Damascus Lions club members performed vision screening tests at Damascus United Methodist Preschool on April 12 and 13.  48 out 49 children tested passed the screening test. 

The participating Lions were Dennis Babb, Alice Denell, Bill Mahylis, Jerry Mallack, Ken Phillips, Gary Rogers, Julie Sain, and Midge Tench. 

All of the Lions enjoyed interacting with the children.  The children seemed to also enjoy it except for one child who was very shy and did not want to participate.  The Lions will be testing preschool children at Montgomery United Methodist’s Preschool April 30 through May 4.  The school has 140 children to be tested.

The Spring Pancake Breakfast and Bake/Craft Table event was held Saturday, March 17, 2012 in the Dining Room at Damascus United Methodist Church from 7-11 a.m. On Friday, March 16th the set-up helpers made the Dining Room ready. Those, who helped, were Lions Bob Newlin, Warren Schwab, Tom Jackson, Mary Frances Gosnell, and Joy Schwab. In the kitchen were Lions Tom Jackson, Sue Suddath, Warren and Joy Schwab and Joann Woodson.

Early Saturday morning the food and drinks were prepared. Bake Sale/Craft Table items were accepted. Helpers during the day were Lions Barbara and Tony Barry, Fran Burlas, Martin Carr, Vicki Dotterer, Bernie Duplan, Pattu Durairaj, Donna Feuillet, Chris Fletcher, Mary Frances Gosnell, Charlie and Tammy Hertel, George Hibbard, Marcia Holpuch, Suling Huang, Tom Jackson, Wayne Marr, Del Mayhew, Ray Molesworth, Bob Newlin, Jack Peters, Ken Phillips, Gary Rogers, Julie Sain, Joy and Warren Schwab, Lee Sellers, Carol and Charlie Stone, and Sue Suddath, Midge Tench, Jennifer Warfield, and John Washington. Lion Family helper was Stephanie Huang. Damascus High Leos and Baker Middle SGA were Sarah Jane Anderson, Daniel Bidwick, Brian and Kevin Bowers, Chris Danna, Drew Dimathan, Erica Eveins, Stephy Foster, Samantha Goldsborogh, Hannah Lee, Macey Murdock, Karly Najaka, Kayla Neil, Olivia Vozzo. Boy Scouts and leaders were David and Kian Benze, Brian, Don and Kevin Bowers, Aaron Eng, Joe and Josh Haren, Jim and Tristan Hockenberry, Tre Hourihah, Devin Minogue, DJ and Ken Petersen, Jacob, Josh and Rich Shimp, Karanjit and Vic Siyan. We served 269 with a profit of $1,821.16. Special thanks to those who bought and/or sold tickets.

The Bake/Craft Table received item and/or donations from Lions and Partners in Service were Lions Barbara Barry, Tess Gladhill, Mary Frances Gosnell, George and Vi Hibbard, Marcia Holpuch, Ray Molesworth, and Jack & Frann Peters, Ken & Sue Phillips, Julie Sain, Joy Schwab and Jennifer Warfield. Carol’s Creations donated flowers to sell. Bake/Craft Table profit was $371.75.

Total Profit for 2012 Spring Breakfast and Bake/Craft Sale is $2,192.91. Lions Joy and Sue thank all for whatever you did to help make this be a successful day

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By Jerry Mallack

We had thirteen participants from the Damascus Lions Club go down to the NBC4 Health & Fitness Expo at the Washington Convention Center on Saturday morning, January 14, 2012.

Despite Metro’s tartness, we arrived to find the LCOF Vision and Hearing Bus in full swing in testing vision, hearing and pre-school screening.

Two of our members Lion Gary Rogers and Lion Mike Thornett are trained for the pre-school screening and during our time slot, 9 children under the age of 6 were tested.

Our other members worked at various stations including eye testing, hearing testing; sign in table and pre-school sign in table and those that worked at directing people to the various stations; and those that answered any questions from the general public.

Lion Tony Barry brought our Lion’s costume and Lion Charlie Hertel dressed in the costume and had a wonderful time walking around the convention center greeting people; as in all our costume appearances; the younger our audience the greater the interaction; which is thrilling to watch and experience and great exposure for our Lions organization.

I wish to thank all those that attended: Mary Frances Gosnell, Gary Rogers, Mike Thornett, Barbara Barry, Tony Barry, Victoria Barry, Ken Phillips, Chris Fletcher, Carol Stone, Charlie Stone, Charlie Hertel and Tammy Hertel.  We had a great time and look forward to participating in the Health and Fitness Expo next January.

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by Lion Tuck Warfield

Lion Eloise and I attended a Cape Coral,FL, Lions Club meeting Thursday Feb 02, 2012.

Here are some pictures of the club.

In the standing picture are Lions Eloise, Geradine Fleischer – President of the Club, Tuck, and PDG Diana Pinto Sect.

It was a great meeting, very much asDamascus conducts a meeting and good food at Perkins.

In the advent of the Christmas phase of the Holiday Giving Project, Lion and Leo Elves were making preparations in many ways; some were shopping for clothes, some were gathering and moving foods, some were looking for mittens and socks, while others were finding the right stocking stuffers; others were contacting their families, wrapping the gifts, packing the foods, stuffing stockings, and checking their lists to make sure every family had all of their deliveries readied to go! And then the Christmas Giving Project was ready to deliver to 30 families of 80 children and 63 adults on Saturday, Dec. 17.  Ten teams of Lions, family and friends, 30 in all, gathered at the Elf Shop to finalize the project.  After getting some warm coffee and buns, the “chariots and sleighs” were packed in short order, and “away, away” they flew, only to find we were missing a ham, milk, eggs and butter for one family.  Oops, someone goofed!  “Goofed” showed up carrying in the missing items with head held low saying ‘Do you need these!”  Immediately, Goofed was sent “away” to meet up with the other sleigh that didn’t have a complete load!  WHEW!  What a great project!  The sleighs carried 4 boxes of perishable and nonperishable foods and two large trash bags of gifts!  One sleigh had two  bikes included and as they approached the homes along with Santa in his red suit, one elf would took the bike around back of the house while the others entertained the family at the front door.  Wonderment of the surprise gift was an answer to a child’s wish, for sure! Other Elves found the families very receptive to their visits. Oh to be a child again! Or maybe, even an Elf – a Lion Elf!

To round out the project, 55 Lions, family members and friends tolled for 200 hours and spent $4000 to make the project a complete one.  Each child had an outfit of clothing, 2 toys, mittens, gloves and socks and more. Each family had a box of tissues, a stocking filled with useful items, 2 towels and washcloths and miscellaneous items.

Many, Many Elves partnered with the Lions to make this project a most enjoyable one.  The Tradesmen Motorcycle Club of the Damascus area donated some 160 toys from a Jingle Bell Run to the project. The boxes to pack the foods in were donated by Lion Peg and Dave Stone; The dinner rolls were donated by Huang Distributors; The festive homemade cookie filled boxes were made and prepared by the Goldstein Family; Gladhill Brothers donated Gift Bags and 3 toys for the babies; Richard Schoeb, LLC donated a tooth brush and toothpaste for every family member; Lions donated stocking stuffers, mittens, hats, socks and Chris Fletcher donated a last minute toy!

In addition the Holiday Fund Lions have been scouting the Damascus businesses and friends of Lions to help fund the project!  Thanks to all Lions who helped fill “Lion Albert’s” Christmas Fund jar!  What a tradition!

The Holiday Giving Project was truly a partnership this year!  Again, we have served the families of our Damascus Community in hopes of an enjoyable Christmastime this year for them.  Thank you to all the Lions, family and friends who assisted in making this project a great one! You helped make a child and parent smile this Christmas!    Happy New Year!

Thursday, December 2, twenty-five Seniors gathered at the Senior Center for the Lions Party.  Lion Sue Suddath had games and prizes for them to participate in.  She had homemade sugar cookies made for them and asked them to decorate the cookie with tubes of icing.  What a great job they did.  She had other Christmas games that they all played as well.  Lion George Hibbard helped with a sing-a-long while Lions Joy Schwab and Mary Frances Gosnell helped the Seniors with their projects.  Four Seniors were honored for having birthdays in December.  Lions Sue prepared refreshments of three homemade delicious cakes, ice cream and drink.  As each Senior left, they were given a gift bag.  Oh, what a Holiday Treat for them.  The Lions are most welcomed at the center with their parties!

Thank you to all of you who worked with the Thanksgiving food and delivery to make it another successful project. I am amazed with the energies and cooperation that you put forth! You are a great group of folks to work with. Ya git in thar an’ ya gitter dun! No fooling around!

Seriously, Lion Chris profiled all the families and obtained so much info for us – some corrections as well as some incite into the family situation.

Lion Bob Newlin again coordinated the School Food Drives with Rocky Hill Middle School coming thru with approximately 2500 items and Damascus High School with approximately 1200 items. We take half of the DHS Food Drive while the Legion receives the other half. Thanks to all the “food movers”.

Lion Joy coordinated the sorting of food and packing it into the boxes with the help of 8 other Lions – there was no socializing, you all kept your hands busy and had completely filled all the food boxes in 2 and half hours.

Lions Warren and Rusty made up the boxes, bagged the apples and kept the cardboard under control.  Lion Bob Snapp assigned all the boxes to the families.  Lion Warren went with me to Safeway to get the non-perishables on Friday.  Lion Ray met me at Safeway on Saturday to get the perishable items.

And then to make it all happen, 9 teams of Lions, family and friends loaded up their vehicles and made the deliveries on Saturday AM.

We were finished Saturday by 9:30.

We clocked over 150 hours on this project, with approximately 40 people involved and spent $1,471.00 on food. Butler’s Orchard donated the apples, Huang Distributors donated 2 dozen dinner rolls and the Goldstein Family baked and elegantly prepared a special pumpkin loaf package for each family. Hyatt Building and Supply, namely Phil Green, graciously let us use the room, used their pallets and loader to move the food for us and have stored the non perishables that we did not use until Christmas. When you see any and all of these donors, please express our appreciation.

Again – Thank you to all of you! It sure makes a project so satisfying when all of us put our efforts forth to serve! I am so grateful for all of you and the Lions Club!

By Lion Tony Barry

Lions Del Mayhew, John Washington, Tony Barry and Barbara Barry installed 46 Christmas wreaths and bows on the light poles in Damascus on Friday November 25, 2011.  The lions were assisted with the task by friends of Lion Charlie Hertel; CJ Muise, Ryan Muise, Michael Blatzhein, Rob Golden and Lion Tony’s Son, John Barry.  The weather was warm which made the task enjoyable for all.  The wreaths look nice and add a festive atmosphere to the town.

Over the course of two drives in November, we collected 63 units of whole blood and performed a total of 57 hours of service. The November 1st blood drive collected 35 units with 20 hours of service and November 21st collected 28 units with 37 hours. I would like to thank Lions Charlie Hertel, Joy Schwab, Warren Schwab, Bill Mahylis, Julie Sain, Tom Jackson and Marcia Holpuch for making these drives a success. With the multiple medical crises in my family over the last few months, I was not able to devote sufficient time to the November 1st drive and want to give a special thank you to Lion Charlie Hertel for taking the lead on that drive in my absence.

I have spoken with our INOVA representative about our recent donor turnout and, we are both becoming increasingly concerned that some donors are faithful to the American Red Cross and not giving INOVA a chance. It has been suggested by the INOVA rep that if the turnout continues its downward slide, that we may have to go back to the American Red Cross to satisfy those donors who are loyal to the Amercan Red Cross. I am puzzled by this because I have received nothing but positive feedback on INOVA versus the American Red Cross.

Our next blood drive is January 16th and I hope to bring the numbers up. Beginning in July of next year, we are adding a summer blood drive at the Izaak Walton League on Mullinix Mill Road.