A Monthly Publication of the Grafton Lions Club
Lions’ Gazette 2017-2018 Issue 05 November
2017
Grafton Lions Club P.O. Box 0211 Grafton, WI 53024 www.graftonlions.com John Gassert – President 262 375-1395 [email protected]
Collin Schaefer – Secretary 414 801-1542 [email protected] John Gassert – Treasurer 262 375-1395 [email protected] Dan DeLorit - Membership 414 236-1361 [email protected] Bob Hoffman – Newsletter 262-377-9325 [email protected] Lions International www.lionsclubs.org Wisconsin Lions www.wisconsinlions.org District 27-A2 www.lionsdistrict27a2.org WI Lions Foundation www.wlf.info
Prez Sez
November is a month of thanksgiving as well as the holiday of
Thanksgiving. Ralph Marston said “Make it a habit to tell people thank
you. To express your appreciation, sincerely and without the expectation of
anything in return. Truly appreciate those around you, and you'll soon find
many others around you. Truly appreciate life, and you'll find that you have
more of it.”
I challenge all of you to think about what we should be thankful for and
give thanks to those around you. Thank you for allowing me to be a
member of a group of individuals who are willing to help others and live up
to the Lions moto “We Serve.” Thank you all for your friendship and
kindness. I have made many new friends thanks to all of you. Thank you
everyone who helped this past month in our many service projects, the
Vision Screening, the food drive for Family Sharing, and other projects.
Please give your thanks to the chairs and co-chairs of those great projects. I
know that I will.
Oh, by the way, did you know that November is Diabetes Awareness
Month? So why is this important to the Lions? Well, as Helen Keller’s
Knights of the Blind, we should know and learn more because the leading
cause of blindness in the United States is diabetic retinopathy. As I learned
from WebMD, an actually reliable internet source, diabetic retinopathy
affects the vision of more than half of the 18 million people diagnosed with
diabetes age 18 or older. Think about that. That means that about two in
every one-hundred in the US are at risk of becoming blind as a result of
diabetes. Diabetes and blindness are two of the five major service areas of
the Lions Club International. So, I am challenging all of you to think of
ways we can address this dreaded affliction. How about the Diabetes
Awareness program that we sponsor in the spring? John Krueger has done a
wonderful job in getting the program started. Let’s help John and make it a
great program and help as many people avoid the terrible effects of diabetes
with early detection and referral.
Thank you for being a Lion and happy Thanksgiving,
Lion John Gassert
Your 2017-2018 Club President
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Meetings
October 3rd Membership Meeting
During the meeting, several committees met, as part of the first “Committee Night” of the year.
October 17th Membership Meeting
First Vice-President and Membership Chair Dan DeLorit gave a presentation highlighting the
activities of many of the fund raising and service committees of the Grafton Lions.
October 3rd Board of Directors Meeting
Treasurer John Gassert reported the following account balances as of September 30, 2017:
Activity Account $33,311.90
Administrative Account $ 8,350.57
Savings Account $10,006.58
Minutes of all Grafton Lions Club Board of Directors Meetings are posted on the
Grafton Lions Club website www.graftonlions.com.
Future Meetings
November 7th Membership Meeting
Committee chairs will have an opportunity to hold a committee meeting.
November 21st Membership Meeting
Grafton Village Administrator, Jesse Thyes will give a presentation on the status of Village
projects as well as plans for the future.
November 9th Region Meeting
The Grafton Lions along with neighboring Lions clubs from Belgium, Cedarburg, Fredonia,
Newburg, North Milwaukee Central, Port Washington, Saukville, Thiensville, Wauwatosa, as
well as the Fredonia Lioness club will be attending the annual Region Meeting on November 9th.
The meeting this year will be hosted by the Grafton Lions and held at the Rose Harms Post.
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WE SERVE
It is that time of the year when the Grafton Lions demonstrate to the community, that We Serve.
We have completed vision screening for Grafton’s public elementary and middle school
students, as well as the community’s Our Savior Lutheran and Saint Joseph Catholic students.
We are in the process of scheduling vision screening for the home schooled students in the
community.
We collected food donations for Family Sharing from customers of the Grafton Pick N’ Save. In
December, along with the Grafton Leos, we will distribute Christmas gifts to the clients of the
Interfaith Caregivers of Ozaukee County.
The Grafton Lions will participate in several community Christmas events. We have again
volunteered to decorate a Christmas tree in Paramount Plaza. Susan Schnappup’s team took first
place last year in the decorating contest, so the pressure is on this year for a repeat. Our manger
scene will be brought out of storage and set up in the downtown area.
We will participate in two community events on November 25th, the Saturday after
Thanksgiving. The day starts with Breakfast with Santa at Circle B, an event sponsored by the
Grafton Area Chamber of Commerce. The Grafton Leos will join us as they serve the food. In
addition the students put on the Disney costumes to entertain the children eating breakfast. After
breakfast, we will be marching in the Grafton Christmas parade where thousands of people will
be anxiously awaiting our candy.
Lions Camp Deer Hide Collection
A money maker for the Wisconsin Lions Foundation is the sale of deer hides donated by
Wisconsin deer hunters. The hides are sold with the proceeds used to support the Lions Camp in
Rosholt, Wisconsin. There is a hide collection site at Heinz and Sons 57 Auto Body, 1327
Wisconsin Avenue, in Grafton. Contact Grafton Lions Dick or Bob Rieck at 377-4190 for more
information about where to drop off the hide.
The Lions Camp, which provides a free week of camping for special needs youth each summer,
completed another successful year. Dan Montaine reported that of the 1,293 campers that
attended camp this year, five of them were from Grafton – three campers with intellectual
disabilities or educational autism, one was diabetic, and one was visually impaired.
November Birthdays
Jim Becker 7th Dave Strachota 23rd
Marko Musich 9th Dan Hubacek 24th
Jeff Nelson 14th Terry Machut 27th
Steve Janssen 20th Ken Kasprzak 29th
Don Deetjen 22nd
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2017 Grafton Outstanding Citizen, John Gassert
The Grafton Chamber of Commerce announced recently that it has selected John Gassert as the
Grafton 2017 Outstanding Citizen. John was cited for his involvement with several community
organizations. He is a regular volunteer at River Edge Nature Center, and serves as Chairman of
the Village of Grafton Community Development Authority (CDA). John is a long time member
of the Grafton Lions, currently serving as both Treasurer and President.
Caterer for Meetings
Our Board of Directors has been discussing a possible change in the caterer for the meals at our
meetings. The discussion is ongoing, and no final decision will be made until the first of the year.
Nut Sale
The second annual Holiday Nut Sale is on. Tim Kohlwey, Sean Fahey and Dan McKelvey are
co-chairing this fund raiser. There are five packages of nuts to select from:
Roasted Whole Cashews either in a decorative gift tin or in a bag.
Deluxe Mixed Nuts (no peanuts) either in a decorative gift tin or in a bag.
Salted and roasted Pistachios in a bag.
The order deadline is November 13th. The order form is attached. Orders can be placed either at
the November 8th Lions meeting, or at the Investment Center of Grafton, 1019 Cedar Street,
Grafton. Orders will be ready for pickup on December 5th.
Christmas Party
The annual Grafton Lions Christmas Party for members and guests will be held on Tuesday
December 19th at the Rose Harms Post. Social at 6:00, dinner at 7:00. See the attached flyer for
more details.
Vision Screening
Remember getting your vision checked as a youth? You held your hand over your eye and tried
to read the letters on a paper chart hanging on the wall several feet away. Times are changing.
Mobile Optic Scanners have been developed to replace the paper charts. These hand held devices
eliminate the paper charts and reduce the testing time to under a minute. The club is considering
joining with other nearby Lion clubs in the purchase of a mobile optic screener. The clubs would
schedule their vision screening dates so that they could share the Mobile Optic Scanner.
LOOKING AHEAD
November 2 14th Annual Beer and Wine Tasting
Circle B Recreation
November 7 Membership meeting preceded by board meeting
Program: Committee Meetings
November 9 Lions Region One Meeting
Hosted by Grafton Lions, Rose Harms Post
November 15 Grafton Lion Christmas tree decorating
5:00 Paramount Plaza
November 19 2017 Grafton Outstanding Citizen Award to John Gassert
4:00 Atlas BBQ
November 21 Membership meeting
Program: Grafton Village Administrator, Jesse Thyes
November 25 Breakfast with Santa
7:30 AM Circle B Recreation
November 25 Christmas Parade
11:00 AM downtown Grafton
December 5 Membership Meeting preceded by board meeting
Program: Committee Meetings
December 19 Christmas Party SPOUSES AND SIGNIFICANT OTHERS INVITED
Rose Harms Post
December 22 Deliver Interfaith Caregivers packages with Grafton Leos
January 2 Membership meeting preceded by board meeting
Program: Committee Meetings
January 16 Membership Meeting
Program: Grafton High School Citizenship Awards
If you have questions or would like to add to the calendar, contact Bob Hoffman
Lion Member Name ____________________________________________________________________________________________________
Order due
Nov. 13th for pick up on Dec. 5th
At Investment Center of Grafton office
Return this form with money collected to
Lions Tim Kohlwey, Sean Fahey, or Dan McKelvey
Or
drop off at 1019 Cedar St. Grafton WI 53024
(Investment Center of Grafton office)
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Thank you for
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Make checks payable
to:
Grafton Lions Club
Name Phone E-mail $17.00 $14.00 $17.00
$14.00 $12.00 Total
Due Paid
Totals
Call Sean or Dan at 262-376-2220 with any questions
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Grafton Lions Christmas party
Tuesday December 19thth
Rose harms legion post
SAVE THE DATE
With the help of Prime Minister we have put together a great meal to
include a prime rib carving station, shrimp dijon, chicken parm,
vegetable, salads and fruits. Dessert will be a cheese cake and
chocolate mousse.
RESERVATIONS WILL BE NECESSARY AND CONFIRMATIONS SENT TO
THE CHAIRMAN BY DEC. 8th. Watch for your personal invitation along
with and RSVP to the chair
We will need help with Silent Auction Prizes as well as raffles. Please
contact Lions Dorothy or Jack if you can help.
We will not have the gift exchange as in the past. This will give you
more time to socialize with your fellow LionsChairpersons: Dorothy and Jack Reindl
([email protected]) W63N1050 Holly Lane, Cedarburg WI 262-377-4967, or cell phone is 262-227-5013