It’s hard to believe that it’s September already.  The kids are back in school and there’s (finally) a hint of fall crispness in the air.  It’s like a new beginning at the last third of the year.  I love the fall with the beautiful colors as the trees give up their leaves and prepare for the winter.  Neither the air conditioning nor the heater need to be running!  And it marks the start of the football season, too.

August was a busy month for us, just like every other month of the year.  Thanks to all the Lions who helped with our projects at the Montgomery County Fair.  Lions Gary Rogers & Charlie Hertel play our leading men for ice cream dipping and they really “scooped” the job up!  Lions Joy & Mary Frances set up a great looking display featuring Damascus Lions in action at the membership & information table.  Lion Gary’s role at the district level made sure the space was all spiffed up and ready to go ~ and it sure did look great this year.  Lion Charlie lined up plenty of help for our dipping day and there’s just not enough space here to list all the club members & Leos who contributed to the fun, but you are all appreciated for your help.  I hope you each got an ice cream pin to remember the special day.  If you did not and you would like one, please see Lion Gary.  He had the pins made in commemoration of our 30^th year of ice cream bliss and they are $3 each.  Our second act at the fair starred that snazzy couple, Lions Rusty & Dee Reichmeider, at the Mobile Health Unit (eye bus) on Thursday.  They lined up helpers to do vision and hearing screenings to any interested fair goers.  They were joined by members of the Potomac Lions Club for part of the afternoon and had a great day of service and fellowship.  Thanks again to all who helped and especially the leaders for coordinating these two important projects.

The American Red Cross classically runs low on blood supplies during the summer.  It’s been that way forever.  I’ve been a blood donor since I was 18 ~ never mind how long that is ~ and every year the blood supply falls dangerously low as people go about their lives with travel and other activities during the summer months and donations drop.  Our resident bloodhound, Lion Charlie Hertel, got a call from the Red Cross on Aug. 20^th to do an extra blood drive on Aug. 27^th.  They told him that they expected to collect 300 units of blood.  We have some of the best blood drives around, but on a really great day, we generally collect just a little over 100 units.  Now they’ve changed some of their procedures and they want everyone to have an appointment prior to the drive.  In all honesty, we’ve had some reservations about such a policy.  Nevertheless, always willing to help and do what he can, Lion Charlie secured the activity building for the 27^th and the Red Cross said they’d take care of the rest.  By Wednesday, the drive was loaded with appointments and they were considered “full” and would not be taking any walk-ins. Now granted, they said they’d give a Redskin ticket to all donors, and I’m not sure if that was the draw or what, but when I walked into the building at 10:30 I could not believe my eyes.  The room was packed with donors and collection chairs and interview booths.  Good thing there weren’t any flies in the room because I’m pretty sure I just stood there with my mouth agape.  “Holy Cow!” was the limit of my vocabulary.  It was easily 3 times the set up of our normal blood drive.  Lions Joy and Mary Frances gave away popcorn and membership information.  I haven’t heard the final collection number, but I have little doubt that they reached their goal of 300 units.  They put out the call on Facebook and the drive was full before the information ever hit the Gazette on Wednesday.  I personally have not jumped on the Facebook bandwagon, and again, whether it was the free Redskin ticket or the Facebook exposure, I couldn’t tell you, but that was one “happening” blood drive.  After I get this article submitted, I’ll create a Facebook page for the club.  If this is the kind of result it gets, we want some of it!!  We will still be having our “regular” blood drive on Monday the 20^th of September.  Thanks to all the Lions who helped this event take place, get the room set up, and provide a Lions presence.  And especially to Lion Charlie who went the extra mile ~ where there’s never a traffic jam.

This month is chock-full of activity, too.  We return to Wesley Grove UMC for our meetings tonight.  This weekend is the Damascus Community Fair and if you are available on Thursday evening, let Lion Tess know you can help check in fair entries.  Any time you can contribute will be appreciated.  Even an hour is a great help.  We will have the popcorn machine running and giving out free popcorn to all takers on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, so see Lion Mary Frances to sign up for a time slot in the booth.  Again, even just a little time is a great help.  Ideally we should have 2 people in the booth at all times.  If everyone put in an hour sometime over the weekend, then the booth would be fully staffed for the full event and

no one would be burdened, so please, do what you can.

The meeting of the Board of Directors will be on Tuesday, Sept. 14^th at Gladhill Bros. Tractors.  We thank Lion Tess for her generosity in offering the club a free meeting location.  These are open meetings and all club members are welcome.  If you have an idea for an activity for the club, a fundraising idea or just want to understand the “inner mechanism” better, feel free to join us.

The weekend of Sept. 15-18 is our fall White Cane collection. Lion Wayne Marr coordinates this event.  White Cane funds support our vision projects.  We help provide eye exams and glasses for those in our community that are having financial difficulty from children to the elderly.  Your 2 hour shift collecting donations makes it possible for us to help many people throughout the year.  Lion Wayne has met the challenge of securing locations for us to collect and needs your help in manning all the locations and times.  Do what you can to help.

Our second meeting on the 21^st is prospective member night.  Prospective member night works best when we bring people.  You know someone that you like enough to invite to this meeting.  Give them an opportunity to see what Lions are and what we do.  Extend and invitation to them and bring them to the meeting.  They just might accept your offer.  Call Lion Joy and let her know who you are bringing.  Plus, we need to make sure we have enough food to feed them well.  Guests at prospective member night do not pay for their meal ~ another incentive ~ you can invite them to a free dinner AND a chance to check out our great club.

Before you know it, it will be October, and the month starts out fast with our Charter Night celebration, Basket Bingo, and Pancake Breakfast all at the beginning of the month. Please get your reservations in for our 64^th Charter Night ASAP.  Lion Mary Frances will be looking for Bingo helpers for October 8^th.  If pancakes are your thing, see Lions Joy and Sue to help serve a yummy breakfast on the 16^th.  Talk up basket bingo with your friends and neighbors and start selling tickets now for both the bingo and pancakes.  Bingo supports our scholarship program and is an important fundraising event for our club.  And the more pancake tickets we sell, the more funds we have available to make a difference in our community.

I hope I haven’t left anything out.  We are such an active club and I do try to keep on top of everything that’s going on.  I have a couple of “housekeeping” items to hit here.  Please check your home and cell phones and change my phone number to 240.380.9405.  I have changed cell phones and I forget to check the old one on a regular basis.  If you don’t hear back from me, don’t hesitate to call the house and leave a message.  Trust me, you won’t be a bother.  I’ll send an email message when I have our Facebook page set up.  Don’t forget to ask a friend to come to prospective member night on the 21^st.

Yours in Service,

King Lion Marcia

I am so glad that July is over!!  It was a month of ups and downs and dreadfully hot days and nights. And at least for the time being, the temperature has gone back to “normal.”

The month began on a sad note with the passing of Lion Margaret Duvall who will be missed by us all.

Then we had the gaiety of Celebrate Damascus with our participation in the parade, the wonderful fireworks and the very successful flea market.  Thanks to Lion Tess for providing the tractor and trailer for us to ride in the parade.  We had a good showing with Lions in the parade.  Lion Tony drove for us and didn’t toss a single one off the wagon.  Good job, Lion Tony!  And kudos to Lion Charlie Hertel for braving the heat as our cute little mascot.  There’s nothing quite like the faces of the children along the parade route when they see the lion.  They just light up.  On Saturday, Lions Tess and Jerry were up and at ‘em early for the flea market.  The weather was dreary in the morning and the car show cancelled for the first time ever, dropping attendance to an all-time low.  Even so, booth rentals were prepaid and about half showed up for the day.  Lion Jerry was on to a great idea with a Lions booth for ‘fleas.’  A steady stream of donations came in and kept the merchandise “fresh” and just begging for someone to make a great deal.  Thanks to all who participated in the events of the weekend.

17 club members, along with 38 friends and family descended on Frederick on the 27^th to take in a Keys baseball game (see pictures on page 4).  The weather was just right for a ball game and a good time was had by all.  At least within our group.  The Keys struggled against the Lynchburg Hillcats and were soundly beaten.  It was a busy night at the stadium with the appearance of Bryan Voltaggio of Top Chef fame.  If you didn’t mind standing in line for an hour or so, you could sample his wares.  The first 1000 fans got a bobble head doll of the chef.  To the best of my knowledge, no one in the club got a doll.  But we were fortunate in that Robert Legard, a member of the Lovettsville, VA Lions Club, was seated directly in front of us. We struck up a conversation, gave him a club visitation and he gave us one of his bobble head dolls.  Now I just wouldn’t feel right keeping this cherished collectible for myself, so look for it in the auction in the spring.  And before you ask, no, I did not stand in line for an hour to get it signed.

We ended the month back on a sad note as we said our good byes to Lion Kenneth King.  It is my sincere hope that the rest of the club members enjoy good health for a very long time.  It’s tough having two services so close together and to lose two such fine Lions as Margaret and Kenneth.  Keep their families in your prayers.

So August can only get better, right??  We’ll start off with our traditional fried chicken and veggies at our only dinner meeting in August at Montgomery United Methodist Church.  Partner in Service, Kate Warfield, made special effort to be sure we were returning to Montgomery for our August dinner as a tribute to Lion Albert.  Much thanks to Lion Roy Stanley for providing the corn for dinner this year.  And also thanks to Lion Gary Rogers for providing the ice cream to help the cake go down a little easier.  PDG Bill Lynch will be our speaker for the meeting, bringing us all up to date on Lions Camp Merrick.

Our second August meeting will be at the fair on the 17^th as our ice cream dipping day.  Lion Gary and crew have spent weeks readying the Dairy Barn for this year’s fair.  Be sure to call Lion Charlie Hertel to let him know you are coming to help dip or run a register or herd the crowds.  This is a fun day at the fair and it really is good ice cream.  On Thursday, we will man the mobile health unit.  We’re looking for volunteers to work shifts that day also.

For our September meeting, we will be returning to our “home” base at Wesley Grove.

I am working on finalizing committee chairs and assignments.  This year, we are developing each committee to have two chairs – a mentor/mentee (is that really a word??) setup so that we are in a better position as a club to function.  Additionally, we are setting up committee members so that everyone knows what committees they are serving on and can be focused on the events and activities they are most interested in.  Please sign up for the committee(s) of your choice.

Let’s hope we don’t have the prolonged heat wave in August that we had in July.

See you at the fair!!

~King Lion Marcia

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!

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.

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.

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!

Congratulations to Immediate Past President Eloise upon receiving the Presidents Diamond Award for Membership from International President Al Brandel as well as the President’s Excellence Award for 2008-09 Lions year. Also much Appreciation to all Lions as you helped make it happen for IPP Eloise.

As usual, December was a bustle and hustle time.

My appreciation goes to –

• Lion Sue Suddath for putting on a great Christmas/Birthday Party at the Senior Center. Sue served 4 different homemade cakes along with ice cream at the party. She had the Seniors playing games, doing art work and solving puzzles. All left with a gift bag of goodies as well. Thanks Sue!

• Thanks to Lion Charlie Holpuch for organizing the Christmas Dinner Party for us. The delightful musicians sure gave a festive touch of dinner music while we enjoyed our meal. The gift game was much fun and enjoyed by all. Thanks Charlie and Marcia!

• Thanks to all Lions for their participation in the Christmas Giving Project. It truly was a special time and a special giving project. See the “EXTRAORDINARY” article in this Lions Tale.

I trust all Lions received my New Year mailing. Please note on the Activities Schedule the change of meeting place for the Monthly Board Meetings. Montgomery County is requiring a fee for usage of their public buildings beginning in 2010.

I ask you to keep our Lions who are having health issues in your thoughts and prayers. Most of them would appreciate visitors as well. So if you have a few minutes, why not stop and visit with one of them.

Lions, Happy New Year and may 2010 be kind to you.

King Lion Mary Frances

Many holidays are not celebrated worldwide and Thanksgiving is one of them.  It is truly an American Holiday.  I didn’t stop to realize that until my Granddaughter said she had to work Thanksgiving Day and would late for dinner. “Why?” I asked.  And she explained that she worked with investments and equities worldwide, therefore had to be available for a designated time to serve all their clients.  We Americans have so many blessings; so many meaningful celebrations. It is time to stop and be thankful.  Now that the harvest has been reaped and preserved, the trees and plants need to take a rest from their labors and we are free citizens, we need to pause and gives thanks for our forefathers for giving us our freedom and wisdom so that we might  live  and experience great lifestyles in this wonderful country, United States of America.

As usual the Lions have experienced another busy month.  My thanks and appreciation goes to -

• Lion Charlie Hertel for another successful Blood Drive.
• Lion Tony Barry for coordinating the Hanging of the Greens. The bows and lights are new.  Lion Tony also did all the refurbishing for us.
• Lion Martin Carr for coordinating the effort of sending 8500 used eye glasses to Monrovia, Liberia so others may see.
• All Lions who delivered Certificates of Appreciation to 48 businesses.  14 were presented at the Business Appreciation Night.  Another way to stay connected to the business community. We asked so much from them – time to say thank you!
• The 41 Lions who assisted with Thanksgiving Basket Project for 30 families. Blessings!

What a wonderful outpouring of concern and love we have demonstrated in accomplishing these projects.

Thanks to all!

As the Christmas Season approaches and we are involved in this part of our Holiday Giving Project, I wish to express my gratitude to each of you as members of the Damascus Lions for being a team player in serving our community.  As we heard at Business Appreciation Night, there are so many things you do as Lions that are behind-the-scene jobs.  You just automatically perform them in the best interest of the Damascus Lions.  And, I, for one, express my sincere appreciation for all you do in the name of Lions in serving our Damascus Community and surrounding areas.  You are SPECIAL FOLK – EVERYDAY HEROES!
Enjoy the Holidays!   Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

And that is what I enjoy – talking with each of you, keeping up on what is going on and how everyone is doing!

So here we go: My sincere appreciation goes to –

• Lion Bob Snapp for organizing a great 64^th Charter Night for us.  And also, to all of you who attended. I enjoyed it and thought we had a great evening.
• Lions Joy Schwab and Sue Suddath for a great Fall Pancake Dinner.  Also to all the Lions who assisted them on Friday and Saturday.  It was another great time of working together. 
• The Leos who helped with the Pancake Breakfast.  It is always good to have some youthful, smiling faces to keep the momentum going.
• All the Lions who sponsored and filled baskets, who help set up of Thursday and all who helped on Friday.  Was a great evening.
• Lion Gary Rogers for heading up the Papa Johns Fund Raising effort.  He isn’t finished yet!

My Sincere Congratulations to the Charter Night recipients - 

• Lion Ann Davis who was awarded the Emerson Slacum Community Service Award
• Lions Shyue and Su Huang for being Lions of the Year
• Lion Tom Jackson for receiving the Lion of the Years Award
• Lion Ken King  for receiving a Melvin Jones Fellowship
• Lion Jack Peters for receiving a Melvin Jones Fellowship
• Lion Walt Shipley’s spouse, Pat, and his family for accepting posthumously a Melvin Jones Fellowship for Lion Walt.

All of whom are most deserving of being acknowledged for their years of service to Lionism.

I welcome our new member, Alice Denell, to the Damascus Lions Club.  Alice is manager of the Sandy Spring Bank in Damascus.  Please give Alice a warm welcome into our club.

With the Holiday Season fast approaching, we will turn our thoughts to our Holiday Giving Project.  Please look for a Time Table in this newsletter for both the Thanksgiving and Christmas projects

Again, I express a sincere THANK YOU to all of you for your support in our very busy September and October projects.  It takes us all to make it happen and we do it very well!

Enjoy the autumn leaf raking!!!!

WHEE! – September was a nonstop Merry-Go-Round!  Although it was busy days and weeks, the Damascus Lions all came together, took leadership roles and worked in rain and sunny days to tell our community it takes a village to make a good Lions Club.  We are alive and well!

My Thanks and Appreciation goes to –

1. Those involved with the Damascus Community Fair
2. All the Lions who assisted Lion Tess Gladhill with the Community Fair entries
3. Lion Lenora Kish heading up the Popcorn Booth
4. Lion Joy Schwab for the Promotional Display
5.  All the Lions who assisted Lion Eloise Woodfield with Grandparent Day
6. Lion Ann Davis who attended the Hospice Caring Butterfly Release in honor of Hospice Caring 20 years of Service
7. Lion Wayne Marr, his Lion Day Managers and all Lions who stood out on White Cane Days
8. Lion Charlie Hertel, his parents and all Lions who assisted with the Blood Drive.
9. Lion Jerry Mallack who chaired the Damascus Heritage Day Booth and all the Lions who helped man the booth.
10. Lion Gary Rogers for recognizing and executing a Fund Raising effort.
11. Lion Joy Schwab and her Membership Committee for a very informative Prospective Member Night.

There are so many of you Lions who work continually behind the scenes, so silently and relentlessly to keep our club motivated and working throughout the community in the name of Lionism; so many of you whose work goes unnoticed.  My hat and appreciation is extended to you.  You are the backbone of our club.  You are the perfect example of TEAM – Together Everyone Achieves More   – District Governor Bill’s motto.

As we move into October, we will have had Basket Bingo and will be celebrating 63 years of service at our 64^th Charter Night.

I encourage all of you to take the initiative to get Pancake Breakfast Tickets from Lions Joy Schwab and Sue Suddath to sell, tell them that you can help with the Pancake Breakfast and what time and offer your help in preparation of the breakfast on October 17.  Oh, those pancakes and sausage!

A beautiful autumn is promised – Enjoy it!
And remember – ask your relatives and friend if they would like to know more about Lions, especially Damascus Lions!