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Lions Ledger

President’s Message

April 2004

Early Publication

The Lions Ledger is normally distributed on the first Wednesday of each month but, due to the many activities we have this month, all the field reporters, editors, printers, and mail room clerks on the staff were required to meet an earlier deadline this time.  They complained, of course, but the goal of getting this issue out one week earlier than usual was met.                 

President’s Message

The month of April is filled with District events.  The Presidents Honor Night is April 16 followed by the District Convention on the following day, April 17.  And then, on April 29 there is the School of Instruction for incoming officers.  This is just another sign that the Lions year is quickly winding down.  You have just a few more weeks to sponsor your new member for this Lions year. 

The annual Past Presidents Meeting was held at Acorn Farms on Tuesday, March 16.  Past President Dale was chairman of the event and did a fine job setting it up.  I had the Opportunity, as is the custom for outgoing Presidents, to review my year before this group and to receive comments from them.  It was a very pleasant experience for me to be in the company of these former Elizabethtown King Lions. 

Another purpose of this meeting was to hear the plans of incoming President, Lion Bill Earhart.  Lion Bill was not able to attend due to a previous travel commitment, but he prepared his plans in writing for Lion Dale Williams to read to us.  Lion Bill has some excellent and challenging ideas for the Club.  I know we will continue to grow and prosper under his leadership.  Lion Bill was also able to present a full list of nominees for Club elective offices for the coming Lions year (printed later in this newsletter).  This is always a great way to get the new year started.

Lion Mike    

URGENT !!   URGENT !!

A major event in the life of our Club is about to take place, and numerous things have changed from what we know, and have done, in previous years.  Of course, the event is the annual Cheerleading Competition, one of the most important fund raising activities in our entire year.  Some things have changed since our last Club meeting (on March 23) and it is vital that all members are aware of the details. 

The date you should reserve is Saturday, April 17.  The location will be the gymnasium of the Elizabethtown Area High School, and we will need much assistance from all members in order to have a successful event.  Help will be needed from 11:00 a.m. through approximately 10:00 p.m. 

There will now be just one competition, and it will be held in the evening.  Setup in the gym will begin at 11:00 a.m. and we must be ready for the arrival of the teams beginning at 2:00 p.m.  The practices will run until 5:00 p.m., at which time the doors will open to the public, and the actual competition will begin at 6:00pm         

For the first time in many years, our Club will operate the food stand for the spectators and, while we expect this to be a profitable venture, we will, of course, need people to handle all the responsibilities which will go with it.  The food stand will open for business at 4:00 p.m. (to feed anyone traveling with the teams) so, if you and/or your spouse can lend a hand at the food stand, please contact Lion Dale Horst at 367-4911 ASAP so he can develop a working schedule for this operation. 

The majority of the “manpower” will be needed from 4:00 – 9:00 p.m.  We will need folks to check in the teams, sell tickets, collect tickets, sell programs, stand by the side doors (and there are quite a few of them) to be sure that nobody sneaks into the building without purchasing a ticket, work in the scorers room, etc., etc.  Then, at the end of the evening, we will need Lions to clean up the areas we have used.  As you can see, the need for assistance will be significant.  It is vitally important that you (and your spouse, if available and willing) be available to help us make this event another successful one.   

None of the tasks are difficult (Lions Dennis and Dave will handle the tough issues) and nobody will be required to work the entire day if you can’t afford the time.  However, we will need as much time as you can give us that day.  Obviously, we can’t do all that will be required without the necessary help. 

If you haven’t done so already, please contact Lion Dennis Kreiner (367-1800) or Lion Dave Mueller (367-0125) to sign up to lend a hand on April 17. 

Activities in April 

Tuesday, April 6, Egg Coloring Night (see article later in this newsletter)

Saturday, April 10, Easter Egg Hunt (see article later in this newsletter)

Tuesday, April 13, No regular meeting on this night (don’t forget)

Friday, April 16, District 14-D, Presidents Honor Night at Yoder’s, in New Holland

Saturday, April 17, District 14-D, District Convention, at Cedar Crest Middle School

Saturday April 17, Cheerleading Competition (see article above)

Tuesday, April 20, Tri-Club meeting, we host (see article later in this newsletter) 

Greeters

There will be no Greeters for our Egg Coloring meeting on April 6, but for the Tri-Club meeting on April 20, Lions Jerry Lorson and Dave Mueller will be at the door to meet and greet you and our fellow Lions from Hershey and Palmyra. 

Nominations for Officers, 2004-05 

At the Past Presidents Meeting held March 16, the following slate of candidates for the elected offices in our Club was approved.  If elected, these officers will serve from July 1, 2004 through June 30, 2005.  The election will be held at our regular Club meeting on June 8, and installation will take place at the following meeting, on June 22.       

Meetings in April 

Tuesday, April 6, 6:15 p.m. at St. Paul’s United Methodist Church – our annual Easter Egg coloring will be done at this meeting.  Bring your spouse, your children, your grandchildren, kids from the neighborhood, and any other children who might enjoy the fun of coloring eggs.  Although there will be no dinner, we will serve dessert at the conclusion of the “work”.  Although the coloring part doesn’t begin until 6:15, Lion Jay

Greider, Chairman for this event, will need assistance earlier in the afternoon when the

eggs get cooked.  If you can spare some time that afternoon, please call Lion Jay at 367-3370 to make arrangements. 

Tuesday, April 20, 6:15 p.m. at the Fire Hall – this evening our Club will host the annual Tri-Club meeting. Our friends from the Lions Clubs in Hershey and Palmyra will be joining us at this gathering.  Lion Joe has arranged for a program which is sure to get you laughing.  Our speaker will be Dr. William Klinger, who is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the Hershey Medical Center.  Dr. Klinger has had 23 years experience in the psychiatric field and has developed a “humor and health” curriculum, which he teaches at the Medical Center.  Others who have heard this talk say you will laugh till your sides hurt, so you won’t want to miss that, will you?  Come out to see our friends from the neighboring clubs, and to have an evening of enjoyment. 

Easter Egg Hunt 

After coloring all those hard-boiled eggs on Tuesday, April 6, we need to give them all away on Saturday, April 10, in our Community Easter Egg Hunt for all children in the Elizabethtown area.  Lions should report to the Community Park (across from the softball field) at 8:30 a.m. to have some coffee and doughnuts before beginning the task of “hiding” the eggs.  We need to be ready for the 10:00 a.m. start, when the youngsters swarm into the age-designated areas of the Park to fill their baskets with the colorful eggs.  Any Lion who can spare a couple hours that day is asked to come out to help the children of the area enjoy the hunt and create a memory. No need to sign-up ahead of time, just be in the Park by 8:30 a.m. 

Officers School of Instruction  

The District school of instruction for Club Officers will be held Thursday, April 29, at the Mount Joy Technology Center (formerly Vo-Tech). Lion Bill Earhart will be coordinating this sign-up so if you are, or will be, a Club officer Lion Bill will be contacting you regarding arrangements for this event. 

District Golf Tournament 

The District Golf Tournament will be held Thursday, June 24.  Lion George Kishbaugh will be coordinating this for our Club.  If you would like to participate, contact Lion George prior to the deadline of May 20. 

District 14-D Camp 

For the second year, our District will be holding a youth camp for area 14-16 year olds who would not otherwise have a chance to attend a summer camp due to economic or other circumstances.  Youth Chairman, Lion Jane Newcomer, would like each club to nominate one or two students to attend the camp.  The camp will be held from Saturday, June 19, through Saturday, June 26, at Kenbrook Camp, near Lebanon.  Highlights of the week will include trips to Philadelphia, Washington, D.C., Gettysburg, Hershey Park, and a ride on the Union Canal boat.  The camp is provided to the students FREE of charge.  Please consider a candidate.  Call Lion President Mike to obtain an application.  Deadline for applying is April 29. 

Web Page 

Hey, ya’ wanna’ see a terrific web page?  About Lions?  Oh, not just any Lions – it’s about us!  Dick Earhart, Lion Bill’s brother, has created one of the best, if not the very best, Lions website in our entire area.  Not only does it contain much information, it is extremely attractive      and easy to navigate.  If you haven’t yet visited our site, do yourself a favor and go to it the next time you are online.  If you don’t have access to a computer, contact one of our members who does and ask if you can come to his house to see it. You will be impressed.  The address is www.etownpalions.com.   

Lions Yankees Baseball 

At our meeting on March 23 we presented our check to sponsor the Lions Yankees preteen baseball team again this year.  This is the 53^rd consecutive year that we have been able to proudly sponsor our team.  We are one of only two organizations to be able to say we have sponsored our team every single year since the league began.  Another interesting fact – the team’s first coach was Lion Clyde Wenger who, until the time of his death, was a member of our Club.  Lion Clyde was one of the key organizers of this baseball league in our town, and through the efforts of our Club a number of years ago, the preteen baseball field on South Poplar Street was named in honor of Lion Clyde. 

District Bowling 

Our Club entered two teams in the recent District Bowling Tournament and although neither one came home with a trophy, rumor has it that Lion Dave Mueller rolled the high series.  How about it, Lion Dave?  (Or was he the one who started that rumor?)  Thanks go out to Lion Keith Perry for coordinating our participation in this event. 

Smiles for Ya’ 

• There were two old men, one a retired professor of psychology, and the other a retired professor of history.  Their wives had talked them into a two week stay at a hotel in the Catskills.  They were sitting around on the porch of the hotel watching the sun set.  The history professor said to the psychology professor, “Have you read Marx?”  To which the professor of psychology replied, “Yes, I think it’s the wicker chairs.”

• A girl phoned me the other day and said, “Come on over, there’s nobody home.”  I went over. There was nobody home.

                                                                               ~ Rodney Dangerfield

• In 1884, a Filipino contortionist was hired by a circus.  He was known as the first manila folder.

• Those who get too big for their britches will be exposed in the end.

• Is it true that the only difference between a yard sale and a trash pickup is how close to the road the stuff is placed?

Teacher:  How do you spell ‘crocodile’?

Student:  k-r-o-k-o-d-i-a-l

Teacher:  No, that is wrong.

Student:  Maybe it’s wrong, but you asked me how I spell it! 

Teacher:  Give me a sentence starting with “I”.

Student:  I is …

Teacher:  No, always say, “I am.”

Student:  All right.   I am the ninth letter of the alphabet.

• The drapery helper was fired because he couldn’t get the hang of it.

• More than five million American women are overweight.  These, of course, are round figures.

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