April 2014

The Lion’s Roar

Edmonds L ions Club ~ Chartered 1947

Coming Events

Saturday Morning Lions Every Third Saturday 9-10 am Waterfront Café (The Eatery) Monday Morning Lions Every Monday 10-11 am Waterfront Café (The Eatery) April 10 Flower Program 9:15 am Jim & Judy Forgey’s home April 14 Regular Meeting Dinner 6 pm Meeting 6:30 Swedish/Edmonds Hospital April 21 Board Meeting 6:30 pm Swedish/Edmonds Hospital April 28 Regular Meeting Dinner 6 pm Meeting 6:30 Swedish/Edmonds Hospital

In Thus Issue

Editor’s Corner: 2

New Member Inducted 2

Leader Dogs for the Blind 3

Jazz Duo/War and Innocence 4

Braille Menus for Edmonds 5

Saturday/Monday AM Lions 5

Lions Spruce Up Sierra Park 5

Baskets for Busy B Auction 6

2014 Flag Days 6

Club Information 7

Edmonds, Washington

Jim Forgey Honored for Membership

Recruitment

Bulletin Editor: Carolyn Meyer

For questions or information about membership contact

Jim Forgey at 425-774-6353

March 24, 2014. King Lion Bobby Mills

presented Lion Jim Forgey with a

Membership Key lapel pin on behalf of

the Lions International Membership Key

Award Program.

The Membership Key is awarded to

individual Lions Club members in

recognition of effective recruitment in

membership growth.

Each of the 17 Membership Keys

is uniquely designed to reflect the

number of new members sponsored.

The first key is awarded when a person

has sponsored two new members; the

17th, the Supreme Key, is awarded to a

person who has sponsored 500

members. Keys are issued after a new

member has remained a Lion for a year

and a day.

Jim became Membership Chair of the

Edmonds Lions Club three years ago.

Sharing the work of the Lions Club is

always on his mind. Every month he

distributes current issues of the Lions

Club International magazine, LION, and

the Edmonds Lions Club bulletin, The

Lion‘s Roar, to the Edmonds Public

Library and other public locations.

He passes out Edmonds Lions Club

brochures at every opportunity, and he

even approaches people on the street

and talks to them about the Club.

Jim leaves no stone unturned and clearly

loves what he does.

King Lion Bobby Mills presents Lion Jim Forgey with the Lions International Membership Key Award

Three items are prominently

displayed at a Lions Club meeting:

the national flag of the country in

which the club is organized, an array

of small flags from around the world,

and the Club’s banner.

The person holding the office of Lion

Tamer is responsible for the Club’s

property. This includes the flags, banners, gavel and

bell, and other supplies. The Lion Tamer sees that these

items are in good order, properly displayed at meetings,

and returned to storage when not in use.

The Array of Flags

This is a collection of miniature flags representing

countries having one or more Lions Clubs. Currently

there are 46,305 clubs with 1.35 million members in 208

countries and geographic areas.

Source: https://lionsclubs.org. “Find a Club”

The Lions Club Banner

The banner displays badges marking the Club’s

involvement in various Lions activities. The Edmonds

Lions Club banner shows that over the years the Club

has supported Leader Dogs for the Blind and Eye-

glass Recycling;

sponsored a LEO

Club, Skills for

Adolescence

program, Skills for

Growing program,

and Show Success

Through Service to

Youth and Children

Program; received a

President’s Member-

ship Retention badge;

was a 100% CARE

participant; received

two Busy B awards

and was honored by

the Melvin Jones

Fellowship for

superior service.

Editor’s Corner — Lions Club Paraphernalia

Page 2 The Lion’s Roar April 2014

Tom Snyder, Todd Sandhopp, Jim Forgey, Bobby Mills

Edmonds Lions had the pleasure of inducting a new member, Todd Sandhopp, at the March 24th meeting. King Lion Bobby Mills and Club Treasurer Tom Snyder conducted the ceremony. Jim Forgey sponsored Todd for membership. Welcome to the Edmonds Lions Club, Todd. We are glad you are with us.

New Member Inducted at March Meeting

Mission of Leader Dogs for the Blind

“Our mission is empowering people who are blind or

visually impaired with lifelong skills for independent

travel through quality Leader Dogs, highly effective

client instruction and innovative services.”

Beginnings

The idea of Leader Dogs for the Blind began in 1938

when a member of the Uptown Detroit Lions Club was

unable to obtain a guide dog from another source.

Three members of the Uptown Lions led the Club in

establishing a new school to train guide dogs. The first

student/guide dog teams graduated in the fall of 1938.

Students from that first class were housed in a Detroit

hotel.

The First Campus

In April 1939, the Uptown Lions incorporated the “Lions

Leader Dog Foundation” as a non-profit Michigan

organization. The Foundation leased an old farm in

Rochester, Michigan, from which to operate the new

endeavor. There was a house for students and staff

and a barn for the dogs. The first official class of Lions

Leader Dog Foundation graduated in October 1939.

“Lions” Removed from Name

In 1940, the name was changed to “Leader Dog League

for the Blind.” The Lions International Board of Directors

requested the word “Lions” be removed from the name

because the Board had not sanctioned official support.

Melvin Jones Endorsement

Leader Dogs continued to grow and in 1958 Melvin

Jones, Lions Club founder, gave Leader Dogs his

personal endorsement.

Today’s Campus

Today, 75 years after the founding of Leader Dogs, over

270 clients per year attend the 26-day training program

to be partnered with a guide dog.

Leader Dogs for the Blind — History

Page 3 The Lion’s Roar April 2014

The organization has a modern residence facility with

private rooms for students and instructors, a kennel and

veterinary clinic, and a training center in downtown

Rochester that allows easy access to residential and city

environments.

Lions Club Support

A 2,200 pound life-size statue of a lion, the four-legged

kind, stands in front of the Rochester Hills campus.

Installed in 1972, the statue speaks to the Lions’ whole-

hearted support of Leader Dogs for the Blind.

Source: http://www.leaderdog.org

A Guide Dog Story

A lady was eating lunch in a restaurant. Her

guide dog was lying under the table with his

head facing out, just as she had placed him.

A piece of bacon fell from a plate carried by a

passing waitress and landed right in front of the

dog’s nose. The dog quickly crossed both front

paws over his muzzle, as if to resist the temp-

tation. He remained in that position until the

bacon was removed.

All guide dogs receive specialized training in

staying on task, but isn’t this exceptional

discipline, though?

[Told to Carolyn Meyer by a student whose

guide dog is the star of this story.]

A Jazz Duo and “War and Innocence”

Page 4 The Lion’s Roar April 2014

Edmonds Lions enjoyed two superb programs in

March. The first left us with tapping toes and wishing

for more. The second filled us with loving admiration

for the indomitable spirit of the Norwegian people

during the harsh German regime of World War II.

A Jazz Duo

At the March 10 meeting, two young men from the

highly acclaimed Edmonds/Woodway High School

Jazz Ensemble treated the Club to a twenty-five

minute concert. They played classic jazz, traditional

jazz, and closed with some lively funky jazz.

Drummer Rahul Matthew is a junior at Edmonds/

Woodway High School. Guitarist Mason Fagan is a

sophomore. Both have been playing for over ten

years.

These well-mannered, mature young men have

ambitious plans for the future. Rahul plans to be an

accountant when he finishes his schooling. Mason

aspires to be an astro-physicist and also would like to

play classical bass with a symphony orchestra.

War and Innocence

The March 24th meeting

brought us Hanna Aasvik

Helmersen, author of War and

Innocence: A Young Girl’s

Life in Occupied Norway

(1940-1945).

Hanna was 8 years old when

the German occupation of

Norway started; she was 13

when it ended. Her family was

one of many that fled their

homes, becoming refugees in

their own country.

During the brutal, five-year

regime, the Nazi party

infiltrated every part of society,

but they did not succeed in “nazifying” Norway.

Although the sounds and acts of war marked the citizens

of Norway for life, they never doubted that Norway would

be victorious. Hanna’s book shows how, “under harsh

circumstances, ordinary people could lead both

ordinary—and extraordinary—lives.”

Hanna wrote War and Innocence in response to her

children’s requests to “Tell about when you were little.

Tell about the war in Norway.”

She immigrated to the United States in 1957. She is a

Physical Therapist and has practiced her profession in

four countries—Denmark, Norway, Pakistan, and the

United States. She lives in the Seattle, Washington area.

The heights by great men reached and kept

Were not attained by sudden flight,

But they, while their companions slept,

Were toiling upward in the night.

—Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Rahul and Mason play funky jazz for Edmonds Lions

Hanna Aasvik Helmersen

Saturday Morning Lions

&

Monday Morning Lions

Page 5 The Lion’s Roar April 2014

The Saturday morning fellowship group meets the

third Saturday of every month from 9 to 10.

The Monday morning group meets every Monday

from 10 to 11.

Location for both: Waterfront Café (The Eatery)

underneath Arnie’s Restaurant near the fishing dock.

Enjoy good conversation and a cup of coffee or, if you

wish, a hearty breakfast.

All are welcome.

Braille Menus for Edmonds Restaurants

Fifteen years ago, the Edmonds Lions Club launched a

program to provide braille menus for Edmonds restau-

rants. Fifteen enthusiastic restaurant managers chose

to participate. The Club will revisit this well-received

project in the coming months and provide fresh, new

braille menus for local eateries.

Each participating restaurant will receive two braille

copies of its menus. The restaurant will also be given a

print display sign informing the public of its braille

menus and of the Lions Club involvement.

Edmonds Lions Pat Meeker and Carolyn Meyer will

coordinate the project. Carolyn will do the braille

transcribing.

The Edmonds restaurant scene has changed since the

first braille menu project in 1999. We anticipate a busy

time filling menu requests from restaurants both old

and new throughout Edmonds.

A Braille Menu Story

A lady who is blind went to a Seattle

restaurant for lunch. When the manager

offered her a braille menu, she burst into

tears. It was the first time in her life she

had been given a menu she could read

for herself.

She quickly scanned the menu, placed her

order and asked the waitress to leave the

menu at the table.

The happy diner carefully read the menu from

beginning to end while she enjoyed her meal.

[Told by the manger of a restaurant for which

Carolyn prepared its first braille menus in the

early 1990s.]

Lions Spruce Up Sierra

Park for the Blind Saturday, March 15, was Community Service Day in

Edmonds. The Edmonds Lions did their part with a work

party at Sierra Park for the Blind.

Bob Moir, Brian Evans, Jim Forgey, Judy Forgey and

Tom Karchesy gathered at Sierra Park at 9 am to

remove overgrown holly and downed trees and give the

park an overall spring cleaning. Bobby Mills spent the

morning setting up forms for the concrete that will be

poured when the flag pole is installed.

To keep the park neat and clean throughout the spring,

summer and fall months, Sierra Park committee co-

chairs Bob Moir and Ed Soper plan to have a monthly

work party from now through fall. There will be a

volunteer sign up list at the Club meetings. Please let

Bob or Ed know you will be there.

January 20 Martin Luther King Day

February 17 Presidents’ Day

May 26 Memorial Day

June 14 Flag Day

July 4 Independence Day

September 1 Labor Day

September 11 Patriot Day

October 13 Columbus Day

November 4 General Election Day

November 11 Veterans Day

Baskets for Busy “B” Auction

Contact Bobby Mills or Tom Snyder to sign up for putting the flags out in the morning and/or

taking them down late afternoon.

2014 Flag Days

Page 6 The Lion’s Roar April 2014

Edmonds Lion Penny Sadis prepared two

tempting baskets for the 10th annual

District 19-B “Busy B Auction.”

The colorful baskets are labeled “Snack

Attack” and “Ice Cream Social.” They are

weighty and well-filled, just like a basket

for an auction should be.

The Busy B Auction was March 29 at the

Lake City Community Center. Proceeds

support publication of the District 19-B

newsletter.

Penny also prepared a raffle basket for the

District 19-B annual Spring Convention

April 4-5 at Smokey Point, Washington.

Page 7 The Lion’s Roar April 2014

Club Information

Meetings

Edmonds Lions Club meets the 2nd and 4th Mondays at Swedish/Edmonds Hospital Dinner at 6 pm. Meeting starts at 6:30 ..

No meetings in July and August.

No meeting the 4th Monday of December.

Board of Directors meets the 3rd Monday every

month except December at Swedish/Edmonds

Hospital. All members are welcome.

Contact Information Edmonds Lions Club

PO Box 178 Edmonds WA 98020

President: 425-778-0974 Membership: 425-774-6353

Website

Edmonds Lions: www.edmondslions.org Lions International: www.lionsclub.org

Facebook www.facebook.com/EdmondsLions

Officers 2013-2014

Bobby Mills ………….…...…………….President Bill Sommer .………………....1st Vice President Judy Forgey ……...………... 2nd Vice President Penny Sadis ...……..…..…………….. Secretary Tom Snyder ………….…..……..……. Treasurer Brian Evans …...……….…..………. Lion Tamer Bill Jarvis …….………….….………. Tail Twister Membership Chair ….. …………….. Jim Forgey Bulletin Editor …………………... Carolyn Meyer

Directors

1 Year 2 Year

Charles Brady Bill Baker Ed Soper Pat Meeker

Committees 2013-2014

Book Giveaway ...………….……...…...... Judy Forgey Christmas Dinner & Auction ..…….……...... Bill Baker County Fair Corn Booth ...………..…….. Tom Snyder Eyeglass Recycling ……….……... Jim & Judy Forgey Flag Project ……………... Bobby Mills & Tom Snyder Flower Program ………….………..…….. Judy Forgey Food Bank Raffle ………...Jim Forgey & Vern Woods Holiday Baskets …………….….. Deanne Bilsborough Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade ...……..….. Tom Snyder Program ………………………….….…. Charles Brady Scholarships Carol Robinson & Deanne Bilsborough Sierra Park Clean Up …..………Bob Moir & Ed Soper Sunshine ………………………….…........Claudia Mills Taste of Edmonds ………………….…….Vern Woods Website ………….……...Cameron & Hans Thompsen White Cane Days ……………………….. Vern Woods

Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much

—Helen Keller

Eyeglasses and Hearing Aids Recycling

Recycle your old eyeglasses and

hearing aids!

Check the Club website for a list

of 15 locations in the Edmonds

area that have collection boxes

for used glasses and hearing

aides.

www.edmondslions.org/projects/glasses

and hearing aids collection boxes