Lion Pete, who was in charge of the Student Speaker contest, outlined the rules. 

Todays Meeting

Lion president Tom began the meeting with a warning to be careful because it was Friday the 13th, adding that he had already lost his keys. He also cautioned us that, if we watch the Winter Olympics, we should not attempt any of the athletes’ actions in our living rooms. (No details were provided)

He asked Lion Betty to lead us in saluting the flag, Lion Pat to lead us in singing “America the Beautiful,” and Lion Bob to deliver the invocation before turning the meeting over to Lion Pete, who was in charge of the Student Speaker Contest. He read the contest rules and turned the lechurm over to contestant #1.

Three speakers addressed student mental health. All were good, with the winner, a girl from Redwood High School, being exceptional. We all agreed that this was one of the best contests we had seen in many years.

After the contest, we had lunch before continuing the meeting.

Lion Bob drew his own name and won the no fine badge.

The secret greeter was Lion Roy, who collected several dollars as he was not Mr. Big Popular.

Announcements

Lion president Tom thanked everyone who worked at the Super Bowl party at the Navigation Center the previous Sunday: Lions Melinda, Tony (his wife, Nancy), President Tom (his girlfriend, Mary Lue), and Amy.  Nancy, Lion Tony’s wife, is on the Board at C-Set, which operates the Navigation center, and also wanted to thank us. She noted that while attendance was lower than hoped, those who attended were very grateful for our presence.

Lion Allen announced the Super Bowl pool winners: Lion Melinda (first quarter), Lion Tom Gaebe (half time), Lion Allen (third quarter), and Lion Brad won the game’s final score. 

Happy birthday was sung to Lion Leigh, who was the only member present with a February birthday.

Auction items

Lion Leigh had a package of chocolates from his recent trip to Pismo, which he auctioned off to Lion Melinda for $20.

Lion Pete reads the rules of the speech contest.

Happy Bucks 

Lion Karen was happy to have won the first-quarter Visalia Prides Super Bowl Pool ($250) and gave us 10% ($25).

Lion Pat was pleased that his grandson (whom he is sponsoring with a personal trainer) and the football team he is on were able pick up the cheerleading squad, whereas the track team could not.

Lion President Tom had a happy buck for the work Lions Pete and Melinda had done for the speech contest.

Lion Bob won the Marble drawing last week and gave 10% ($13) to the club. 

Lion Roy was glad he did not take part in the football pool at Leo Costa’s gym. It was $100 per square, and the square he thought he would pick did not win.

Lion Mark had a happy buck for Pete, who did a great job leading the speech contest, plus a happy $5 for everyone who was here today.

Lion Tom Link was happy he was off to Moro Bay after our meeting.

Lion Pete had noted that Lion Tom Link had moved out of his neighborhood, and the IQ of the neighborhood had diminished substantially because of that. He also had $5 because he was going to his home in North Carolina for the next month. Lion Melinda asked what Lion Pete would do about the large amount of Halloween candy that is given out each year, now that Lion Tom was gone.

Lion Pat noted that neither Lion Bard nor Lion Dee was here because both were at a singing Valentine’s Day card that Dee was delivering to Lion Brad’s daughter at Redwood High School.

Lion Tom Link was pleased that time at his townhouse in Moro Bay was donated at the Christmas Tree Auction to C-Set, and that the auction raised a lot of money.

Lion Allen was happy that one of our guests for the speech contest remembered him from twenty-five years ago.

Fines

Lion president Tom noted that last week he absolved Lion Mark of a late fine, but this week there would be no absolution. Lion Mark was able to talk his way into the meeting during the speech contest, so he was fined.

Drawings 

The $5 drawing went to Lion Bob, who had hoped to keep the money, but then relented and gave it to the Eye Foundation.

Lion Pat won the drawing for the Lotto ticket. 

The marble drawing was won by Lion Allen, and he drew something other than the white marble.

Lion Pat won the free ad today and says go Eagles.

Todays Meeting

Lion President Tom presided over the meeting today and called on Lion Roy to lead us in saluting the flag, Lion Pat to lead us in singing My Country ’tis of Thee, and Lion Pete to do the invocation.

New Member Lion Amy drew the ticket for the no-fine badge. After the first drawing, when no one had the number, she drew Lion Pat’s number in the second drawing, and he received the no-fine badge. After the drawing, we broke for lunch.

The secret greeter was Lion Dee, who was so unpopular that the club raked in several dollars. Good Job Dee.

Announcements

Lion President Tom issued an executive order that, because Lion Mark was such a dedicated Lion, he should be exempt from a Late fine.

Lion Melinda announced that Lion Vicki Beeman had passed away.  Lion Vicki was a dedicated Lion for many years and was well known to many in our club and the district. She served in the military and will be buried at the National Cemetery in Bakersfield. Lion Melinda will attend and represent our club.

Lion Melinda also announced that this coming Wednesday, February 11th, the Sunset Lions Club will host Pizza With a Purpose at the Planning Mill, 778 E. Center St., from 5:00-8:00. Stop by for dinner, and 25% of the total will go to the Sunset Lions.

Lion Pete announced that next Friday, the 13th, will be our annual student speaker contest. Doors will close at 12:10, and no one else will be allowed to enter after that. The topic will be students’ mental health.

Lion Dee announced that his granddaughter has the lead in the production of Peter Pan. The play will run this coming weekend at El Deomite High School.

Lion Allen announced that we will be conducting an Eye Screening at the TCOE Science Fair, which will be held on March 7th on Mooney Blvd. He also announced that seats are still available at the Young Life dinner on Friday, the 20th of February. Because of the club’s donation, any club member may attend at no charge.

Sunday’s Super Bowl Party for the people at the Navigation Center was smaller than expected, but Lion President Tom, along with his girlfriend Mary Lue, and Lions Melinda, Amy, Roy, and Tony, and his wife Nancy, were on hand to serve those who attended. 

Lion Tom had a paid announcement.

Happy Bucks 

Lion Dee was relieved that his recent angiogram showed clean arteries. Several members noted that it proved Dee has a heart. He was also happy that his recent hospital stay resulted in weight loss.

Lion Pat was happy that Lion Dee had good angiogram results and that he and Lion Dee are in the group that will be singing on Friday at Redwood High School for Lion Brad Board’s Daughter.

Lion Mark was also happy with Lion Dee’s results.

Lion Pete had two happy bucks; he was gone for the last couple of weeks, visiting his soon-to-be 95-year-old parents, who are doing well. He was also happy to have seen a Netflix documentary called Miracle about the 1980 ice hockey team. Watching it will put you in the mood to watch the Winter Olympics. 

Lion Roy had two happy bucks for the two basketball photo shoots that he had done recently, and had a little story about staying at the Lamp Liter Inn, where they rented us the room, and at 10:00, someone entered the room because the hotel had rented it twice. 

Lion Allen was happy that spring training would start shortly.

Lion Geoff was also happy that spring training was about to start.

Lion Karen was happy to see Elaine back, and happy that Lion Amy is joining the club.

Fines

 Lion president Tom fined Lion Karen for ordering fries and nachos for lunch instead of eating what the rest of us were eating. 

Trivia

For Lion Tom Link: What team has played in four Super Bowls but has never held a lead: Vikings

For Lion Tony: what team has won the most Super Bowls: the Patriots and the Steelers (Tony got this right)

For Pete: which teams have never appeared in a Super Bowl: Texans, along with Browns, Lions, and Jaguars. (Lion Pete got it right)

For Steve: Only teams to go to four stright superbowls? Bills

Lion Amy: whiot paler has the most Super Bowl rings in history? Tom Brady

Lion Mark: What teams have only won one Super Bowl?   Jets, Saints, Eagles, Bears, Seahawks (this was Friday, now two)

What city hosted the coldest Super Bowl? superisingly New Orleans.

For Lion Geoff: What was the first wildcard team to win a Super Bowl? Raiders

For Lion Elaine, what player holds the record for most passing yards in Super Bowl history? Tom Brady

For Lion president Tom: What two starting quarterbacks won Super Bowls with two different teams? Paton Manning and Tom Brady.

Drawings 

 $5 drawing went to Lion Amy, and the money went to Eye Foundations. 

The Lotto ticket went to Lion Karen. 

Marble drawing went to Lion Bob, who picked the white marble and won. 

Lion Roy won the ad this week.