on the above proposal at its regular monthly meeting following the Club’s regular meeting on Tuesday, June 12. If you would like to comment on the proposed policy, please contact President Joe.

Rock-Paper-Scissors Tournament

Those members who are still “alive” in the Tournament have had an extra month to practice since we held no competitions in April due to programmatic issues. So, when the competition resumes this month, we should expect to see some strategic and confident “throws” by all the contestants. The matches scheduled for this month are listed on the other side of this page. Remember, if you are not present when your match is scheduled to be held, you will forfeit the match and your opponent will advance to the next round of competition. We are now on schedule to hold the semi-finals, and the final match, at our regular meeting on June 26, the last meeting of the Lions year.

Rock-Paper-Scissors Matches for May

THE FOLLOWING MATCHES WILL BE HELD ON MAY 8:

Chris Metzler vs. Chuck Shaffner (A)

Bill Thorpe vs. Dean Dochterman (B)

John Horst vs. Harry McMullen (C)

Phil Daubert vs. Mike Rochkind (D)

Bud Weaver vs. Ken Greider (E)

Also included in the above round are Bob Brain, Bob Ardner, and Glen Leib but, due to the way the bracket developed, each of them will draw a bye in this round and will advance to the next round of competition.

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

May 22 will serve as our “catch up” night. You will remember our very first night of scheduled competition in the R-P-S Tournament this year was missed because our Lions Club meeting that night was cancelled due to snowy weather.

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