Todays Meeting

Lion President Tom led the meeting today and called on Lion Steve to lead us in saluting the flag, Lion Pat to lead us in singing “America the Beautiful,” and Lion Dee to do the invocation. Lion Tony announced our guest, George Watson, from the Central Valley Compassion Coalition, as our speaker.

Our guest, George Watson, drew the no-fine badge, drawing Lion Amy’s ticket. Lion Amy was then ushered to the front, so we could officially induct her into the club. Her sponsor, Lion Dee, was with her, and Lion President Tom did the ceremony.

Lion Karen was our secret greeter today, and the club made a good deal of money, though some grumbling was heard from more than one of us that we had shaken her hand.

Announcements

Lion Melinda announced that she had a whole bunch of thank-you notes from those to whom our club has recently donated, and she passed them around for everyone to read. Also, an announcement about the next eye screening scheduled for Saturday, March 7th, at the Tulare County Office of Education on Mooney Blvd. The event takes place from 10 AM to 2 PM and is part of the annual STEAM event.

Lion Dee announced that Lion Tom Link was recovering from a bout of pneumonia, which kept him in the hospital for a couple of days, but he is home and doing well.

Auction items

Auction item from Lion Karen: English toffee. It went to Lion Melinda, who stated that whoever had the highest bid would add $1 to it; it ended up being $10.

Lion Dee giving info about Lion Tom Link

Lion Amy is being officially inducted into the club. 

Happy Bucks 

Lion Amy was happy for the lovely induction ceremony and happy to be part of the group; she was also happy for her dad’s 85th birthday.

Lion Dee was happy to have Lion Amy with us.

Lion Karen was happy to have won the lotto tickets last week. She won $10 and gave 10% to the club. She was also happy to have Lion Amy in the club and happy that Lion Alvin was able to be with us this week.

Lion Melinda was happy to have Lion Amy with us and was always happy to have another lady in the club. She was also happy to have helped Lion Roy photograph the Special Olympics Basketball teams last Sunday in Tulare. It was one of the neatest experiences she has ever had.

Lion Geoff was happy that the Dodgers were in spring training and that he had a second interview for a promotion at work.

Lion Roy was happy to have photographed the Special Olympics last Sunday and to have gone on a motorcycle ride to Highway 198 west of Coalinga on Tuesday.

Lion president Tom was happy that Tax season was here, and happy to have Lion Amy with us.

Fines

Lion Pat had $5 to cover Lion Tom’s fine.

Trivia

For Lion Amy: What was the first US colony? She answered Ronaoke, which was wrong; it was Jamestown, VA.

Lion Rick: Who were the only two non-presidents to appear on us paper money? Rick got 50% with Alexander Hamilton, but couldn’t get the second, Benjerman Franklyn.

Lion Leigh: If someone asked for your “John Hancock,” what are they referring to? He correctly answered, your signature.

Lion Allen: When did the US officially get involved in WWI? His answer was 1918, which was wrong; Lion Alvin’s answer of 1921 was also wrong. The correct answer was 1917.

Lion Geoff: Who was the king of England was it during the American Revolution? He correctly answered King George III.

Lion Tony: True or False: Apply Pie was invented in the USA. He correctly answered False, but didn’t know where. After several answers, Lion Roy was correct with England.

Drawings 

$5 drawing went to Lion Tony, who gave it to the Eye Foundation.

Free Ad went to the Lion Geoff.

Lotto tickets went to Lion Leigh, who drew his own ticket.

The marble drawing went to Lion Pat, who drew a yellow marble and won nothing.

Lion Geoff won the free ad.

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. 

Visalia’s city manager, Leslie Caviglia, talks to the club about the city’s five-year plan.

Todays Meeting

Our president, Lion Tom, was unable to attend the meeting, and the first vice president, Lion Colin, presided, calling on Lion Roy to lead us in the flag salute, Lion Dee to lead us in song, and Lion Pete to deliver the invocation.

The no fine badge went to Lion Pat today.

Auction items

Lion Roy was given a bottle of meds by Lion Bob Line, who had noted that Lion Tom Link had left them on the table at their morning coffee meeting. Roy decided they made a good auction item, and Lion Tom paid $5 to get them back.

Visalia’s City Manager Leslie Caviglia

Happy Bucks 

Lion Pete was happy that Friday was his wife, Claudia’s, birthday, and he was smart enough not to reveal her age. 

Lion Dee was happy to be back at the club after a stint in the hospital and a few days in rehab.

Lion Geoff was happy to have gone to the Chiefs’/Raiders game in Vegas recently, though the outcome did not suit him. But the suit he had on at the game left no doubt about where his loyalties lie.

Lion Roay was happy to see Lion Dee back at our meeting and that he was on the mend.

Lion Colin was also happy to see Lion Dee.

Lion Roy had given Lion Alvin a ride to the meeting and had learned that they had even more in common than having lived across the street from each other years ago. It is indeed a small world.

Lion Mark was also happy to see Lions Dee and Alvin at the meeting.

Fines

 Lion Tom Link was fined for being late. 

Lion Mark fined himself for having to leave early. 

Lion Dee, feeling like his old self, fined Lion Melinda for the terrible food he had while at Kaweah. The Oatmeal was especially bad, and he stated he would not serve it to prisoners of war. (he did say that the nurses and staff were great) 

Drawings 

Lion Leigh won the $5 drawing and donated it to the Leo club. 

The Lotto Ticket went to your Roar editor, Lion Roy, who thought, “Finally, I’ll get paid for writing this thing,”  but alas, it was not to be.

Lion Leigh also won the free ad today.

He said, “Go 49ers.”
But he’ll have to carry that over to next year. 

Our first meeting of 2026

Todays Meeting

Lion president Tom led the first meeting of 2026 and called on Lion Karen to lead us in the pledge, Lion Pat to lead us in singing My Country ’tis of Thee, and Lion Bob to do the invocation.

We had two guests today: our zone chair, Lion Ian Sellers, and our speaker, Fernie Marroquin. Fernie is the assistant superintendent for business services at the Tulare County Office of Education.

The no fine badge went to Lion Karen.

The secret greeter was none other than your Roar editor, Lion Roy, who was unpopular enough that several members did not shake his hand.

Announcements

Sad news came in after Friday’s meeting: former Visalia Host Lion Kent Wooley has passed away. We have no information yet on when the services will be held, but we will communicate them as soon as we know.

Lion Melinda announced that a bus will be available for the City of Hope Tribute Day on March 1st.

Lion Tom Link gave us an update on Lion Dee’s condition. He had been in Kaweah for three days over the Christmas holiday and is now in rehab. We all hope to see him soon.

Lion Allen circulated a Super Bowl pool sheet,  priced at $1 per square, with a maximum of 7 squares. Several of us took him up on it.

Auction items

Lion Tom Link had been to the coast and brought back a bag of Salt Water Taffy that went to Lion Karen for $10.

Lion Pat has a happy buck. 

Happy Bucks 

Lion president Tom was happy because of the nice weather and for the new tax laws, which are making him a lot of money because they are so complicated.

Lion Mark was also happy with the nice weather.

Lion Melinda was happy that a big backyard project at her house was completed.

Lion Karen was happy that the grandkids were going back to school and that she and Rick were going to Cabo for a few days.

Guest Lion Ian was happy to be with us today and delighted that his wife was pregnant with their third child.

Lion Mark was happy that the club was back to meeting for the new year, and happy for Lion Ian to have another young one on the way.

Lion Pat was happy that Coke was switching one of its plants from making soda to making a nutritional beverage.

Lion John was happy to be back at a club meeting and happy that he had lost thirty-three pounds.

Lion Tom Link was happy to have adopted a dog, a French poodle named Abby, and was hopeful that he might be moving into one of the cottages at Quail Park in Cypress within the next month.

Fines

Lions John and Mark were both fined for being late.

Both Lion Toms were fined for double-booking speakers today.

Drawings 

 $5 drawing went to Lion Pete, who donated it to the Leo club. 

Lotto ticket: Went to Lion Steve. Will he win the big bucks? We’ll see this Friday. 

Marble Drawing: Lion, Tom Link, no luck on getting that white marble. 

Free Add

Help Out at the Clubs
Super Bowl Party for the Homeless

Sunday February 8th
Visalia Navigation Center

Lion Roy won the free ad today

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.