Roaring Lions Newsletter
August 20, 2024
The Marshall Lions Club met at noon on Tuesday, August 20, 2024 at the Panola-Harrison Electric Cooperative Inc. meeting room, 410 E. Houston, Marshall, Texas.
While there are many relevant things captured in time on this day in history, in this newsletter I will focus on three events. On this day in 1920, at a meeting in Canton, Ohio, the National Football League was formed as the American Professional Football Conference. In 1975, the robotic U.S. spacecraft Viking 1, built to explore the surface of Mars, was launched and nearly one year later landed on Chryse Panitia, a flat lowland region in the norther hemisphere of the planet. And finally in 2017, American comedian and actor Jerry Lewis, who was known for his unrestrained comic style and his numerous movies with Dean Martin, died at age 91.
The meal was catered by Jose Tequila’s. Today, Eduardo Esquival served us fajitas, rice, refried beans, flour tortillas, guacamole, chips, salsa, and of course, tea!
After a brief absence traveling, President Chris Horsley was back with us and called the meeting to order at 12:00 p.m. Lion Chris reported that we have 20 Lions in the den and no guests. If you are bringing guests, please let Lion Angela Parker know in advance of our weekly meeting. For our at large members, the costs of meals are $15 for Catfish Express and $10 for all other caterers. Please provide this money to Lion Angela Parker whenever you make a meeting and enjoy lunch.
Lion Chris Horsley called upon Dare Westmoreland to lead our opening prayer. Lion Robert Wood asked for prayers for his son-in-law Brad McCann.
Lion Dare called upon Lion Bob Swanson to lead our Pledges of Allegiance to the United States and Texas Flags.
Lion Chris Horsley called upon Lion Jesse Fugler to lead our weekly songs. Lion Jesse started off with #59 on page 31 “Give My Regards to Broadway” and for a patriotic favorite, Lion Jesse chose “America, the Beautiful.” Lion Chris Horsley asked who was working on repair of our song books. Lion Dare Westmoreland has it as a topic of discussion during a future board of directors meeting.
Lion Chris Horsley asked about the shirts being ordered for members of Marshall Lions Club. Lion Bob King provided a copy of the email recently sent out and Lion Donald Hocutt provided an overview. Marshall Lions Club agreed to pay $15.00 off the shirt price for each member of the club. This is only for one shirt, whichever you decide upon.
There are two types of shirts: (1) Polo short-sleeve shirt or (2) Chambray long sleeve shirt. The cost of the Polo short-sleeve shirt: Small-XL= $32.48 total and XXL-XXXL= $35.73 total. The cost of the Chambray long sleeve shirt: Small-XL= $40 total and XXL-XXXL= $44 total
For example:
- If someone orders a XL Polo short-sleeve shirt for $32.48, the member will pay $17.48 due to the $15.00 Marshall Lions Club offset.
- If someone orders a XXL Chambray long sleeve shirt for $44.00, the member will pay $29.00 due to the $15.00 Marshall Lions Club offset.
- If someone orders a XL Chambray long sleeve shirt for $40.00 and a XL Polo short-sleeve shirt for $32.48, the member will pay $57.48 due to the $15.00 Marshall Lions Club offset. Lion Angela Parker had a list for distribution to the club and collected checks for members that ordered checks during the meeting.
Lion Chris Horsley also inquired about the Corporate Spelling Bee and if we have three members of our club to participate. Lion Orlando Valle is spearheading the spelling bee, but
Marshall-Harrison County Literacy Council has announced the Disney themed spelling bee will be held on Friday, September 13, 2024 at the Marshall Convention Center beginning at 11:30 a.m. Lion Orlando will provide additional details in the near future.
Lion Chris Horsley asked Lion Dudley Swofford to say a few words about the scholarship committee. As the scholarship committee transitions to a new group, Lion Dudley felt it important to capture historical requirements for award of scholarships to applicants. As a club, we have given out three new scholarships each year valued at $1250 for the first year and $500 for three years thereafter. The additional scholarships are dependent upon the college students maintaining grades and reapplying. At the present time, a child or grandchild of a club member may also receive a scholarship. While this is up to the board, Lion Dudley’s hope is that these scholarships awarded will be in addition to the three that we currently give out each year. For our Lions Club, we use the same application that is used by Marshall High School. The members of the committee use a scholarship grading criteria package that enables members of the committee to select deserving students which concentrates on the student’s academic information, extracurricular activities, awards, financial information, and an essay that is prepared that further explains the reason they should be given the scholarship. Each section of the grading criteria package is further broken down and the package clearly explains how the criteria is aligned and weighted based upon importance. The committee also has a package for follow-on scholarships so students are tracked as they progress through their sophomore, junior and senior years of college. Lion Dudley will get with the five members of the scholarship committee either after the meeting or in the near future to go over everything in detail. With many members of the committee being part of the board of directors, Lion Chris Horsley suggested covering the details as part of the next board meeting. The next round of scholarship applications will occur in March and April 2025.
The City of Marshall has implemented a new notification system to alert residents of emergency situations. Through the CivicReady Mass Notification System, the city will share information and updates with residents via text message, email or phone call about incidents within the city limits. Non-emergency notifications such as city news and events, garbage/recycling updates, bid notifications and road closures that may impact Marshall Residents will also be disseminated.
Individuals can sign up to receive these alerts and/or notifications in English, Spanish or another language. Residents can also subscribe to receive the city’s weekly newsletter, the Marshall Insider, delivered straight to their inbox. The newsletter will feature the city’s latest news, calendar of events, service alerts and more. Residents can sign up for both the mass notification system and the city newsletter by visiting https://www.marshalltexas.net/591/Alerts-Notifications.
With the football season right around the corner, Lion Mike Haynes was a referee for 14 years. While the 14 years is impressive in football, Lion Mike has been a High School baseball umpire for the past 40 years. According to Lion Mike, he prefers to be behind the plate due to it being the money making profession for an umpire.
The upcoming programs for the next two weeks:
8/27 - Peggy Walker – District 2-X2 Texas Lions Camp Director
9/3 - Day Shelmire - Director of the UT Tyler-Longview Small Business Development Center.
He will share the services offered to the Marshall area.
Lion Chris Horsley called the Tail Twister, Lion Bob King to the front. This week’s fines will be in honor of Lion Charles “Chuck” Abma. Lion Chuck was a consistent and loyal Lion and always there to answer the call. With the silver plate aka apparatus in hand, Lion Bob started the fines for those that were not in attendance and followed it up with those not wearing their badges. Lion Bob King announced that today is National Radio Day. As Lion Bob King always says, “A good Lion is an informed Lion.” Last week, Marshall News Messenger published an article regarding Marshall City Arena that affects Marshall Lions Club. The parks and recreation department is continuing its improvement plans as the Marshall City Council approved a $287,620.35 expenditure for upgrades to the Marshall City Arena. The arena currently has 180 stall and six bucking chutes. This expenditure will replace 100 stalls and the six bucking chutes. The stalls and bucking chutes were installed that currently exist back in 1998. The city arena played host to 38 events last year. Events such as the LRCA’s R.E. Josey Memorial Rodeo, Marshall Lions Charity Horse Show, 4 States Youth Rodeo Association, Texas Jr. High School Rodeo Association, Farm City Week and 20 different barrel races.
For birthdays, Lion Bob King informed the group that Lion Melinda Gaulden is celebrating her birthday today. Lion Bob suggested that we should make a conscientious effort to reach out to Lions such as Lion Richard and Melinda Gaulden to let them know that they are missed. Lion Bob called upon Lion Jesse Fugler to lead the “Happy Song” in the key of “M” for Melinda to celebrate her special day. As our Tail Twister closed, he left us with a quote from Zig Ziglar, “If you aim at nothing, you’ll hit it every time.”
Lion Chris Horsley took the opportunity to thank Eduardo Esquival and Jose Tequila’s for providing such a wonderful meal. Lion Chris also thanked Lion Ray Cartier for providing such an informative program last week on Papua New Guinea and presented Lion Ray a $20.00 gift certificate to Walmart.
As a reminder, Marshall ISD Booster Club is selling yard signs for $20.00. The signs will be red and white and the club is trying to place the signs throughout the city as a mechanism to support Marshall Maverick’s athletics. If interested in purchasing a sign, please contact Lion Patrick Owens.
Lion Chris Horsley introduced today’s program guest Donald Robinette who serves as Harrison County’s Elections Administrator. Donald was born and raised in Louisiana. While attending High School in 1974, he received the first patriotism award for the school and relocated to Marshall in 1975 to attend East Texas Baptist University as a ministerial student. After college, he worked two years at Sullivan Funeral Home and held various other jobs before landing a position at Wesco Valve in which he was a dedicated employee for 38 years.
While employed with Wesco Valve, Donald would take vacation annually to work as a poll worker in local elections. His main concern: election integrity. After 10 years serving as a poll worker and polling place judge for a few years, Donald was selected to serve as Chairman of the Early Voting Ballot Board for 5 years. Finally, when the opportunity presented itself, he applied and was selected on April 1, 2019 to serve as Elections Administrator.
Donald shared that it was great to be with Marshall Lions today to provide insight on being a poll watcher and share the importance of what poll workers do to support elections as well. As a poll watcher, the person is vital in discovering irregularities in the voting process and reporting those issues to either a clerk or polling place judge for resolution.
To become a poll watcher since the last state legislature, a person must go online and take a course and upon completion, the person receives a certificate of completion. A poll watcher is appointed to serve by a political party, a candidate, and for any city or school in which a measure or proposition is contained on the elections ballot. There may be up to seven poll watcher at any polling location, but only a maximum of two may be in the polling location at any given time. For training, a person may visit https://www.sos.state.tx.us/elections/forms/pollwatchers-guide.pdf and https://pollworkertraining.sos.texas.gov. Based upon Donald’s experience, the training updates in August of each year, so hold off until after September 1, 2024 to complete the poll watcher training.
According to Donald, Harrison County needs poll watchers and this position is extremely important to maintain the integrity of the elections process. Unlike a poll worker with extended hours from polling location’s opening to closure, a poll watcher has ability to come and go throughout the day in performance of his/her duties. If a person decides to become a poll watcher, Donald and Harrison County does not pay the person. Instead, the person appointing you as a poll watcher would more than likely be the one paying you for the service. As a poll watcher, you will need to bring the training completion certificate and certificate of your appointment. Then, in front of the presiding polling place judge, you would sign that appointment.
As a poll watcher, a person will: observe but not interfere; wear a name badge; not communicate in any manner with a voter; not talk to workers unless pointing out an irregularity; not use a cell phone or other recording device; not reveal names of individuals who have or have not voted; not reveal how a person voted; and not reveal whether a measure is passing or failing.
As a poll watcher, you are permitted to: witness the installation of voting system equipment; observe securing of equipment prior to the election; observe any activity and listen to poll workers; observe any activity in regards to curbside voting; take written notes; observe assistance provided to voters; observe activities associated with securing a polling place; and witness securing of the voting system at the close of polls.
In preparation for the upcoming election, Donald holds equipment training each Tuesday and Thursday with his poll workers to guarantee their complete understanding and that polling equipment is working optimally for the election. Members of the community are encouraged to attend and observe the process, if desired. This will transition to judge and clerk training closer to the election in November 2024. Donald always reminds his team that as poll workers they ensure two things: (1) qualifying the voter (making sure they are registered) and (2) letting them vote.
The amount of personnel in a polling place is limited. While is understood that poll workers and voters are present, the following personnel may be present: a child under 18 accompanying a parent who is voting; someone providing assistance to a voter; someone providing assistance to a voter with a disability; a special peace officer; county chair (during a primary only); elections officers; technicians; and someone authorized by the presiding judge in accordance with the election code. As of the most recent legislature, voters with a disability may move to the front of the voting line.
In the State of Texas, all elections equipment is offline which means it is stand-alone and does not touch the internet. The only exception is the poll book which provides different polling locations within Harrison County the ability to track voters that have voted at other locations to maintain integrity. For voting, Texas is a photo ID state. A voter may present a Texas driver’s license, Texas election identification certificate issued by DPS, Texas election identification card, Texas handgun license issued by DPS, US military ID with photo, US citizenship certificate containing a photo and a US passport. If a person does not have a photo ID, they may present an original copy of a government document, copy or original of current utility bill, copy or original of a bank statement, government check, paycheck and birth certificate. Along with the List B identification, the person should also fill out a Reasonable Impediment Declaration. This information is sent to the State of Texas to report individuals still without a proper identification with photo. Voters that do not have proper photo identification will be required to fill out a provisional ballot. The voter will fill out the front of the envelope and the judge will fill out the back left of the envelope and the office will fill out the back right of the envelope. The voter will place their ballot inside a secrecy envelope then into the green envelope. The judge will secure the envelope until delivered to the office for review.
For more information about Harrison County Elections Office, please visit them at Elections - Harrison County, TX (harrisoncountytexas.gov) or on Facebook at Harrison County Elections Office. According to Donald, he and his team are working to update information on the page to inform voters within the county. If uncertain of your current registration to vote, please visit My Voter Portal (texas.gov). Donald intends to promulgate a sample ballot in advance of Election Day. Keep an eye on Harrison County Elections website for additional details.
Early voting will begin October 21, 2024. Monday, October 21, 2024 to Friday, October 25, 2024, the following polling locations will be open 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. daily:
T J Taylor Community Center, 15642 FM 134, Karnack, Texas
Waskom Sub-Courthouse, 165 West Texas Avenue, Waskom, Texas
Harrison County ESD 9, 130 FM 451, Elysian Fields, Texas
Gold Hall, 101 East Elm, Hallsville, Texas
Harleton Community Center, 4335 Community Street, Harleton, Texas
Woodland Hills Baptist Church, 2105 East Loop 281, Longview, Texas
Harrison County Elections Office, 415 East Burleson, Marshall, Texas
There will be weekend voting on Saturday, October 26, 2024 from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. and Sunday, October 27, 2024 from 1:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the Harrison County Elections Office, 415 East Burleson, Marshall, Texas.
The second week from Monday, October 28, 2024 to Friday, November 1, 2024, the following polling locations will be open from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Wednesday and from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Thursday and Friday:
T J Taylor Community Center, 15642 FM 134, Karnack, Texas
Waskom Sub-Courthouse, 165 West Texas Avenue, Waskom, Texas
Harrison County ESD 9, 130 FM 451, Elysian Fields, Texas
Gold Hall, 101 East Elm, Hallsville, Texas
Harleton Community Center, 4335 Community Street, Harleton, Texas
Woodland Hills Baptist Church, 2105 East Loop 281, Longview, Texas
The following location will be open Monday, October 28, 2024 to Friday, November 1, 2024, 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.:
Harrison County Elections Office, 415 East Burleson, Marshall, Texas
** On Election Day, Tuesday, November 5, 2024, the Harrison County Elections Office will not be open. Although there are 26 precincts within Harrison County, there will be 18 polling locations across Harrison County that will be open on Election Day from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. as follows:
Marshall Convention Center, 2501 East End Blvd, Marshall, Texas
East Texas Baptist University (Edwards Room), 1 Tiger Drive, Marshall, Texas
Wiley University Student Center, 711 Wiley, Marshall, Texas
T J Taylor Community Center, 15642 FM 134, Karnack, Texas
Harrison County ESD 9, 130 FM 451, Elysian Fields, Texas
Harrison County ESD 3, 9432 US Highway 80 East, Marshall, Texas
St. Marks Methodist Church, 1101 Jasper Drive, Marshall, Texas
ESD 2-Station 2-Nesbitt, 9091 Highway 154, Marshall, Texas
Gold Hall, 101 East Elm, Hallsville, Texas
West Harrison VFD ESD 1, Station 3, 19797 FM 449, Longview, Texas
Woodlawn Baptist Church, 8688 US Highway 59 North, Marshall, Texas
Harleton Community Center, 4335 Community Street, Harleton, Texas
West Harrison VFD ESD 1, Main, 2656 South Access Road, Longview, Texas
Waskom Sub-Courthouse, 165 West Texas Ave, Waskom, Texas
Friendship Baptist (Gill Community), 1140 FM 1186, Marshall, Texas
Marshall Public Library, 300 S Alamo, Marshall, Texas
Morton Baptist Church, 22177 Highway 154, Diana, Texas
Woodland Hills Baptist Church, 2105 East Loop 281, Longview, Texas
Lion Chris Horsley thanked Donald Robinette for such an informative program and also gave a shout out to Lion Mike Jordan and Lion Bob Swanson for always showing up early and staying late to arrange the room for our Lions Club meeting. Lion Chris Horsley called upon Lion Dudley Swofford to lead our closing prayer. The meeting adjourned at 1:00 p.m.
Lion Donald Hocutt
Translate
