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. 

Lion President Melinda leads our meeting today

Todays Meeting

Lion President Melinda led our meeting today, calling on Roar editor Lion Roy to lead us in saluting our flag, Lion Bob Line to lead us in singing God Bless America, and Lion Dee to do the invocation.

No fine badge went to Lion Joh Parker.

Guests

Head greeter Lion Allen introduced an old friend, Lion Justin, who was with us one last time. In early August, he will be getting married in Los Vegas (at Taco Bell, no less) and, shortly later, moving to England to be with his new wife, Brooke, and their son, who is due in September. We wish him all the luck.

Announcements

Lion Melinda leades her first meeting

Auction Items

Lion TomGaebe had to pay a little extra because he forgot to take home the set of Maracas that he had purchased at last week’s meeting, where Lion Steve auctioned them off. 

Happy Bucks 

Lion Aaron was happy to have watched some good pickleball matches this past week.

Lion Betty enjoyed watching the Republican Convention.

Lion Bob Line was happy that he had brought Lion Justin into the club.

Lion Allen was happy to see Justin and wished him well; he was also happy the American League won the All-Star Game.

Lion John was also happy to see Lion Justin and wished him well.

Lion Mark was another member who was happy to see Justin, wished him well, and told a story about a Water Park in Wisconsin that was definitely more for adults.

Lion Melinda, Pat, Roy, Betty, Aaron, Bob Line, and Dee were happy to see Justin.

Fines

Lion president Melinda fined herself for not selecting a secret greeter today. 

Drawings 

This week, the $5 drawing went to Lion Allen again, and he once again donated it to the Eye Foundation. 

Lotto ticket: Lion Tom Gaebe. 

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

Todays Meeting

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

No fine badge went to Lion Tom Gaebe.

Lion Allen announced our guests today: the Lions Jay, Don, Joe, Gary, and Joe from the Porterville Lion Club.

Today’s secret greeter was your roar editor, Lion Roy, who called out Lions Dee and Elaine for not shaking his hand.

Announcements

Lion Dee announced that Lion Pat was having some issues with arthritis and could not make it to today’s meeting. He asked that we all keep him in our thoughts and prayers.

Lion Tom Gaebe announced that this year’s band review would take place on Saturday, October 12th. Lion Melinda announced that we recently received a check for $1,500 for our help at last year’s band review.

Lion Melinda announced that she volunteered to be the Lions Zone chair for Zone 2. Although this is not our zone, they needed someone, and she stepped up.

Lion Melinda also announced the results of Wednesday’s board meeting: This year’s golf tournament has been canceled and moved to next year. Also, our monthly board meeting has been moved to the second Friday of the month and will not take place an hour before our regular meetings at Left of Center. The next board meeting will be at 11:00 AM on Friday, August 9th.

Lion Robert Lee had announced at the board meeting that the fireworks booth had sales of $23,000 this year. Thanks to Lions Melinda, Tony, Dee, Aaron, and Mark for helping with sales this year.

Lion John has a few happy bucks. 

Auction Items

Lion Tom Link had been to the coast and brought back a jar of peach jam, which Lion Roy purchased for $10.

Lion Steve had a set of Maracas that former Lion Chris Baldwin had brought back from a recent vacation and given to him in exchange for Steve’s payment for his new air conditioner that Chris’s company had installed at his house. Lion Tom Gaebe purchased them for $11.

Happy Bucks 

Lion John was happy that no one was hurt in the recent incident he was involved in. He also had granddaughters come in to see him next week. He and his wife had spent a week at Shaver Lake, where his wife had caught a trophy trout. He also had a dollar because he didn’t have his badge.

Lion Tom Link had a happy buck for an 18-day trip to Europe, including Germany, the Netherlands, Rome, the Greek Islands, and Barcelona. Several of us wondered if he would take a note to the Pope when Lion Tom dropped in to see him. 

Lion Dee was happy to see the group from Porterville found their way to the big city of Visalia and visit with us today.

Lion Seve had some money from former Lion Chris Baldwin, $5 for the Dodgers, and another $10 for Steve, who got the new AC from him. 

Lion Tony was happy to see Lion Steve back at club and happy that the Porterville Lions were with us.

Lion Aaron was happy he had a nice conversation with his son this past week, and that professional pickleball player Anna Leigh Waters was playing so well.

Lion Melinda was happy to see Lion Steve back with us and wished Lion Tom Link a good trip to Europe.

The Porterville Lions were happy to be with us and happy that Lion Dee had installed their officers.

Lion Roy was happy to see Steve back and happy to see the group from Porterville with us today. He was especially happy that Lion Jay from Porterville was a fellow motorcyclest who had done two Iron Butt days on his bike, those are where you ride 1000 miles in 24 hours.

Fines

Lion Dee fined several for not knowing the District Govoners name, of course, come to find out, Lion Dee didn’t even know it.

Drawings 

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

Lotto ticket: went to one of the Porterville Lions.

The marble drawing went to Lion Steve, who picked another color of marble and not the white one.

Lion Tom Link won this weeks free add. 

Visalia City Manager Leslie Caviglia talks to our club today.

Visalia City Manager Leslie Caviglia talks to our club today.

Todays Meeting

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

For the second week in a row, the no-fine badge went to Lion Karen.

Announcements

The installation dinner will be this Thursday, June 27th, at the Vintage Press. Happy hour is at 6:00, and Dinner is at 7:00.

Note: There will be no meeting this Friday because of the installation dinner.

Lions Melinda, Allen and Dee were at the Sequoia Lions visitation last Tuesday.

Lion Tony read the slate of incloing officers for the third and final time. (see the list at the bottom of this page)

Auction Items 

Lion Roy had been on a road trip to Kansas City and had two bottles of BBQ sauce, one went to Lion Dee for $5 and the other to Lion Karen for $7.

Lion Colin and his daughter Zoe

Happy Bucks 

Lion Tom Link had $5 today, one as a fine for being late and a couple for his golf game in the morning, where he had a couple of pars. Plus, he was headed to Moro Bay for the week to get out of the coming heat wave.

Lion Pat was $5 happy because his daughter was headed for more advanced wound care classes.

Lion Dee had a sad buck because of the death of Willie Mays, one of baseball’s greatest players, this past week.

Lion Aaron was happy that his son had come to visit last week.

Lion Brad also expressed his sadness at Willie Mays’s passing. He told a story about how his son met him years ago and how gracious Willie was.

Lion Dee also had a happy buck because Lion Tom Link had paid for his lunch on his birthday, but he noted that Lion Tom almost broke his arm, getting his wallet out of his pocket.

Lion Allen also felt sad about the passing of Willie Mays, Allen’s grandfather’s favorite player.

Lion Karen was happy that her son was going to stay on at his job at AT&T, even though they were cutting staff.

Lion Bob Line was happy that his place of residence, Quail Park at Shannon Ranch, had a Hawian-themed event, and he got to dance with one of the Hula Dancers.

Lion Roy had a few happy bucks after a road trip to Kansas City; he also had a sad buck for the passing of Willie Mays. 

Fines

Lion president Melinda fined Lions Pat, Elaine and Tony for not showunbg up at the Sequoia Lions Visitation last Tusday after they had signed up to be there.

Lion Karen fined our Greeter, Lion Allen for not introducing Colins Daughter Zoe.

Lion Allen fined Lion Dee for not being able to parlel park outside the meeting hall. After several trys he gave up and parked somwhere else.

Lion Pat was happy that Lion Dee knew when to give it up and move on.

Drawings 

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

Lotto ticket: Lion Bob Line.

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

2024-2024 officers and directors

President: Lion Melinda Blankinship.

1st Vs. President: Lion Robert Lee.

Imidiate past president: Lion Tonly Loliva.

Secretary: Lion Steve Gerard.

Treasurer: Lion Karen McVaigh/Lion Iris Feaver.

Two-year directors: Lion Colin Franey and Lion Allen Benoy.

One-year directors: Lion Roy Dressel and Lion Betty Odell.

Past president directors: Lion Aaron Odell and Lion Mark Olson.

Head greeter: Lion Allen Ventling.

Head Lion Tamler: Lion Pat Harrison.

Head Tail Twister: Lion Dee Baughman.

Lion Roy won the free add.