Lion President elect Tom Gaebe draws for the covited white marble.

Todays Meeting

Lion President Melinda led our meeting today and called on Lion Pat to lead us in saluting the flag, Lion Dee to lead us in singing God Bless America, and Lion Dee also did the invocation.

Our speaker, Savannah Boiano, with the Sequoia Parks Conservancy, was our only guest today.

The no fine badge went to Lion Pat, which bummed out Lion Dee as he had several fines to levie against Lion Pat.

Our secret greeter today was Lion Dee, who avoided a couple of members’ handshakes, with your Roar editor being one of them. 

Announcements

Lion Tony noted that Smart and Final had been towing cars recently. The AAUW book sale was happening, and more cars were parking in their lot than usual. So, a note to the wise, park on the street.

Lion Tom Link noted that twenty-five Leos attended the recent Special Olympics track and field meet, where he was invited to give the opening remarks.

Lion Dee wanted all to know that a group from our Leo Club at La Sierra Acadamy will be here this coming Friday.

Lion Tony 

Happy Bucks 

Lion Dee was happy to see Lion Pat at our meetings, as he had been out for several weeks.

Lion Tom Link made an appointment with Lion Tom Gaebe this past week and convinced him that being next year’s president of the club would be in his best interest.

Lion Karen was happy that Lion Pat was back with us and that the SF Giants had won a game.

Lion Melinda was happy that Lion Pat was back.

Lion Roy was also happy to see Lion Pat back at the club, plus Roy was glad that he was teaching his new pup that anyone coming to the door in a Giant’s hat was to be barked at incessantly. He was just trying to raise the kids the Dodger Blue way.

Lion Pat noted that he had attended a prep school whose alumni included several well-known baseball figures, including former Yankee Owner George Steinbrenner.

Lion Dees Trivia Challenge

Lion Roy was asked where the first Starbucks was opened outside of North America, but he could not give the correct answer of Japan.

Lion Tony correctly answered the question about where the US Government kept essential documents such as the Declaration of Independence during WWII: Fort Knox.

Even with all the years as a haberdasher, Lion Tom Link was unable to answer the next question: What is the small plastic piece at the end of a shoelace called? Answer: Aglet.

To Tom Gaebe, the question was: Who was the first US president to appear on television? FDR.

Lion Melinda correctly answered what type of flower bulbs were once used as currency: Tulip bulbs. (to plant it, or spend it, that is the question) 

Lion Karen correctly answered what the little pocket in jeans was designed for: A pocket watch

Savannah Boiano from the Sequoia Parks conservency was our speaker today. As a non profit they raise money for projects in Sequoia and Kings Canyon national Parks.

Drawings 

The $5 drawing went to Lion Karen, who donated it to the Leo Club.

Lotto ticket: Lion Dee

The marble drawing went to Lion president elect Tom Gaebe who came up with some other color other then the winning white marble.

Lion Pat, being the fine gentlemen that he is, says Go Dodgers. 

Lion president Melinda led our meeting today and called on Lion Mark to lead us in saluting our flag, Lion Dee to lead us in singing “God Bless America,” and Lion Pete to do the invocation.

The no fine badge went to Lion Tony after Lion Roy heard the wrong number and thought he got the No Fine Badge again this week.

Secret greeter: No one was selected thus the club did make some money as Lion Melinda put in her usual $5.

Announcements

Lion Melinda read a tank you letter from You Life thanking them for our donation and for the Lions who attended the fundraising dinner on Friday February 21st. She also announhced that we had received a letter from Tulare County that the new grand jury was being formed and asking for any members who would like to sit on the jury this year.

On a sad note, Lion Melinda also announced the passing of Lion Mary Andrade. A member of the Three Rivers club since April 1, 1997, she was very involved in the district and will be missed.

Past presidents meeting. This coming Tuesday at 5:30, Mountain Mikes Pizza on Moondy Blvd.

Auction Items

Lion Tom had been to the coast abnd brought back stuffed Minion that went to Lion Melinda for $12.

Sherrie Bakke with Visit Visalia, our program today. 

Happy Bucks

Lion Tony had $15 happy dollars because he had been to Cambrea to celebrate his anniversary and did not bring anything back to auction off.

Lion Roy had a happy buck for his 14th wedding anniversary on Wednesday. He and his wife Javonna celebrated with lunch at the Vintage Press.

Lion Bob Line was happy that a new rule concerning his state pension and his Social Security check gave him 40% more in SS benefits. Lion Pete noted that Biden had passed that law, which helped Lion Bob get more money. Lion Leigh pointed out that he did not get the same notice as Lion Bob about his SS benefits.

Lion Pete was happy that on Monday, he and his wife Claudia were off to their home in South Carolina for the next month.

Lion Allen was happy that his alma mater, the University of Montana, was in the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2019.

Lioin Dee was also happy his alma mater, BYU, was in the tournament also.

Lion Leigh had a happy buck because Lion Tom Link delivered a welcome address to the Special Olympics.

Fines

Lion Pete fined Lion Steve because Lion Steves grandsons baseball team beat up on Lions Pete’s grandsons team.

Lion Brad fined himself for not having a name badge on.

Lion dee fined Lion Bob Line for talking over him earler in the meeting.

Dees Trivia

To Lion Pete: when was the decloration of independence signed?  Petes guess of July 4, 1776 was wroing, it was August 2, 1776.

Lion Bob Line: Who was the 4th president of the united states? His guess of James Madision was correct.

Lion Roy: Who did the United States purchase Alaska from?  Roy answered correctly, Russia.

Lion Tom Link: What era did America move from an agrarian economy to an industrial economy?  he did not know the correct answer, it was the Industrial Revolution.

Drawings

$5 drawing: went to Lion Tony who donatedd it to the eye foundation. 

Lotto Ticket: Lion Roy won the ticket, but once again came up empty. (suprise suprise) 

Marble: Lion Mark, who also came up empty. 

Our speaker today, Sherrie Bakke, won the free ad. 

Lion BOb Line with a happy buck.

Todays Meeting

Lion President Melinda led our meeting and called on herself to salute our flag. She then asked Lion Dee to lead us in singing “My Country Tis of Thee” and asked Lion Mark to do the invocation.

Your Roar editor, Lion Roy, won the no fine badge today, a big disappointment to Lion Dee who had plans.

Announcements

Vision screenings:

Today’s secret greeter was Lion Mark, who turned out to be Mr. Big Popular, everyone shook his hand.

This morning’s board meeting:  

Lion Karen’s motion that we give the $250 donated by club friend Judy Fussel was approved. We will provide it to an El Demonte student in Lion Janet McClintock’s name.

The buying of a new Vision Screening machine was also discussed. (we are borrowing one from the Pride Lions now) They are pretty expensive, $7,500, but grants are available, which would pay for at least half of the cost. No decision was made at the meeting.

Happy Bucks 

Lion Karen had ten happy bucks for the week she and her husband Lion Rick spent in Arizona attending spring training baseball games. She noted that the Giants won the two games they went to.

Lion Leigh was happy that he had taken seven Special Olympics basketball teams to Fresno for the annual tournament and that the Visalia teams had taken home several wins. However, they lost the gold medal game by just one point. Leagh also told us that he was asked to leave the bench, but he didn’t go into detail.

Lion Dee was happy that his granddaughter, who lives in Utah, was having another child.

Lion Pete was happy that he was able to celebrate his dad’s 94th birthday last week, but he had a sad buck because his eight-year-old granddaughter broke her arm and is on her softball team’s DL.

Lion Bob Line was happy that he was the only one in the room wearing green to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, which is this Monday.

Lion Tom Gaebe was happy that his firm had passed the first tax filing deadline.

Lion Melinda was happy for all the rain we have been having lately.

Lion Roy tried to give a happy 10% to the club from last week’s loto ticket win but he was unable to because he won nothing, zilch, nada. 

Fines

Lion Dee had asked if Lion Bob Line had taken his hat off for the pledge, and apparently he had because no fine was levied.

Lion Dee had his trivia questions for the group:

For Lion Allen: Who was the founder of Lions Clubs?  Allen answered correctly: Melvin Jones.

For Lion Colin: How many Lions Clubs are there in the world? His guess of 15,000 was short as there are 49,000 in the world.

For Lion Bob Line: What is the percentage of Australians living on the coast? Bob’s guess of 90% was right on the mark.

For Lion Pete: What year was LCIF founded?  His guess of 1951 or 1979 was wrong. The correct answer was 1968.

For Lion Leigh: What Canadian city had the first Lion Club? His answer of Victoria was incorrect, as it was Windsor, Ontario.

For Lion Tom Gaebe, how many countries are there Lion Clubs in? His answer, more than 200, was correct.

For Lion Mark: What year was Lions founded, and in what city? Correct answer was 2017 in Dallas, Texas.

Lion Dee demanding payment from Lion Pete for an incorrect trivia question answer. 

Drawings 

The $5 drawing went to Lion Karen who donated it to the Leo Club.

Lotto ticket: Lion Steve.

The marble drawing went to Lion Roy, who picked a yellow marble and won nothing but that nonwhite marble.

Life is Better with Broccoli:  Lion Melinda Blankinship 

Todays Meeting

With Lion President Melinda presiding, Lion Roy led us in the flag salute, Lion Dee led us in singing God Bless America, and Lion Tom Link did the invocation.

No fine badge went to Lion Allen.

As this was the first meeting of March, we sang happy birthday to Lions Mark and Steve who were both in attendance.

Guest

We had a guest, Stephanie, who found us on our website. She recently moved to Vialia from Lompoc and works as a realtor.

Announcements

Board Meeting: This Friday at 11:00 AM, Left of Center.

2025-26 Slate of officers: It’s time to select the new year’s slate of officers, and the district would like us to make those selections no later than April 15th. If you would like to be one of our board members, volunteer.

District speaker contest results:  Lion Melinda announced that the student who won at our clubs speaker contest did not attend the district contest, and a girl from Exeter won that round.

Secret Greeter: Lion Melinda did not pick a secret greeter and thus put $5 into the pot, which was more than would have been gained from a secret greeter.

Happy Bucks 

Lion Roy was happy that the Dodgers look good this year, that our guest, Stephanie, was with us today, and that he had photographed the Tulare County Special Olympics basketball squad last Sunday. Plus, the big news: his new dog was getting potty trained.

Lion Allen was happy that last week’s vision screening at TCOE went well and that the machine borrowed from the Pride Club didn’t need a tent indoors like the old one.

Melinda was happy for Lions Karen and Rick who are in Arizona for their annual spring training trip, as they were w/o kids.

Lion Dee was happy to see our guest, Stephanie, with us today.

Lion Tom link was happy that he was going to Montray for the annual cemetery board retreat and as Tom said, lots of people are dying to go with them.

Fines

Lion Roy fined himself for not being able to go to last week’s eye screening.

Lion Dee had his trivia questions and began with who in the Lions International President: Neither Mark nor Roy knew had to pay a dollar.  The answer is Fabrício Oliveira from Brazil. 

Lion Tom Link was asked where the Lions International Convention would be held, but he could not give the correct answer: Orlando, Florida. 

Lion Tony came close to answering the question: How many years was President Jimmy Carter a Lions club member?  The answer is 72 years. He joined the Planes George Lions club in 1953. 

Lion Dee’s final question was: How many people were helped by Lions Worldwide in the year 23-24? No one could give the correct answer of four hundred and twenty million. 

Lion Melinda draws for the white marble, but came up empty. 

Remembering Janet

Today, we began a new tradition of remembering lions who have passed with the remembrance of Lion Janet McClintock. Lion Roy put together photos he had taken from years past, and members talked about their fond memories of Janet. She was our first female president, serving the 2008-2009 year.

Drawings 

The $5 drawing went to Lion Leigh who donated it to the Leo Club.

Lotto ticket: Lion Roy, who, as he expected, came up empty. 

The marble drawing went to Lion Melinda, who picked a nonwhite marble, winning nothing but that nonwhite marble.

Lion Melinda won the free add. 

Todays Meeting

Lion president Melinda led our meeting today and called on Lion Leigh to lead us in the flag salute, Lion Dee to lead us in singing “My country ‘Tis of Thee,” and Lion Bob Line to do the invocation.

Non fine badge: Lion Bob Line received the badge today and saved himself a dollar because he did not shake our secret greeter, Lion Dee’s hand. 

Announcements

Lion Allen gave Lion Tom Gaebe his winnings from the Super Bowl pool, as this was the first day Lion Tom had been at one of our meetings since the game. As this is tax season, Tom has been somewhat busy.

Lion Allen announced that the Young Life fundraiser on February 21, for which we were given a table in exchange for our contribution, was a success and fun, especially the desert dash.

Lion Dee announced that ten Leos from our sponsored Leo Club helped out at last weekend’s MD4 convention, putting up the more than 200 flags used for the parade of flags.

Next week, we will start a new tradition for our club and remember the life of Lion Janet McClintock. She had been a Lion for many years and president of our club for the 2008-2009 year.

Lion Melinda announced that Judy Fussel, a good friend of Lion Janet and Melinda, had donated a check for $250 to the club in Janet’s name.

Lion Colin

Happy Bucks 

Lion Roy had a few happy bucks, one for a new dog that he recently adopted from the local shelter, one for being able to ride his motorcycle on this nice day, one for getting to meet the Lions 3rd vice district govoner at the MD4 Convention last weekend and one for receiving an email from our Japanese visitor Tomohir Nishihata who visited our club back in September. He will be president of his club this coming year and plans to make another visit to our club in the fall. 

Lion Mark gave a $10 happy buck because he had been to Montana to see his daughter and didn’t bring anything back. 

Lion Pete was happy he skied in Colorado with his brother this past weekend. 

Lion Karen was happy that she and Lion Rick were going for their annual Spring Training trip to Arizona next week. She was also happy they bought a new Subaru Forester last week. 

Lion Brad was happy that he had traveled to Washington this past week, but this time by airplane, so this time no stopping for “ice cream” along the way.

Lion Melinda was happy that she, along with Lions Roy and Tom Link, attended former Lion Lauri’s wedding this past Saturday. 

Fines

Lion Dee fined Lion Roy because Lion Roy’s daughter-in-law had stories to tell about him when Dee went to his podiatrist’s office this past week, where Roy’s daughter-in-law works.

Lion Tom Link fined Lion Melinda because she did not fine Lion Tom for being late.

Drawings 

The $5 drawing went to Lion Steve who donated it to the Leo Club.

Lotto ticket: Lion Leigh. Lion Leigh also won the marble drawing, but as was most likely the case with the lotto tickets, he came up empty for the marble.

Lion Brad won the free add today.