Message From Our President Hurry Hurry Step right up to exciting games, prizes and lots of fun events The snow finally melted during this past quarter and we have welcomed the warmth and sunshine of spring and summer. The MCEP Lions teamed up with the Elmwood Park Library to plan our first Reading Carnival held on Sunday, April 6. We were thrilled that over 100 children attended the event. Special thanks to the talents of the library staff-jason Stuhlmann (and his wife Lori Craft) for their balloon twisting, Kim Viita for the delicious popcorn and Carol Olivo for story time. The library staff also created the Lion puppet craft. DG Dave Hansen inducted Jamie Birmingham and Jimmy Caliendo as MCEP Lion members. We also presented the scholarship winner, Kaela Rivera, with a $500 check for DePaul University. Upcoming annual events include the 4th of July Parade, visit to Bethesda Retirement Home on Sunday, July 20th and passing out water bottles and snacks at the August 14th Concert in the Park. This year we will have a couple of carnival games for the kids and goodie bags. We will once again be shopping for school supplies in August to donate to eight area schools. Congratulations to District Governor Dave Hansen and First Lady Lion Di as their successful year of reign comes to an end June 30th. The MCEP Lions had a great time supporting them these past four years with their hospitality room at the District 1A Convention. Lion Dar Plus in this issue: the Special Olympics and the Helen Keller 5K Run and Much More!
The Reading Carnival was a bigger success than the MCEP Lions and the EP Library could imagine. Leo the Lion and Krinkles the Clown took pictures with the children which were taken home as souvenirs. Games were played and tickets won to be used as a chance to win the many raffle prizes set out on display. The smell of popcorn wafted through the room and extra bags were taken to snack on for the ride home. Goodie bags containing a Lions Club coloring book, crayons, I Love Reading bracelet and bookmark were given to those in attendance.
Faces were painted and hands tattooed, balloons twisted, carnival games played, crafts made and story telling and puppet theatre enjoyed by one and all.
Inspired by the MCEP Lions Library Event, and just for the fun of it, we took a few images of our Lion Members from our Group Roster and created them as clowns in photoshop. See if you can match the MCEP Lions to the clown images.(answers Below) Answers: (A) #3 Lion Darlene (B) #2 Lion Larry (C) #5 Lion Vince (D) #7 Lion Don (E) #6 Lion Lynn (F) #4 Lion Linda (G) #8 Lion Barb (H) #2 Lion Jo-Ann
The Lions of District 1A braved the cold and rainy morning of Sunday, April 27th to participate in the Helen Keller 5K Walk/Run. By the end of the walk, it warmed up and the sun was brightly shining. Many Lions drove to Willow Springs for a Pork Chip Dinner sponsored by the Willow Springs Lions. It was a great way to spend some quality time with our fellow Lions.
The MCEP Lions chose to hold their May meeting at Russell s BBQ to induct a new member and award a check to the scholarship winner. The meeting ended just as lightning lit up the sky and the awaited storm headed our way. Jamie Birmingham, sponsored by Lion Dar, was inducted by District Governor Dave Hansen. The club is thrilled to have Lion Jamie join our club. Kaela Rivera of Elmwood Park High School was awarded the Bob Biancalan Memorial/MCEP Lions Club scholarship. Kaela will be attending DePaul University.
Jimmy Caliendo, sponsored by his wife Lion Jo-Ann, was inducted by District Governor Dave Hansen at the June 24th meeting. The club is happy to have Lion Jimmy join the club considering he has been very supportive and helpful at many meetings and events prior to his induction. We will be meeting at Bethesda Nursing Home in Chicago Sunday July 20th. We are asking Club Members to arrive around 2p.m so we can prepare for the visit. Program starts at 3p.m. Join us to share some time with the residents, help serve the residents ice cream sundaes and provide some Lions Entertainment (A Sing Along). It should be a worthwhile experience for all. Look for future e-mails for info
Lions Rich Polanek and Larry Zucker were joined by Lion Ken Hadden this year as they once again volunteered to help out at the Glenbard East High Schools Annual Special Olympics Track & Field Meet. Athlete s competed in long jump, running events and softball throw The three Lions found this experience to be very rewarding as usual as they worked at the Awards Stand and helped with the various events
Lion Ken and his group of Hancock Climbers MCEP Lons Club Members are always on the lookout for new ways to serve and Lion Ken Hadden has taken this to include a real challenge for himself. Lion Ken has been taken part in Hustle Up the Hancock a fundraiser for the Respiratory Health Association since 2007. This event happened this year on Sunday, April 13th at the Hancock Building in downtown Chicago. Entry fees were $150 per person and this gives the participants the opportunity to raise funds for RHA and to test their own endurance by scaling the HancockBuilding staircase. The Hancock has 94 floors with a total of 1,632 steps. Climbers end together in John Hancock Observatory on floor 94. Way to Go Lion Ken. We have 2 cars scheduled to participate in the 4th of July Parade Lion Rich s convertible and Lion Eric s Van. More info to come. Always a lot of FUN! We welcome Lion Ginny Sielert who has transferred from a club in Rockford, Michigan. Ginny has proven to be a very supportive and proactive Lion since her transfer. We welcome Lion Peter Tremmel who has transferred to the MCEP Lions club from the Mount. Prospect Lions Club. We are happy to have Peter join us.
The dignitaries of District 1A for 2014-2015 were installed on Sunday, June 8th at the district level. Congratulations District Governor Terry D Souza, 1st Vice District Governor Ralph Zarada and 2nd Vice District Governor Ernie Lapid. Their official duties begin July 1st. Congratulations to District Governor Dave Hansen and First Lady Lion Di on a successful year. The MCEP Lions were honored to be a part of your hospitality room these past four years. Lion Ken Hadden represented the MCEP Lions Club as he walked in the Relay for Life held on Friday, June 13th at the Elmwood Park High School. Lion Ken was joined by his mom Teri, a Cancer Survivor and his co-worker Mark McGinnis. Lions Rich, Dar, Dwayne (his wife Doreen) and future Lion Taylor attended the event to cheer on Lion Ken. Lion Ken raised over $1270 in donations for the American Cancer Society. MCEP Lions, raised $1,270 for the American Cancer Society.
2014 MCEP Lions Club Officers President Lion Darlene Hrankaj 1st Vice President Lion Diane Hansen 2nd Vice President Lion Frank Quaranta 3rd Vice President Lion Ken Hadden Secretary Lion Kathy Plucinski Treasurer Lion Mitch Kaiser Director Lion Gabe Caporale Director Lion Larry Zucker Director Lion Vince Mini Director Lion Joe Corna Lion Tamer and Tail Twister Lion Rich Polanek
This year the MCEP Lions sponsored the Athletics Baseball Team (12 and 13 year olds). Lions Rich, Dwayne, Dar, Di and DG Dave attended the June 6th game to cheer them on and introduce themselves to the team. The players looked great at bat and on the field. Cute story from Lion Dar: While at the game, a young girl about six years old kept walking past me and staring. As I was leaving, she and her three friends stopped me and asked if the pins on my vest were trading pins from Disneyworld. I explained that they were Lions pins and she asked if we traded them. I told her that they do sometimes. She asked me what the Lions do and I gave her a few examples and told them they all could be Lions one day. If only we could get the adults to be as inquisitive as the children.