Lion President Melinda leading the meeting for November 8, 2024

Todays Meeting

Lion President Melinda led our meeting today and called on Roar Editor Lion Roy to lead the pledge, then on Lion Bob Line to lead us in singing God Bless America and asked Lion Pete to lead us in the invocation.

No fine badge went to Lion Tony, who breathed a sigh of relief at the money he had saved.

Announcements

Lion Pat announced that his barbershop group, the Mighty Oak Chorus, will perform a Christmas program at the Rize Church at 1023 N. Chinworth on December 13th. Tickets will be available soon on their website. 

Lion Aaron gave us a report on Lion Betty. She is doing better, and later this month, she will go to Stanford for more tests to determine the issue with her heart. She thanked us for the card we recently sent her.

Lion Tom Link’s wife Ordonna’s funeral service will be held at the First Prespertian Church on Oak St. this coming Saturday starting at 11 a.m.

Lion Brad agreed to take over meeting duties while Lion President Malinda is in Texas this coming Friday, visiting with former Host Lions Carol and Ed Jones.

Lion Melinda did not select a secret greeter today, so she put in $5 for that transgression.

Lion Melinda reviewed some details discussed at this morning’s board meeting. One was that any new requests for donations in the next few months would be put on hold. The club is bleeding money from low attendance at meetings (we have a minimum that Left of Center requires for lunch, and we rarely meet that minimum) and has not had any profitable fundraisers in several years.

An idea was floated to set up a letter to be sent to local businesses, giving a little info about our club and asking those companies to have some employees join us to become a part of the community.

Yep, it is your Fault says Lion Pat

Happy Bucks 

Lion Pete recently returned from a European vacation, where he won a jackpot on a cruise ship and gave $20 as his 10% to the club.

Lion Pat gave five happy bucks because Lion Dee’s back surgery went very well. The pain in his back is gone, though sitting down can be pretty painful. Also, his daughter is now employed as a wound care specialist at the San Diego VA Hospital and is enjoying it.

Lion Tom Gaebe had a happy buck for a hunting trip in Oregon that was a success.

Lion Steve was happy that his wife was a great caretaker and had been driving him around. tanking him to doctor visits and to the meeting today. After fifty-four years of marriage, “you can’t get much better than that,” he said.

Lion Brad was happy the election was over, and now, as an insurance agent, he can’t wait till medicare enrollment is over.

Lion Melinda was $10 happy to be traveling to Texas to see Lions Ed and Carol Jone, and while there, she will be able to see her Grandaughter.

Fines

Lion Tom Gaebe fined Lion Allen for putting butter on his chocolate chip cookie.

Lion Pat fined Lion Tom Gaebe for not asking him for a donation for a Trophie for the band review. 

Lion Pete looks at the marble and realizes he has wone nothing. 

Drawings 

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

Lion Melinda won the free add (again) 

Visalia’s University Preparatory High School’s Robotics club students were today’s program.

Todays Meeting

Today’s meeting, led by Lion President Melinda, began with Lion Tony leading the flag salute, Lion Bob Line doing the honors with our song “God Bless America,” and Lion Mark doing the invocation.

No fine badge: Lion Pat was the lucky winner today.

Announcements

Lion Melinda gave us the sad news that Lion Tom Links’s wife, Ordonna, had passed away. Please keep Lion Tom in your thoughts and prayers, and when we receive notice of services, we will pass them along.

Lion Johnathan Ward, our Zone Chairman, was our guest today.

Lion Melinda also announced that the club has no members born in the month of November.

Lion Melinda did have some good news. Lion Dee is doing very well after his back surgery on Wednesday and hopes to be back with us next week.

The Christmas parade is coming up soon. Lion Melinda has been in touch with Lion Steve and will have things worked out for us to organize the participants, as we have done for many years.

Lion John Parker visited the Visalia Breakfast Lions, which had forty members in attendance, and talked to one person from the Sequoia club who was transferring to the breakfast club. Lion Melinda said the merger of our club with Sequoia is on hold till after the first of the year.

Lion Tony, collecting happy bucks and fines. 

Happy Bucks 

Lion Pat had five happy bucks for the hay ride on Halloween in Elderwood, where he lives. This year, seventeen kids took part. They do the hayride because the houses are so far apart.

Lion Roy had four $5 bills, one for each game of the World Series that the Dodgers won; he added a dollar for Freedy Freeman’s grand slam and one for Melinda (a Giant fan) for her text congratulating him on the Dodgers win. He also had a happy buck because the word choke is now spelled JUDGE.

Lion John Parker had five happy bucks, one for the Dodgers and one as a fine for his phone going off during the meeting.

Lion Allen was happy the Yankees had lost the World Series. He noted that he was a fan of any team that plays the Yankees.

Lion Johnathan Ward was happy for everyone to be here today and that he was able to return a book he had had for some time to Melinda.

Lion Karen was happy to see the kids from the robotics team here today; plus, she was pleased that she went trick-or-treating with her grandkids and noted that one of her neighbors was giving out beer. (it sounds like her neighbors were the Coneheads)

Lion Mark was happy that the Dodgers were now world champions and that he was going to Coronado Island for a week.  He also fined himself for not being at the club last week.

Even though Lion Melinda said we should stop with the baseball stuff, Lion Johnathan Ward said go, Rockies.

Lion Tony collecting a happy buck from Lion Bob Line

Drawings 

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

Lotto ticket: Lion Roy, winnings reported: zero dollars, zero tickets. zero, zero, zero.  

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

Lion Melinda won the free add today. 

John Trask, our speaker today, talks about his return to South Korea a few years ago. 

Todays Meeting

After an almost two-month hiatus, the Roar is back. My editor’s union has been on strike, and as a loyal union member, I have been walking the picket line. Standing at the Smart and Final parking lot every Friday asking for handouts has been grueling. But management has come together with the union bosses and forged an agreement, and we’re back at it. Our pay has been increased, and we have a better medical plan and more vacation days. But still, there are no retirement benefits.  

Lion President Melinda led our meeting today and called on Lion Colin to lead us in saluting the flag, Lion Bob Line to lead us in singing a rousing rendition of Gog Bless America, and Lion Dee to do the invocation.  Lion Melinda then drew a ticket for the no-fine badge, which Lion Tom Link won. Much money was lost because of this.

Announcements

Lion Melinda announced that Lion Steve was going to be starting radiation treatment for his recent diagnosis of a benign growth in his brain. Steve, you are in our thoughts and prayers.

This is a note that we are closing in on Thanksgiving, which means the Christmas Parade is just around the corner, so be ready to sign up to help.

A letter was sent to the club from Huston School thanking us for helping with their attendance drive.

Lion Melinda gave an update about our merger with the Sequoia Club. It’s on hold due to scheduling issues.

Secret Greeter: Lion Allen was it today, and he did an excellent job avoiding people’s handshakes.

Our Speaker, John Trask

Happy Bucks 

Lion Roy had a happy buck for the Dodgers facing the Yankees in the World Series and pledged $5 for every game the Dodgers Won.

Lion John was happy that a friend of his had had some surgery recently but had come out just fine.

Lion Dee was happy that he will have back surgery this coming Wednesday and hopes to be up and around in just a few days. He is looking forward to playing golf one day soon.  Keep him in your thoughts and prayers.

Lion Melinda was $5 happy because she has a grandson who is one year old today. She was also excited to see John Trask with us today and was very happy to be going to Texas to see former Host Lions Carol and Ed Jones.

Lion Tom Link was happy he made it to the club on time today.

Fines

Lion Roy fined himself $4 for missing the last four weeks of meetings—busy season with schools and sports photos.

Lion Dee gave us another question-and-answer session, asking how many people would be involved in our parents and grandparents if we went back ten generations. The answer is 4,096. We all owed a buck.

Drawings 

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

Lotto ticket: Lion Allen

The marble drawing went to Lion Roy, who picked a yellow marble. Winning nothing.

Roy, who won most everything today, won the free add, and guess what I posted.. 

Our guests from Miki Coty Japan Lions Club, Masaki Inoue, and Tomohiro Nishihata, are introduced by Lion Mark.

Todays Meeting

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

Lion Mark introduced our special guests today, Masaki Inoue and Tomohiro Nishihata from Japan’s Miki City Lions Club. 

Much to the group’s dismay, Lion Dee won today’s no-fine badge. 

Secret greeter: Allen, who was very good at his job garnering lots of money for the club. 

Announcements

Lion Tom Gaebe announced that help was needed with the October 12th Band review and passed around a sign-up sheet. He noted that this year, a record number of bands will be in attendance,  41. Last year, there were 34. 

Lion Dee announced that former member Kent Wooley was at the Westgate Gardens nursing home in Visalia. Please keep him in your thoughts and prayers. 

Lion Tom tells a story of a trip to Tokio 5o years ago. 

Auction Items

Lion Dee had been to Utah and brought back two items: a box of Cherry chocolates that went to Lion Pat for $15 and a Troll Doll that also went to Lion Pat for $20. 

Lion Allen had been to Vegas and auctioned off a hooded jacket for $ 20 to, yep, Lion Pat. 

Lion Melinda had been visiting Iowa and had not brought anything back, so she provided the club with $5. 

Happy Bucks 

Lion Dee was happy that his trip to Utah to attend a wedding was good. 

Lion Roy was happy that Masaki Inoue and Tomohiro Nishihata from Miki City Lions were with us today. They had been planning the visit for several months. Lion Roy was also happy that there was no real damage to his bike or person when a truck with a trailer backed into his motorcycle at the Plaza Drive Arco gas station a couple of weeks back.

Lion Pat was $5 happy that our club has donated $500 to his singing group for the youth harmony explosion.

Lion Tom Link was happy to get one par in his morning’s golf game and was pleased to see our Japanese guests with us today. He told a story about a trip to Japan fifty years ago to attend the Lion International Convention and, while walking down the street in Tokyo, seeing a friend (not a Lions Member)  from Visalia. It’s a small world. 

Lion Pat was $20 happy that our guests from Japan were with us. He told a story of when he was stationed in Vietnam in the Army and got a week of R+R in Japan. It made a good impression on him. 

Lion Tony was also happy to meet Masaki Inoue and Tomohiro Nishihata and said they had a great time going out to dinner with them last evening. 

Lion Melinda was also happy that they had gone out to dinner at Fugazzies last night and had had a bottle of Saki. 

Lion Elaine was also blessed to be at the dinner last night, and she said the Saki was good. 

Lion Richard Garcia from the Sequoia club was glad to be with us and said that when he was in high school, he got a credit card from Links Men’s Ware, and the limit on the card was $25. He was able to buy one sock. 

Lion Roy had $1 because he won the lotto tickets last week and won $5. He was also happy that Lion Tom Gaebe had him come into his office and take some headshots. 

Fines

Lion Roy fined everyone because no one noticed that there was no newsletter last week. If no one notices, is there a need for it to continue? 

Lion Dee fined Lion Robert Lee because Robert didn’t know the Lions International president’s name. 

Lion Dee auctions off a troll he purchased on his recent visit to Utah. 

Drawings 

The $5 drawing went to our Japanese visitors. 

Lotto ticket: Lion Allen won it and he hoped to win back all he lost in Vegas. 

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

Lion Tom Gaebe won the free add. 

Todays Meeting

Our president, Lion Melinda, led today’s meeting, calling on Lion Bob Line to lead us in saluting the flag, Lion Dee to lead us in singing god Bless America, and Lion Pete to do the invocation. Lion Mark, standing in for Lion Allen, introduced our two guests today: Lion Colin’s sister Erin, who was visiting from San Francisco, and Louie, a former cutler-Orosi Lions founding member who was a guest of Craig, who was hoping to get him back into Lions.

No fine badge went to Lion Colin. 

Announcements

Lion Melinda announced that she would be gone next week, and Lion Dee offered to fill in and lead the meeting in her absence. She will also be absent on August 23rd and needs someone to fill in on that date.

Lion Melinda also said she had not heard back from the City of Visalia about the missing plaque at the Lion Park on Ferguson Ave. She will contact them again this week.

Lion Dee announced that former member Kent Wooley has some serious health issues and is now in an assisted living home. Keep him in your thoughts and prayers.

Lion Roy handed out cards with a QR code on them that will take prospective speakers to the online page where they can sign up to talk to the club.

Lion Louie Roldan was a founding member of the Cutler-Orosi Lions club. 

Happy Bucks 

Lion Tony had a happy $20 because he and his wife Nancy had been to Colorado, where they had a celebration of life for Nancy’s dad. Part of that happy buck was because he did not bring anything back to auction off.

Lion John was happy to see Lions Leigh, Brad, and Craig at the meeting today.

Lion Craig was $20, happy to be back at a meeting after being gone for some time, and happy to be walking around after breaking a few ribs in a recent mountain bike accident.

Lion Pat had $5 happy bucks because his daughter had just finished her Wound nurse studies at the Cleveland Clinic.

Lion Leigh was $3 happy to be at the club today and to receive the $1000 check for Tulare County Special Olympics from the club. (Lion Leigh is the Tulare County area director for Special Olympics) He recently took twenty Tulare County Special Olympics athletes to Santa Clara for the annual summer games, where they had an eye screening booth set up. They not only screened the athletes but also had an optometrist on-site, and many of them went home with a new pair of glasses.

Lion Pat gave the club $50 because of what Lion Craig went through in his mountain bike accident.

Lion Pete was happy that he recently visited with his 93 year old parents in Oakland.

Lion Tony had a happy buck for those Lions that we had not seen in a while.

Lion Melinda was also happy to see those who had not been with us in a while.

Fines

Lion John fined Lion Tony for not having a happy buck for Nancy, Tony’s wife’s birthday.

Lion Pat tried to find Lion Colin before he realized that Colin had the no fine badge.

Lion Dee fined several Lions for not knowing the names of international and district officers.

Drawings 

The $5 drawing went to our guest, Lion Louie, who was persuaded to donate it to the Lions Eye Foundation. 

Lotto ticket: Lion Leigh. 

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

Lion Colin won the free add.