the tale twister - cullman lions club tale twister cullman lions club ... thursday, may 4: lci...

The Tale Twister

Cullman Lions Club

Photographer: Lion Charlie Powell Editor: Lion Carey Thompson Associate Editor: Lion Don Smith

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May 1, 2017

Program

Lion Steve Murphree introduced fellow veterinarian and Lion, Terry Slaton. Lion Terry spoke about the State’s animal laboratory system and the role that it plays in supporting agriculture through animal disease control. He also talked about his own career as a veterinarian and provided many humorous anecdotes throughout his presentation, keeping the Club chuckling the whole time.

(L to R) Lions Steve Murphree, Terry Slayton, and Barry Willingham are all wrapped-up in tonight’s program. Lions Terry Slaton and Steve Murphree were actually in business together as small animal vets early in their careers. In 2003 Lion Terry took a position as Assistant State Veterinarian and then was appointed the head of the State’s efforts against bio-terrorism. In 2009, as an US Army Reserve veterinary officer, he served a tour in Afghanistan. Then in 2011, he was appointed to his current position as the Director of the Hinton-Mitchem Regional Poultry Diagnostic Laboratory in Hanceville. Terry described the Alabama Agriculture Department’s four veterinary labs. The

one at Auburn University is considered the “Mother-Ship” to the other three, which include ones at Elba, Boaz, and Hanceville. Auburn’s lab has state-of-the-arts equipment and extensive facilities, and staff; it is also Bio Level 3 certified to handle any toxic virus/bacteria. The primary job of these labs is to prevent pandemic spread of disease to farm animals, and even pets or cross transmission to humans. For instance, 7 million pigs died here is the US about 4 years ago, and 50 million chickens/birds in the northwest died or were destroyed due to pandemic viruses. And you may recall that about 10 years ago a bird flu in the far east not only killed chickens, but killed about half the humans who contracted that disease. Close to home, a couple of months ago -- avian flu, at a farm in Tennessee spread to a farm in Alabama, that caused a local quarantine of chickens; this this outbreak was stopped, but at a cost of 250,000 chickens. The tactics used by the Department of Agriculture to stop a pandemic are to act quickly, establish quarantines, and closely test animals at risk. A principle tool of the labs is necropsy (or animal autopsy). They not only do this on chickens, but on cattle, dogs, or any other animals whenever a question of cause of an animal’s death is in doubt, and then advise on treatments on other animal that may be affected in the future. This includes testing for the best antibiotic to use for a diseased animal. Lion Slaton gave us a very interesting and enlightening presentation.

The Tale Twister

Cullman Lions Club


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Other Business

PRESS RELEASE: The Cullman Lions Club is proud to announce the visit of Lions International President Bob Corlew and his wife, Diane, on Thursday, May 4th. International President Corlew will be escorted by Cullman Lion President Barry Willingham and other members of the Cullman Lions Club. This is the first time that a seated International President has visited Cullman and is a great honor for the City of Cullman and the Cullman Lions Club. Mayor Woody Jacobs, a long-time member of the Cullman Lions, will be awarding an honorary Cullman citizenship award to International President Corlew. Lions Club International is celebrating its 100th Anniversary. The May 4th visit will start at 9:00am at the Cullman County Fair Grounds, then Field of Miracles at 9:30am, and end at 10:00am at the Stiefelmeyer Park for a ribbon cutting and dedication of the Centennial Legacy Project of the Cullman Lions Club which funded $30,000 of children’s playground equipment.

Lions International President Bob Corlew

Lion Bo Waldrep’s wife (Lion Scott’s mom), Lioness Judy is recovering at home after recent surgery and reported the good news that she has no signs of cancer. Lion Mariman Pope is still under the weather with health issues. Lion Gordon Boyd is trying to have his kidney dialysis treatments re-scheduled so that he can regularly attend Club meetings. Lion Neil Rainwater will be residing permanently at Hanceville Nursing Home. “Thank You” notes were received from Distinguished Young Women and Alabama Lions Sight. The Secretary read the last BOD meeting notes and announced that dunning notices are being prepared for delinquent dues. Lions Charlie Powell and Charlie McBrayer received silver Centennial membership sponsor pins. Lion Tom Pfeifer will be performing his annual snowbird-migration to Wisconsin. He will “fly back” around the time of the Fair. PDG Lion Terry Roberson from St. Joseph, Tennessee visited and presented an extensive collection of Alabama and Tennessee pins. Also, he advised us that the LCI President is a Tennessee native, and encouraged us to support his visit with our presence this Thursday. Lion Jerry Caudle explained that candidates for the Membership Committee

The Tale Twister

Cullman Lions Club


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slot were inadvertently not included in our recent election of new officers. Subsequently, by voice vote of Club members, Lion Fuller Smith was elected to this position. Three new Lions were added to our rolls tonight !!

New Lions Dewayne Sumner (top L), Eric Robertson (top R), and Rodger Lowery (bottom) were welcomed into our Club’s membership.

Alabama Lions High School Leadership Forum will be held again at Troy State, June 16-18. The application form is on page 4 of this newsletter.

The State-wide, MD 34 Lions convention will be on May 18-21. Form for registration is provided on page 5 of this newsletter. “Thank You” notes were received from Distinguished Young Women and Alabama Lions Sight.

Lions Charlie Powell and Charlie McBrayer received silver Centennial membership sponsor pins. The Secretary read the last BOD meeting notes and announced that dunning notices are being prepared for delinquent dues.

Upcoming Programs and Events Thursday, May 4: LCI President visits Cullman Lions, starting at Fairgrounds at 9:00AM. May 8: TBD May 18-21: MD 34 Lions Convention in Hoover (see page 4 for registration). May 22: Picnic at the Walmart pavilion in Heritage Park (in lieu of regular meeting).

Tale Twister Input

If you need something special or to report a correction in the Tale Twister, see Lions Carey Thompson or Don Smith at the meetings. Lion Carey can be reached at 256-739-0580 (H) or 256-426-3207 (C). Lion Don can be reached at 256-737-7433 (H) or 256-426-7722 (C).

The Tale Twister

Cullman Lions Club


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the tale twister - cullman lions club tale twister cullman lions club ... thursday, may 4: lci...

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