Belton Lions Club

BELTON LIONS CLUB
Board Meeting
Thursday, November 5, 2020

Call to Order: Lion President Harrison at 1:00pm
Members Present: President Harrison, Vice-President John Corsi, Past President David Shaw, Secretary/Treasurer Stagner, Lion Tamer Hickerson, Tail Twister Danny Dossman
Order of Business:
1.  Christmas Dinner on 12/17 – 5:30 Social / 6pm Dinner – The GIN

Dinner Menu – Cotton Place: $23.95, plus 20% tip (tip is based on tax added total)
House Side Salad w/Ranch
Entrée: Grilled Boneless Chicken Breast, Chicken Fried Steak, Blackened Catfish
Sides: Home-Style Green Beans, Garlic Roasted Mashed Potatoes
Note: Blacken Catfish is served on a Bed of Rice, not Mashed Potatoes

Dinner Price to Members
Club will pay the usual $14.00; plus the additional $15.00

Dinner Price to Guests
$23.95, plus 20% tip of $5.19 = $29.14 ($30) (tip is based on tax added total)

“Friends” Plaque Presentation to DG Randy Sepulvado nominated by President Harrison,
$25.00 charge paid by the Club (or James Harrison) – approved – Club pays meal.

Room Capacity & Room Set: Health protocols observed – 40ppl max / tables spread out

2. Presentation of Check to Texas Lions Camp – Since we have met our $500 commitment to the President’s Challenge – thanks to our Tail-Twister Dossman, President Harrison is prepared to write a check for the matching $500. We will present the $1,000 check to the Texas Lions Camp at our Lunch Meeting on December 3rd.

4. Stampede on the Chisholm Trail – Committee Members: James Harrison, Karen Stagner, David Shaw, John Corsi – General Duties: Harrison-Sponsors; Stagner-Clerical & Registration; Shaw & Corsi-Mechanics; Harrison-Volunteers.  Going back to original Stampede logo – agreed to add artwork of a bicycle – Header within letter “Cycling through Central Texas”.

5. Accepting Credit Cards – Secretary Stagner would like authorization to talk with the Bank about setting the Club up to take credit card payments. All agreed.

6. Record Keeping: Secretary Stagner presented the Spreadsheets that we now are maintaining to track payments and charges for: Guest Meals, Ball Caps, “Friends”, other Projects and Fundraisers. Overall Financials presented in a handout.

7. Charge for Extra Meals – We want to continue to remind members pay for their guest(s) meal – at $14.28 ($15) plate (original thought $13.20/however, tip is based on $11.00 dinner, plus TAX/then tax backed out of overall bill) – of course, our invited lunch Guest(s) and Speaker(s) would be absorbed by the Club.

We would also ask that any At-Large or Associate member pay (to the Secretary) for their meal if they attend and dine with the Club.  We appreciate our At-Large and Associate members who are continuing to support and participate with our Club, however, the Regular member Club dues will not adequately cover additional lunch meals.  This procedure has been in place with the Club before and it was decided to go back to it.

Board Meeting Adjourned at 1:30pm

October 22nd Meeting Recap:

Meeting was called to order by Club President Harrison.

Attendance: James Harrison, Jon Fontenot, David Tuma, Gary Knight, Danny Dossman, Sam Listi, John Corsi, David Shaw, Mac Hickerson, Rob Potts, Gene Ellis, Karen Stagner

Guest: Mike Matthews, ABC Pest Control – guest of Lion Corsi; Wesley Gilbreath, Belton Asst. Fire Chief – guest of Lion Fontenot

Song by Lion Knight (Yea!) / Pledge by Lion Tuma / Prayer by Lion Listi

Exercise: with and by Lion President Harrison – almost skipped – we took a stand and strained our muscles.

Announcements – 

 – December 17th will be our Club Christmas Party; @ 5:30pm, at the GIN.  Spouses are included in the invitation.  President Harrison has arranged for a keyboard player to entertain.  We will be asking for an RSVP – as seating will be limited.

 – President’s Challenge: For those of you who aren’t familiar with the President’s Challenge – Lion Harrison has challenged the Club to raise $500 in contributions/donations to assist the Texas Lions Kid’s Camp – he will match up to $500 in Club Donations.  Tail-Twister Dossman auctioned a 2020 Belton NNO t-shirt and a 2020 NNO face mask – raising $65.00 to add to the current $239.00 Club commitment; plus a donation from Sam Listi in the amount of $50.00; leaving the match amount currently at $354.00.

 – October Birthdays: Lion Hickerson (10/26) and Lion Dossman (10/28) – birthday singing offered $10 to decline; Lion Dossman declined and paid the $10 toward the President’s Challenge; yet he proceeded forward for the singing of the B’Day song.  (kuddos to Lion Dossman)

 – Friends of Belton Lions – The Club’s first honored “Friend” will be Mayor Marion Grayson – she was nominated by President Harrison and Lion Listi.  President Harrison will present the plaque to Mayor Grayson at her retirement party on November 10th at the Harris Community Center.

 – President Harrison announced that Lion Tuma and Lion Dossman have earned 25 year chevrons; and Lion Reyes has earned a 10 year chevron.  District Governor Sepulvada will present their chevrons at our Christmas Party, December 17th.

 – Secretary Stagner presented a discounted, club personalized ball cap offer offer from LCI.  Based on an email poll, the club is looking to order 12 yellow and 12 blue at $12.95 each.

Joke(s) by Lion Knight; Plate Spin by Lion Hickerson

Program:

Thank you to Lion Listi for arranging for our Guest Speaker – Belton Fire Chief Jon Fontenot. The mission of the Belton Fire Department is to provide the highest level of fire protection and emergency medical services possible. The citizens of Belton deserve to be protected at all times regardless of the threat or danger.

People First – Practice Safety! Chief Fontenot presented the key principles of the Belton Fire Department Leadership’s ethics, values, & philosophy which helps guide the Department toward the future. Thank you Chief Fontenot for teaching and leading by example – We are honored to have you as an active member of the Club.

BELTON LIONS CLUB
Board Meeting
Thursday, September 10, 2020

Call to Order: Lion President Harrison at 1:00pm

Members Present: President Harrison, Vice-President Corsi, Secretary/Treasurer Stagner, Tail Twister Dossman, Past-President Shaw.

Order of Business:

1. Texas Lions Camp / President’s Challenge – The Camp has been financially impacted by the pandemic and received some major damage from a Spring storm. President Harrison  proposed that our Club generate some fun, fundraising in-Club activities; and President Harrison will match the fundraising up to $500.00.  Lion Dossman motioned that we approve this project and that it will run until November 19, 2020; motion seconded by Lion Corsi; Board approved.  So, between now and 11/19/2020 – our Tail Twister Dossman will be “creatively collecting” – plan to bring your quarters and dollars.

2. Annual Bike Ride Fundraiser – COVID-19 prevented our Club from having our Annual Stampede Bike Ride in 2020; and the previous two years’ events were dampened by weather.

President Harrison has been working with Chad at Tri-City Bicycles; and they want to partner and help our Club for the 2021 event … including setting the best date for us within the other Texas Bike Rides’ schedules.  Lion Stagner motioned that we authorize the Annual “Stampede on the Chisholm Trail” Bike Ride fundraiser to be held in the Spring of 2021; motion seconded by Lion Dossman; Board approved.

3. Future Heritage Park Project – President Harrison would like our Club to plan a “Belton Lions Day in the Park” fundraiser to create better awareness of our Club and help our efforts with the Heritage Park. Lion Dossman motioned that we authorize a new fundraiser project to be held in Heritage Park, in late Summer/Early Fall of 2021, and hereby direct President Harrison to work with the City of Belton Parks and Recreation Department to set this up and to, then, report back to this Board for Approval; motion seconded by Lion Corsi … Discussion …

Thought process is for a car show (corvettes, classics and specialty autos); then a movie in the Park for the evening.  The Club could have concessions during the daytime.  Lions Dossman and Leigh have offered the use of their portable movie set-up.  Grand Avenue would provide the concessions for the evening movie – at near cost.  It was discussed to either hold the event in the Park; or coordinate the event with Market Days – or similar – in a downtown parking lot for greater visibility (coordinating also with Judy Garrett, Tourism and Retail Development Coordinator for the City) – and promoting the event as benefitting Heritage Park.  After discussion, the Board approved the motion for Lion President Harrison to proceed.

4. Lions Memorial in Heritage Park – President Harrison has been discussing with Matt Bates – the creation of a “Lions Wall of Honor” at the Lions Pavilion in Heritage Park. The City of Belton has authorized the Club to create the Wall on the side wall of Lions Pavilion.  The proposed initial honorees would be Lions Baisden, Dulaney, Holle and Long.  Each year, the Club would/could add

another distinctive member to the Wall.  President Harrison suggested that we could have an annual Wall of Honor dinner at the Pavilion to unveil the honorees.  President Harrison has requested Board approval to continue coordinating this project with the City; that the Board will decide the parameters and details of this Wall; and that the Club Membership will vote on any and all names submitted for approval.  Lion Dossman motioned that this be tabled for now; and the Board requested President Harrison get pricing for Wall identification and plaques – to present at the next Board meeting; motion seconded by Lion Stagner; Board approved tabling the issue until the next Board meeting.

5. New Membership Dues Proposal – We opened discussion on our $125.00 per quarter dues – which includes lunch; versus the Associate/At Large dues of $50.00 bi-annually. Secretary/Treasurer Stagner handed out a breakdown of income vs. cost.

Lunches at the GIN cost the Club $11.00 per place, plus 20% tip – which equals $13.20 per plate.

Our total LCI and District Dues per member is $79.26 per year.

If a member attended every meeting (50 weeks), the Club meal cost would be $660.00 per member.  Which, with the LCI and District Dues, the Club cost per member would be $739.26 per year … noting that each member only pays $500.00 per year Dues to the Club.

It was discussed to possibly change the dues structure to a flat $100 or $120 per year – and that meals would be paid separately.  We noted that most members do not attend every meeting during the year; and that if they attend ½ of the meetings during the year (with our current dues structure) – they have covered the cost of their meals with dues.  On the other hand, if they attend more than ½ of the meetings, the Club is underwriting the excess cost.  As we have many institutional members in our Club whose employers or organizations pay their dues – it was agreed to leave the Dues Structure as it is currently.  We will, instead, push forward to recruit new members – noting to them that $25.00 of the quarterly $125.00 is actually Dues … the rest is for meals – which, if you do the math, is a great deal … 12 meals for $100.00.

The Board also discussed returning to requesting members pay for their guest(s) meal.  At $13.20 plate – taking into consideration the above paragraph – it seems only fair to the Club.  Of course, our invited Guest(s) and Speaker(s) would be absorbed by the Club.

The Board also agreed that, a new member should pay a fee or dues, when they join.  Currently, we invoice at the end of the quarter for the previous months for our regular members.

President Harrison agreed to personally call each of the dues delinquent members for updates.

Secretary Stagner will invoice the two At Large members that she overlooked.

6. “Friends of the Belton Lions Club” Project – President Harrison will continue working out details on this adopt a Lion idea for area residents to promote, support and interact with our Club.

Board Meeting Adjourned at 2:00pm