Bethlehem Lions Club Meeting Minutes for 1-19-2023

 

Meeting Called to Order:  Lion President – Kathy Bethany

Members Participating – 21 Total:  Lions Joe & Lisa Cleaver, Rick Wagman, Richard Griffin, John & Sherry Lackey, Danny Seaver, Sharon & Jon Snellings, Donald & Elizabeth York, George & Chris Beckom, Chuck & Kathy Bethany, Greg & Martha Conrad, and Scott & Brenda Ireland.   Tom and Brenda Panella participated via Zoom.

Special Note:  Olivia Griffin brought to the meeting a bunch of really good tasting cupcakes to celebrate Lion Richard’s birthday tomorrow.  Olivia also noted that on September 1, 2023, Lion Richard will have been a member of the Lions Club for 60 years.  Congratulations Lion Richard !!

Club Membership Stands at:  33

Pledge of Allegiance:  Lion Greg Conrad 

Invocation:  Lion Kathy Bethany (prayers for Carole Reising, Kay McCarter’s family, Lackey’s former son-in-law, Mrs. Herman (Lion Andrew’s Mother, recovering from surgery). 

 

Visitors:  Olivia Griffin

Tail Twister:  Lion John Lackey collected $24.00  (For the benefit of our new members, it was explained that the money collected during the Tail Twister activity goes toward the Club’s administrative fund.)

Secretary Minutes:  Lion Chuck mentioned that the meeting minutes for the last meeting were sent out and no negative comments were received, so he made a motion to accept the minutes.   

A Motion to Accept:  by Lion Chuck      2^nd Lion Danny                  Approved

Treasurer Report:  Lion Martha presented the following report:

Admin Account        $1,813.13

Activity Account       $5,033.60 

A Motion to Accept: by Lion Danny       2^nd Lion Joe Smith             Approved

Membership Report:

1. Lion Kathy recognized Lion Greg’s accomplishment to recruit an additional two new members and that Lion Martha recruited one new member.  Their efforts were acknowledged with applause by the Club members in attendance.  Lion Jon also indicated that he was in a meeting during the recent District 31-I Convention where they discussed membership.  Bethlehem leads the district in growth of membership thanks due to the efforts of Lion Greg.  The attendees gave Lion Greg a round of applause for his success in recruiting new members. 

Service Report:

1. Sight Readers Donations – Lion Jon & Lion Martha are working with a lady who has a bunch of “reader or cheater” glasses to donate, and she is looking for clubs or organizations to donate to. 
2. Chigger Ridge Clean Up:  Lion Chuck has nothing to report but we will probably need to do a cleanup next month. 
3. Taylorsville New Outlook home projects –Lion Sherry indicated that Lion Kay’s son (Alan Carswell) did a terrific job covering the valances with fabric and suggested that the Club should recognize his contribution by an honorarium in his name. 

Motion to provide $25 honorarium: by Lion Sherry     2^nd by George Beckom                 and Approved. 

1. Rotary Club Backpacking program –Lion Jon reported that the recent backpack program was well attended by some of our Club members.  A photo of the group was circulated for our information.  The next event will be on March 5^th. 
2. Lion Sherry noted that the Taylorsville Rotary Club backpacking event will be on February 1 at 1:15 pm at the UMC across the street from Scotty’s restaurant. 
3. Lion Danny reported that he just received the results of the Salvation Army  bell ringing that the Club participated in.  During our Clubs three weekends the donations amounted to $1,731.09 and the donations during the Longview Lions Club amounted to $386.29.  
4. Lion Jon gave a lengthy data dump on the activities related to vision screening. 

Wataga County school system has agreed to screen kids thru 8^th grade plus special needs between January 30 thru February 4^th and 6^th.  They estimate they will screen 3,100 kids during the six-day period.  Lion Jon will be looking for volunteers to help with this massive effort.  Additional schools and head-start locations are possibilities in Alexander, Burke, Caldwell county’s as well as in Hudson and Granit Falls. 

Fundraising Report:

1. Lion Martha updated the latest regarding the Mattress Raffle.  Lion Martha recreated the tickets and Lion Sharon drew two tickets.  The first being an award to Ms. Margie Markham, and the second is to be used as a backup should the first winner refuse the mattress.  Delivery of the bed to Ms. Markham’s home is scheduled for January 25 at 5:30 pm.  Lion Martha indicated that the Club needs to have several members present for the presentation so we can have photos for the newspaper.  If you are willing to help, please call Lion Martha. 
2. Lion John reported that he delivered a broom order to CRAFTMASTER furniture this week.  He also reported that the brooms we ordered in December are supposed to be delivered as soon as tomorrow (Friday) but he has not received any notice from the local shipping company.  Lions  Joe Cleaver, Scott, and Jon have agreed to help with unpacking the shipping crate. 
3. Lion Kathy asked Club members to continue selling Camp Dogwood Raffle Tickets. 
4. Lion Martha reported that the Club has received three checks amounting to approximately $200 and is awaiting checks for the additional 20 bags that were sent to Got Sneakers in December and January.   

 

New  Business:

1. A Friendly Reminder: The first of every month brings a new edition of the District 31-I Newsletter, it contains messages from our District Governor as well First and Second Vice District Governors.  The Newsletter also includes info on present and future events and give you a better understanding of what is happening in our District.  If you do not currently receive this Newsletter let Lion Chuck know and he will arrange to have you put on the distribution.   
2. Announcements/Letters received:

a. New Beginnings Awareness Drew Stiles, Wants to come discuss the mission of the group.   Do you have any thoughts about this presentation? 

b. Several thank-you notes have been received.  In particular was one from the Taylorsville Rotary Club thanking us for our donation of $200.  Donations like ours help the Backpack Program to deliver 6,156 bags of food and 240 Food Lion Feeds boxes amounting to almost 40,000 pounds of food to help feed hungry children over the past two school years. 

 

Old Business:

1.  The new Storage Space for our Clubs supplies and brooms, provided by Vision First Optometry, is now being prepared for use.  Thanks to Lions Jon, Joe, Donald, and others, they received a recommendation, from a professional locksmith, to purchase a lock ( with a keypad) from Lowes.  Since the existing door already has a lock, it may facilitate the installation of the keypad type lock.  Lion Joe Cleaver is preparing to purchase and install the new lock and estimates a cost of approximately $140.  Lion Donald is working with Lion Joe to install the new lock  in the Vision First Optometry location just off Route 70.   Lion Joe made a motion to authorize $150 for the project. 

Motion for $150 for new lock: by Lion Joe                2^nd Lion John             Approved

1.  Please continue collecting can tabs, plastic bags, clean pill bottles, used eyeglasses, and  hearing aids.   Used printer cartridges are no longer accepted. 
2.  Lion Sharon reported that she spoke with Lion Tammy Thomas from Camp Dogwood. In our last meeting, some questions were raised about possible donations for the Camp this summer.  Also, Club members requested clarification about the uses of donated eyeglasses.
   1.  Donations for camp - Lion Tammy reported that she is still developing plans for crafts to be used this summer so Lion Sharon will check back with her in April to see if we can get more specific information.  Lion Tammy did provide a partial list of craft donations, dimensions for the bird feeder kits, and a "wish list' of items needed at the Camp (copies attached).
   2.  Camp Dogwood Spring Maintenance and Eye Glass Sorting -- the staff at Camp Dogwood have identified 5 days this Spring:  March 30, 31, April 1, 2, 3.  The Form to sign up for these activities is attached.
   3.  Donated Eyeglasses - Lion Tammy confirmed that unbroken glasses are evaluated for prescriptions and shipped to a central location where any organization with an overseas mission can access the glasses for distribution during mission trips.  There are some legal restrictions that do not allow distribution of these glasses in the US, but readers can be distributed.  Old hearing aids and phones are recycled for scrap and so are broken plastic and metal frames.
3.  There was a brief discussion of whether or not our Club will make a donation for Camp Dogwood this year, but the final decision was tabled for another meeting.

 

A Motion to Adjourn:  by Lion Danny              2^nd Lion John                      Adjourned

 

 

Up Coming Events Summary and Announcements:

 

Feb 2, 2023 – Bethlehem Lions Club Meeting

Jan 30 - Feb 6, 2023 – Vision Screening Watauga County School Kids

Feb 16, 2023 – Bethlehem Lions Club Meeting

April 27-30 – NCLI State Convention Greensboro

 

 

CAMP DOGWOOD   ITEMS REQUIRED FOR THIS SUMMERS VIP VISITORS

 

 

Lion Tammy provided the partial list of craft donations, dimensions for the bird feeder kits, and a "wish list' of items needed at the Camp (see attached).