Meetings

March 18, 2021

Our Club is very proud to have twenty-eight Members and Past Members that have received a Melvin Jones Fellowship. These Lions have made made major contributions to the Lions Clubs International Foundation, which since 1968 has made over $1 BILLION in charitable donations. 

To see a list of our Melvin Jones Fellows, please go here:

To learn more about LCIF, please go here:   

To make a contribution to LCIF, please go here


March 8, 2021

Punta Gorda Lions Club endorses Lion Gary Laspina of the Lake Placid Lions Club for the 2021-2022, 2nd Vice District Governor of District 35-I.
Tonight, Lion Gary attended our monthly meeting and presented his platform. Following his presentation the Punta Gorda Lions Club Membership unanimously voted to endorse Lion Gary.
We congratulate Lion Gary and look forward to seeing him in Zephyrhills at the District 35I mini Convention on April 10th.
Pictured: PCC Lion Bill Ringelstein, Presdient Lion Monte Barksdale, Lion Gary Laspina

March 1, 2021

The District 35-I Newsletter has been published. Click here to see the online version


February 27, 2021

The Multiple District 35 of Florida, Bahamas, Aruba, Binaire and Curacau's  Newsletter has been published and is avaiable here.

 


February 5, 2021

Sadly, today. PCC Lion Bill Ringelstein reported that Lion Ron Mills has passed way. Lion Ron has been having health issues and died during a surgery earlier this week.

Lion Ron joined the Punta Gorda Lions Club in 2007, is a Past President and Board Member. Lion Ron was our current Club Membership Chairman and eidtor of our newsletter.
Lion Ron you were a wonderful person and a GREAT LION, you will be missed!
Funeral arrangements will be announced as they are made.

January 21, 2021

Punta Gora Lions Club pitched in with with other Zone 6 Lions CLubs to distribute food for the Harry Chapin Mobile Food Pantry. 350 food boxes were distributed to needy families at the Harold Avenue Park in Port CHarlotte. 

Thank you to Lions Gerry & Sue Beachy, Tom Jeremiason and Reggie Weiss for particiapted on behalf of the Club! 


Helping Hands YouTube Telethon for LCIF

HELPING HANDS YOUTUBE TELETHON
HELPING LCIF HELP LIONS DO MORE
Presented by Martyn Lucas, “World Piano Man”

As the pandemic has posed many challenges to our communities and families, Lions around the world and across the United States have responded by providing assistance both physically and financially.  Whether by providing Personal Protection Equipment to frontline workers, meals for those in need, educational programs to assist virtual learners, construction of accessible playgrounds, or food and toys at Christmas time, Lions have provided whatever help their community and neighbors needed.

Lions Club International Foundation, LCIF, has been a part of these efforts, supporting Lions as they support and provide for their communities.  Through its various grant programs, LCIF has provided clubs with the financial support they needed to carry out their projects to make their communities stronger.

In order to help LCIF raise the funds it needs to continue these grant programs, World Piano Man, Lion Martyn Lucas, is presenting the “Helping Hands YouTube Telethon”.  Martyn is an international acclaimed performer who will take your requests and perform them live just for you. The event will be live on February 14, 2021 from 11:30am to 11:30pm CST,  via Martyn’s YouTube channel, www.martynlucas.com/lions.

While enjoying the presentation is free, YOU can help by purchasing  a special ticket, requesting a song, or advertising your business.  We need you, your Club members, and your friends to tune in and listen to a great entertainer and learn more about what Lions are doing to help their communities and how LCIF is helping them do it.
Please go to https://www.eventbrite.com/e/lions-club-global-largest-telethon-in-history-martyn-lucas-tickets-131775545203 for more information and to purchase tickets or ads.
If you have questions you can also contact Lion Bill Smothermon at lionbillsmo@gmail.com


December 31, 2020

The MD35 Newsletter has been published. Click here to see the online version. 


December 30. 2020

The District 35-I Newsletter has been published. Click here to see the online version. 


 

The District 35-I Newsletter has been published. Click here to see the online version


December 1, 2020

The MD35 Lions of Florida, Bahamas, Aruba, Bonaire and Curacao Magazine is out. Click here for the online version of the magazine. 


November 17, 2020

Lion President Monte Barksdale, Lion Steve Carvey and Lion Tom Jeremiason, along with over 20 other Lions from District 35-I particiapted in the USDA Farmers to Families Food Distribution program. 

1,320 Boxes of Food were delivered to needy families here in Charlotte County. 


 

November 16, 2020

Today, we held our monthly Board and Membership meeeting. Due to Covid 19, we are still meeting in Laishley Park Pavillion.

Lion Paula provided a Secretary Report. Lion Cathy reported the CLub is fiscally sound. Lion Terri Smith reported the Club facilitated an Emergency detttached Retna operation in October. The patient is recovering and doing well. Lion Bill Ringlestein made a tribute to our Veterans. Lion Paul, sold raffle tickets for Publix Grocery Cards, which will benefit the Punta Groda Lions Foundation.

Finally, Lion Steve reported that the Lions Club Annual Xmas Dinner is a go at Hurricane Charlie's. Cost is $25. An email will go outt asap on the details. 


October 21, 2020

The MD35 Lions of Florida, Bahamas, Aruba, Bonaire and Curacao Magazine is out. Click the link for the online version of the magazine:

http://floridaandbahamasmd35magazine.com/index.html


October 26, 2020

 


October 22, 2020

The Lions District 35-i News Letter has been published and can be found here


 

October 21, 2020

Punta Gorda Lions Club Donate $500 to Kids Boxing Club. 

Recently, Coach Troy Carter made presentation to our Club on his program to train local kids in boxing. The Boxing Club has been invited to the Florida State Police Activties League (PAL) Boxing Tournament from November 6-8, 2020, but need to find funding for travel expenses and lodging. 

Coach Carter is not only teaching Boxing, but instilling values into his kids. They have been holding car washes here in Punta Gorda to fund their trip. We hope this donation will help get them to the Tournament! 

Coach Carter's Boxing Club is truly a grassroots organization, with most of their training taking place in Laishley Park. For more information on this program, please contact Coach Carter at tcproductions@gmail.com or call: 267-978-0885


October 12, 2020

The Punta Gorda Lions Club held its October Board and General Membership meeting at Laishley Park Pavillion in order to provide social distancing. Fifiteen members and guests attended the meeting, including Lions, PDG Gerry and Sue Beachy from the Grantsville Lions Club (MD) in Lions District 22-W. 

Our Gues speaker was Coach Troy Carter who spoke about his Youth Boxing Team. Coack Carter will been taking 8 of his boxers to the FLorida State Police Activities League (PAL) Boxing Tournament in November. We were impressed by Coach Carter and his dedication to the program. 

Treasurer Lion Cathy reports on the financial status of the Club

Lion President Monte, Coach Troy and Tail Twister Lion Roger

Coach Troy Carter and some of his boxers. 

Visiting Lions PDG Gerry and Sue.

 

The Punta Gorda Lions

October 2, 2020 

The District 35-i Newsletter has been published. See what's happening in our Lions Clubs! Click here to go to the online newsletter: https://lions35inewsletter.org/

October 1, 2020
The MD35 Lions of Florida, Bahamas, Aruba, Bonaire and Curacao Magazine is out. Click here for the online version of the magazine: http://floridaandbahamasmd35magazine.com/index.html


September 28, 2020

The Zone 6 Meeting was held today. Unfortunately, due to Covid 19, we were unable to meet in person, but instead conducted the meeting on ZOOM. The District 35i, Zone 6 area is comprised of Englewood, North Port, Port Charlotte Centennial, Punta Gorda and Venice Lions Clubs.

In this video, each club makes a report on it activities during our fiscal 1st Quarter. From this you can see, even with Covid19, Lions have been very busy.

To view the video, please click this link  or go to: www.youtube.com/watch?v=hfB0Sbc0J38


September 21, 2020

Today, the Punta Gorda Lions Club Board of Directors voted unanimously to send $500 for Hurricane Sally Relief.

The Punta Gorda Lions Club understands what it is like to recover from a Hurricane. Our thoughts and prayers are with the people that were effected by HUrricane Sally. 


September 17, 2020

Today, Lions from the Punta Gorda Lions Club and ten other Lions Clubs in District 35-I, along with St Vincent de Paul and Charlotte County, assistred with thw "Farmers to Families" Food Distribution to needy families. 

We distributed almost 2,000 cases of food, which will feed up to 8,000 persons. 

"Where there is a need, there is a Lion" 


September 14, 2020

Today, the Punta Gorda Lions Club held a General Membership and Board Meeting. Due to Covid 19, the Meeting was held outdoors in Gilcreast Park Pavillion with Social Distancing in mind. Ten members attended the meeting and one Guest. 


August 20, 2020

Today, members of the Punta Gorda, Port Charlotte Centennial and Englewood Lions Club assisted Harry Chapin Food Bank with distribution food to families. It was hot, but we got food to those who needed it! 


August 2020 

The Punta Gorda Lions are proud to announce that we are making a $2,000 donation to the Southeastern Guide Dogs Donation Challenge.

If you would like to donate to, go here: https://www.guidedogs.org/double-your-donation-today/

 


 

 

August 2, 2020

The new Lions Clubs District 35-I News Letter is available here: https://lions35inewsletter.org/ 


 August 1, 2020

The Punta Gorda Lions Club would like to welcome our newest member, Lori Jeremiason.

Lori is no stranger to our Club, as the wife of our Immediate Past President, Lion Tom Jeremiason. Lion Lori has already contributed numerous hours to our Club over the past couple of years.

Lori was born in New York and raised in northern Italy. She returned to the United States in the late 1990s and subsequently met and married Lion Tom. Lori brings with her a knowledge in accounting and can speak five different languages.

Lori enjoys Painting, Kayaking, Bicycling and Boating. She has lots of energy and we suspect will become a valuable asset to our club.

Lori will be inducted into the Club at the next meeting, on August 10, 2020


 

Punta Gorda Lions Club is in District 35i of Multiple District (MD) 35. MD35 is made up of four Districts, L, I, O and N, which includes all of Florida, the Bahamas, Aruba, Bonaire and Curacao.

The Multiple District Publishes a monthly Newsletter that can be found HERE 


 

Today, we honor Aeriana Mathison our seventh and final Punta Gorda Lions Club $1,000 scholarship winner for 2020.

Aeriana has been accepted to the University of Central Florida nursing program and will be working towards a career in neonatology.

Aeriana has completed many AP courses at Charlotte High, plays flute, piccolo plus piano in the concert and jazz bands. During the summer, she worked at Bayfront Hospital and Brookdale Senior Living Center.

Her LEO activity included the office of Secretary, Bags of Love for Golisano Children’s Hospital & Florida Dog Guides Veterans program. Aeriana is a children’s face-painter, and designed and produced the Leo’s web-site.

We wish you the best of luck in the future!


Beverly Joseph is the 6th Punta Gorda Lions Club $1,000 Scholarship Winner.

Beverly will attend Florida Atlantic University as a biology pre-med student and she is CPR and AED certified having served on the Sports Medicine team. In addition to her studies at Charlotte High, Beverly attended Charlotte Technical College in the Practical Nursing program with 3 years of Honors recognition that included National Honor Society membership. Beverly is in the top ten of her graduating Class.

Beverly is aiming for a career in pediatrics having gained great compassion as a care giver of her brother who is on the autism spectrum. Beverly was a Leo for 4 years, contributing countless hours to Lions Clubs.

Congratulations and good luck!


 

Today we honor Madison Herbert, the fifth Punta Gorda Lions Club $1,000 scholarship recipient.

Madison has been involved in school music ever since middle school and has been a member of the Silver Kings Marching Band all during high school as clarinet section leader. She earned her Tri-M Music Honor Society placement as planner of several music events.

Madison will attend Georgia’s Valdosta State University as a pre-med student with a major leading to an ob/gyn doctorate.

Madison volunteered for 3 years as a Leo. Madison said, “it made me feel like I was making a difference in someone's life”.

Congratulations, we all wish you the best of luck in your future!


 

Today, we honor our 4th recipient of the Punta Gorda Lions Club $1,000 Scholarship, Yazman Castelo. Yazman is planning to attend Duke University as a pre-med student headed for a career in oncology.

Yazman was President of the Charlotte High School Leo Club and an AP Scholar Award winner plus Honor Roll Academic Letter recipient with 6 AP courses taken; she graduated in the top 3% of her class.

Yazman did many volunteer events both as a 4 year LEO, as a member of the Port Charlotte Drama Club, a Sports Medicine volunteer and Teen Court Juror.

We expect big things from this very special woman!

Good Luck Jasmine!


Lion President Monte working the Pallet Lifter

 

On July 24, 2010, over 30 Lions from Southest Florida assisted with the Farmers to Families Food Box deliveries at Franz Ross Park in Port Charlotte.

Lion Preisdent Monte, Lion Roger Richmond, Lion Reggis Weiss and Lion Tom Jeremiason repesented the Punta Gorda Lions Club!   

It was a great experience. 1,350 Food Boxes were delivered to over 500 cars and 13 Food Pantries. This project will feed at least 5,400 people! 


 

Today we honor, Shekeida Arne as our third $1,000 Scholarship winner from Charlotte High School.

Shekeida will attend Florida Southwestern State College for one year to get her Associates and then become either a ‘Gator or Seminole as a pre-med student,

Shekeida is a LEO that actually started as a volunteer in middle school and was tapped as a Nation Honors Society student. Most every Leo activity, project and fund raiser was a success due to the dedication and work ethic of Shekeida. With all her activities, she has been able to maintain a high level of studies.

We wish you well in your future!


Today, we honor Nahama Antoine, our second Charlotte High School $1,000 Scholarship winner.

Nahama will attend Nova University as a pre-med student with an eye to becoming a dentist. She has been very active in Leos events as a Creole translator, Leo Club officer, and all the Leos outreach activities. As the Tech Director at her church, Nahama is responsible for production of 3 weekly services and has won many volunteer and honors awards while a student at Charlotte High. She is a computer whiz, is fluent in Mandarin, plus provides choreographic & dance direction for church events.

Congratulations and good luck in your future endevors!


We are proud to announce that Daniel Nguyen of Charlotte High School has received a $1,000 Punta Gorda Lions Club College Scholarship.

Daniel will attend the University of South Florida starting with a summer semester in the biology program; his sights set on psychiatry research. His preparation included several AP, Dual Enrollment & Honors courses including a member of the National Honor Society. Daniel is very active in his community, plays in the Silver King Band, & volunteers at a local behavioral center providing support for school age students. Dan is a Leo with 200+ volunteer hours as well.

Congratulations and Good luck in your future endevors!


Take a look at this Summer's "BIG CAT CONNECTION", the Punta Gorda Lions Club Quarterly Newsletter.


 

Due to the Covid 19, the Punta Gorda Lions have been meeting in the Laishley Park Marina Pavilion. This allows us to maintain social distancing, hold our meeting and plan future activies. If you are interested in serving our Community, stop by and say hello! 

 


PUNTA GORDA LIONS ANNOUNCES THE 2020-2021 LION OF THE YEAR

It is my pleasure to announce Lion Reggie Weiss is the Punta Gorda Lions Club's Lion of the Year for 2020-2021.

Lion Reggie first joined International Lions Clubs in 1966 and after retirement transferred to the Punta Gorda Lions Club. Lion Reggie has held multiple positions in the Punta Gorda Lions Club and currently sits on the Club's Board of Directors.

Over the last year, Lion Reggie has regularly attended meetings, provided photos for the Club News Letter and was the Chairperson for White Canes Days, which raised over $2,600! Lion Reggie was also very involved in the Punta Gorda Lions Club entry into the City's Veteran's Day Parade, which was the first time we had participated in several years. Lion Reggie was in the process of organizing a second Club Spring Fund Raiser, when it was canceled due to the Quarantine.

As President, I have found Lion Reggie to be my "Go To Guy", always there when I need assistance or guidance. I my opinion, Lion Reggie represents everything Lions Clubs International was created for...

So, on behalf of the Punta Gorda Lions Club, I wish to congratulate Lion Reggie and thank him his service to our Club and more importantly, our Community.

The Lion of the Year Award was to be presented at the General Membership on April 13th, but due to the Quarantine, it is unclear when we will meet again. Lion Reggie was notified in person and using Social Distancing, I presented the Award (Pictured Below) earlier today.

Lion Tom Jeremiason
President
Punta Gorda Lions Club

Lion Reggie Weiss

 


PUNTA GORDA LION RECEIVES HELEN KELLAR AWARD

I am proud to announce that PCC Lion Bill Ringelstein has received the District 35I Helen Keller Award.

Lion Bill has been a long time member of Lions Clubs International, a Past Council Chair of MD35 and a Past District Governor. In addition, Lion Bill has held numerous Officer positions in both the District and more importantly, the Punta Gorda Lions Club. Bill is a fixture at our meetings and in my opinion, is the corner stone to the Punta Gorda Lions Club.

Just in the last year, Lion Bill has applied for and received numerous grants and donations on behalf of the Punta Gorda Lions Club. In addition, Lion Bill along with his wife, Lion Jean, organized the annual Visani Comedy Club Fund Raiser. It is seldom that Lion Bill misses a meeting and is always there to offer members advice or council. Most importantly. Lion Bill has been a trusted confidant during my tenure as President.

Earlier this year, the Punta Gorda Lions Club Board unanimously approved the funding for this Award and it was supposed to be given on April 13th. Unfortunately, the Quarantine stopped us from presenting the award then. Since it is unclear when our next General Membership Meeting will be, I have decided to award Lion Bill this honor with social distancing in mind.

I spoke with Lion Bill earlier today, I can honestly say this was one of the few times I have witnessed Lion Bill at a loss for words. Lion Bill wanted to express his appreciation to the Club for this recognition. I will be delivering his award later today.

So on behalf of the Punta Gorda Lions Club, it is with great pleasure I say, "Thank you Lion Bill and congratulations on this well deserved award"

Lion Tom Jeremiason
President
Punta Gorda Lions Club

Lion Bill Ringelstein (on left)


Two of the Hardest working people in our Club are Lion Secretary Paula Paquette and Lion Treasurer Cathy Greeley.

These two Lions put in countless volunteer hours to both our Community and our Club. They are at every meeting and many of our projects.

Unfortunately, due to the Covid 19 Quarantine, we were unable to recognize these Lions in a Club Meeting, but we did get their tokens of our appreciation to them.

Lion Paula

Lion Paula Paquette

Lion Cathy

 

Lion Cathy Greeley

Lion Paula's Award Lion Cathy's Award

"Calostimucu" is an icon of Punta Gorda and was memorized by the Punta Gorda Lions Club in the form of a Club pin in the late 1970s.

Lion President Tom was able to find two of these long forgotten pins and presented them to Lions Monte Barksdale for his service as Vice President and Lion Roger Richmond for his service as Tail Twister for the 2019-2020 Year!

Below is a reprint from the :You Belong in Punta Gorda Web Page"

The face that looms mysteriously from behind the palm trees on Retta Esplanade has a long history.

In 1974, Fred Babcock had just built a Holiday Inn where the PG Hotel and Hurricane Charley's are today. After buying the waterfront property that had been owned by Perry and Marion McAdow in the 1890s and which later had become the Bayview Inn, he noticed a dead tree on his acquired land. The tree was “monkey pod” or “ear” tree imported from the Orient as a sapling by Marian McAdow in 1898. Marion sought many exotic plants to bring to her new home in Punta Gorda and is credited for much of the tropical ambience that town has today.

Babcock recalled that a renown sculptor, Peter Toth, was developing a series of works called Whispering Giants across the county, and decided to commission Toth to sculpt a statue from the tree’s wood for $10,000.

Toth had completed his first monumental sculpture, a stone Indian head, carved from a cliff in La Jolla, California in 1972. By that summer he had switched from stone to wood, and made a decision to make a sculpture of an Indian, to honor them, in each of the fifty states. Calostimucu was his tenth project, and the only one with two faces – on one side a male, on the other a maiden. Each has a symbolic animal coming from their heads, the male has a bison, the maiden, an eagle. The name of the statue is a combination of the two Native American tribes that lived in this area of Florida. Toth completed his goal of a whispering giant statue in each of the fifty states in May 1988.

Calostimucu, the Punta Gorda statue, was a fixture in front of the Best Western (formerly Holiday Inn) until Hurricane Charley destroyed much of the hotel in 2004. New owners of the property wanted to replace the statue with a fountain, and for a time there was controversy over its disposition until it was finally moved in front of the relocated Freeman House right across the street, where it stands today.

Lion Roger Richmond

Lion Roger Richmond

Lion Monte Barksdale

Lion Monte Barksdale

 



PUNTA GORDA LIONS CLUB OFFERS FREE VISION & HEARING SCREENINGS

Punta Charlotte, FL — On Saturday, October 19th, from 9am to 12pm, the Punta Gorda Lions Club will be offering FREE Vision & Hearing Screenings for adults. In addition, CVS Pharmacy will be offering FREE Flu Vaccinations to adults, as well. The Tetsing will be held at the:

Fraternal Order of the Eagle’s Lodge, 23111 Harbor View Drive, Port Charlotte

Background: In 1925, Helen Keller addressed Lions Club International Convention. In closing her speech, Ms. Keller asked the Lions, “Will you not constitute yourselves Knights of the Blind in this crusade against darkness?”. Since then, Lions Clubs International has been providing Vision Services to the World.

The Punta Gorda Lions Club are all volunteers who provide hundreds of hours to our community each year. In addition, this year, the Punta Gorda Lions Foundations, will contribute almost $25,000 towards High School Scholarships, Vision Testing, Glasses, Eye Surgeries, Hearing testing, Hearing Aides, Diabetes, Disaster Relief and Holiday Food Baskets.

For more information, email: secretary@puntagordalions.org


INTERNATIONAL WHITE CANE DAY

Punta Gorda, FL — The Punta Gorda Lions Club will be soliciting donations in conjunction with International White Cane Day. Volunteers will be collecting donations at the Punta Gorda Walmart on October 17th from 9am to 7pm and October 18th & 19th from 9am to 5pm.

Walmart is located at 5001 Taylor Road, Punta Gorda

For more information, email: secretary@puntagordalions.org

White Cane Day Pic


JUNE 2019 

GREAT NEWS - Thanks to Lion Bill Ringelstein our Lions Club has received a $2,000 Grant from the IBM Corporation! 

For more information on the IBM Grant Program, please click the IBM Logo:  

IBM Corp Logo

 

 


 

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