The November 12th meeting began with the flag salute led by Lion Roy Dressel and a rousing rendition of “My Country ‘Tis of Thee” led by Lion Pat Harrison.  Dee Baughman performed the invocation.

Announcements

Visalia’s annual Candy Cane Lane Christmas Parade will be held on November 29th. Volunteers are needed to help line up entrants.

The Club will be collecting plastic bags for the District’s “Bags to Benches” program.  The bags will be collected through March 31, 2022, and a Trex bench made from the bags will be placed at Kaweah Oaks.

Dee Baughman’s quartet will be performing at our Christmas dinner of December 17th at Shannon Ranch.

Lion Craig Wheaton won the “no-fine” badge.

Happy Bucks

Lion Pat Harrison was happy to have an electrician fix his electrical problems.

Lion Dee Baughman passed an EKG test.

Karen McVaigh was happy to see Lion Janet back at Club.

Lion Vicki Whitehouse’s husband continues to do well.  She also donated a happy buck in honor of  Veterans Day.

Roy Dressel was happy to hear the Christmas Parade was on.

President Aaron Odell will be participating in the StoryCorps One Small Step Program.

Veteran Tom Link received a free breakfast at Quail Park at Shannon Ranch.

Lion Craig Wheaton was happy that President Aaron is participating in One Small Step.  He was also happy about his Yosemite hike, and with recent actions at the Visalia Unified School District Board.

Fines 

Lion Dee Baughman fined President Aaron for being unable to name the Lions International President.

Lion Vicki Whitehouse fined Roy Dressel for what she said was an inappropriate comment during lunch.

Lion Vicki and Lion Tom Link exchanged fines related to his former Men’s store.

Program

Hypnotherapist Ilah Brock described the benefits of hypnosis and her extensive experience helping people modify unwanted behaviors.

The November 5th meeting began with a song led by Lion Bob Line.  Brad Board led the Pledge of Allegiance and Pete Sherwood performed the invocation.

President Aaron Odell passed around a sign-up sheet for the December 17th Christmas meeting.  

Lion Brent Robinson made a donation in lieu of providing an auction item from his recent travels.

Craig Wheaton won the highly coveted no-fine badge.

Happy Bucks

Lion Pat Harrison breezed through his recent Drivers License renewal at the DMV.

Lion Bob Line is recovering after a fall outside a downtown coffee shop.

Pete Sherwood spent two nights in Monterey.  He was also happy Lion Bob was alright after his fall and donated 20 happy bucks.

Roy Dressel donated a happy buck after winning the Lotto tickets at last week’s meeting.

Tom Gaebe’s granddaughter was named most valuable runner on the El Diamante Cross Country team.

Lion Allen Ventling’s son Travis received a Top Secret Security clearance.

Brent Robinson completed his first week of working with his wife.

Brad Board made a donation in honor of the retirement of baseball’s Buster Posey.

Pat Harrison’s grandson hit an inside-the-park home run.

Craig Wheaton won $2,500 at his other club.

Lion Vicki Whitehouse’s husband is doing well. She also enjoyed the cookie that Lion Betty Odell brought back from Arizona.

Steve Gerrard was happy to be driving again after his recent surgery.

Fines

Craig Wheaton fined Bob Line for adding to the crowd Kaweah Delta’s overwhelmed emergency room after his recent fall.

Karen McVaigh fined Allen Ventling for failing to make it to a recent Lions Club visitation.

Secret greeter Vicki Whitehouse fined several scofflaws for failing to shake her hand prior to the meeting as required.

Prizes

Lion Steve Gerrard won the five dollar raffle and donated the proceeds to the Lions Eye Foundation.  Bob Line won the free ad.  Karen McVaigh won the Lotto tickets.

Words of wisdom from Lion Bob Line — When you’re over 85, watch your step!

Program

Outdoorsman Craig Wheaton described his recent 24 mile rim-to-rim  hike across the Grand Canyon.  He hiked down into the canyon from the South Rim, passing down through the scenic layers of colored rock.  He then took a side-trip to Ribbon Falls, and hiked back up the North Rim in the same day.  The following day, he and his group of enthusiasts took a five-hour hike in a Utah slot canyon.

President Aaron Odell opened the meeting by asking Lion Craig Wheaton to lead his fellow Club members in the flag salute.  Tom Link led the song and President Aaron performed the invocation.

President Aaron reminded Lions that orders for the charity pie sale are needed by November 2nd.  Orders may be submitted to Lauri Aguilar and payments should be submitted to Treasurer Karen McVaigh.  

Lion Karen announced that Family Services is selling Mums for Thanksgiving.

Acting Superintendent Doug Cardoza and Information Officer Kim Batty of Visalia Unified School District were guests at the meeting.

Lion Bob Bricker won the no-fine badge.

Auction Items

Lion Betty Odell auctioned off cookies and brownies from her recent trip to Arizona.  Lions Vicki Whitehouse and Pat Harrison bought the snacks for donations of ten and six dollars.

Happy Bucks

San Francisco Giants fan Dee Baughman was happy to see his team’s rivals defeated in the MLB  playoffs.

Craig Wheaton completed a hike  across the Grand Canyon and donated ten happy bucks.

Pat Harrison’s son travelled to Pittsburgh for a wedding.

Golfer Tom Link made four pars during his most recent round of golf.  He was also happy to see Superintendent Cardoza at the meeting.

Lion Allen Ventling was happy to see Steve Gerrard back at Club after surgery.

Lion Roy Dressel was thankful for the recent rain.

Vicki Whitehouse’s husband continues to do well.  She was also happy to see Superintendent Cardoza at the meeting,

Fines

Lion Karen McVaigh fined Vicki for trying to leave in the wrong car.

Lion Allen Ventling fined Dee Baughman for allegedly talking politics prior to the meeting.

Tom Link fined President Aaron after arriving early.

Secret Greeter Allen Ventling fined several members for failing to shake his hand prior to the meeting as required.

Prizes

Roy Dressel won the five dollar raffle and donated the proceeds to the Lions Eye Foundation.  Tom Link won the free ad.  Roy Dressel won the Lotto tickets.

Program

School Superintendent Doug Cardoza provided an update on Visalia Schools.  He was very happy to see children back in the classroom involved and connected with school after a tough year with the pandemic.

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.