Dear Lions;

As we enter the Holiday Season, I’d like to begin this month’s Newsletter by offering best wishes for a peaceful festive season to you and your families; the first half of this Lions year is almost over and as I sit here typing this and look back at the things that we have achieved and experienced as a club during the past 5 months I am in  awe. It truly fills my heart with pride each time I get the opportunity to preside over our meetings or discuss our club’s activities with other club’s as travel round the district. I last did this with the Middlefield Lions club; I did a CLERF presentation and Diane was there to induct their newest recruits. As we sat with the club president during dinner, her jaw literally dropped open as we recounted our club’s successes, recruiting and fundraising.

Light up the Holidays. This year, we had 64 exhibits donated and displayed at the Rathbun Library from November 19^th, culminating in the auction and Holiday reception that we held on Friday December 2^nd. I (roughly) counted 90-100 people in attendance that enjoyed an evening of “shopping”, good company and festive background music, thanks to the guitar and vocals of Cindy’s husband Anthony Valentino. Thanks to the committees that organized the smooth running of the event and the plentiful supply of food.  Initial count looks like we raised in the region of $1980 to be shared between the town’s food bank, fuel bank and youth & family services.

LEOs. The recently formed East Haddam LEO’s club have now had three meetings and elected their own officers. At their last meeting, this group of enthusiastic youngsters, compiled a long list of ideas for future fundraising activities and ways to support events that both Lion’s clubs will be holding, starting with a bake sale where they will sell goods during the EH lions club Christmas tree sales during the evenings of December 9^th and 16^th. It’s been suggested that we should consider hosting the LEO’s at a social evening during January or February (the two months that we do not have dinner meetings), a topic we can discuss at one of our upcoming business meetings…..Jan and Feb are ideal months to do orientation for new/recent members where we can teach you about the many facets/topics that Lions clubs cover. If you have any suggestions ideas you’d like to know more about?...let me know.

Peace Poster. After what I’d put down as confusion, poor leadership (on my part) that led to much merriment! we managed to elect 4 winning posters from the 78 entries that were received for this year’s competition. The winning artists were recognized at a recent presentation

Peace Poster contest winner Bethany Powell (left) with runners-up Jeff Soboleski, Courtney Lanning and Nate Kiley. Lions Club representative Linda Bradshaw (back row, left) and NHRMS art teacher Claudia Mazotta presented the artists with their awards.

“For the past 20 years, the Lions Club International has sponsored a Peace Poster contest, inviting children from across the globe to depict their vision of world-wide peace in a work of art that is based on a particular theme. This year’s theme was “Children Know Peace.”

The contest goes all around the world. It gets the children talking about peace,” said Linda Bradshaw from the East Haddam Community Lions Club. Her club has been sponsoring the contest locally since its inception, when they had about a dozen entrants. This year, students at Nathan Hale-Ray Middle School, under the guidance of art teacher Claudia Mazotta, submitted 78 posters.

The students had to do everything, designing it themselves,” said Mazotta, who made the contest a class project.

The Lions, however, were faced with the even more difficult task of choosing a single winner. And this year’s top poster, depicting a circle of joined hands encircling a globe, was composed by eighth-grader Bethany Powell.

“I liked the pattern of people holding hands,” said Powell of her poster. This pattern, she said, represents “peace circling the Earth.” Runners-up also receiving prizes were seventh-graders Nate Kiley, Courtney Lanning and Jeff Soboleski.

The next stop for Bethany’s poster is the district contest, (judging December 4^th) with a chance to proceed all the way to the international final, and the grand prize of attending Lions Day at the United Nations”

Newsflash!!!

Just back from the District holiday party…there were 8 entries from around the district that met the criteria; Bethany’s poster won a very close contest. Her entry now moves to the next stage, the judging of the 3 district winners; I hope to have the result available for our business meeting on Tuesday. Bethany, her family and her art teacher will be invited to the join us for lunch at the midwinter conference on February 4^th when the State winner will be announced.

Thanks to Pat Thomas and Deb Ryczek for taking on this project.

Did You Know?

That it’s not necessary for every member to volunteer for every event; if we did, we will have more volunteers than supporters/patrons. If you are interested in volunteering to assist with an event, please let me or the committee chair know so we can give you an assignment, otherwise we would love to see you at any event as a patron/supporter. We are currently looking for member to sign up/help with a Spring Fashion show (see comments below)

2012 Fundraisers

I know, I hear ya!, Holidays shopping still to contend with, but time to bring some of next year’s fundraisers to the fore

Road Race… Saturday April 7^th 2012…committee, chaired by Mary Jane has already met; plans well in hand.

Fashion Show, April 2012. 4 members have volunteered to be on the committee. Are these 4   taking it on as a joint venture?

Tea Party, May 5^th

Golf Tournament, May 20^th

Other 2012 notables

Humanitarian of the Year 2012, Jan 14^th 2012. Dinner venue to be confirmed

Pediavision, pediatric Eye Screening, tentatively, 3rd (or 4th) week of March

Upcoming events

December events and Meetings

6^th: Business Meeting, 7:00 pm @ Oak Grove Community Center.

13^th: Dinner meeting, “On the Rocks” at Fox Hopyard, 6:30pm. Unless we have any urgent business to address, the “formal” part of the meeting will be opened/adjourned. Tail twister Donna advises that Christmas hats are compulsory!. Please let Marci know if you are attending/bringing a guest. Marci requests that she has a final count for Sunday 11^th.

Birthday Greetings this month to: I’ve none listed, but if you are celebrating…Happy Birthday!

Anniversary Celebrations: Sue Rodiman (Gary)

If I missed you from these lists I apologize, it’s because we probably don’t have your dates on record. Please let me know so we can include them in the future.

And Finally..

If any of you need/want to order polo shirts, denim shirts or name badges, please contact Lion Alice Sabo.

Reminder, Annual “Stuff the Cruiser”…If you have a donation, please bring it to the business meeting on Tuesday 6th…I’ll deliver to the event on Saturday 10^th.

Yours in Lionism,

John

If you as a member are happy with the things we do, tell others;

if not, please tell me.