Guest Speakers from Washington and Australia

ABOVE:  Lion Steve Hall (left) from Inglewood, Queensland, Australia and Gail Wilkison (right) from Bridgeport, Washington both spoke to Lorain Lions at our Thursday, June 28 noon meeting.  Lion Steve talked about Lions in Australia (he's an 8 year member--and was made secretary at his induction!) and Gail spoke about her project traveling the country this summer exchanging old American flags for brand new ones.  She gives the old ones to Boy Scout troops to learn the flag retirment ceremony.  The project carries out the dream of her husband, a Vietnam veteran, who was killed in a car accident in 2010.  For more information about "Annie Amerika" as she was nicknamed, visit her blog:  annieamerika2012.blogspot.com.

Lions Booth on Sunday at the Lorain International Festival

 What is it about a Harley Davidson motorcycle that makes people from kids...

 to trombone players like Sam Shepherd of the Ohio State School for the Blind (congratulations on your graduation Sam!) . . .

 to band Directors like Dan Kelley of the OSSB Marching Panthers. . .

 and Band Director Aides like Carolyn . . .

 or Mexican princesses like Breonna Stanley . . .

 who came back as an Aztec princess for another chance to sit on the bike . . .

 what kind of love affair do people have for these vehicles?

 It's amazing . . .

 they just keep coming . . .

so 2012 International Festival Queen Taylor Cawthon and Lorain Lions just say, "Buy a Lions Harley Raffle ticket!"

Lorain Lions Celebrate 90 Years of Service at International Parade

 The Ohio State School for The Blind Marching Panthers formed and ready to go at the starting point of the 2012 Lorain International Parade.  They are the only blind marching band in the U.S. and possibly the world!  We thank them for their participation with us to celebrate 90 years of Lorain Lions and Lionism!

 Lions gathering at the starting point.  We were the ninth unit in a very large parade.  What beautiful weather we had!

 Honorary Grand Marshall, Paul Kiska, Lorain Catholic H.S. grad and TV 5 news reporter, with wife Angela and daughter Olivia, represented the Lorain Lions.  Thanks Paul!

 Lion Marshall Dimacchia is ready to go!

 Finally, we got Lion Velda Reynold's picture--our official photographer who is never visible!

 The banner holders for Ohio State School for the Blind at attention and ready to go.

 Thanks to the Lorain Fire Department crew for getting the great overhead picture of the OSSB Marching Band!

 Ohio Lions District 13B Governor Dick Temple has the official hand wave down pat!

 The Ohio State School for the Blind Marching Panthers drew applause and cheers all through the parade route.  Pretty impressive to see and hear a band that's performed at the Tournament of Roses Parade!  This was truly an inspiring event for the people of Lorain as well as for Lions--no handicap can keep you from achieving a dream! 

 Lion Gary Koepp accompanies the Lions 90th Anniversary Float down Broadway.

 The Ohio State School for the Blind Marching Panthers are recognized by Parade MC Don Nickerson for their many accomplishments in front of City Hall, the ending location of the parade.

 Over fifty Lions from the Lorain Lions Club, the Lorain Harbor Lions, the Elyria Lions Club and Firellands Lions Club marched to celebrate Lionism.

 Lions Jim Miadock, Paul Trimble and Bruce Bevan toss candy to the crowd--a very popular tradition!

Lion Mark Worden tosses candy to the crowd along side the Lions Float. 

 It was great to have the Lorain Harbor Lions marching with us to celebrate our 90 years of Lionism!

 What a great turnout of Lorain County Health & Dentistry staff and board!  We are proud to be partnering with LCH&D to open the Vision Clinic next year.  Thanks for the great work you do!

 ABOVE (left to right):  Float Committee members Lions Terry Todhunter, Velda Reynolds, Jack Clark, Norm Herschelman and Chairman Lion Bob Kayle (not shown is committee member Lion Pete Castillo).  Super job, Lions!

 That has to be the most realistic stuffed lion I've ever seen!

 Kids were in awe of this animal!  We need a name for him and display him at all Lorain Lion Events.

Thanks to Sue Kayle and her helpers Sue Lombardi, Rosa Cromer and others for making this after-parade lunch such a nice way to recuperate after a two mile walk.

VIDEOS: Lions, School for the Blind Band march in Lorain International Parade

Lorain Lions at Lorain International Festival and Bazaar

2012 Lorain International Festival Queen, Taylor Cawthon, tries out the Harley Davidson Fat Boy--and likes it!  The Lions Harley Raffle proceeds will go to equip the Vision Clinic at Lorain County Health and Dentistry with state-of-the-art diagnostic equipment

ABOVE:  Part of the Saturday afternoon shift at the Lorain Lions Club International Festival Booth. Left to right: Lions Frank Csubak, Dorothy McGuire, Kim Worden, Bruce Diso, Jean Lee and Rich Marcucci.

 ABOVE:  Lorain County Health & Dentistry staffed a table with our booth to promote the great services they provide.  ABOVE (left to right): LCH&D Board of Director member, CFO Lisa Hemker and President & CEO, Stephanie Wiersma along with staff member passing out literature.

LionLEFT:  Lion President Doug Kayle (standing) explains vision screening procedures to Lions Harold Lee (left), Jean Lee and Dorothy McGuire

ABOVE:  Lion Rich Marcucci works with the Welch Allyn Suresight vision screening device.

Lion Frank Csubak (left) tries to calibrate the Welch Allyn Suresight screening device with the assistance of Lion Kim Worden (right).  Unfortunately, there was too much light in the tent to get valid readings so we were not able to do the screenings as planned.

 ABOVE:  Our booth was in a strategic location between the food pavilions and the entertainment stage at a major sidewalk crossroad.

 ABOVE:  Lions Bruce Diso (left) and Dan Asensio (right) sell Harley raffle tickets at the booth.

Ohio School for the Blind Marching Panthers Join Lorain Lions for Parade

Lions International Parade Float Completed!

 The Lorain Lions will be as proud as that lion on top of our float this Sunday as we march in the Lorain International Parade. 

The Float Committee was chaired by Lion Bob Kayle with members Lions Jack Clark (official float architect), Pete Castillo, Norm Herschelman, Terry Todhunter and Velda Reynolds.  An on-time, on-target project.  Great job, Float Committee!  They say they had so much fun they want to do another one next year!:)

Lorain Lions Celebrate 90 Years at International Open House

ABOVE are some of the 22 Lions and 15 Princesses who enjoyed hosting the Lions International Open House Wednesday, June 20 at the Transportation Building at Black River Landing.  We thank all who attended and stopped by to visit with us and learn a little about the Lorain Lions and Lionism.

 ABOVE (left to right): Lions Rich Foil, Kim Worden and Dan Asensio watch some of the very interesting, informative, inspiring--and, yes, even entertaining!--videos about Lions Clubs and what they do around the world to help people, especially those with vision impairments.

ABOVE:  Dutch Princess Kaylee Van Horn with parents Lisa and Rob were with us to celebrate.  Kaylee is our Lions sponsored princess!

 ABOVE: Visitors and Princesses alike enjoyed browsing through our 90 years of scrapbook history.

 It was great to have the princesses at the Open House to celebrate!

 Allison Strouse, (ABOVE LEFT), reporter with The Morning Journal, Lion Dan Smith and Lion Doug Kayle.

ABOVE (left to right):  Lions Jean Lee, Kim Worden, Tom Bruno; Rob Van Horn (father of Dutch Princess Kaylee Van Horn); Lions Bill Evenchik and Harold Lee.

 Journal reporter Allison Strouse did a great job of interviewing Lions Doug Kayle and Ken Cromer to learn about all Lions do for the community.

ABOVE: One of our ongoing projects is to collect used eyeglasses that are sent to processing centers to distribute to people who need them around the world.

 ABOVE: Incoming President Doug Kayle talks with Native American Princess.

 ABOVE: Lion Dan Smith chats with Helen Woodward, wife of former 50+ year Lion Bob Woodward and Kathleen Clark, wife of Lion Jack Clark.

 Lions Jack Clark and Bill Evenchik.

ABOVE (left to right): Lions Dan Smith, Bob Kayle, Tom Bruno and Dave Burns admire pictures of the lion that will be sitting atop our beautiful float.

ABOVE (left to right):  Kathleen Clark, Helen Woodward and Jack Clark enjoy fond memories brought back in one of the older club scrapbooks.

ABOVE:  Lions Bob Kayle, Barry Buck and Dan Smith.  There's something magical about scrapbooks!

ABOVE: Notice how the Lions wanted to get in on this photo op.

ABOVE:  Lion Doug Kayle, who chairs the Lorain Lions International Festival Committee, jokes with Rona Proudfoot of the Elyria Chronicle Telegram.

BELOW: Former Lion and Lorain Lions Past President Rich Deptula stopped in to reminisce.  Here he's looking over the Vision Clinic Project Display.  Rich, an expert on circuses, led the Lorain Lions through the "Circus" era, when we sponsored a traveling circus every first week of September as a fundraiser.  It was a lot of fun, and Rich even joined the circus troupe as an accomplished clown!