Brandon Lions Club - Lions e-Clubhouse

October Newsletter

The speakers were Ron Van Egdom, owner of Heartland Appliance and Repair and Drew Hammer, Commercial Sales Manager, were the speakers. They talked about their five year desire to open a facility in Brandon and their approach to sales.

The President selected two Lions to find a place for the December (Christmas Party) meeting. Spouses and guests are welcome.

Four Lions attended a Chamber sponsored Open House for Ace Hardware on Thursday afternoon, September 26, 2024.

The Club had participants in the Chamber sponsored bus tour of Brandon on October 17, 2024.

Aluminum Can Project:

There were four Lions that worked 2 hours each to sell cans to TJN. The cans weighted 396 pounds at $0.50 a pound for a total of $198.00.

It has been scheduled to take cans to TJN at 1:00 o’clock am on Thursday, October 24, 2024. Meet at the Sunshine Food parking lot can shed.

Eye Glass Collection:

There were 66 pair of glasses collected from Jones Eyecare that were delivered them to the Sioux Falls District office for processing.

Plastic Bag Collection:

Groceries bags will be taken to Sioux Falls on October 24, 2024. Participants will meet at 10:00 am at Unit #1, 1921 N Walnut Avenue.

Future Club Events:

A tour of the Dakota Lions Sight and Health (Lions Eye Bank) is scheduled for November 21, 2024. The Club will meet at the Brandon Pizza Ranch for dinner at 6:00 p.m. and proceed to the Eye Bank for a 7:00 p.m. tour. The Garretson Lions Club Branch and the Brandon Optimist Club will be invited to attend. Spouses and friends are welcome.

Garretson Lions Club Branch Update:

The Garretson Club met on September 23, 2024.

September Newsletter

District 5SE Governor Lion Dennis E. Bohmont, from the Palace City Lions Club, Mitchell, SD, was the speaker. He spoke about some of the conventions, meetings and celebrations that Lions can participate.

There was a discussion on dues for members that do not eat meals. It was moved to set the dues for a Member-at-Large at $100.00 a year which includes District, International and Club dues effective July 1, 2024. The Lions definition of a Member-at-Large from Lions International is: “A member of a club who is unable to regularly attend club meetings but desires to retain membership in the club”.

Aluminum Can Project:

It was reported that Lions Martin, Olson, Engels, Peiper and Klutman worked 2 hours each on Wednesday, August 21st to take cans to TJN. The cans weighed a total of 540 pounds at $0.50 a pound for a total sale of $270.00. The club has sold 46,338 pounds of cans since the project began in June of 2008 for total proceeds of $20,935.06.

Eye Glass Collection:

There were 43 pair of used glasses collected from Jones Eyecare and delivered to the Sioux Falls District office for processing.

There were also152 pair of glasses from the east side Walmart and delivered to the Sioux Falls District office for processing.

Golf Course Ad Project:

It was reported that $2,550.00 was collected for ad signs sold for the 2024 golfing season on the Brandon Municipal Golf Course. The Club shared the proceeds with the City and purchased four replacement signs. The total net income to the Brandon Lions Club was $1,836.50.

Plastic Bag Collection:

It was reported that the Club was registered with NexTek. NexTek, a Minneapolis company, receives the bags and converts them into artificial wood and produces park benches. The Club will receive a park bench, limited to one a year, for every one thousand pounds of bags collected. Nine 45 gallon bags were delivered to the NexTek pickup point in Sioux Falls for a total of 92 pounds. We have a long way to go!

Teacher Gift Cards:

There were only three new teachers in the elementary grades that were ordinally targeted for the project. Research showed six new teachers in the K-8 system that included:

Inspiration Elementary (1)

Robert Bennis Elementary (1)

Middle School (2)

Fred Assam Elementary Counselor (1)

Middle & High School (1) part-time teacher between two buildings.

The Club agreed to give gift cards of $50.00 each from Lewis Drug to the six new teachers in the K-8 system for a total expenditure of $300.00..

Future Club Events:

An open house for Ace Hardware will be held on Thursday, September 26, 2024 from 4:00 - 7:00 pm. They will have beverages and the grill going for snacks. Please wear your Lions vest.

The Chamber is sponsoring a bus tour of Brandon on October 17, 2024. Reservations can be made on the Chamber web site.

The owner of Heartland Appliance and Repair will be the speaker at the October 17, 2024 meeting.

August Newsletter

The speaker was Jeremy Risty from the Brandon Optimist Club. He spoke about some of their projects to include: Home Town Days, Safety Town and a Christmas Tree with request for gifts. Some of their fund raisers include: Coupon Mailers twice a year and bingo. Membership is also a challenge.

Lion Charles Engels volunteered to fill the office of Vice-President.

It was agreed to do the Teacher Gift Card project again. Parameters to include: first year teachers in grades K through 4; total expenditures of $1,000.00; maximum amount given to each teacher to be $50.00.

Funds are to be used for purchasing supplies in preparations for the new school year. Last time we did this project, gift cards were given from a supply house available to teachers. If this doesn’t work out, gift cards would be purchased from Brandon Lewis Drug. Lion Peiper agreed to contact and work with Lion Feldman on the project.

It was suggested that if a member did not eat at meeting that dues should only include the District and International dues. It was agreed that it would be discussed at the September meeting.

A tour of the Sioux Falls Eye Bank is scheduled for November 21, 2024. The Club will meet at the Brandon Pizza Ranch for dinner at 6:00 p.m. and proceed to the Eye Bank for a 7:00 p.m. tour. The Garretson Lions Club Branch and the Brandon Optimist Club will be invited to attend.

Aluminum Can Project:

Lion Martin set a date of Wednesday, August 21, 2024 to meet in the Sunshine parking lot at 9:00 a.m. to take cans to TJN.

Eye Glass Collection:

Lion Olson reported that 38 pair of glasses were collected from a friend and delivered to the Sioux Falls District office for processing.

Plastic Bag Collection:

On August 8th Lion Olson and Lion Klutman weighed and loaded 43 bags of plastic grocery bags with a total weight of 440.1 pounds and delivered them to the drop off site at the Hy-Vee on Sycamore to be forwarded to a recycler.

Garretson Lions Club Branch Update:

There were no updates to report.

July Newsletter

Two Club members attended a Brandon Optimist meeting on Tuesday, July 16 at Tailgators. A short history was given of Lions International and the Brandon Lions Club. They were given information about current and past service project and current and past fund raising projects and how our funds are spent.

Rachael Neiman, Executive Director of the Brandon Area Chamber of Commerce, was the speaker. She spoke about the repeal of sales tax on food and events promoted by the Chamber throughout the year.

5SE Vice District Governor Lion Dennis Bohmont ask the Brandon and Garretson Lions Clubs to host a Cabinet Meeting. This meeting will be held at the Brandon Pizza Ranch at 11:00 a.m. on August 3, 2024

Aluminum Can Project:

Three Lions worked 1 1/2 hours each on Friday, July 12th to take cans to TJN. The cans weighed a total of 474 pounds at $0.50 a pound for a total sale of $237.00.

Eye Glass Collection:

There were 99 pair of glasses were collected from Jones Family Eyecare and delivered them to the Sioux Falls District office for processing.

Golf Course Ad Project:

It was reported that 17 of the 18 advertisers have paid for the 2024 golfing season. One hole remains to be sold.

Plastic Bag Collection:

To date there have been thirty 45 gallon bags of plastic grocery bags collected. There has been an addition collection box placed in Ace Hardware.

Garretson Lions Club Branch Update:

The First Bank & Trust has allowed a grocery bag collection box in their building.