Volume XCIII, Number 2 “Sonora Lions, Serving the Mother Lode Since 1922” August 2015 Sonora Lions Club, P.O. Box 101, Standard, CA 95373 Pine Tree Restaurant, 19601 Hess Rd, Wednesdays at 12 noon District MD 4-A1, Mountain Region, Zone 3 www.SonoraLions.org

MESSAGE FROM YOUR PRESIDENT life which determines his/her response regardless Fellow Lions, of circumstances." Show off your character (only to yourself!!) by doing an anonymous good deed in Abraham Lincoln said "Reputation is the the next few weeks. shadow. Character is the tree." Our character is much more than just what we display for others to Thanks for your dedication to Lionism! see. It is who we are even when no one is President Tim [email protected] watching. Good character is doing the right thing because it is the right thing to do. www.sonoralions.org AUGUST BIRTHDAYS We all like to receive praise for our efforts in making good things happen. Recognition from our peers is a reward often expected when we do good in the community or when we help an individual or group of people that are struggling. But would we continue to do the things that we do if we received no praise or recognition for our efforts? Would we help people and do community service for no recognition at all "because it is the right thing to do?" August 3 – Rob Stanley

August 18 –Debra Stanley I challenge each one of you to do something in the next few weeks, in total anonymity, that helps a August 24 – Bill Dunlavey cause or someone who is struggling. Buy a meal August 28 – Sherry Pert-Burns for a stranger, pay for someone's coffee at Starbucks, send a cash gift or money order to someone struggling with their finances, help a GENERAL DISCUSSION (For the sake of avoiding repetitive information, all meetings are opened with a patriotic song, pledge neighbor with yard work, send flowers to a friend and a prayer. Our Lions’ Welcome song is sung for visitors and ... anything you can think of but do something guests). where you are the only one who knows that you • For the July 1st meeting, our guests for the day did it. You will be amazed at how good you feel were Sue Mundy and Ellen Beck from the Mother about yourself. Carrying it one step further, make Lode Food Project. There were no birthdays to sure you are not around when the recipient mention today, so Lion Joanne’s ears were spared discovers what has been done. Even better! the pain of our singing! A letter of thanks from A- TCAA was read to the group, thanking us for our One dictionary definition of character is "the stable generous contribution of $500. It was mentioned and distinctive qualities built into an individual's that Interfaith was also very appreciative of our $500 donation to them and could we possibly our scholarship recipients, Shane Crawford. We consider another food drive as their resources are don’t often hear from them personally, but this very low. was a very nice heart-felt letter of thanks. ~~ th • On July 8 , there were 24 Lions present for our TAIL TWISTER TALES meeting. This was a scheduled business meeting, st • The Secret Lion for the July 1 meeting was Lion so no guest speakers were present and no visitors Paul, who busted Lions Bob Bader, Tom, and Chris were there either. for not greeting him properly. Since it was so close th • On July 15 , yours truly was on vacation, so notes to our Nation’s birthday, all those from this meeting are spotty who were not wearing something (thought I’d warn you in advance!).  with red, white, and blue were levied There were 22 Lions present this day. a fine. Lion Lynda LaFlamme was The guest speaker for the day was creative in getting out of her fine by showing her Duke York, Dep. County Engineer. “red, white, and blue” bruises. Tail Twister Kenny • For the July 22nd meeting, we had Ayers warned our group, since he was relatively Glenn Bass, the coach for Sonora new to our club, that he expected everyone to be High School Cross Country Team as our guest wearing some form of ID so he could learn our speaker. Also present was John and Ruth Moyer, names more quickly. We got a reprieve for this who have returned to the Sonora area from the week. TT Kenny auctioned off a jar of Rawlings, WY area. Also present were Dan and pomegranate jelly for $4 to Lion Bob Bader, one for Kelly Ward, the couple who are taking over the $5 to Lion Joe Skaff, and one for $7 to PDG Tom. Sonora Mini Storage from Lions Rob and Debra, We congratulated TT Kenny for a great job on his and also will be taking over the H.E.L.P. program. “maiden voyage” as Tail Twister for our club. They do plan to become members very shortly! • The Secret Lion on July 8th was Lion Bill Dunlavy. Welcome! He managed to wring fines out of several members • For the July 29th meeting, we had 30 Lions of the club for not greeting him. Anyone not present on this very hot summer day. Our guest wearing their ID was fined this week. Hey, you speaker today was Russell Carpenter, from the Vets can’t say they weren’t warned! Helping Vets program. Also visiting the • During the July 15th meeting, the Secret Lion was club again were John and Ruth Moyer Lion Paul Berg. My substitute nd (their 2 visit and they received note-taker was one of those applications for membership), Ron Cole fined for not greeting him th who was here for his 4 visit (who also got his properly. TT Kenny auctioned membership application), and Dan and Kelly Ward, off a dozen eggs and a jar of nd here for their 2 visit to our club. We were also pomegranate jam. Lion Chris Link was fined for very happy to see former Lion member, John arriving late for the meeting. Bristow, who brought with him a nd • The Secret Lion at the July 22 meeting was Lion boatload of pull tabs! Thank you Jim Gormely. He did well in avoiding his soooo much John! We’re still handshaking duties and TT Kenny collected several working on getting him back into fines. Lion Mike Eachus was fined for sneaking in our fold. Today we celebrated Lion Mal Perry’s late at the meeting. Lion Bob Bader was fined for birthday. He was happy to hear our version of the introducing our guests using the wrong last name! Birthday song. Pres. Tim Atchley then realized that Pres. Tim Atchley read a this would be the last meeting for the Stanleys, so letter of thanks from Canine we sang the birthday song for them too, just for Companions for good measure. We will surely miss them but wish Independence, thanking us them safe travels on their trip up to Alaska. A for our donation on behalf of thank you letter was read by Pres. Tim from one of PDG Don Allen. • At the July 29th meeting, the Secret Lion was Lion Penhallegon had a Happy Buck because even Kenny Ayers, who busted several Lions for not though he deserted the Giants in the 8th inning, greeting him properly. Lions Doug Fleming and they managed to turn the game around and win! Seanna Phillips were late and thus fined. Since Lion ~~ Lion Kenny had a Happy Buck, thankful that with Rob Stanley’s birthday was next week, but they the horrendous crash at the NASCAR race over the wouldn’t be there, he paid a fine so we would sing weekend, no one was seriously hurt ~~ Lion Jerri our version of the Birthday song again. Lion Chris Critchfield had a Happy Buck because the Boy Halley was late and was fined. TT Scout Breakfast was very good ~~ Lion Frank Kenny auctioned off a dozen eggs Meckler’s Happy Buck was for his bowling game for $5 to Lion Debra Stanley, who where he threw 8 strikes and 4 promptly said Lion Rob would pay spares for a total score that for them! Smooth move Lion game of 230! Impressive Lion Debra! The entire population of Table 2 was fined Frank! ~~ PDG Tom had a Happy for talking over other people. Lion Bill Dunlavy was Buck because while the club was having its meeting fined for having his picture in the paper. Lion Loren last week, he was catching his fish on our chartered Kaiser was fined for having had his picture in the trip in Lake Tahoe. He is also happy paper several weeks ago (yes, TT Kenny had held to say he has volunteered for the onto that article until he could use it against Lion Zone 1 Chair position (on a temporary Loren!) basis) until another can be found ~~ Lion Bill Dunlavy’s Happy Buck was HAPPY BUCKS because, although his wife had an Lion Kenny Ayers had a Happy Buck because his accident, she is doing well ~~ Pres. nephew finished well in the NASCAR race in Tim Atchley had a Happy Buck Sonoma last weekend ~~ Lion Mike Eachus’ Happy because Lion Joe Skaff is back and in good form ~~ Buck was because he found money in the road ~~ Lion Mike Eachus had a Happy Buck because he Lion Bob Bader had a Happy Buck because of a very was able to help a friend and transported him enjoyable trip to San Francisco where they cruised down to Modesto ~~ Lion Chris Link had a Happy the bay with friends ~~ Lion Paul was very happy rd Buck because his sister-in-law had a liver transplant because his son just celebrated his 3 birthday!! ~~ after waiting 8 years and was doing well and back Lion Chris Halley had a Happy Buck because her to work already ~~ John Bristow had a Happy Buck brother was coming up for a visit and the eyeglass because his wife’s flowers earned many prestigious collection is going very well ~~ Lion Debra Stanley awards, including Best in Show ~~ Lion Doug had a Happy Buck because Lion Sherry Pert-Burns Fleming had a Happy Buck for not being fined even was bitten by a rattlesnake but is now doing very though he arrived late ~~ Lion Paul Berg had a well. ~~ Lion Jerri Critchfield Happy Buck because he was going to go to a also had a Happy Buck convention in North Carolina for his business, and because Lion Sherry was doing was very excited to go back to visit his home state well post-snake bite. PDG ~~ Lion Dennis Schroeder had a Happy Tom asked if the snake died and was promptly Buck because his hen finally laid her fined for it! Bad Boy! ~~ Lion Ray Bailey had a first egg ~~ Lion Rob Stanley had a Happy Buck because he would be out of town until Happy Buck because he and Lion Debra September, so he was paying in advance for all the were so happy to have been able to be a part of fines he would miss during that time ~~ Lion Bill the Sonora Lions Club, and said we were a bunch of Dunlavy paid his Happy Buck because the Giants very fine people who did great work ~~ Lion Rayma won! Go Giants! ~~ Lion Paul Berg had a Happy Garcia had a Happy Buck because she was just back Buck because the Sacramento Kings got 2 new from a great vacation where she traveled 4500 great players ~~ Lion Bob Presson had a very miles, the weather was wonderful and the people Thankful Buck for all the help his son had given him and places they visited were awesome ~~ Lion in fixing up a rental house they have ~~ PDG Tom Judy Meeks had a Happy Buck because she went on September. We are still hoping to get more that same awesome vacation volunteers to help out. There is still time to get and also wanted to thank Lion your application in. If you need an application Bob Bader for filling in for her and/or a description of the various positions, while she was gone. please let me know and I can get one to you. RAFFLES • H.E.L.P. – The H.E.L.P. program chair reported $1885 contributions and in kind, 23-1/2 hours of The cash raffles this month went to (Lions all): time and continues to do well. The concept that Leonard Ruoff, Chris Halley, Rob Stanley, Dennis this is a “lending program” and is not intended for Heppner, Bob Bader, Joanne Presson, Joanne clients to use long-term was discussed. It was Presson (again!), Cecil Steen, Tim suggested that we put a 2-month limit on its use by Atchley, Dan Ward (our soon to be any one client. They are doing well at getting in new member, who donated all his some much-needed items back into their winnings to the Cross Country Track inventory. Team!) and Lynda LaFlamme. The winners for the Critter award were: Debra Stanley, • Jamestown Concert in the Park Series – The July th Bob Presson, Lynda LaFlamme, and PDG Tom. The 18 concert had to be canceled due to unforeseen Black Ball Draw winners this month were: Frank circumstances. The August concert in the park also Meckler, Bob Presson, Lynda LaFlamme, Cecil is canceled because of the Steen, and Joe Skaff. All pulled the wicked white District Meeting and the majority ball. The pot stands at $225 and continues to of our help will be attending it. grow. Sign-up sheets will be going around for help on the 2 COMMITTEE REPORTS remaining concerts in September. The first is on Labor • Lobster Dinner Fundraiser - The tickets will be Day weekend, Saturday, th passed out to the members at our August 5th September 5 and the second th meeting. Posters will also be available for will be on Saturday, September 19 . We need full distribution by then. The dinner will be Friday, crews for these two events as no one has signed up October 2nd at the Elks Lodge in Sonora, 5:30-7:30 for these yet. pm. Signup sheets for volunteers will start to go • Spot Vision Training: The class for the Spot Vision around shortly. training has filled up, so if you weren’t able to sign • Omelet Breakfast Fundraiser – Lion Frank up for that, you will have to wait for the next Meckler had special thanks for a couple of non-Lion course offered. No date has been officially set as members who worked tirelessly for this event: of yet. I am hoping to get PDG Kent Christensen up Brian Murphy (Lion Mark Murphy’s son and Lion here to do a presentation for the whole club to Ray Bailey’s grandson) and Shari Fleming, Lion participate in. Doug Fleming’s wife. Lion Frank reported that • Membership Committee - Chairperson Lion Jerri sales were down this year, but that might be Critchfield is encouraging each member to bring in because of the lack of advertising. We had 19 at least 1 new member this year. Already we have members participating and 136 breakfasts sold. It a potential for 5 new members coming into our was suggested that since this event is now on a club. Way to Go ! Saturday, that we can limit the hours of the event, perhaps from 7:30 am and closing at 10 am, since • Camp Pacifica Day - We are scheduled to cook we do not have to wait for the church crowds. lunch and dinner for the campers and staff on • Library Help – Lion Wendy Dart has corresponded Thursday, August 6th. This is a very fun event that with Anita Simpson at the Library and an does not require selling tickets. Just show up, cook orientation will be scheduled around mid- and serve to some wonderful children and have a great day! Tours of the camp will be available for groups and t-shirts will be provided to runners. all to see the improvements that have been made Ribbons will be given to all who finish the 1 mile and are being made. We run. There will be a special prize to the overall top have arranged for car- Male and Female finisher in the 5K, and a special pooling to get up there. prize for overall top Male and Female finisher High Meet us in the Pine Tree School Cross Country athletes (5K). Lion Jim Restaurant parking lot Gormely sent out a very special Thank You to Lion around 8:30 am on Doug Fleming who generously donated $1500 to Thursday. We will be serving hot dogs, macaroni this fundraiser. salad/potato salad and chips for lunch, and ordering pizza and salad for dinner. Please plan on • Save Mart Shares Program – Lion Frank Meckler spending the whole day. It’s a long day, but so very reported that the Save Mart Shares Program is still rewarding. in effect; they only dropped the gasoline discount portion of the program. For those of you who • Modesto Night at the Nuts Game – We will have discarded your card, Lion Frank Meckler has more tickets available for those interested in attending; cards available now. Please feel free to give these the price is $12 per person. A to your friends and family members who shop at very good BBQ will precede those stores. You don’t have to be a Lions member the game at 5 pm in the park to use them. adjacent to the Modesto Nuts Ball park. Game starts at 7 pm • Club Calendar Fundraiser – Lion Wendy Dart is with a fireworks show at the requesting help with gathering coupons or conclusion of the game. The game is set for vouchers from local merchants that we can include Saturday, August 22nd. in our calendar. Ideally, we will have 12 different coupons that would be good for the year. They will • Meals on Wheels – Lion Frank Meckler has be printed on a separate sheet and placed in the invited anyone who wants to learn what this is all center of the calendar for easy access and removal. about to join him for a ride-along. They still could That way our customers would not have to cut up use drivers for the various routes too. Meals On their beautiful calendar. I have merchant request Wheels is also starting a new project in the letters available with our tax ID info on them. The Tuolumne City area, so perhaps you could sign up first page would go to the merchant, and the short for your own route in that town? Lion Frank second page should be filled out and returned to reported that the club logged 40 hours last month Lion Judy Meeks for our records. As for pictures, I and served 190 meals. would especially like a couple pictures that showcase Sonora (or the surrounding area) in the • Sonora Lions Glenn Bass Cross Country Run - The wintertime with lots of snow. Does anyone have a th 4 Annual Sonora Lions Glenn Bass Cross Country picture of the Red Church in winter? If so, please race is this Saturday, August 1st. The name of this send them to Lion Wendy Dart at event has been changed to honor Coach Glenn [email protected]. Digital pictures Bass, who has served as coach to the track team for usually turn out better, but I can accept printed the last 18 years. The race will be at Columbia copies too. Please include a description of the College Carkeet Park. Registration will open at 7 people or places featured in the pictures, and a am, with the 1 mile race to start at 8 am and the 5K date if applicable. One last thing now: What run to start at 8:30 am. Water and refreshments would you all like to see on the front cover of our will be provided at the end of the race to all calendar? I’m thinking maybe a group picture of runners. There will be awards (3 deep) in all age our club? What are your thoughts? Thank you in to California, Tom had to remain behind to handle advance. his many different businesses and responsibilities. He owned and ran a few trucking companies, while • Quilt Raffle – The Quilt raffle is officially over and managing the warehouse for Jiffy Baking Mix the lucky winner is Kathy Atchley, wife of Pres. Tim company. This is where he retired from for the Atchley. We collected over $300 for this beautiful first time, only to turn around and create another quilt to help with our administrative fund. Thank trucking company (or 2). Eventually he made his you so much for all your help. way out to Las Vegas, living with his daughter and her family. Then one fateful Thanksgiving evening, he received an instant message on Facebook from someone, asking him if he was the “Tom” who worked with Wendy and Joy 35 years ago? He recognized the name, and answered “Yup.” Tom and Wendy were reunited after all that time and now live very happily in Jamestown and are extremely happy they found a home with the Sonora Lions Club. Tom is a 25-year Lion with perfect attendance, having held almost every position except Secretary, including Zone Chair x2, Region Chair x2, and District Governor 2003/04. Along the way he received many commendations and awards before transferring to Sonora.

• New Possible Fundraiser: The fundraiser proposed by Lion Frank Meckler in conjunction with our annual Lobster and Cioppino dinners is in the final stages of launching. A (hopefully) final draft of the letter has been created and just needs BOD approval to send on its way. Lion Wendy Dart will arrange to have it distributed throughout our district and a few other districts close by, like the Bay area and Sacramento area.

GETTING TO KNOW YOU MOMENT - SECRETARY’S MONTHLY REPORT, JULY 2015 To start this off, Pres. Tim Atchley chose PDG Tom Submitted by Lion Secretary Bob Bader Penhallegon to tell the club about himself (in 3 minutes or less! And that was a challenge if you know PDG Tom!) PDG Tom was born in Detroit, Michigan at a very young age. At the age of 8, his family moved to Chelsea, Michigan where he lived se and grew up. After graduating from Chelsea High • Total Membership from Last Report – 50 School, he joined the Navy and served during the • New Members – 0 Vietnam Era. Upon discharge from the Navy, he went into trucking and distribution. During the • Dropped Members – 2 course of one of his jobs, he met Lion Wendy who • Transferred Members – 2 also worked for that company, and they dated for a • Total Members at Close – 50 couple years. However, when she decided to move • Service Hours – 200 / YTD – 200 • Number of People Served – 284 / YTD – 284 orientation session w/ the Librarian for the volunteers. • Number of Lions – 37 / YTD – 37 C. Rocca Park Refreshment Stand - Dates are set • Number of Eyeglasses Collected – 0 / YTD – 0 for July and September. PDG Tom will send signup sheet around. He needs at least 5-7 • Twinning Relationships – 0 / YTD – 0 people to help set up and breakdown. He • Funds Raised - $4,160 / YTD - $4,160 reports a current profit $95.00. D. Omelet Breakfast - Lion Meckler reported we • Funds Donated - $2,430/ YTD - $2,430 served 136 omelets, about 50 less than last • Total Activities – 9/ YTD – 9 year. Leftover food was donated to the Senior Center. He recommends we shut down around BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING MINUTES, JULY 11:30 next year. Good support from the 13, 2015, Submitted by Sec. Bob Bader membership, but we need to do a better job on publicity. E. Pride Stride - Lion Gormely submitted a written report. He said things are going well, sponsor donation requests have been mailed. Good publicity so far. He suggested we consider changing the name of the event to include honoring Coach Glenn Bass. There was general SONORA LIONS CLUB of Sonora, California held consensus from the BOD to do this. its regular Board Meeting at the President Atchley’s on __July Communications: None 6, 2015______. The meeting was called to order by Report of Secretary: __President Atchley______at___5:50_____ pm. A. Sec Bob noted that Treasurer Meeks will be The following Board Members were in attendance: gone the month of July and he will be gone the Atchley (P), Dart (1VP), Skaff (2 VP), Bader (S), Meeks (T), last 2 weeks in Aug and all of Sept. Sec Bob will Critchfield (M), Ayers(TT), Meckler (LT), Gottschall (1D), cover the Treasurer in July, but may need Penhallegon (2D) someone to substitute for him. B. 2015-16 Dues have been coming in. There are Others present: None currently 12 members who haven’t paid, ************************************************** however he expects all will pay their dues. ************************************************** Unfinished Business: Minutes of the Business Meeting A. Lions Calendar - Lion Dart needs more pictures. Minutes of June 10, 2015: Approved (Penhallegon/Meckler) She would like membership to solicit “discount” cards from merchants to be included in the Financial Report: calendar. A proposed publication date of A. Accepted as presented. June 30 balances: September or October is planned. Admin $1,997.02, Project $10,680.83. Copies B. Potential New Project - A motion attached. (Meeks/Critchfiled) to approve Project Proposal B. 2015-16 Budget - Treasurer Judy recommended was passed. Lion Meckler handed out a revised we increase the Project Budget Income by $500 “Invitation” to come to the Lobster Dinner and to reflect anticipated income from Save Mart visit the area. It was agreed to send this out to Shares program. A motion (Penhallegon/Dart) MD4-A1, C3 & C5 Lions Clubs. Lion Dart will for the increase was passed. work with Lion Frank on this. Presentation of Bills: C. Rhodes/Romo Scholarship - A motion A. Payment of $26.00 to Lion Meckler for candy (Meckler/Gottschall) was passed to increase the was approved. Scholarship Budget by $600 for 2 new $300 Committee Reports: scholarships at Columbia College in the name of Lions Rhodes and Romo. President Atchley A. Membership - Lion White’s request of appointed Lion Skaff as Chair of the Scholarship resignation, “Member in Good Standing,” from Committee. He will contact Columbia College the Club was accepted. The Board approved a and initiate action to accomplish this in time to motion (Gottschall/Meeks) to grant MAL status be awarded next April. to Lions Coffill, Hardy, Leslie, Maddox, Melville, D. Replacement for Lion Steen - Lion Ayers asked Murphy, Ratzlaff, D. Stanley, and R. Stanley. what was involved. Lion PDG Tom will take him B. Literacy Program - Lion Dart has 3 volunteer over to the locker to show him the set up. applications so far. Additional members can be added at any time. She will arrange an E. Peace Poster Contest Chair - Lion Halley will be LION TRIVIA CORNER – Lions enjoy relaxing and asked to chair this project again this year. (She lazing around. They spend between 16-20 hours accepted). each day resting and sleeping. They have few New Business: sweat glands so they wisely tend to conserve their A. Club Calendar - Deferred to sub-committee of Lions Atchley, Dart and Bader. energy by resting during the day and become more B. Mother Lode Food Project - The BOD agreed to active at night, when it is cooler. accept this as a Club Project. C. Lobster Dinner Chair - Lion Skaff will Chair the event. Lions Atchley and Dart will co-chair. Calendar of Events: A. Jul 15 - DG Visit, Jul 18 - Rocca Park, Aug 1 - Pride Stride, Aug 6 - Camp Pacifica, Aug 14/15 - Dist Mtg. Remarks by the President: President Tim will introduce a “getting to know you” program at Club meetings. Adjournment: There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 7:15pm. ______WEEKLY PROGRAMS DISTRICT, MULTIDISTRICT & INTERNATIONAL • The guest speakers for July 1st were Sue Mundy CALENDAR OF EVENTS and Ellen Beck from the Mother Lode Food Project. August 6-9 – COG, Riverside Their goal is to provide food to the food banks August 14-15 – Stanislaus District Meeting, year-round. There is a new term called “food Ceres/Turlock insecurity,” which 1 in 7 persons experience. They September 17-19 – USA/Canada Forum, Grand feel they are not getting enough food and feel Rapids, Michigan hungry. One out of every 4 children experience SONORA LIONS CALENDAR OF EVENTS this. The predominate numbers are with seniors, August 1 – 4th Annual Sonora Lions Pride Stride veterans, and children. Also included in this group Cross Country Run, Columbia Carkeet Park could be people August 5 – DG Ron Raines visitation on disability who August 6 – Day at Camp Pacifica, cooking lunch and are not eligible dinner for the campers and counselors/staff for food stamps. August 14-15 – District Meeting, Stanislaus, The Green Bag Ceres/Turlock project’s goal is August 15 – Jamestown Concert in the Park Series. to fill up these (Cancelled) bags with October 2 – Lobster Dinner Fundraiser, Elks Lodge, nutritious food. They distribute the donations on Sonora, CA the 2nd Saturday of every even-numbered month. November 20-21 - Mountain Region District They ask for no junk food or soda pop. The bags Meeting, Tuolumne County Senior Center, 540 you fill could be brought directly to A-TCAA Food Greenley Rd, Sonora, CA (please note changed date) Bank, any Umpqua Bank or the Community Thrift December 12 - Pancake Breakfast Fundraiser @ Store on Stockton Street. You can also get Applebee’s replacement bags at these locations. In addition to non-perishable food, they also accept toiletries such as soap, shampoo, toothpaste, toothbrushes, etc. Pet food is also welcome! Peanut butter is a good donation along with canned goods. Lee Kimble, at the A-TCAA Food Bank is setting up small pantries where folks can actually choose which food items they want. For more information, run 3 mornings a week as a group, and are please go to www.motherlodefoodproject.com. encouraged to run 3 mornings on their own each week. This run occurs at 6 am on those days. Upon joining the team, each participant receives a Runner’s Handbook, a 38-page contract, so to speak. Each member is considered first a student and the cross country team will only be a sport. They are to keep up their grades and have contracts with their teachers too. They receive a Spirit Pack which includes a shirt, shorts and a bag. Their uniforms really stand out with their green and yellow colors. They participate in many local Ellen Beck and Sue Mundy from Mother Lode Food Project and distant events, including one at Stanford. They • Since July 8th was our business meeting, no guest also participate in the world’s largest cross country speaker was scheduled for this day. run in San Antonio, which takes 4 days to complete. Many of their past runners are very • Speaking to our club on July 15th was Duke York, successful young adults now. At the end of the Dept. County Engineer, who talked about potential Cross Country run year, each member of the team road improvements connected to the Rim Fire gets a year book. If their team wins the grant money the County is applying for. No picture championship, they get a special Gold sweatshirt. was provided of our speaker. Otherwise, they get a green sweatshirt at the • Our guest speaker for July 22nd was Coach Glenn conclusion of the running season. Bass of the Sonora High School Cross Country th • For the July 29 meeting, our guest speaker was Team. Coach Bass has been involved with coaching Russell Carpenter from Vets Helping Vets. Mr. since 1979. He reported that this year’s girls cross Carpenter is a disabled Vet from the Vietnam era, country team is the best they have had in history. having complications from being exposed to Agent However, the school district considers the cross Orange causing various cancers and suffering from country teams as “minor” sports and thus have less PTSD. The Vets Helping Vets Thrift Shop has been coverage. Participants in the cross country team open for about a year

now and they have been blessed with more donations than they could have ever hoped for. A Vet Center is currently being constructed at the same site where the Thrift Shop is located. They will be offering a place that local Veterans can call their own and be surrounded by fellow Vets. It will include a big screen TV, coffee as well as tables for Coach Glenn Bass, SHS Cross Country Track Team meetings or conferences. The thrift shop is run totally by volunteers. All a veteran has to do is show a valid ID and they will be helped. Vets Helping Vets is a 501C3 nonprofit organization and replacement of the panels that needed routing and decorative cutting at home in his shop then transported them back to be installed. If there is a project that needs help, Lion Cecil is there showing the true spirit of a Lion…“WE SERVE.”

Russell Carpenter from Vets Helping Vets got its start in Arizona. If you have any items to donate, they will take them. If you cannot bring them to the shop, they can pick it up from you. RIM FIRE T-SHIRTS Lion Kenny Ayers had brought in several storage Don’t forget the special offer for a Lions Rim Fire T- bins to possibly be auctioned to the membership, shirt, documenting our efforts during the Rim Fire but instead, these bins were donated to the Thrift Disaster in Aug/Sept of 2013. For an order form, Shop. For more information on this project, please please email Lion Wendy Dart at go to www.sonoravetshelpingvets.org. They can [email protected]. The cost will be $17 also be contacted via email at (plus shipping if needed) if I get 35 or more orders. [email protected].

KUDOS KORNER Our featured Lion this month is Lion Cecil Steen, our behind-the-scenes man of many talents. He joined the Sonora Lions in March of 1998 and has had 100% attendance since then. He has held the leadership position of Director four different terms and held the office of 2nd Vice President in 2004/05. He received the President’s Recognition Award in 2009/10 and the prestigious Lion of the Year Award for the year of 2013/14. Lion Cecil likes to stay in the background and not in the spotlight. He has held the Procurement Chair for a number of years and has kept our inventory at the storage locker up-to-date for every project. He sees that broken items are fixed or replaced. He has built a system of racks that are item-specific and everything has a place and is in it. The items NEXT BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING will be used and average usage, are noted on a computer Wednesday, August 12, 2015 at the Pine Tree program and items used are replaced back to Restaurant, Sonora, CA at 10 am. specific levels for the next event. We would like to send out a huge Thank You to His talents as a finish cabinet maker are continually Lion Tim Atchley and his wife Kathy for the use of being called on, not only in our storage locker, but their home for our first BOD meeting last month most recently used in the Jamestown Gazebo and the very tasty dinner they provided. restoration project. He did most of the intricate

AUGUST GUEST SPEAKERS AUGUST 5 - DG Ron Raines visitation with Cabinet members AUGUST 12 – Business meeting, no speaker That’s all for now folks...Meow! AUGUST 19 - Jeff Redoutey, CEO of Blue Mountain Lion Wendy Dart Minerals AUGUST 26 - TBA

President: Timothy Atchley Email: [email protected] We would like to say a final goodbye to our special Secretary: Bob Bader friends, Lions Rob and Debra Stanley. You have Email: [email protected] been great members during your too short time Membership Chair: Jerri Critchfield with us and we wish you nothing but the best in (H): 209-532-7828 your future travels. Please keep in touch with us. Bulletin Editor & Webmaster: Wendy Dart Bon Voyage dear friends. Email: [email protected] Sonora Lions Club P.O. Box 101, Standard, CA 95373 Pine Tree Restaurant, Wednesdays at 12 noon District MD 4-A1, Mountain Region, Zone 3 www.SonoraLions.org Sonora Lions, Serving the Mother Lode Since 1922 Liberty, Intelligence, Our Nation’s Safety