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The Damascus Lions Club installed their new officers on June 16, 2010. We have posted some photos below. You may also view the printed program from the evening or view a list of the new Damascus Lions officers.
Please click the image below to view all photos from this event – opens in a new browser window.
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| Installation of New Officers – June 15, 2010 |
The Time Line for the Holiday Giving Project found below is subject to change. I would suggest checking back frequently for changes. And the reason for this unsettledness is that we are not scheduled to get our family names until Nov 6 at the latest. We will have only a week to get in contact with the families or to find them, verify the info we need, and get it in format for the Nov. 17th meeting. It will be a crucial time!
The Damascus Lions have elected to take 30 families again this year. However, the Board gave the approval of serving up to 5 more if we need to. Faith Connections, Inc. formerly known as DELIA, will receive the approved family names from Montgomery County and are expecting approximately 300 compared to 250 last year. So we have pressure from both ends – the need is greater yet we expect the fund availability will be less. We will all strive to be prudent in our purchasing of clothing and foods and ask that you as Lions, who so unselfishly buy gifts for the children, do the same. Kohl’s has agreed to give us 20% our purchases on our shopping spree.
Should you have any questions or would like to volunteer in some way, please contact Lion Mary Frances.
HOLIDAY BASKET 2009 TIME LINE
Thanksgiving Deliveries:
Nov. 3 - Sign up sheets available at dinner meeting for sorting and Delivery Teams for Thanksgiving
Nov. 19 - 3pm Pickup Food from Rocky Hill Middle School
Nov. 20 – 2pm Pickup Food from Damascus High School
Nov. 20 – 1pm Sort food and pack boxes at Damascus Motors
Nov. 21 – 8am Deliver Thanksgiving Baskets from Damascus Motors to recipients
Christmas Deliveries:
Nov. 17 – Children’s names will be distributed for Lions to purchase a toy/gift for a child.
Dec. 1 – Sign up sheets for duties and Delivery Teams for Christmas delivery
Dec. 2 - Shopping Spree to purchase clothing for children
Dec. 15 – Lions bring wrapped gifts that they purchased to the Holiday Party
Dec. 16 – 12 Noon Pickup Food from John T. Baker Middle School
Dec. 16 – 2 pm Pickup Food from NRC
Dec. 16 - 2pm Move food to Damascus UM Church
Dec. 16 – 8pm sort the food at Damascus UM Church
Dec. 17 - Noon to 5pm – Pack and wrap at Damascus UM Church
Dec. 18 - Noon to 5 pm Pack at Damascus UM Church
Dec. 19 - 8am Deliver Christmas Food and Gifts from Damascus UM Church to recipients
Upon receiving this Lions Tale, we will be in the midst of the busy month of September.
Lest we forget August, my Thanks and appreciation goes to –
District Governor Bill Thomas has adopted the theme of TEAM – “Together Everyone Achieves More”.
And again, it follows the theme of the International President – “Move to Grow”
So Fellow Lions – We MOVE to create new opportunities and we get those results by TEAM!
Moving Together is the ambiance of getting good results. And that is what will make us successful; doing what we do together.
September is a very busy Lions month, so moving together will make it happen.
As you read this Lions Tale, we will have already participated in the Damascus Community Fair.
Also, we will have been a part of the Hospice Caring, Inc., Wings of Caring, 20th Anniversary Celebration with a butterfly release. Our Board of Directors voted to have butterflies released in memory of Lions Albert Warfield, Mark Sain, Walter Shipley, Maurice Purdum and George Conner.
And then -
Lion Wayne Marr will have us geared up to do White Cane starting on the 16th.
Lion Charlie Hertel will have distributed the call list for the Blood Drive donors and preparing for a great drive.
And Lion Jerry Mallack will be coordinating the Promotional Display at the Damascus Heritage Day located at the Izaak Walton League. She solicits your help.
As September turns its “leaves”, it will be time for Basket Bingo on October 2 – need lots of support in many ways.
And then our Charter Celebration on Oct. 6. Make your reservations now!
Our thoughts and prayers continue to go out to Lion George and Partner-in-Service Viola Hibbard upon the lost of Viola’s mother.
Looking forward to continue working with each of you in our many efforts to reach out to our community.
Come and join your fellow Lions for a Night Out at the Keys Game on Tuesday, July 14 at Harry Grove Stadium in Frederick. The game starts at 7 pm.
Reserved Seat Tickets are $ 8.00. Reservations need to be made by July 1 with Lion Tom Jackson or Lion Mary Frances. Make checks payable to Mary Frances Gosnell, as she is reserving the tickets.
The Keys are playing Kinston that evening. We will have our Damascus Lions name on the tickets and we will be announced as being in attendance.
You need to provide your own transportation. The food court offers hot dogs, hamburgers, sausage, pizza, chicken and fries.
So bring your family and your friends. The Keys will know that the Damascus Lions are there.
Looking forward to a fun night at the ball game!
| COMMITTEE VOLUNTEER SIGN-UP SHEET | |
| FOR THE YEAR OF 2009-2010 | |
| In preparation for the coming year of the Damascus Lions Foundation and Club | |
| Please take this pleasure to sign up for the committee(s) you would be most happy | |
| to work with. Please specify your willingness to CHAIR the committee you select. | |
| It is most important that your work with the Lions be a job that you have interest in. | |
| Thanks - Executive Committee Elect | |
| YOU MAY SIGN UP BY LEAVING A COMMENT AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS POST NOTING THE COMMITTEE(S) YOU WOULD LIKE TO SERVE ON – OR CONTACT LION MARY FRANCES. | |
| COMMUNITY | |
| Celebrate Damascus Eloise & Tuck | |
| Clarksburg Day | |
| Damascus Community Fair | |
| Highway Clean-up | |
| Holiday Giving Project | |
| Holiday Wreaths Tony & Barbara | |
| Relay For Life | |
| Senior Center | |
| DELEGATES | |
| Camp Merrick | |
| LCOF | |
| HEALTH | |
| Blood Drives Charlie Hertel | |
| Diabetes | |
| Sight/Eye glasses | |
| Hearing | |
| Medical Equipment | |
| PreSchool Vision Screening | |
| Used Eye Glass Collection | |
| INTERNATIONAL COHESION | |
| YOUTH | |
| Camp Merrick Sponsorship | |
| Peace Poster Contest | |
| Recognition/Awards Night | |
| Scholarships | |
| Special Olympics | |
| INTERNAL MEMBER ACTIVITIES | |
| Charter/Installation Celebrations | |
| Community Signs Tom Jackson | |
| Constitution and Bylaws | |
| Finance/Budget | |
| Audit | |
| Remembrance | |
| Programs | |
| Visitations | |
| PUBLIC RELATIONS | |
| Community Signs | |
| C-News and C E-mail | |
| Lions Tale | |
| Newspapers | |
| Photographer | |
| Promotional Exhibits | |
| Web Site Cindee Rogers | |
| DISTRICT | |
| 22-C Night | |
| NBC 4 Health Expo | |
| Montgomery Fair Health Unit | |
| Schriver Special Olympics | |
| Conventions | |
| RECOGNITION | |
| Emerson Slacum Community Service IPP Eloise | |
| Hyatt Award Joy and Warren Schwab | |
| Life Members | |
| Lion of the Year/Years | |
| Melvin Jones Melvin Jones Recipients | |
| FUND RAISING | |
| 50/50 | |
| Big Band Dance | |
| Basket Bingo | |
| Flea Market Jerry Warfield | |
| Golf Tournament | |
| Holiday Fund | |
| Ice Cream Dipping | |
| In-House Auction | |
| Lions Mints | |
| Pancake Breakfast | |
| White Cane Days | |
Early last month, Nick left Keesler AFB and is now located in Wichita Falls, TX at Sheppard AFB and in his last cycle of classes. This course will run all the way to July 9th and focuses on the specific systems on the aircraft he will be working on.
His address until then is:
Amn Nicholas E Holpuch
0484
527 I Ave. Box A0246
Sheppard AFB, TX 76311-9999
Not long after he left Keesler, I received a hand-signed letter of appreciation from the Base Commander, Lt. Col. William Hamant recognizing Nick’s volunteer time in their tutoring program. Once he got established at Sheppard, he did not find a similar program but he has instead devoted his time to staffing the phones on Friday & Saturday nights for the Airmen Against Drunk Driving program. He receives calls from airmen who need a ride back to base from town and contacts drivers for the program to pick them up. The hours are a bit late – 10:30 pm to 2:30 am – but he drew a second shift class schedule, so he’s now grown accustomed to being up late anyway. His classes don’t finish until 11:30 pm all week long, so he’s been able to stay awake on the phones.
Also last month, he got his orders for his first duty station. He will be going to Kadena Air Base in Okinawa, Japan! Kadena is the hub of airpower in the Pacific arena. He was the only airman in his class to get an international assignment. He’s looking forward to going to Japan. His other desired location was Germany, but there will be time for that later. His assignment is for 3 years there and he will get 30 days leave per year.
But first he has to get through this class down in Texas. He says it’s hot there and there’s nothing to do. He did have a buddy take him out for a ride last weekend. He phoned home briefly with this revelation… “Cars don’t rust in Texas!” He had come upon a trio of 68 Cougars all looking quite interesting. Wish he had sent a photo.
He has no restrictions on mail he can receive now, so feel free to send him a card or letter or whatever.
–The entry below was originally published on March 2, 2009–
Nick graduated from Basic Military Training (BMT) on Friday, Jan. 2nd in the first class to complete the newly revamped Air Force training program (“boot camp” to us civilians). The new program is an 8 week program instead of the former 6 weeks. He was in a graduating class of 726 Airmen and was one of 24 Honor Graduates. It was easy to see the confidence he gained during training and the respect he was paid by his classmates. In addition to attaining Honor Graduate, he also received a ribbon for Marksmanship with an M-16. His unit was part of the field band for his class, so he was even able to play a tuba. Charlie & I attended the graduation ceremonies at Lackland AFB in San Antonio and it was wonderful to see him again. We even got him to chew his food by the end of our visit.
In addition to being the first group to complete the new 8 week training program, his class was also the first to experience the new field training program known by the fitting acronym, “BEAST.” Basic Expeditionary Airman Skills Training is a week-long experience meant to be a full-scale simulation of the sights, sounds, smells and challenges of a deployment both physically and emotionally. It takes place off-base at a remote 80 acre annex location. The 700 trainees are split into 4 zones, each consisting of 3 groups functioning as units. Nick was assigned a Zone Leadership role.
Given his background and previous leadership training in both scouts and as drum major at DHS, he had his zone encampment fully set up and functioning, beginning their field exercises by the end of the first day. The other 3 zones were not as successful. Consequently, Nick was called into the Command tent on Tuesday afternoon to be quizzed on the success of his zone. By the end of the week, he had been asked for a report and analysis of the field experience as well as his critique of the manuals and training materials provided. He submitted his 30 page report the following Monday. His comments ranged from errors in the manual to recommendations regarding hydration and a lot of information to assist with the scheduling of the activities that need to be completed and how to make sure everyone knows where they need to be and when. At graduation, we were aware that his report was still sitting on his MTI’s desk. (there’s a point to this… you have to keep reading) “Boot Camp” officially ended at midnight on Jan. 4th. At 12:01 am on the 5, they were out of the dorms and on the sidewalk. By 1 am he was loaded in a bus to Biloxi, Mississippi where his first technical training school is located at Keesler AFB. This first school is basic electronics but is required no matter what you may (think) you already know. He finishes this school this week and will be transferring to Sheppard AFB in Wichita Falls, TX on Wednesday for his advanced electronics course where he will learn the specifics about the navigation and communication systems of the B-2 bomber, his ship of choice. He attained Top Grad honors at this school and kept himself busy by volunteering as a student tutor. As a bonus, he had all 4 wisdom teeth removed on the 23rd of January.
The military is a “people mill” and every week there are new airmen arriving from Lackland (where all BMT is conducted). This week, one of his buddies from boot camp was talking with a newly arrived airman, sharing their experiences at BMT. Amazingly, Nick’s name came up in the conversation – and it was brought up by the new airman as he was telling about his BEAST week. The Air Force has reprinted the field training manual used for BEAST week… and Nick’s name appears on the cover!! Nick would love to see a copy of this, as he never got any type of feedback from his report last seen at graduation collecting dust on a desk. His comments have made a difference for every airman going through training.
He assures me that mail is still very special and much appreciated. It’s also no longer limited to paper only. I sent him a cheesecake his first week and last week he got caramel brownies, so anything you want to send him is fine. He will be located at Sheppard until early July. He has requested German, Japan and Tampa as his top choices for his first duty assignment. He probably won’t know where he’ll be going until late June. I will distribute his new address as soon as I have it.
King Lion Eloise and Lion Tuck sent a few photos in for us to post. We have new images added for the Senior Holiday parties in Damascus and Clarksburg. Also 8 photos of the new Clarksburg Leos Club signing their new Charter. (Damascus Lions now have five Leos clubs!) Don’t forget to view our Valentine Sweetheart couple. View the Gallery
[Download the form as a WORD document or PDF file.]
Each year, club members are asked to donate goods or services and we hold an “In-House Auction” to raise funds to cover these administrative costs. This keeps our club dues more reasonable!! Your participation in the auction is VERY important to the club.
All members are encouraged to make a donation. Here’s your chance to be creative without having to wear a costume! Some examples of past donated items include: homemade baked goods, computer lessons, gift certificates, turkey dinner tickets, dinner out for two or more, airport shuttles, homemade birdhouse, use of rototiller, snow blowing service, firewood, use of trucks, beach house or condo, airplane ride, antiques, collectibles, athletic event tickets, telephone installation, auto detailing, yard work, lottery tickets, and a great evening with friends and a gourmet meal. This is also a marvelous time to unload that holiday present you just weren’t quite so excited to receive. Items can be new or used condition.
Even if you will be out of town we can still sell your item for the benefit of the club. CASH DONATIONS ARE ALSO ACCEPTED!!!
Here’s our schedule:
Feb. 17 Mtg. – Donation Form passed out. If you already know what you’ll donate turn in form.
Mar. 3 Mtg. – Last chance to bring your offer in writing to a meeting.
Mar. 17 Mtg. – (Auction Night) bring the goods to be sold. SPOUSE NIGHT.
(Last minute items will be sold but won’t appear in printed handout at Auction, but please try to get your information to us so we can prepare a list of items to be sold.)
Submit this form to Marcia Holpuch 301-312-9415, or Jack Peters 301-253-2589 at March 3 meeting. Final deadline by phone or mail is March 14th to allow time to compile the auction listing. This form will be available on the website for download. Items may also be emailed to Marcia at holpuch@verizon.net.
Download the form as a WORD document or download the form as a PDF file.
Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter dedicates “Gift of Sight” Statue at Lions Clubs International Headquarters in Oak Brook, Illinois. During the event, Carter praised Lions, saying “I would never have dreamed of being president of the United States if it were not for the Lions.”
