We started working on some picnic tables donated to Camp Prime Time in May 2019. With the help of the Camp Manager and other volunteers throughout the summer, they are finished! There was even a visit from Chip and Dale, but Chip was too shy for a picture.
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District F Spring Conference March 7th and 8th, 2014
Very special guest for the 2014 Spring Conference - Michael Hingeson
Ladies Division of Crazy Hat Contest.
Mens Division of the Crazy Hat Contest...
DG Steve Noble and Yakima Lions Club President Dr. Chris Babin
Here are some more clever hats...
Great smiles!
Incoming DG Lonnie gets his Lion on for the Crazy Hat Contest.
Did I mention it was crazy hat contest on top of Dinner in the Dark.
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Lion Paul Kauzlarich (left) watches over his diners.
Lion Doug Larin (facing camera in red shirt) enjoys Dinner in The Dark
Gary McLaren of Special Olympics joined us on February 19th. What a great program Special Olympics is and we always enjoy a visit from Gary!
Thanks to Lion Melissa for the wonderful photos! I was able to set up the stations in order so you can see the complete course.
Kids and parents started out at registration and then moved through the stations.
Station 1 - Bike helmet fitting - if they came to the rodeo without a properly fitting helmet they were refitted with one before starting.
Station 2 - Bike repairs - if the kids needed air in their tires, seat or handle bars adjusted or minor repairs they went to station 2 before they started the course.
Station 3 - starting and stopping - the riders had to demonstrate how to safely start and stop their bicycle.
Station 4 - Scanning for traffic and pedestrians - this taught the rider how to scan for traffic and pedestrians from all directions.
Station 5 - Avoiding objects. There were stationary objects and the instructor would randomly toss a frisbee out and kids would have to avoid it safely.
Station 6 - Hand signals - the kids were shown proper hand signals and had to demonstrate what they learned.
Station 7 - Negotiating a crosswalk.
Station 8 - a very tight turn course - this was a challenge for our bike riders!
Station 9 - This was a big Figure eight - it helps kids work on their control.
Station 10 - Slow race, the kid that goes the slowest without putting their feet down wins
Station 11 - Goodies and Certificate of Participation
By teaming up with the Scouts, Madison House, Valley Cycle & Fitness and Yakima Parks & Recreation, we were able to really put on a great Bike Rodeo....
Volunteers gathering up to get instructions and get started....
Volunteers work on setting up the courses...
Big and little came to enjoy and watch the Bike Rodeo...
Lion Don puts one of the kids through his paces...
Lion Dave and Lion Chris share a high five while Lion Jan moves on to the next task....in the background is the beautiful Madison House building...
This wonderful display greeted all that came to the Membership Mixer held April 17th at the Howard Johnson Plaza Hotel. We had a great turnout of guests and members.
Leader Dogs for the Blind was started by two Lions in Michigan to provide seeing eye dogs to those that need them. Yakima Lions Club is very proud to financially help support them and the work that they do.
Camp Prime Time is a wonderful place the provides children with disabilites and illnesses that might otherwise not be able to experience camping. The Yakima Lions Members go up on a Saturday in May and help clean up and help get the camp ready to open for summer camps. We are just a small part of the volunteer army it takes to get the camp ready to go each spring.
Vision for Independence Center is supported by Yakima Lions financially and by the club members assisting with the Dinner in the Dark fundraiser. VIC is able to provide vision impaired folks with the tools they need to make everyday life much easier, such as magnifiers, talking clocks, and CCTV readers.
White Cane Days is one of our most well-known and important fundraising campaigns.
Recognition from the Yakima Valley Community Band for our support:
Bicycle repair program skillfully tended to by Lions Marion Blank:
Preview poster with the upcoming Bike Rodeo headed up by Lion Doug Larin:
In an effort to show our guests the international flavor of Lions, I brought my Lions International Stamp Collection that I started in 2011. The secretary of our Stamp Club is inThe Netherlands, the President is in Tanzania, and our members are literally all over the world.
Our guests check in before the presentations:
Left to right, facing camera - Lion Kathy Birdwell, Lion Doug Larin (white shirt farthest from camera), Lion Dave Mullaley, Lion President Chris Babin - all are explaining some of the things Yakima Lions do to help serve our community.
Lions Mary Lou Thomas-Carson, Randy Grava, DGE Steve Noble and Lion Marion Blank enjoy some refreshments and visiting before the presentation.
Lion Dave Axford tells the Yakima Lions Story to our guests and members.
Few photos from the Rod's House Fundraiser: "In from the Cold" held February 1, 2013 at the Yakima Convention Center
Lion President Chris Babin and Lion Tamer Dave Mulalley
Lions Cherly Legowik, Doug Larin and Billie Cox
Lions Doug and Jan Larin enjoyed the salmon and steak dinner
Lion Nica Sandoval and Karen Fortier share a few laughs
Lions Billie Cox, Dan Fortier and Steve Noble chat at the Rod's House Fundraiser
Lion Dave Mulalley checks out the silent auction items
Check out this video of the Naches Valley Choir I was able to create for those unable to attend the meeting. This is only one of the several songs they performed. Just click on the link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y1otyT96TnU&feature=youtu.be
Once you open the youtube site, in the lower right hand corner of the video itself there is a box you can click to make it full screen. (please let me know right away if the link is broken) Enjoy!
November 28th - our celebration of 90 years of service in the Yakima Valley. I think I will let the smiles communicate the sense of fellowship and Lionism shared by all who attended.......
In the November Issue of Lions Magazine, Yakima's own Marion Blank is listed as number seven in "10 things guaranteed to make you smile". Here's the link: http://mydigimag.rrd.com/publication/?i=129809
If it asks you, "Do you want to see the last page viewed?", say yes and it should take you to the page that shows that article.
October 19, 2012 - Dinner in the Dark fundraiser for the Vision for Independence Center was a huge success! Great food, wine, and fun! Details to come soon. (I've heard a rumor they almost doubled last year's charitable giving) Please enjoy a few photos from the event, and please if you have more photos, email them to yakimalionswebmaster@hotmail.com and I'll try and get them uploaded:
We had many esteemed volunteers (above) DG Martha Conradt of the Sunnyside Lions admires the dining room before the guests are seated.
Lion Marsha from Terrace Heights and Lion Jim Kemp demonstrate some teamwork and help Yakima Lion President Chris Babin pull some items from the fridge. (above)
(above) Yakima Lion Dick Elliott prepares tickets for the 50/50 raffle.
We had Lions from many clubs volunteering. There were quite a few clubs represented as you can see by all the different colored shirts as the guests are being seated. (above)
Debbie and the guys from New Hope Industries served up some hot, wonderful food! (above)
VDG Steve Noble leads a blindfolded dinner guest to her seat.
Naches Lion David Heath dons a pink bandana and gets ready to help with Dinner in the Dark. (above)
ZC Bill Shepard waits patiently for wife Lion Marge Shepard as she greets fellow Lions. (above)
Yakima Lion President Chris Babin pauses amid the swirling volunteers. (above)
Saturday, Sept. 22, 2012 - The three new ballfields at Kiwanis Park were dedicated with a ribbon cutting ceremony. It was a wonderful afternoon despite the smoke, but well worth the time to attend. This has been a long-term project, part of it dating back to 1950's when Kiwanis bought the first piece of property, with many groups and individuals working hard to make it a reality.
The Rotary and Lions logos are very proudly displayed on the new snack bar and restroom facility.
Lion President Chris Babin visits with Lion Maury Smith before the ceremony.
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Lion Dick Elliott graciously agreed to say a few words on behalf of the Yakima Lions Club.
Lion Dick Elliott as well as Rotary, Kiwanis, City, County and State representatives cut the ribbon....
After the ribbon cutting, all were treated to hot dog, nachos and drinks from the new snack bar.
Lion Marion enjoying some fresh hot nachos.
This is one side of the three sided sign that sits between the ball fields and the highway. The other sides has Kiwanis and Rotary logos.
Local Lion Travels to Tampa Florida for US/Canadian Forum - Vice District Govenor and Yakima Lion Steve Noble traveled to Tampa last weekend for the US/Canadian Forum. He ran into our friend, Lion Wanda Scroggins and Leader Dog Harley. He also met this year's International First Vice President Barry J. Balmer, who will be the International President when Lion Steve is District Govenor. He also met Mark Mansell, who rode 3500 miles to raise money for Leader Dogs. Be sure to ask Lion Steve about the great time he had, and the wonderful things happening at the international level.
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Yakima Lions support Yakima Valley Council of the Blind Bowling - The Yakima Lions proudly sponsors the Yakima Valley Councel of the Blind Bowling activity. Please enjoy the photos of Lion Howard Underwood and Lion Bill Smedley enjoying a night out!
Saturday, Sept. 15th, 2012 - Lion Marion Blank, his grandson Kody, Lion Doug Larin and his son Jeff, went to pick up approximately 60 bicycles, uncountable parts and tools from the City of Sunnyside's now disbanded bicycle program. Not only did they fill up a truck generously donated by Abbotts Printing, Inc., they filled a flat trailer and the back of Lion Doug's pick up. The Yakima Lions will now be able to provide a lot of great bikes to kids who might otherwise be unable to afford them.
