Happy New Year!  July marks the start of our Lion’s year.  I would like to start out by thanking Immediate Past President Mary Frances for her dedication and service to the club this past year.  And congratulations to all on attaining District 22-C 5-star award status again this year.  The 5-star award is an achievement that the entire club can take pride in.  It is the district recognition that Damascus Lions maintain a high level of service in multiple areas of Lionism, including membership, youth programs, activities, publicity and community service. 

One thing is for sure; our club just doesn’t have a “down” period!!  By the time we have our first meeting, Lions Sue Suddath, Mary Frances Gosnell, Midge Tench, Ann Davis, Joy Schwab and unidentified others have celebrated birthdays at the senior center last Friday.  With that group, you know they had a fun party!

This weekend we Celebrate Damascus.  Thanks to Lion Tess, the club again has a “float” in the parade on Friday.  Lion Tony will be driving the tractor and we have plenty of room for Lions to join the fun and take a ride.  Stay and enjoy the fireworks.  On Saturday we have the flea market, this year at the DVFD grounds.  Lion Jerry is taking charge of a “flea table” for our club.  Bring her your stuff to sell for the good of the club.  If you can, spend an hour or two helping out. 

Our second meeting this month will be held in Frederick at a Keys baseball game.  We had such a fun time last year, let’s do it again.  Due to the Keys’ schedule, that meeting will be on Tuesday, July 27^th.  Please let me know how many tickets you need.  Feel free to bring your friends and family to enjoy an evening of baseball.  There will be a flyer on this outing at the meeting and also posted on the website.  Have you seen the website lately??  Lion Cindee does an awesome job keeping it up-to-date with news, photos, copies of the Lions Tale and all.  Spend some time there and know what’s going on at www.damascuslions.org.

Our first August meeting will be held at Montgomery UM Church again this year.  We can look forward to a delicious meal and interesting program.  The 2^nd August meeting is our night of Ice Cream dipping at the Montgomery County Fair.  See Lion Charlie Hertel to lend a hand with this annual event on Tues. August 17th.  Then on Thursday the 19^th we have our day at the fair for vision and hearing screening.

There’s no shortage of activities to chose from.  Participate in those that you can.  We’re always glad to see you and enjoy the time we spend together serving the Damascus Community.  Here’s to a great year!

Can you believe that 11 months ago I was writing my first President’s message for the Lions Tale?  How time does fly by when you are having fun?  And it has, indeed, been a great, productive and fun year, thanks to all you, Fellow Lions!

For the events in May, my appreciation goes to –

• All Lions who assisted and attended Youth Night.  It truly was a rewarding evening for the recipients as well as the Lions – We Serve!
•  To Lion Bernie Duplan who organized and worked the Lions Booth for Damascus Relay For Life – also to Lion Jerry Mallack for helping to set up and getting started.  Was great exposure for the Lions and a sense of appreciation for the attendees?
• To Zone Chairman Lion Eloise for inducting the new Leo Advisors and to District Youth Outreach Chairman Lion Marcia for Installing the Leo Officers.  The night was important for the Advisors and Youth.  They are now ready to start the Leo Club this coming school year early on.
• Lion Martin for attending the Multiple District Convention, going to all the Business Sessions gathering pertinent info while I manned a booth for Cochlear Americas.  Also the Lions Tuck and Eloise for coming to attend the Multiple Banquet and the Necrology Service.  And yes, Damascus Lions, we are a Five Star Club for the year 2009-2010.  Thanks to all!
  • Lions Dale Ryan and Chris Fletcher for organizing and working the Clarksburg Relay For Life Lions Booth.

Welcome to new members Mary Kroll, Deborah Volley, Kym Ails and Theresa Sluger, all Leo Advisors.  WE look forward to working with them in the coming school year.

Mark you calendars now for June events,

• Blood Drive – June 7, DVFD Activities Building, Lion Charlie can use some help.
• Golf Tournament – June 14, Beaver Brook Country Club – Have you sponsored a Hole or got a team?  Contact Lion John Warfield
• Installation Night, June 15, American Legion – Lion Bob Snapp needs your reservations.

 Hope your Memorial Day weekend was a safe and memorable one.   School will soon end its year – so watch out for the kids while driving, enjoy your vacations and relax.

As if life is not busy enough, then Springtime comes along with all the clean-up both inside and outside as well as the continued lawn maintenance.  And that is the way it is with the Lions Club, we are continually looking for new and better ways of doing things.  Thanks to many of our members, the Damascus Lions has definitely made a difference in community over the years.

And so, our appreciation goes out to –

• Lions Carol and Charlie Stone for planning, organizing and bringing a great Big Band Dance to fruition.  It was an elegant evening with three of our newest Lions volunteering their time.  Although it is not a huge fund raiser, the ambiance of the evening says it all. 
• Lion Tuck Woodfield for arranging the 22-C Night reservations.  A great evening of connecting with other clubs and honoring our Most Valuable Player, Lion Ken Phillips.
• Lion John Holpuch and family for organizing the Highway Cleanup.  It truly makes a difference upon driving south on Route 27 and witnessing what a great service was done by the Lions Highway GANG!
• Lion Joy Schwab and sponsors on coordinating another new member Induction and meeting our membership goal.

     Welcome new members – Lion Heather Geehreng, Advisor of John T. Baker Middle School Leo Club, Lion Carol Cook, Lion Donna Feuilett and Lion Ruthie Johnson, representing

Damascus Community Bank.  I trust all Lions will make these and other new Lions welcome, give them guidance and get them involved.  Lions Heather and Carol have already volunteered.  Way to go Lions!

The calendar reflects lots of Lions activities that we can all become involved with in the next two months.  Just remember, being out in the community makes the Lions very visible.  “We Serve” is the name of the game!

Thanks to all of you for what your do for Lionism and the Damascus Community.

Welcome to Spring Hope that your Easter Celebration was a joyous one!  My Easter festivities included 22 for dinner followed by 267 filled eggs being hid by the adults and hunted by the children and a Birthday celebration for my 92 year old Uncle.  Was a great family time! Hope yours was also!

My Thanks and vote of appreciation goes to –

• Lion Joy Schwab, Membership Chairman for a very informative yet fun Prospective Member Night.  PDG Lion Gary Burdette shared a great program on Lions.
• Lion Gary Rogers for his leadership in the Papa Johns Fund Raiser.  Thanks for a great job of selling, maintaining and boosting our revenues.
• Thanks to Lion Charlie Hertel and all his helpers for another successful Blood Drive.  Also for organizing the blood drives in the various churches.  In all your efforts for our club and community, many lives have been saved.
• Thanks to Lions Joy Schwab and Sue Suddath for another successful Pancake Breakfast.  A lot of good comments about the food as well as the atmosphere.  We reached out to many in our community. Thanks for all – Lions, Leos, Partners-In-Service and family and friends who helped in any way.
• Auctioneer Holpuch will go on record as to knowing how to pull those dollars out of our pockets.  Thanks to Lions Marcia and Charlie for a great In-House Auction.  And thanks to all of you who donated items, large and small. And to all who carried different things back out – Thank you for opening your purse strings for the benefit of the Club Administrative Costs.  A real fun night!
• Thanks to Lions Marcia Holpuch and Charlie and Carol Stone for representing the Club at the Advisory Meeting on Saturday, the 27^th.  Seems as though, several of us overbooked for the date.  I really appreciate your stepping and taking the time to represent us. Thanks
• Lion Cindee Rogers has got the Damascus Lions Web Site up and running and it is better than ever. She has already received some compliments on it from others that have visited the site.  She has also linked it to Twitter and Facebook.  So join up Lions!  Visit our web site, it is fabulous!

The Big Band Dance is April 17.  Have purchased your ticket?  It is ok if you don’t dance – you can watch and enjoy the music.  We need you participation.  Check it out with Lion Carol Stone before it is too late!
Enjoy this spring weather – It is a wonderful time of the year!