Lorain Lions Faithfully Serve Second Harvest

If it's the last Tuesday of the month, you will find the Lorain Lions at Second Harvest Food Bank.  Above, left to right, are:  Lions Ken Cromer, Glenn Owen, Barry Buck, Ken Kayle and Walt Frey, who sorted, repaired and packed two pallets of boxes of food on Tuesday, August 28.  Thanks, Lions, for your service!

Oberlin College's Shansi Organization Explained to Lions

Carl Jacobson (above left), executive director of the Shansi Organization at Oberlin College, was invited by Lion Gary Koepp (above right) to speak to the Lorain Lions at the August 23 luncheon meeting.  Mr. Jacobson presented a very informative history of the organization that dates back to 1881 and its role in promoting cross cultural understanding between China and Asia and the United States.  This program provided a very uplifting insight into the powerful influence that a relatively small program can have on the lives of individuals and institutions.  Thank you Lion Gary for arranging this great program!

Lions Night at the Lake Erie Crushers Baseball Game

Lions from around District 13B enjoy the Zone 4 Social at the Lake Erie Crushers game on August 16.  We were able to sell tickets for the Harley in front of the stadium and we were able to sell 50/50 raffle tickets inside the stadium.  Thanks to Past Zone 4 Chair Lion Carol Shaffer for organizing and coordinating the event that raised about $1,900 for the Vision Clinic.  Also, many thanks to the Lorain Lions, who purchased 145 tickets, and to District 13B Lions, who purchased another 231!

 Elyria Lion Kyle Lowery and Lion Walt Frey helped set up the Lions information table on the main deck of the stadium.

Lion Dan Smith with our roaring Lion mascot and Lion Doc Smith taking a breather from a busy night of hawking 50/50 tickets.  An awesome sales team of six or seven Lions spread out through the stadium selling over $1400 worth of tickets for the 50/50.  Other members of the sales team were Lion Walt Frey, Elyria Lions Kyle Lowery and Brent Parker and Lion Velda Reynolds' grandson Daniel.  Thanks for your outstanding job!

 Here's the Lorain Lions section with a great view of the action behind third base.

 Immediate Past District Governor Lion Dick Temple discusses proper technique for throwing out the first pitch with the Crushers catcher prior to the game.

 Lion Jack Clark and wife Kathleen enjoying the game with guests.

 Helen Woodward, widow of 50+ year Lorain Lion and Past President Bob Woodward, shows her Lion spirit with a Lions cap while watching the game.  Helen is a great supporter of Lions and the Vision Clinic.  Thanks for all you do for Lions, Helen!

 Lion Bruce Meadows (above front right) and wife Jane had a great time, along with Lion Ed Baker (behind Lion Bruce) and wife Celeste (left) and daughter.

ABOVE: Lion Walt Frey (left) with Lion Tom Bruno and wife Annette.  It was a beautiful night to relax, visit and watch some good old fashioned baseball.

 Lion Dan Smith readies the tumbler for the drawing.

 ABOVE:  Lion Brent Parker (foreground) and Lion Ken Cromer, count the buckets (literally!) of 50/50 money.

 And Lion Velda's grandson Daniel draws the winning ticket.

 Avon Lake resident Michael Kachala happily receives his 50/50 payoff from Lion Ken Cromer during the seventh inning.  All in all, it was a great night!

Lions Promote Harley Raffle and Vision Clinic at Corn Festival

 Lions Ken Kayle and Dan Smith sell tickets at our booth on the midway.

 It was great to have North Ridgeville Lion Bob Franks and wife Nancy helping on Saturday afternoon.  Lions Ken Kayle and Joe Ksenich completed the sales team.

We didn't have to twist Lion Bob Franks' arm very hard to try out the Fat Boy!

Lions Enjoy Annual Picnic

 ABOVE:  Lions Bruce McCartney (left) and Bob Kayle enjoy the lake view at Saturday's picnic.

 ABOVE:  Lion Gary Koepp (standing) joins Lion Marshall Dimacchia (sitting left) and Past District Governor Dick Temple at the greeters table.

PDG Dick Temple and Lion Bob Kayle try their hand at Corn Hole.

ABOVE, Left to right: Lion Ken Kayle's friend Debbie, Jane Norton, Lion Ben Norton, Lynn Krucinski and Lion Doug Krucinski enjoy a relaxing conversaton at the end of a beautiful day.  We greatly appreciate the generosity of Lion Ben and wife Jane in sharing their lake front home with us for the picnic.  Many thanks to Lion Ken Kayle and Lion President Doug for their hard work and great planning to make this a fun event!

Lorain County Metroparks Leadership Addresses Lions

ABOVE: Jim Ziemnik (on the right), Executive Director of Lorain County Metroparks, and his assistant, Jennifer Bracken (left), presented a very informative report on the county park system, focusing especially on the new recreation center in Amherst that is currently under construction.  Jennifer explained how the concept of the "inclusive" play area was developed with the input of parents of special needs kids.  When completed early next year, the new facility will be a unique state-of-the-art recreation center that will serve everyone.  Another special feature of the facility is the role of Mercy Regional Medical Center which will be providing recreation therapy services--and has naming rights for the facility because of their significant contribution to bringing this project to fruition.

Lions Harley Raffle at LaGrange Lions Festival

ABOVE:  Past District Governor Dick Temple (left) and Lion Ed Baker selling tickets at the LaGrange Lions Festival on July 28.  Thanks to the Lorain Harbor Lions for lending us the great canopy tent and thanks to Zone 4 Chair Lion Brent Parker for setting it up for us!  If you haven't signed up yet to help at this weekend's North Ridgeville Corn Festival, call Lion Ed Baker at 233-7006 to work in your couple of hours of service.

Ohio Sea Grant Clean Marinas Coordinator Addresses Lions

 Sarah Orlando, Clean Marinas Coordinator with Ohio Sea Grant Extension, spoke to the Lorain Lions at the Thursday, August 2 dinner meeting.  Sarah's extensive knowledge of the problems facing Lake Erie and her passion for the work of preserving the Great Lakes was very evident. 

32 Lions and guests learned about the six major problems affecting Lake Erie, about the Ohio Sea Grant College Program that has a laboratory facility on Gibraltar Island just off Put-In-Bay for research and study and about the Clean Marinas Program.  This excellent presentation invited all to learn more about how we can help preserve our state's greatest resource. For more information, visit www.ohiocleanmarina.osu.edu .  Thanks to Lion Dan Smith for arranging this outstanding program!