Todays Meeting

Lion President Melinda led the meeting today and called on Lion Leigh to lead us in saluting the flag; Lion Bob Line led us in singing God Bless America, and Lion Aaron did the invocation.

No fine badge: today, it went to Lion Tony

Lion Melinda had selected no secret greeter, so she put in $5 for that error; most likely, that was more than a secret greeter would have garnered anyway, so it worked out well for the club.

Announcements

Lion Dee let us know that Lion Pat was having some issues with arthritis and to keep him in our thoughts and prayers.

Lion Aaron gave us some news on his wife, Lion Betty’s heart issue, and that she is set to have an EKG at home that will be monitored by the doctors at Stanford Medical. We hope they can find out what is causing her issue.

Board Meeting:

In today’s board meeting, we discussed the merger with Sequoia Lions, which was still in limbo.

We also discussed the idea of moving to an every-other-week meeting schedule. We are putting out over one hundred dollars a week because we are not meeting the quota of people required by Left of Center so that we can have the room to ourselves. Going to every other week would then save us money. This was discussed at the regular meeting, with some members being okay with it and others feeling that attendance would drop even further if we did go to it every other week. At this time, it’s just an idea. 

We also talked about coming up with a mission statement for the club. Lion Colin brought up a point that, as a club, we don’t have a concrete mission as to what we are all about. To promote the club and give prospective members a reason to join. Lion Melinda stated she would give this some thought, and the other board members would also. 

One idea Lion Dee had was to work with other clubs on something that the club did about twenty years ago: a sports and pleasure show. We had put this on for three or four years at the Convention Center, and it raised a lot of money. 

Lion Bob with a happy buck. 

Auction Items

Lion Tom Link had been to the coast and brought back a bag of Salt Water Taffee that he auctioned off to Lion Karen for $12. 

Happy Bucks 

Lion Bob Line had a happy buck because his grandkids and their parents had been to Grant Grove, and the info was that they didn’t need chains, but they hit an icy patch, slid into a tree, totaled the car, and one of the grandkids went to the hospital, but she was OK, and all others in the car were okay. 

He also had a happy buck because his relatives who live in Pasadena had come up to Visalia because of the fires in that area, and so far, their home was OK. 

Lion Aaron was happy Stanford Medical was making some progress with Lion Betty’s heart issue. He was also happy that Professional Pickleball was starting up again. 

Lion Leigh was happy that his son, who lives in Eagle Rock, had to evacuate because of the fires, was OK. 

Lion Roy had a reply to Lion Aaron’s talk about Pickleball. He had seen a bumper sticker in Indio that said: Pickleball-for those that suck at tennis. 

Lion Bob Line had a golf joke. A guy takes his grandson golfing, and they come to a hole where the grandfather tells the kid, “When I was your age, I hit it over those trees, cutting off a stroke or two.”  The kid tries and can’t get it over the trees; he asks Granddad, “How did you do that when you were my age”? The grandfather confesses, “When I was your age, those trees were just little saplings. 

Lion Karen had a happy buck because her whole family was over norovirus, which they all got over the holidays. 

Lion Melinda was happy that Lion Karen insisted on getting everything together from the last two meetings, even though she was sick. 

Lion Tom Link was happy his two daughters went with him to Moro Bay and took him to the Vintage Press for his birthday. 

Fines

Lion Dee asked if anyone knew who was walking with the Lins floot in the Rose Parade from the local area; Lion Mark was fined because he assumed it was a man. Lion Roy correctly guesses it was our district governor, Lion Cheri Provancha. 

Lion Leigh had a couple of questions for Lion Dee: What year did BYU start playing football? It was 1922, and Dee paid a buck because he didn’t know. 

Lion Tom Link fined Lion Dee because he had not held up a years-long tradition of each one buying the others lunch on their birthday. Tom’s birthday came and went, but he didn’t hear a peep out of Lion Dee. Lion Dee said the one-dollar fine was Lion Tom’s birthday present. 

Lion Mark fined himself for having to leave early. Lion Melinda also gave him his new replacement badge. His other one was stolen out of his truck a few weeks ago. 

Lion Melinda paid a fine for mixing up Lions Link and Line. 

Drawings 

The $5 drawing went to Lion Melinda, who donated it to the Lions Eye Foundation.

Lotto ticket: Lion Colin (same guy every week)

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

Lion Tom Gaebe won the free ad. 

Todays Meeting

Lion President Melinda led our first meeting of 2025; she called on Leigh to lead us in saluting the flag, Lion Dee to lead us in singing God Bless America, and Lion Bob Line to do the invocation.

No fine badge went to Roar editor Lion Roy.

As this was the first meeting of January, several birthdays were celebrated. Lions Allen, Roy, Tom Link, and former Lion Justin (now living as an English country gentleman) have birthdays this month.

Announcements

With the start of 2025, Lion President Melinda wanted us to be thinking about the coming year’s officers.

Lion Melinda also noted that our former server, Daniel, has moved to LA, and our new server will be Isasac.  She also had a hello from former member Lion Carol Jones. She did convey some bad news about former Lion Janet McClintock. She is in a nursing home and is not doing too well. Please keep her in your thoughts and prayers.

Lion Dee also noted that Lion Kent Wooley is in Westgate Gardens Nursing Home, and if you have the time, you should stop by and say hi.

Secret greeter: Lion Mark was it, but he is such a nice guy; everyone shook his hand.

Lion Melinda leades the first meeting of 2025

Auction Items

Lion Roy and his wife Javonna had been to Indio in the Cohcola Valley for a few days, and Roy brought back a jar of Date Jelly that was purchased for $400 by Lion Melinda, well that’s not exactly true; she only paid $7, but it sounded so much better at $400.

 Happy Bucks 

Lion Dee was happy his Alma mater, BYU, smoked the Colorado Buffaloes 36-14.

Lion Roy was happy that he had been to Indio with his wife Javonna for a few days, which was mainly in the high 70s. He was also happy that he had been to the DMV on Christmas Eve when the waiting room was almost empty.

Lion Melinda was happy that she had been in Pismo for a few days and also put in some money because she didn’t bring back anything to auction.

Lion Mark was happy he got a new shirt and jacket from the Boot Barn for Christmas.

Lion Allen was happy he would go for his DMV renewal next week. We’ll see if he is as happy when he gets back.

Fines

The only fine today was Lion Roy (who paid the dollar), who fined some unknown person who decided to pass or get distracted on a curve on Highway 138 on his trip back from Indio. It caused a head-on collision, causing a medevac helicopter to pick someone up.

Not exactly fines, but Lion Dee continued his trivia questions, resulting in fines levied by those who did not know the answers. Today, it was about the Times Square New Years eve ball drop.

When did it start?  1907

Length of the ball drop?  12′

When did the New Year’s celebration start in Times Square in 1899?  Colin came up with two years of the correct answer.

How many versions of the ball have there been? 7

Drawings 

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

Lotto ticket: Lion Colin won the ticket and was last seen scratching to reveal all those numbers. But did he win anything?

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

Lion Mark won the free add and says go Packers

It’s been reported that Santa reads the roar. 

Jody Gilman speaks to the club. 

Lion Tony was our fearless leader today, filling in for  Lion President Melinda, who was away; he called on Roar Editor Lion Roy to lead us in saluting the 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 Allen today.

Announcements 

We will be dark next week: Lion Tody noted that we will be dark next week; we’ll see you all next year on Friday, January 3rd.

Guests 

Guests today were our speaker, Jody Gilman, from Soroptimists, along with Visalia Emergency Aid Counsel director, Mary Jane Jennings.

Happy Bucks

Lion Dee was $5 happy to be back at our meeting today as he has been out recovering from back surgery for several weeks.

Lion Roy was happy to see Dee back. Since he had watched a YouTube video showing several Yankees Fan’s reactions to game five of the World Series, he was reminded (because Dee was back) to have another happy buck for the Dodgers win.

Lion Pete was happy that Mary Jane from Visalia Emergency Aid was with us today and that Dee was back and doing better. He was also glad to see Mary Jane from Visalia Emergency Aid.

Lion Tom Link had a happy buck because his daughter was with us today, and he was one of the few lion members who remembered that the last meeting before Christmas was always Lady’s Day.

Mary Jane also had a happy buck because the club supported the Visalia Emergence Air Council with its annual check of $1,000. We also collected over $500 additional from club members today, along with toys for the kids. She was also happy because she was going to Texas on Monday for a well-deserved vacation.

Lion Leigh was also happy that Lion Dee was back with us.

Lion Bob was happy his daughter, Jody, was with us today.

Lion Mark was happy Dee was with us, that we were all here today, and wished everyone a Merry Christmas.

Lion Elaine was happy that she was a member of this club and that Lion Betty was at Stanford Medical Center getting a diagnosis and a plan for the issue with her heart.

The Questions

Lion Dee was back, and he resumed his questions/fines. If you don’t know the answer, you are fined.

#1. Where was St Nicholas from?  This one was presented to Lion Roy, whose answer of Greenland brought a few chuckles from the group. The answer was Türkiye.

#2. Who was the actor who played six roles in the film The Polar Express?  Pete correctly answered Tom Hanks.

#3. In the story, The Christmas Carol, what was Scruge’s first name? Lion Steve was given the question, and he did not know; Lion Pat filled in the answer for him: Ebenezer

#4. Where was egg knog invented? Several people guessed this one, but Lion Colin came up with the correct answer: England.

Lion Tony Leading todays meeting

Winners and Losers

The $5 drawing went to Lion Bob Line, who donated it to Visalia Emergency Aid. 

The Lotto scratchers went to Lion Colin. 

The Marble went to Lion Tony; no luck, though. 

Lion Leigh won the free add today. 

Todays Meeting

Lion President Melinda led our meeting today and asked Lion Tony to lead us in saluting the flag, Lion Bob Line to lead us in singing God Bless America, and Lion Pete to do the invocation.

The no-fine badge went to Lion Tom Link, but he did add $10 to the pot because he won the marble drawing last week, so the club coffers were not too severely dinged. 

Melinda noted the missing bell and offered $5 to get it back. It was quickly retrieved from the table where gifts were gathered for Visalia Emergency Aid.

Announcements

Notice: No meeting on Friday, December 27th. Too close to Christmas.

Lion Pat announced that Lion Dee is improving after his back surgery.

Lion Betty hopes Stanford Medical Center can discover what has happened to her heart. She has an appointment with them on December 20th. Keep her in your thoughts and prayers.

Visalia Emergence Air toy drive next week: Bring an unwrapped toy for a boy and a girl or write a check to Visalia Emergency Aid.

Lion Melinda leads today’s meeting. 

Happy Bucks 

Lion Karen had a happy buck for thinking that Lion Pat was singing at the Gateway Church last week; it turns out someone won the Pat Harrison lookalike contest, and Pat was not there. After some confusion, the club received some confusion dollars from Lion Karen.

Lion Pat had $5 happy dollars for his musical group, the Mighty Chorus, which played for the Tulare County Republican Women’s group at the Visalia Country Club last week. He noted that the women were dressed to the nines.

Lion Roy had a happy buck for the Ear of The Lion in Clovis. A person had emailed our club about donating some hearing aids, and since Roy lives in Fresno, he offered to pick them up and deliver them. The group provides hearing aids to qualified low-income people in need.

Lion Mark had a happy buck because his daughter, Rebecca, had purchased a new car, and his wife had decorated their home for the home tour.

Lion Pet was $5 happy to be here today; he had been at his brother’s retirement party in Oakland last week.

Lion Elaine was happy that Lion Betty had been fealing well enough to travel to Palm Springs.

Lion Melinda was happy that Lion Brad had sent her a photo of the Mighty Oak Chorus that appeared in the Sun Gazette newspaper.

Fines

Lion Roy fined Lion Melinda for using her phone while conducting the meeting.

Lion Elaine fined herself for not having her badge. 

Lion Mark also fined himself because he did not have his badge, but he did have a good excuse as his truck was broken into, and everything was taken, including his Lions badge. We speculated that he would find the person who did the break-in because they would be walking around with his badge on. 

Lion Mark checks his own tickes after drawing one and found out he had won the five dollars. 

Drawings 

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

Lotto ticket: Lion Tom Link.

The marble drawing went to Lion Melinda, who drew a clear marble and won zero dollars. 

Lion Bob Line won the free add (same guy every week) 

Lions Tony and Mark display the afgan that Lion president Melinda made for Lion Pat. 

Our Meeting

Lion President Melinda led the meeting today and called on Lion Steve to lead us in saluting the flag, Lion Bob Line to lead us in singing God Bless America, and Lion Mark to do the invocation.

The no-fine badge went to Lion Leigh today.

Once again we did not have a secret greeter and Lion Melinda put in $5.

Our only guest today was Johnathan Ward, a fellow Lion from the Visalia Pride Club and our zone chair.

Announcements

Lion Pat, added by Lions Mark and Tony, showed off the wonderful afghan that Lion Melinda had made for him; he soon gave it to Lion Tom Link.

Lion Bob Line announced that Lion Pete would have been at the club, but he was in the Bay Area at his brother’s retirement party with his parents.

December birthdays: it was the first meeting of December, and three birthdays were celebrated. Lions Tom Link, Colin Franey, and John Parker were not only all born in the month of December, but all would celebrate their birthdays on the 20th of the month.

Lion President Melinda noted that the Student Speaker contest will be held in the first part of next year.

Lion Melinda wanted to thank Lions Brad and Mark for covering for her for the last couple of weeks while she was recovering from knee surgery.

Christmas toy drive for the Visalia Emergency Aid Council: Bring an unwrapped toy for a boy and a girl at one of the next two meetings, as we will be giving them to the VEAC.

Lion Johnathan Ward noted that the warming center at St. Paul’s Church will soon open for the unhoused.

Lion Leigh also noted that we will pass the hat to our server, Daniel, in the next two meetings. He has done a great job for us this whole year.

Auction Items

Lion Tom Link had some chocolate bombs that went to Lion Par for $19.

Lion Tom auctions off some chocolate bombs. (don’t take a bath with them)

Happy Bucks

Lion Roy had a happy buck for how well this year’s Candy Cande Lane Parade organization went. He was also pleased that he had photographed the Race Against Hunger for Visalia Emergency Aid on Thanksgiving morning; with 5,700 participants, it was a pretty thrilling event. He was also happy that he was putting on a training session in Woodlake for some new photographers in his volume photography business.

Lion Steve was happy the parade went well and thanked everyone who participated.

Lion Johnathan Ward was happy to be with us today but had a sad buck because traffic the night of the parade was terrible.

Lion Leigh was also happy at how the parade had worked out. He had helped solve one big issue: a couple of big trucks could not get to where they were supposed to line up, but it all worked out with some maneuvering through the Enterprize Rent-a-Car Lot.

Lion Allen also had a happy buck for the parade, but as to the truck maneuvering situation, he just walked away from it. He was also excited to spend time with his Kids over the Thanksgiving Holiday.

Lion Mark was happy to spend the Holiday in Idahoe with his daughter.

Thanks to her recent knee surgery, Lion President Melinda was happy she could walk without pain. She was also happy that the parade went well and that Steve made her leave early because walking is still a little hard for her.

No one fined anyone.

Drawings

A $5 drawing went to roar editor Lion Roy today, and he donated it to the Leo club. 

Lotto tickets went to Lion President Melinda. 

Lion Tom Link won the ability to draw for the white marble and yes, he did win the white marble and $69. 

Free Add

Lion Bob Line wone the free add and says go El Diemonte Baseball

Speaker Bookings

As always, we are looking for speakers for the club. Use this scheduler app to book your speaker, or send them the link to this page and have them do it themselves. No need to contact me when you want to know if a date is available, if it open on this app, it’s available. (Lion Roy)