Lion Tony Loliva opened the meeting by asking Lion Bob Line to lead the pledge of allegiance.  Lion Pat Harrison attempted to lead his fellow Lions in the singing of the Star Spangled Banner, and Lion Dee Baughman performed the invocation.

Visalia Police Chief Jason Salazar and Officer Mike Short were guests at the meeting.

Lion Bob Bricker won the coveted “No-Fine” badge.

President Aaron announced that orders for the Club’s pie sale should be submitted by November 2nd.

Announcements

Band Review Coordinator Tom Gaebe donated 20 happy bucks and shared that the recent Band Review and Field Show was the best ever.

After taking a friend to Stanford Hospital, Dee Baughman was happy he doesn’t live in the Bay Area.

Dodgers fan Roy Dressel was happy his team was “hanging in there” in the NLCS playoffs.

Red Sox fan Allen Ventling was also happy with his team’s performance.

Lion Vicki Whitehouse laughed as she shared that the Club’s opening song was the worst version of our country’s National Anthem she had ever heard.  Her husband is doing well, and she was happy her favorite team was still in the playoffs.

 Fines

San Francisco Giants fan Dee Baughman paid two dollars after the Giant’s loss to the Dodgers in the National League Division Series.

Lion Tom Link was fined for showing up for Club late.

Secret Greeter Karen McVaigh fined several Lions for failing to shake her hand before the meeting as  required.

Prizes

Lion Bob Line won the five-dollar raffle and donated the proceeds to the Lions Eye Foundation.  Pete Sherwood won the Lotto tickets and a shot at the marble drawing. 

Program

Police Chief Jason Salazar provided an update on his department’s efforts to fight crime in Visalia.  The department handles over 140,000 calls per year and is working to implement new technologies and strategies.  While overall crime continues to trend down, the department faces several challenges, including those related to homelessness.  The Chief also expressed concerns about early release of prisoners, officer recruitment and retention, and an upsurge in illegal “ghost” guns.

President Aaron Odell opened the meeting by asking Lion Karen McVaigh to lead her fellow Club Members in Song.  Vicki Whitehouse led the flag salute and Lion Betty Odell performed the invocation.

Guests for the meeting included Lion Bob Bricker’s daughter and son-in-law, and our guest speaker, Lindy Gligorijevic of the Tulare County District Attorneys Office.

Band Review Coordinator Tom Gaebe reminded volunteers that the Annual Band Review and Field Show was scheduled for Saturday, October 16th.

President Aaron announced that the Club’s Christmas meeting will be held on December 17th in the evening at a location to be announced.  He also shared that the Thanksgiving Pie Sale is going well — Bob Line and Pat Harrison have each ordered 20 pies, and Craig Wheaton and Brent Robinson have each ordered 10.

Lion Bob Bricker won the coveted “No-Fine” badge.

Lions Brent Robinson and Tom Link both made sizable donations in lieu of bringing back auction items from their recent travels.

Happy Bucks

CPA Tom Gaebe was happy tax season had ended and the Dodgers were advancing to the championship Series.

Red Sox fan Allen Ventling was happy his team was advancing in the MLB playoffs.

Pat Harrison was happy for the “gentrification” and greening of the City of Woodlake.

Craig Wheaton and Brent Robinson paid tribute to the fallen San Francisco Giants.  Brent also shared that his daughter had been nominated for a character counts award.

Dodgers fan Vicki Whitehouse was happy her husband is doing well and for her favorite team.

Fines

Lion Pete Sherwood fined Lion Tom Gaebe for answering his phone during the meeting.  

Craig Wheaton fined Lion Betty Odell for reporting that he had a wife.

Prizes

Craig Wheaton won the five-dollar raffle and donated the proceeds to the Lions Eye Foundation.  Pete Sherwood won the free advertisement and Brent Robinson won the Lotto tickets.

Program

Chief Lindy Gligorijevic of the Tulare County District Attorneys Office described the functions of her department’s Bureau of Investigations.  She also answered questions about her years as a homicide detective, investigator, author and true crime TV consultant.

President Aaron Odell opened the meeting by asking Brent Robinson to lead his fellow Lions in the flag salute.  Dee Baughman led the group in song and Pete Sherwood led his follow Lions in prayer.

Announcements

President Aaron announced that the Hanford Breakfast Lions will be hosting a “Too Cute to Spook” themed costume party on October 16th at 4PM at the Salvation Army building in Hanford.  He also reminded Lions that the 101st anniversary party for the Fresno Host Lions is October 23rd.

Lion Tom Gaebe passed around another sign-up sheet for volunteers to help with the Annual Band Review and Field Show also on October 16th.

The Club will be holding a Pie Sale Fundraiser prior to Thanksgiving in conjunction with Quail Park at Shannon Ranch.

Lion Tony Loliva won the highly-coveted No-Fine Badge.

Happy Bucks

Lion Pete Sherwood was happy to perform the invocation at the beginning of the meeting.  He was originally asked to lead the song, but respectfully declined the request, stating that, unlike most attorneys, he can’t sing.  He also happy that he had  attended a family reunion in the Bay Area, and was able to see the Giants clinch the MLB Western Division Title.

Lions Craig Wheaton and Dee Baughman were happy for the recent rain and the Giants success.

Lion John Parker will be opening a second shoe store in Bakersfield.

Dodgers fan Roy Dressel was happy his team is playing the Giants in the Division Series Playoffs.

Brent Robinson will be mountain biking in the Santa Cruz Mountains.  He also hired his wife to assist  him with his financial planning business.

Red Sox fan Allen Ventling was happy that his team beat the Yankees in a wild card game.

Lion Pat Harrison was  happy that a friend’s house-building project was nearing completion.

Lion Steve Gerrard enjoyed a recent class reunion at Tom Link’s house.

President Aaron was happy for the rain and his wife, Lion Sweetie.

Lion Vicki Whitehouse was happy her husband is doing well and for Nelly Freeborn being at the meeting.  She was also happy to see a few baseball fans wearing their colors to Club.

Fines

Lion Roy Dressel fined Lion Bob Line for not recognizing him when he let Bob cross the street.

President Aaron was fined for referring to his wife, Lion  Betty,  as  Sweetie during the meeting.  He was also fined for not recognizing October birthdays at the first meeting of the month.

Lion Vicki Whitehouse fined Lion Dee Baughman for not wearing his team’s colors.

Program

Nelly Freeborn of Visit Visalia described her organization’s efforts to promote the city as a tourist and convention destination.  One of the organization’s newest initiatives is the Sunflower Hidden Disabilities Program.  As part of this effort, staff at local hotels, restaurants and other businesses are being trained to help visitors with disabilities like autism, that may be hidden.  Visit Visalia is also working to get the city certified as the first Certified Autism Destination in California. 

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Announcements

President Aaron Odell announced that the Hanford Breakfast Lions will be hosting a “Too Cute to Spook” themed costume party on October 16th at 4PM at the Salvation Army building in Hanford.

Lion Tom Gaebe dropped off a sign-up sheet for volunteers to help with the Annual Band Review and Field Show also on October 16th.

The Club will be holding a Pie Sale Fundraiser prior to Thanksgiving in conjunction with Quail Park at Shannon Ranch.

Lion Karen McVaigh reminded Lions of Family Services of Tulare County’s Purple Party on October 1st.  Lion Karen also donated ten dollars after forgetting to bring her auction item from a recent trip to Monterey.  

Lion Craig Wheaton also made a donation in lieu of bringing back an auction item from his trip to Idaho.

Lion Bob Line won the highly-coveted No-Fine Badge.

Happy Bucks

Lion John Parker was happy to see the Dodgers and Giants heading into the MLB playoffs.

San Francisco Giants and BYU fan Dee Baughman was happy to see his teams doing well.

Lion Craig Wheaton donated five happy bucks for the Giants.  He also plans to buy ten pies for the pie sale.

Brad Board appreciated Dee Baughman’s singing of God Bless America at the beginning of the meeting.

Lion Vicki Whitehouse’s husband continues to do well.  She enjoyed last week’s program by Lion John Parker and was happy for the Dodgers.

Lion Roy Dressel has been able to ride his motorcycle everyday.

Fines

Lion Dee Baughman fined President Aaron after he to referred to his wife as Sweety instead of Lion Betty.

Lion Vicki Whitehouse fined Brent Robinson for driving his nice pick-up truck.

Lion Roy Dressel fined Tony Loliva for allegedly accusing him of taking his raffle tickets.

Secret Greeter Dee Baughman fined Lion Rick McVaigh for failing to shake his hand prior to the meeting as required.

Prizes

Lion Tony Loliva won the five dollar drawing and donated the proceeds to the Lion Eye Foundation.  Dee Baughman won the Lotto tickets.  Lion Vicki Whitehouse won a shot at the marble drawing, but failed to find the white marble.

Program

Sonya Mehrman of National Public Radio described the network’s One Small Step Program, which tapes and archives facilitated conversations between people of opposing viewpoints from the San Joaquin Valley.