President Ruth Mckee opened the meeting with a patriotic song led by Lion Pat Harrison. Dee Baughman performed the invocation and Lion Melinda Blankenship led the flag salute.

Officer Jason McWilliams of the Visalia Police Department was a guest at the meeting.

Aaron Odell won the no-fine badge.

Announcements

Murder Mystery Committee Chair Lauri Aguilar shared that 120 tickets had been sold for the dinner.  She encouraged Lions to get the word out to friends and contacts who might be interested in attending.  She also reminded Lions to bring donations for the Murder Mystery Dinner. Club Members are asked to donate two $25 gift cards (contact Melinda Blankenship) and three bottles of wine (contact Aaron or Betty Odell). Gift baskets will also be accepted for raffle prizes at the Dinner.

President Ruth announced that there will be a visitation to the Visalia Pride Lions Club at 6 PM on March 2nd at St Paul’s Church.

Lion Allen Ventling reminded Lions that the Young Life Dinner is next Friday.

Auction

Lion Leigh Mosconi auctioned off some candy covered pretzels from his recent trip to Pismo Beach.  Chocolate lover Melinda Blankenship bought the snacks for a donation of ten dollars.

Happy Bucks

Lion Dee Baughman thanked members for purchasing his granddaughter’s Girl Scout Cookies.

Lion Pat Harrison was happy about the afghans Lion Melinda has been making for him.  He has been giving them to his mother’s caretakers and donated eight happy bucks.

Lion Craig Wheaton was happy to have visited with his daughter last week.  He also had a great Valentines Day.

While working at Park Visalia, Lion Lauri Aguilar received Valentines gifts from Lion Dee, who was singing for Park Visalia residents, and Lion Bob Bricker.

Lion Vicki Whitehouse’s husband was in Reno at a trap shooting competition.  She was also happy to see Officer McWilliams and Lion Lauri at Club.

Lion Bob Line donated five happy bucks in honor of his fifth wedding anniversary.

Lion Allen Ventling was happy to hear that Lion Brad Board’s wife was doing well.

President Ruth was happy it was Friday.

Fines

Lion Dee Baughman fined himself for the delay in delivering Girl Scout Cookies.  He also fined Lion Bob Line, who he accused of being a shill for the Quail Park Retirement Community.

Lion Vicki Whitehouse shared that it was awkward to see Lions Club members she knew while attending a Rotary function.

Lion Melinda Blankenship fined Lion Bob Line for interrupting Lion Vicki, and fined Lion Dee for shorting her one box of cookies.

President Ruth fined Lion Tom Gaebe for allegedly running her into the wall in a rush to the lunch line.

Secret Greeter Vicki Whitehouse fined Lion Bob Line for not shaking her hand prior to the meeting as required.

Prizes

Lion Karen McVaigh won the five-dollar raffle and donated the proceeds to the Lions Eye Foundation. Lion Brad Board won the free ad.  Bob Line won the Lotto tickets.  Bob Line also got a shot at the marble drawing, but failed to find the elusive white marble.

Presentation

Officer Jason McWilliams shared his views on the challenges facing the Visalia Police Department.

Check out all the photos from the Superbowl party here. 

President Ruth Mckee opened the meeting with a patriotic song led by Lion Dee Baughman. Bob Line performed the invocation and Lion Leigh Mosconi led the flag salute.

Kaweah Delta Health Care District CEO Gary Herbst and Kaweah Delta Director of Development Deborah Volosin were guests at the meeting.

Roy Dressel won the no-fine badge.

Lions sang the “Happy Birthday Song” to Lion Leigh Mosconi, who was born in February.

Announcements

Student Speaker Contest Chairman Pete Sherwood announced that the contest be held during the February 14th meeting.

President Ruth announced that there will be a visitation to the Sequoia Lions Club on Tuesday February 18th.  The meeting will be at the Lamplighter Inn at noon.  Another visitation to the Visalia Pride Lions is being set up for later this month.

Lion Betty Odell reminded Lions to bring donations for the Murder Mystery Dinner. Club Members are asked to donate two $25 gift cards (contact Melinda Blankenship) and three bottles of wine (contact Aaron or Betty Odell). Gift baskets will also be accepted for raffle prizes at the Dinner.

Lion Tom Link share that the Green Acres Little Theatre will be presenting “The Little Mermaid” on Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday of next week.

Happy Bucks

Lion Melinda thanked Lions Bob Line and Karen McVaigh for their gift card donations.

Lion Leigh Mosconi thanked members who sponsored him in the Special Olympics Polar Plunge.

President Ruth had a great time at the Charter Oak  Club visitation.

Lion Craig Wheaton will be on the review Board for Dublin Unified School District.

Lion Allen Ventling reported the Club’s Super Bowl Party for the homeless went well.

Lion Vicki is looking forward to the two-year anniversary of her husband’s heart surgery.  She and Lion Roy Dressel were also happy to see Gary Herbst at the meeting.

Lion Bob Line shared that his granddaughter Family Services Director Caity Meader will be featured in US News and World Report.

Fines

Lion Dee Baughman fined Lion Tom Link for tardiness.  He also fined Lions Bob Line and Tom Link for schmoozing with an LA Times reported during their morning coffee meeting.

Prizes

Lion Brent Robinson won the five-dollar raffle and donated the proceeds to the La Sierra Leo Club. Lion Bob Bricker won the free ad.  Melinda Blankenship won the Lotto tickets.  Bob Line got a shot at the marble drawing, but failed to find the elusive white marble.

 Presentation

Kaweah Delta CEO Gary Herbst shared that the Hospital is currently very full with patients waiting for rooms due to a very nasty flu and respiratory virus season.  He provided an update on the facility projects, which include the emergency room expansion and the Development of a Master Plan to meet acute care earthquake standards by 2030. He also described the District’s beneficial partnerships with Cleveland Clinic on Cardiology, and the University of Southern California Medical School.

Lion Leigh Musconi