The wonderful voices of the Redwood Chamber singers graced our meeting today. 

Lion Melinda stood in as acting president today. 

Lion Brad with his Daughter, Hannah along with Redwood Chamber singers’ director, Melchor P. Carrillo

A note for Lion Dee, along with Lions Aaron and Betty: get well soon. The meetings are not the same without you. 

Lion Tony won the free ad this week. 

Lion Tom Link, taking credit for the better attendance figures at Visalia Unified. 

Todays Meeting

Our president, Lion Tom, led the meeting today and called on Lion Leigh to lead us in the pledge, Lion Pat to lead us in song, and Lion Pete to do the invocation.

Head Greeter Lion Tony introduced our guest, Dave Prewitt, who was 50% of our program today (along with Lion Pete), who gave an excellent presentation on their backpacking trip last summer in Yosemite.

The secret greeter today was Lion Colin. Lion Bob Line was the only one of the group who did not shake his hand today. Bob said it was the best dollar he had ever spent.

Lion Melinda won the No-Fine Badge today.

Announcements

A basket was passed around to collect holiday gratuity for our server, Daniel. It will be circulated again this coming Friday and then presented to him before the end of the meeting.

Lion Melinda had a reminder that on February 20th, Young Life is having its annual dinner, and our club has a table of eight. If anyone would like to attend, respond to the email or let Melinda know.

Lion Melinda also wanted us to know that February 13th will be our club’s annual Student Speaker contest. We hope for a strong turnout that day so the kids have a good audience.

Lion Melinda (she was busy with these announcements) also wanted to thank all of you who donated children’s books to the students in Tulare, who will give them to elementary schools in the area. Plus, thank you for the food donations for the COS students. Note: You can still donate food; if you want, bring it this Friday.

Note to all: next Friday, December 19th, will be our annual Christmas program. Please RSVP using the email sent earlier.

Lion Alvin had Lion Roy distribute a flyer announcing the Valley Center for the Blind Open House on December 17th from 3-6 PM. The center is located at 220 S. Mooney Blvd. Suite E. Get some treats and a photo with Santa. 

Auction Items

Lion Karen had been to the coast and had a brick of chocolate that went to Lion Melinda. There was no competition from the group; it just went to Melinda for $20.

Happy Bucks 

Lion Pete was happy that we have a Fantasy Football King in our club, Lion Colin, who was doing very well this season.

Lion Dee was happy that BYU was going to be playing Georgia Tech in the Pop-Tarts Bowl: Yep, you can’t make these things up. It’s the Pop-Tarts Bowl.

Lion Melinda had recently returned from seeing Jeannie Berchum and Carol Jones, and they both said hi to our club. Plus, to Lion Dee’s chagrin, Melinda had a happy buck for Texas Tech beating BYU last weekend.

Lion Tom Link was happy that school attendance at Visalia Unified is up from last year, some of which he attributed to his being on the school board.

Lion president Tom was happy that Notre Dame was not in the playoffs.

Lion Roy was happy that he had booked the Visalia Parks and Recreation basketball league photos for the end of January, and that he and his wife had once again visited the American Ave Landfill on Wednesday. Their fourth trip (date) in the last month to get rid of old fence boards. It’s getting pretty bad when they recognize you at the dump?

Fines

Lion Tom Link was fined for being late. (first time for everything)

Lion Leigh fined Lion President Tom for not giving our newest member, Lion Alvin, time to talk about himself last week when he was inducted. Lion Melinda paid his fine because she gave Tom the ceremony notes. Many of us said that Lion Tom should have known, since he has been in the club for a few years.

Lion President Tom fined Lion Dee for BYU’s loss last week. (But there’s still the Pop-Tarts Bowl)

Drawings 

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

Lotto ticket: Lion Dee (for a guy who doesn’t gamble, he sure wins the Lotto a lot)

The marble drawing went to Lion Tony, who picked a mostly clear marble and won nothing. 

Lion Leigh Won the Free Add This Week. 

Todays Meeting

Lion President Tom led the meeting today and called on Lion Colin to lead us in the flag salute, Lion Dee to lead us in singing Jungle Bells, and Lion Bob Line to do the invocation.

Greeter Lion Tony introduced our guests today: Amy Comi (our newest member, voted in at the end of today’s meeting), Eric Quek, our speaker today, and Bruce (sorry, I didn’t get his last name), who was visiting along with Eric as one of his students.

The secret greeter today was Lion Allen, who tapped your roar Editor for a dollar for not shaking his hand, along with Lions Tom Link, Bob Line, Leigh, and Tony.

Lion Karen won the no fine badge.

Announcements

New Member Lion Alvin Martin was sworn in, making his membership official.

Lions Colin, Pat, and John Parker celebrated birthdays, and we sang Happy Birthday to Colin, who was the only one of the three who were in attendance today.

Lion Allen announced that the Young Life dinner was scheduled for February 20th. Our club gets a table of 8 because of our yearly donation, so let Lion Allen know if you would like to attend.

Lion Dee announced that things were going gangbusters for the La Sierra Leo Club, with thirty active members, and they are doing lots of projects.

Lion President Tom reminded us that the food drive for Visalia Emergency Aid is still ongoing, as is the toy drive. Bring an unwrapped toy for a boy and a girl to our meetings over the next two weeks, and we will give them to VEAC at our meeting on the 19th.

Eric Quek, our guest speaker today. 

Happy Bucks 

Lion Dee  was happy that BYU was playing Texas Tech on Saturday (though the outcome was not to his liking)

Lion Pet was happy that his son-in-law, who went all out decorating his home this year, persuaded Pete to buy a big blow-up Santa to put in Lion Pete’s front yard. After a little bit, he has grown to like it.

Lion president Tom was happy USC had won their football game.

Lion Roy was happy he had photographed the Race Against Hunger for the VEAC on Thanksgiving Morning, and was Happy that the Candy Cain Lane parade went off well.

Lion Brad was also happy the parade went well, except that his entry, the Panel Van, had its battery die, and some people on the sidelines helped him push it to the side of the road.

Lion Karen was happy that Lion Alvin was now a member and that Anna was joining our club.

Lion Alvin Martin is officially sworn into our club.

Fines

Lion Tom Link was fined because his phone went off at the meeting.

Lion Dee fined Lion president Tom because USC had lost to Notre Dame after bragging about them in their last meeting.

Lion president Tom was going to fine Lion Tom Link for being late, but because Lion Link had brought food for the collection, the fine was negated.

Drawings 

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

Lotto ticket: Lion Leigh

The marble drawing went to Lion Pete, who managed to draw his own ticket but failed to get the white marble.

Lion Dee won the add this week.