It's a brand new (Lions) year!

It is a brand new year-so time to get rolling!

First some housekeeping.

We have new officers this year:
President: Kathy Donahue
1st VP: Jennifer Weeks
2nd VP: Tamara Sullivan-Watson
Secretary:  Phyllis Messenger
Treasurer: Georgia Mackley
2nd Year Director: Dave Mackley
1st Year Director: Pat Gore
Lion Tamer:  Jerry Arbiter
Tail Twisters:  Carol Chenowith and Barbara Campbell

Our somewhat annual officer installation BBQ isn't until September 26, due to vacations and such, but the team is already working hard to make this a great year for the Star Lions!

Today's meeting notes-10/26/2015

Today was a very small turn out at our noon meeting, but we had some nice conversations anyway!

A recent event was helping at the Star Firefighters' Pheasant Hunters Breakfast.  There were many Lions there, unfortunately, no photos for proof.  :(

Another recent event was picking up trash with the Adopt-a-Highway program, which took place on October 10th.  Sorry, no photos for this one either...

Upcoming events discussed today:

Christmas Extravaganza-we will have a booth and possible sell some candy for a small fundraiser.

Christmas Party-This will be organized soon.  If you want to help, contact the board of directors to form a committee.

Charter Party- Co-chairs Kathy and Jennifer are holding an intial planning meeting Wednesday, October 28th, at 6:30 at Westside Pizza.  Join in if you are interested.

Next meeting is November 9th at Life Spring Church.  We are looking for a larger meeting space than El Mariachi.

Vision Screening

Lions Pat Gore and Debbie Howard completed vision screening at a local preschool last week.  The club plans to do vision screening at other preschools this spring.

Lions Robin and Joe Jara and Dave and Debbie Howard went to Sun Valley on Feb. 28 to help screen athletes at the Idaho Special Olympics Winter Games.  Each year, the Lions from Multiple District 39 participate in Opening Eyes, a program that screens vision and provides free eyeglasses to the Special Olympics athletes.

Thursday Hotdog Lunch

The Star Lions are now serving the hot dog lunch  on Thursdays through summer.  This is a Star Outreach summer lunch program, but they needed more volunteers to expand to Thursday.  We'll be in the Library parking lot from 11:30-1:00 grilling hotdogs and serving them with fruit and snacks.  It's for the kids, but free to anyone who stops by.

Working Concessions

On June 13, Lions and friends headed to Taco Bell Arena to sell concessions at the One Republic concert.  It was a slow night for selling food and drinks on the mezzanine level virtually behind the stage.  It seemed the women's restroom had more business than we did!  We earned our guaranteed amount and a few dollars in tips, thanks in part to our very own Jay Lugo, executive director of the Lions Sight and Hearing Foundation who stopped by a couple of times for refreshments.  All our funds raised goes back to the community of Star.

TIPS Training

Five Lions and one friend of Lions attended the TIPS training class at BSU Sunday afternoon.  TIPS trains servers on recognizing intoxication signs and helps develop skills to deal with people who've had a little too much to drink.

The Lions sell concessions at concerts at Taco Bell Arena on the BSU campus.  It's a great fundraiser for the club and fun to work together.

Our next concert-June 13th-is One Republic.

Spring Activities

For Memorial Day, we put up flags along State Street through Star.  The city has 16 lamp posts, although one has been taken down (knocked down?) and the flags looked pretty awesome waving in the sunshine.

The same day we put out over 200 flags on Veterans' graves in the Star Cemetery.  Unfortunately,  not all the Veterans' graves are marked, so it's inevitable that we miss some.  If you know a veterans' grave that is not getting a flag, please let us know.

On May 31, we cleaned up little along Highway 16.  We have a 2 mile section of roadway that we are responsible for through the State Adopt-a-Highway program.  This Saturday's clean up was the easiest ever-only 11 bags of trash picked up by 7 Lions.

Officers and New Members Inducted

New club officers for 2013-14 were installed at a barbecue Monday evening.  DG Bill Woods and his wife Karen were special guests and DG Bill installed the following officers:  Joe Jara, president; Georgia Mackley, vice president, Jennifer Weeks, treasurer, Donna Turner, Lion Tamer, Mike Victory, director, Kathy Donahue, membership director, and Robert Wurster, tail twister.  The office of secretary is currently vacant.  

Two new members were also inducted-Bill Homan and Jerry Arbiter.

A big thank you to Georgia and Dave for hosting the BBQ and to Dave for being the grill master!

New Fundraiser! Advertising Banners

The Star Lions Club is now selling advertising space on the outfield fences at Hunters Creek Sports Complex with the proceeds split between the Mayor's Scholarship Program  (administered by the Mayor and the Lions) and other Lions Club projects in the city of Star.  Businesses or organizations can display their 3 ft. by 7 ft. promotional banners for a cost of only $100 this year.  Spaces for 3X14 banners will also be available for $200.  Banners may be purchased through the club or through your own favorite supplier.

Find out more on our website!

New Project!! E-Waste Recycling

The Lions will be holding a recycling drive in the community at the end of the month.  Any type of used electronics may be dropped off for recycling, including computers, monitors, keyboards, mice, cables, printers, copiers, fax machines, digital cameras, cell phones, hearing aids, and eyeglasses.  Please DO NOT bring TVs; we will not take those.  Items will be refurbished and donated to charities if usable; others will be broken down into raw materials and recycled-nothing will go to the landfill!  (And, no, eyeglasses are not electronics, but we take those all year around.)

The event is at Estrella Plaza (Toon Town) on May 30 and 31 from 4:00-7:00 and Saturday June 1 from 10:00-4:00.  Watch for signs for the exact storefront!

Food Fair Winners!

The Star Lions took first place in the International Food Fair at the Lions 39W Midwinter Convention on Friday night.  The Lions prepared a variety of Hawaiian dishes which were presented on a beautifully decorated table. Foods included Luau Pork, Hawaiian Bread, fruit salad, Lilikoi cake, Polynesia Cafe banana pie, fruit salad, macadamia nuts and more.

In addition to the traveling trophy, the Lions were also presented the "Best Food" award from a "yound Lion".

Committees

The Star Lions Club met on Monday, August 27, at El Mariachi Loco.  Jerry Stevenson, Boise Bench Lion and Lions Sight and Hearing Trustee stopped in and gave a report of the numbers served by the Foundation, Eye Bank, and MSU in the past year.

A committee sign-up sheet was passed around.  Want to volunteer for a particular committee?  Contact President Larry or be sure to come to the next meeting on September 10th. 

It's a New Year

The Lions year begins with a bang  on July 1st.  New officers, first board meeting, flags for the 4th of July, planning for Star Hometown Celebration...

New officers for the year are: 
President:  Larry Clucas
VP:  Joe Jara
Secretary:  Jennifer Weeks
Treasurer:  Christina Flores
Lion Tamer:  Mini Victory
Tail Twister:  Bill Pollett
Membership Chair:  Kathy Donahue
Director:  Robert Wurster

First board meeting was held July 2nd.  Budget, potential new projects/fundraisers, membership, and programs were the topics.

On July 3rd, flags were placed on Veteran's graves and along State Street.  Happy Independence Day!

Lions in the Month of May

Star Lions put American flags along State Street through Star for the Memorial Day weekend.  Four times a year the flags go up-the second time being for Flag Day, June 14th;  the next date will be for Independence Day when the flags will stay up through Star Hometown Celebration.

Flags were also place on  Memorial Day on the graves of veterans at the Star Cemetery.  The two oldest veterans date from the Spanish American war.

Picking Up Litter

Twice a year, the Star Lions pick up litter along a 2 mile stretch of Highway 16 just east of town.  Saturday was the day for the spring clean-up and 20 bags of trash were picked up by seven Lions and 3 firefighters.  (Thanks Ernie, Kelly, and Dave!!)

Ever wonder what we find?  In addition to fast food wrappers and drink cups and cans, this year we found a hitch with ball, gloves, socks, a towel, golf balls, car parts, fishing hooks, someone's pay stub complete with SS# (don't worry, your identity is safe with us), and some dead birds.  We left the birds.

Patriotism Essay Awards

The Star Lions sponsored the Patriotism Essay Contest at the Star Elementary School.  The fifth grade classes participated.   The topic was "How Can I Best Serve my Country in Time of Need and Disaster?"  The essay contest is a Multiple District contest with students participating from E. Oregon and across Southwest Idaho in the first phase and from all of southern Idaho (District 39W and District 39E) in the second phase.

Winners were:

1st place:  Kendra Garrison
2nd place (tie):  Courtney Payne and Abby Eastridge
4th place: Lillian Holley

Winners were awarded a certificate and a silver medallion.  Teachers Mrs. Diffenbaugh, Mr. Hiroto, and Mrs. Smith were recognized with silver coins.

Kendra Garrison was also selected as the fifth grade winner for District 39W. 

Officer Election

The nominations meeting for Star Lions 2012-13 officers was held Monday, April 23rd.  The following people were nominated:

President:  Larry Clucas
VP:  Joe Jara
Secretary:  Jennifer Weeks
Treasurer:  Christina Flores
Lion Tamer:  Mini Victory
Tail Twister:  Bill Pollett
Membership Chair:  Kathy Donahue

Elections will be held May 14th.

Trees, Trees, Trees

It was a gorgeous day in Idaho City and Star Lions took full advantage of the sunshine in the great outdoors.  As part of Lions International President Tam's environmental initiative to plant a million trees (now at over 8 million worldwide) several Lions, along with friends and family members, headed north to Idaho City to plant trees. 

Eleven hundred trees to be exact.

Some were dibblers (hole diggers) and some were planters and some were tree carriers.  All were hungry after 2 1/2 hours on the hillside. 

Wine with the Lions

Tomorrow!  Join the Lions at Helina Marie's Wine Bar for fun, fellowship, fundraising, late brick orders, and, of course, wine!

Star Lions Visit Kuna Lions

Last Saturday night six Lions from Star went to Kuna for the Kuna Lions 45th Charter Party.  Several Kuna Lions attended our party in January.  We came home with lots of "horse bingo" and raffle prizes and had a good time visiting our friends in Kuna.

The charter parties weren't the first times the 2 clubs have gotten together.  We collaborated on a wheel chair ramp project and exchanged visits at club meetings, BBQ fundraisers, vision screenings, and other events.