by King Lion Julie Thomas

Our 2013-2014 Sandy Spring Lions year is well underway and we have already been busy. We’ve had three Board meetings and two regular meetings with another meeting scheduled for September 23 — hope everyone will be there now that summer vacations are over.

We began the Lions year by getting in touch with Sherwood Elementary and determining what kind of help they might need as part of Past International President Madden’s Reading Action Program to improve Literacy throughout the world.

Sherwood’s initial request was school supplies to give to children in need. The Board approved funding and Lion Anne Bucher and I went to Staples in Gaithersburg where the store manager gave us generous discounts and sale prices, and we purchased everything on Sherwood’s “want” list (in quantities of 10 each). Lions Luana Beeson and Anne Bucher presented the majority of the items to Sherwood Elementary Vice Principal Michael Burd the week before school started. Both Mr Burd and councilor Jennifer Ficco came our August 26 dinner meeting for a formal presentation of the final supplies and picture taking.

August was a very busy month for the Club. On August 10, Lions Tim Conner and Alan Finkel led a group of Lions in the Adopt-A-Road project and filled bags of trash from debris along Ednor Road. Our annual Club picnic took place on August 11 at Lion Liz Brigham’s lovely Ashton home in the pines. Forty Lions and guests including District Governor Dee and PDG Paul Hawkins enjoyed burgers, sausages and hot dogs cooked by Lions Bill Lavely and John Howes as well as a delicious array of side dishes, salads and desserts brought by Club members to share.

On August 13, Lions Narcy Klag and Don Beeson led Sandy Spring Lions in conducting vision and hearing screening at the Montgomery County Fair. The next day, Lion Joe Connor led many of those same Lions and other Club members in selling and scooping over $10,000 worth of ice cream also at the Fair. Lions clubs who participated in sales during the Fair will receive a portion of the profits of the ice cream sales for the entire week.

Our annual trip raffle fund raiser (first prize a week in Hawaii and second prize a long weekend in the Caribbean) tickets were distributed by Lion Brother Pattie, sales began and the drawing will take place at the Sandy Spring/Olney Lions joint meeting on October 28. On August 22, 32 pints of blood were collected at the blood drive held at Ashton Methodist Church.

Board actions in July, August and September included approval of the Club budget for 2013-2014 and of both an attendance and health and welfare policy and review of the Membership committee plan. At the July meeting, the Board passed a motion to donate $2000.00 from Foundation to LCOF for a new 22-C vision and hearing screening truck and trailer. At the August Board meeting, a donation of $500 already budgeted funds to the Therapeutic Riding Center. Lion Harold Huggins will investigate the feasibility of assisting them, possibly along with some other Lions Clubs, in the construction of an additional ADA emergency exit. Lion Halsey Smith was appointed chair of a special committee to investigate the possibility of re-establishing an award for outstanding community service for a non-Lion. Both Lions Greg Fuller and Bill Thomas volunteered to work with Lion Halsey.

On August 17, Lions Anne Bucher, Bill Lavely, Raye Litten and PDG Don Beeson represented the Club at the first district 22-C advisory/cabinet meeting. Lion Greg Fuller represented the Sandy Spring Lions at the 22-C Awards luncheon. The following awards were presented to Sandy Spring Lions: 100 percent secretary, Narcy Klag and an acclimation for service to District 22-C was given to Lion Bill Thomas. Lion Julie also received a 100% club participation award for District 22-C in the mail from Leader Dogs.

* an abridged version of these comments appeared in the September Newsletter