September Newsletter
Our Club At Work
by John Regan
First, the "Food Distribution Day" set a couple new records. One hundred and forty nine families with 457 family members were served by this joint project. Besides the Spenard Lions, Int'l Air Crossroads, Benton Bay Lions and the VA DOM Vets pitched in to handle this unexpected rush. Eight thousand pounds of food was delivered and handed out plus virtually all the food in the pantry...leaving it bone dry! Lion John Lott estimates almost 13,000 pounds of food went out the door. The doors are normally closed at 1PM but due to the line of people waiting for food, distribution continued until almost 2PM.
A photoscreening project went on at the downtown Anchorage, Park Strip. Seventy five children were photoscreened in 3 and 1/2 hours at the municipality of Anchorage Healthy Kids Block party. This number doubled our first photoscreening effort in 1998.
Spenard Lions that participated and helped with the photoscreening were
: Lions’ Michael Curley, Mady Burnett, Kathleen Conley, Laura Mahler,
Kazuko Koike and John Regan. Savannah and Skippy kept the Lions in line
A special thanks goes to JESSICA SHULL, a student nurse associate at
UAA for helping and putting up with some Lions antics.
Fish Fry A Big Success
The 9th annual Fish Fry that was held on August 28th was blessed by good weather and excellent participation. In addition to "Salmon by Fred" the offerings included: halibut hot dogs, hamburgers, sausage, hush puppies, corn fritters and plenty of delicious salads, beans and desserts
A special thanks to all that attended and for the rest of you that missed being with us watch for a flyer on the 10th annual fish fry headed to your mail box in 2000!
Kodiak Hosts Mid-Winter Convention
The Mid-Winter Lions Convention will be held in Kodiak, Alaska, November 17-19th. If you would like further information on this up-coming event, please see your club president.
From The Editors Desk
This year will be the second year the newsletter from the Spenard LIONS Club "LIONS TALES" will be published. A goal for this year will be to have the newsletter out by the first week of each month.
The Spenard LIONS Club have several members that are blind. Those members that are blind have experienced many, many times attending a conference, convention, class, and/or a seminar where materials are handed out. Unfortunately, the materials frequently are not accessible to a blind person attended the meetings. It is promised that the materials will be mailed; this causes two major problems, one being that by the time the information is received it is frequently forgotten information or two it is never sent at all. The first year that the "LIONS TALES" began, it was decided that it would be available in formats for the blind and/or the visually impaired. The newsletter is now available in standard print, large print, cassette, computer disk, or Braille.
When the decision was made to make the newsletter available in accessible formats, it was decided that none of the formats (including print) would be available until ALL formats were available at the same time. This does not leave individuals who need an alternative format out in receiving the newsletter at the time. Starting this month, the newsletters will be mailed to all members.
If you would like an alternative format, please contact LION Mady Burnett at 248-9990. If there are any accommodations that you would like to suggest, please do not hesitate to contact LION Mady.
Fireweed/Clover Honey
11 cups of sugar
2 1/2 cups water
1 tsp. Powdered alum
25 purple clover heads
35 white clover heads
30 fireweed flowerettes
Boil sugar, alum and water together for 10 minutes. Add clover heads and fireweed flowerettes and simmer for 8 minutes. Cover and let set for 10 minutes. Strain through double cheesecloth and put into sterilized jars. No wax is necessary for sealing the jars.
Lions In The Community
The following Spenard Lion members have dedicated individual time in communities throughout the state.
Maxine Plett: In July, Maxine volunteered 14 hours of her time at the Humana Front Information Desk. She also attended a Lions picnic at Lion Bob and Millie’s cabin at Rocky Lake. During the month of August, Maxine volunteered an additional 18 hours at Human Hospital and 3 hours at the State Fair in Palmer. On July 27th, Maxine made a visitation to the Anchorage Senior Lions Club, Anchorage, Alaska.
Marilyn Foster: During the month of July, Marilyn volunteered her time to help with the Midnight Sun Challenge Wheelchair Race that begins in Fairbanks and ends in Anchorage. This is a ten day event and Marilyn drove a support motorhome and “crewed” for two of the racers.
Laura Mahler: On June 31st, Laura made an official visitation to the Ballyhoo Lions Club in Unalaska, Alaska.
Kathleen Conley: On July 6th, Kathleen made an official visitation to the Reno Plumb Lane Nevada Lions Club. July 7th, Kathleen made an official visitation to a dedication for the Salvation Army Camp at King’s Lake. Kathleen made an official visitation to the Reno, Nevada Lions Club on July 8th.
Michael Curley: July 6th, Michael made an official visitation to the Reno Plumb Lane Nevada Lions Club. On July 8th, Michael made an official visitation to the Reno, Nevada Lions Club.
Mady Burnett: In July and August, Mady volunteered 15 hours to assist an individual who was seeking medical assistance for necessary durable medical equipment. On August 14th, Mady volunteered 3 hours to help with photoscreening sessions at the Anchorage Park Strip. During August, Mady dedicated two hours of time dealing with the purchase of hand tools for the Alaska Center for The Blind. July 5-7th, she volunteered 2 hours to help an individual secure a talking glucometer. Mady made an official visitation to the Wasilla Lions Club for their 30th Anniversary Celebration.
Mark Your Calendars
September 1st: Small Business Meeting
September 8th: Vote no on the PFD
September 15th: Club Business meeting,
September 22nd: Denali Health Care
September 6th: Drawing for the Airplane at the Alaska State Fair at
7PM
September 9th: Convention 2000 meeting, 5:30PM at the clubhouse.
September 9th: Great Pumpkin Meeting, 7 PM at Gallo's, Old Seward
Hwy.
September 11th: Food Distribution Day.
September 25th: Pot Luck Social and eye glass sorting (4 PM)
Wednesdays at noon: Lunches at the clubhouse...come join us!
The Presidents Corner
As the leaves begin to fall, and the icy grip of winter descends upon us, the Fort Spenard Lions Club is gritting its teeth for another positive year of survival. Gone are the lush green days of summer, the endless romps on the mud flats, and the fishing trips that saw eager salmon jumping into boats expecting to see the latest movie release of "The Fly".
Holding down the Fort during these difficult times has put every Lion on edge. Survival has a price, and all of Spenard's finest have paid that price to maintain their sparse Spenard wilderness home. Lion Doc was bold in his leadership to keep the Fort grounds clear of brush and Lion Royce single-handedly cleaned up our Adopt-a-Road so that the supply wagons could still make their trip to the Fort. Lion Mady kept all of us informed and entertained with the Lion's Tale. Lion Charlotte has made the word diet extinct in Webster's Dictionary with her gourmet lunches that are every Lion's dream. Lion John Harris became our star sales rep when he returned repeatedly to sell our Connestoga Wagon at the State Fair which we had disguised as an airplane. Lion Joanne has worked hours upon hours on Convention 2000, and her efforts will become legend in the annals of Lion hoe downs. Yes, the Spenard Lions have a lot to be proud of.
Before signing off on this days journal entry, several other things come to mind. Lion John, the Ambassador to everyone, has kept the colors flying as he stood on the roof looking over the territory. Never mind that he was really chasing a squirrel who was threatening our winter food supply. Also, new Lion Cheryl dared to clean salmon for our annual fish fry, and Lions Skippy and Savannah fertilized the grounds while performing their official duties. Last, but not least prisoner Lion John Lotz has refused to become a Spenard Lion, but he does an outstanding job with the Food Bank. I also must note that two newly recruited Lions, Lionel and Al, have joined the ranks. Welcome to the rigors of Fort Spenard life.
Thank you to everyone for your devoted selflessness toward others and to the call of Lionism.
Lion President
Michael Curley