November « 2023 « Belton Lions Club

Archive for November, 2023

Meeting – November 16, 2023

Friday, November 17th, 2023

BLC Meeting Order of Business – November 16, 2023|
Call to Order by Lion President Keith Cook
“If it’s Thursday … it’s LIONS CLUB!”

Members Present: Keith Cook, Jon Fontenot, David Leigh, Wayne Carpenter, Danny Dossman, Gene Ellis, David Tuma, Mary Shockley, Mac Hickerson, Mark Bellomy, James Harrison, Billy Conway, Karen Stagner, Jennifer Bailey, Malinda Golden, Todd Schiller, Rob Potts, Jennah Gliha, Bree Vlam

Guest: Buddy Hickerson (guest of Mac Hickerson); Jeff Glover (speaker)
Song: by Lion Jennah Gliha
Pledge to US Flag: Lion Mark Bellomy
Pledge to Texas Flag: Lion Jon Fontenot
Prayer: Lion David Leigh
Plate Spin: Lion Mac Hickerson
Exercise: Lion James Harrison

Birthdays: November Birthdays: David Leigh (11/14), Karen Stagner (11/14), Patti Powell (11/17)

– Board Meeting – Recap

– After Board Discussion & further discussion with Lea Batey, Temple-Belton Ladies Lions, the Board voted to partner with our sister Club. TBLL will continue screening. After TBLL pre-screens for insurance or other financial resources, the underserved adult or child will be referred to Wildflower Vision for Dr. visit and eyeglasses. Wildflower Vision will invoice Belton Lions Club directly for those residing in Belton, Texas. Should we reach our budgeted amount during the year, the Board will re-evaluate the $500 annual budget for assistance. # SightFirst … Belton Lions helping our Belton Community!

– Club Christmas Party, Thursday, December 14, during lunch: Belton Lions eat free; guests will pay $35 – invoiced with dues. Menu will be ribs and fried fish or roasted chicken (TBD) with vegetables. Christmas Team incudes: James Harrison, Mark Bellomy, Christa Strang, Jennah Gliha, David Leigh, Keith Cook & John Corsi. Team Leader: David Leigh … stay tuned … it sounds like we’re having an ugly sweater contest!

Announcements:
– HOCTIL Thanksgiving Baskets –Delivery TODAY. Thank you, each, for your generosity – helping these families of children with special needs. Thank you to our members for volunteering to deliver.
– BISD Project HEARTbeat Christmas for homeless kids. Jennifer Bailey – Please select a child’s tag to support these kiddos for Christmas. Wrapped or unwrapped and tagged Gifts are due back by our December 7^th lunch Meeting.
– December Board Meeting – We will NOT have a December Board Meeting.
– Club Metrics: 1,459 people served / 9 Service Activities Completed, 595 Volunteer Hours, $7,500 Funds Donated, $2,900 Funds Raised. Note: Stampede takes place near the end of the LCI calendar year which runs from July 1 to June 30^th each year. Stampede 2023 Profit was $8K +.

Program: Jon Fontenot has invited Jeff Glover, the new Deputy Fire Marshal for the City of Belton who introduced himself and discussed the direction of the Fire Marshal’s office. Thank you! Great to meet our new Deputy Fire Marshal and hear his growth and service plans.

Future Programs:
November 23 – No Meeting – Thanksgiving
November 30 – Veronica Logan
December 7 – Todd Schiller
December 14 – Christmas Party & HOCTIL Food Basket Deliveries
December 21 – No Meeting – Christmas/New Years
December 28 – No Meeting – Christmas/New Years

Thank Guests for Coming!
Remember, where there is a need, there is a Lion!

Keeping on the Front Burner:
Plate Spinning Winner Presentation
Thursday, December 21^st: HOCTIL Christmas with Santa Claus – Harris Community Center – Karen Stagner Coordinating
Belton Lions Wall at Heritage Park – James Harrison coordinating
Friends of Belton Lions – James Harrison coordinating
85^th Anniversary of the Belton Lions Club – James Harrison is planning a Celebration. James explained that Belton Lions Club first met in 1938; then Chartered in 1939.
2024 Fundraiser Cruise – Carnival Jubilee – January 13-20, 2024 – posted on facebook and on our website
James Harrison announced that Temple Founders Club member, Mr. Hightower, would like our Club to consider partnering with them for their annual Follies fundraiser event.

Posted in Meetings & Programs | Comments Closed

Board Meeting – November 9, 2023

Saturday, November 11th, 2023

BLC November BOARD Meeting Recap – November 9, 2023

Call to Order by Lion President Keith Cook @ 12.56pm

Members Present: Danny Dossman, Keith Cook, James Harrison, Karen Stagner, Christa Strang, Jon Fontenot, Mac Hickerson
Absent: Mike Matthews, Jennah Gliha, Mark Bellomy, John Corsi

Membership Report – Karen Stagner – Invoices for 1^st Quarter 2023-2024 have been issued. 7 members unpaid.

Regular Members – 29

Affiliate Members – 1

At-Large Members – 9

Total – 39

Associate Member – 1

Treasurer Report –
General Account – $8,459.70
Activity Account – $33.948.77

Old Business:
– Update on Cadence Bank – CD and other – The Club’s General Account was compromised several months back. The issue has been resolved. However, the current issue with Cadence Bank is with the debit cards. It seems to be a programming issue within the Bank. Treasurer Fontenot and David Shaw will hold off on opening any CDs until he gets the debit card issue resolved. Our General Account balance looks high, but that is due to no lunch meals monies for over a month coming out of the account; and quarterly dues payments are coming in. Danny Dossman will look into other options for banking and report at our next Board Meeting.

– Membership Milestones –The Board agreed that Milestones will be in five (5) year increments; starting at 10 year membership. Several members will explore options for Milestone awards – tabled until John Corsi and Jennah Gliha are available to report.

– Partnering with Temple-Belton Ladies Lions for eyeglasses and exams through their member connection for discounted costs. Discussion – Lea Batey was invited to sit with the Board and answer questions. Our Club members have expressed desire to learn to perform eye screenings. Yet until then, it was agreed that TBLL continue screening. Lea estimated that the maximum number of Belton children and adults needing to be referred to Wildflower Vision. The families are pre-screened for insurance or other financial resources. Only the underserved, underinsured are underwritten by Lions Clubs. Several years ago, Belton Lions Club Board agreed to budget $500 per year to assist with Dr. Visit Eye Exam and Glasses. After discussion, it was agreed that TBLL would continue screening; and anyone residing in Belton, needing to be referred to Wildflower Vision (based on pre-screening for financial resources); TBLL would email BLC Club Secretary advising of the referral; then Wildflower Vision would invoice BLC directly. Once our Club reaches our budgeted $500 per year expenditure, the Board will meet to consider raising the budget for the year. Jon Fontenot motioned to accept the plan; 2^nd James Harrison; approved. TBLL will restart vision screenings in January.

– The Club Christmas Party – Thursday, December 14^th during lunch – we will have a buffet meal. Lions eat free; guests will pay buffet price, + tip – invoiced with dues. Christa Strang selected the Cliffside Meal Menu. Keith Cook will arrange for the Belton High School choir. Team includes: James Harrison, Mark Bellomy, Christa Strang, Jennah Gliha, David Leigh, Keith Cook, John Corsi

Club Metrics: 1,459 people served / 9 Service Activities Completed, 595 Volunteer Hours, $7,500 Funds Donated, $2,900 Funds Raised

Danny Dossman questioned funds donated vs funds raised. The clarification is that the Bike Ride takes place before the July 1^st Lions year; and the Heritage Park donation takes place after the July 1^st Lions year.

New Business:

– Banner Stand and/or Specialty Products – Danny Dossman is going to build a banner stand explaining who we are as Belton Lions – to be used at Boat Race, Bike Ride, Fall Festival and other events. We found Lions squeeze toys; and the previous BLC giant coloring book (given to Lea and Lorna to look into at the District and State level). Fall Festival give-aways were about 50 of each item. We will revisit this at next meeting.

Holding to a Later Date:
– District Cabinet Meetings – January 27, McGregor / April 26-27
– David Shaw – Deployment bags are requested for our Adopted Unit – tabled until Lion Shaw is able to provide details.
– Belton Lions Wall at Heritage Park – James Harrison coordinating – plans are progressing. Tabled until after Picnic in the Park.
– LEO – Leadership, Experience, and Opportunity
– Charter Night – James Harrison – 85^th Anniversary is April 21^st ; celebration will be April 18^th or April 25^th if it’s a lunchtime meeting. To schedule the Charter Night in the evening, James and Mark will solicit a sponsor for $2,500. If a sponsor is secured, we will have the Charter Night Celebration on a Friday night; and we will not have a lunch meeting that week. The Dead Fish Grill buffet menu is the same price for dinner as it is for lunch.

Meeting Closed at 1:25pm

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Meeting – November 9, 2023

Saturday, November 11th, 2023

BLC Meeting Recap – November 9, 2023

Call to Order by Lion President Keith Cook
“If it’s Thursday … it’s LIONS CLUB!”

Members Present: Keith Cook, Christa Strang, Jon Fontenot, Danny Dossman, Karen Stagner, Mary Shockley, James Harrison, Reese Davis, Rob Potts, David Tuma, Hillary Hickland, Mac Hickerson, Cri Childs

Guest: Lea Batey & Lorna Brockett (Temple Belton Ladies Lions), Buddy Hickerson (guest of Mac Hickerson)
Song: by Lion Mary Shockley
Pledge to US Flag: Lion Jon Fontenot
Pledge to Texas Flag: Lion Danny Dossman
Prayer: Lion Keith Cook
Joke: Lion Danny Dossman – Terms of Endearment – had to be there!
Plate Spin: Lion Mac Hickerson
Exercise: Lion James Harrison

Birthdays: November Birthdays: David Leigh (11/14), Karen Stagner (11/14), Patti Powell (11/17)

Announcements:

– Board Meeting – TODAY – after Lunch
– HOCTIL Thanksgiving Baskets –Delivery scheduled for November 16^th.
– Plate Spinning Winner Presentation – pass both plates for signatures – Lion Jon Fontenot reported that the winner of the contest will let us know his first available Thursday – the Club will also invite Judy Garrett, Belton Tourism and Development, to join the presentation.
– BISD has identified a student for Texas Lions Camp – we will get with Dick Chapin and Angela Cases for our next steps
– Thank you Christa Strang and Bree Vlam for accepting the Team Lead for our HOCTIL Food Baskets – 3 times per year. Christmas Basket Sign-up will be available at the November 30^th meeting.
– Thank You Jennifer Bailey for accepting the Team Lead for BISD Project HEARTbeat Christmas for homeless kids.
Tags will be available from BISD 11/15 to be distributed 11/16 at our lunch Meeting. Gifts are due back at our December 7^th lunch Meeting.

Program: Temple-Belton Lady Lion Lea Batey, District Sight Chair, presented their eye screening, referral, eyeglass purchase program; proposing to partner with Belton Lions for Belton youth and adults. Bud Sterling, Temple Founder Club does the eye screening for BISD schools. Head Start and Body of Christ also do screenings. Temple Belton Ladies Lions has partnered with Wildflower Vision for $120 Dr. visit eye exams and glasses. Their Club is hoping to partner with Belton Lions to offset the cost to their Club for Belton children and adults who need to be referred to Eye Doctor. The Board will address the request in today’s Board Meeting.

Future Programs:
November 16 – Jon Fontenot & HOCTIL Food Basket Deliveries
November 23 – No Meeting – Thanksgiving
November 30 – Veronica Logan
December 7 – Todd Schiller
December 14 – Christmas Party & HOCTIL Food Basket Deliveries
December 21 – No Meeting – Christmas/New Years
December 28 – No Meeting – Christmas/New Years

Thank Guests for Coming!
Remember, where there is a need, there is a Lion!

Keeping on the Front Burner:
Thursday, December 21^st: HOCTIL Christmas with Santa Claus – Harris Community Center – Karen Stagner Coordinating
Belton Lions Wall at Heritage Park – James Harrison coordinating
Friends of Belton Lions – James Harrison coordinating
85^th Anniversary of the Belton Lions Club – James Harrison is planning a Celebration. James explained that Belton Lions Club first met in 1938; then Chartered in 1939.
2024 Fundraiser Cruise – Carnival Jubilee – January 13-20, 2024 – posted on facebook and on our website
James Harrison announced that Temple Founders Club member, Mr. Hightower, would like our Club to consider partnering with them for their annual Follies fundraiser event.

Posted in Meetings & Programs | Comments Closed

Meeting – November 2, 2023

Friday, November 3rd, 2023

BLC Meeting Recap – November 2, 2023
Call to Order by Lion President Keith Cook
“If it’s Thursday … it’s LIONS CLUB!”

Members Present: Keith Cook, Jennah Gliha, Bree Vlam, Christa Strang, Jon Fontenot, Danny Dossman, Karen Stagner, Billy Conway, Mary Shockley, Mack Latimer (Affiliate Member), David Tuma, Gene Ellis, Dwayne Williams, David Shaw, Jennifer Bailey, Sam Listi, Rob Potts, Mac Hickerson, Mike Matthews, Veronica Logan, Todd Schiller, Ted Smith (Associate Member)

Guest: Buddy Hickerson (guest of Mac Hickerson), Shawn Martin (guest of Mike Matthews), Brian Douglas (speaker), and Jake Smith (speaker guest) of TxDOT; Doug Kelley (prospective new member)
Song: by Lion Christa Strang
Pledge to US Flag: Lion David Shaw
Pledge to Texas Flag: Lion Jon Fontenot
Prayer: Lion Sam Listi
Joke: Lion Jennah Gliha – Turkey’s cell phone ringtone – “Wing Wing”
Plate Spin: Lion Mac Hickerson
Exercise: Lion Danny Dossman – working off all that Halloween candy – great job with the cast/brace finally removed.

Birthdays: Omitted October Birthday: Hillary Hickland (10/18)
November Birthdays: David Leigh (11/14), Karen Stagner (11/14), Patti Powell (11/17)

New Member Inductions: Christa Strang, 2^nd Vice President and mother, administered the Oath to her daughter Bree Vlam – our newest member – WELCOME!

District Cabinet Meeting Recap:
– Global Action Team Reports:
Membership (deuces +2 new members per club / +2 new clubs) – our District and our Club have met the Challenge.
Guiding Lions (helping existing and new clubs / training and certification available) – if interested, see Lea Beaty at our next meeting.
Service Teams (watch what other clubs are doing – using the Service Metrics in LCI – new ideas for Service)
Texas Lions Camp – PDG Angela Cases is incoming Director; (Mark Bellomy was presented his Century Club key and coin for 2023)
Texas Lions Museum – Grand Opening will be August 3, 2024 in Kerrville.

Announcements:
– Board Meeting – next week – November 9th
– HOCTIL Thanksgiving Baskets –Delivery scheduled for November 16.
– Plate Spinning Winner Presentation – pass both plates for signatures – Lion Jon Fontenot reported that the winner of the contest will let us know his first available Thursday – the Club will also invite Judy Garrett, Belton Tourism and Development, to join the presentation.
– Astros Fan Lion Gene Ellis gave a shout-out to the Texas Rangers!
– Lion Sam Listi was invited to give a presentation to Temple Founders Lions Club on Wednesday – His program was a Belton Community Update, with an overview of the Belton Lions Club, and challenged the Founders to build a boat for the 2024 Wacky Boat Race.

Program: Rob Potts invited Brian Douglas and Jake Smith, TxDOT, to update the club on TxDOT’s roadway projects in Bell County. Great Program about Hwy 121; US 190; I-14; West Central Bridge; FM 436; SH 95; FM 2410; and other projects for TxDot. Thank You!

Future Programs:
November 9 – Malinda Golden – Lea Beaty, Temple-Belton Ladies Lions – Eye Screening, Exams, Eyeglass Project & Partnership. Board Meeting Afterward
November 16 – Jon Fontenot & HOCTIL Food Basket Deliveries
November 23 – No Meeting – Thanksgiving
November 30 – Veronica Logan
December 7 – Todd Schiller
December 14 – Christmas Party & HOCTIL Food Basket Deliveries
December 21 – No Meeting – Christmas/New Years
December 28 – No Meeting – Christmas/New Years

Thank Guests for Coming!
Remember, where there is a need, there is a Lion!