Press Release
– October 1, 2008
Article by Kathy Preppernau/Photos Robin Waters
As
the Lions Club begins the fall season under the leadership
of new president Hal “Paco” Clark, the club
continues to grow by leaps and bounds towards Paco’s
goal of 100 members by the end of his term. In the month
of September we inducted 5 new members and have received
applications from several future members adding to our
membership of 90 at this time. This growth is exciting
as we continue to serve the needs of the community of
San Felipe.
Some of our fundraising projects such as our Penny Press
sales have continued through the summer and as the season
begins we now get into full swing. “The Paws”
food wagon will the serving breakfast every Saturday
morning at the Cachanilla Swap meet and will be at the
Pete’s Camp Poker Run on October 11th serving
breakfast early in the day then hotdogs and hamburgers,
popcorn and snow cones later. Look for “The Paws”
food wagon at many upcoming events this season.
“The
Lions Club Turkey Trot Poker Walk” will be
held on November 15th this year and Trotters will visit
6 bars. Tickets are available at all participating bars,
Fandangos, Bar Miramar, Fat Boys, Bandidos, Beach Comer
and the Light House as well as from Lions Club members.
The tickets are $25 or $250 pesos each and will include
a drink at each bar (choice of a margarita, beer, soda
or $1.00 off a bar drink), your playing cards at each
location and a Spaghetti Dinner. The dinner will be
donated by Cliff and Sues Los Arcos Restaurant and will
be served from “The Paws” food wagon in
front of Fandangos after the Trot. For those “Trotters”
who want to enhance their chances, you will be able
to purchase one extra card at your stop at Fat Boys.
Door prizes, including frozen turkeys will be given
away so you don’t want to miss the “Turkey
Trot Poker Walk” on November 15th. You may just
take home your Thanksgiving Turkey or maybe you’ll
be the Lucky Winner this year.
Our biggest fundraising event of the year, the 3rd
annual “Blues & Arts Festival”, is already
scheduled. This will again be, The “Event of the
Season” for San Felipe. The Lions Club has been
working on this event since the close of last years
successful “Fiesta” and this one will be
even bigger and better, Blues & Arts lovers. Great
bands, more artists and more fun. So mark your calendars
now for March 28, 2009.
These fundraising events and our smaller ones as well,
help us to help the people in need in our community.
The Lions Club and our main project, “The Sonshine
Hacienda”, have grown together in this past year.
The Sonshine Hacienda is a special needs work in progress
to provide a home for children at risk because of abuse,
neglect, abandonment or who have been orphaned. Pastor
Gary Lewis, now vice president of the Lions Club, and
his wife, Karen, head up this mission. When the project
is finished it will provide a home for 50 children and
help them to grow to be physically, mentally and spiritually
stronger. Many donations for this mission have come
directly from our generous Lions Club members and from
other Lions Clubs in the US and Canada. $1,000 from
the proceeds of the Turkey Trot Poker Walk will go to
benefit the Sonshine Hacienda as well.
The
Flying Samaritans is another project that the Lions
Club is proud to be working with. This group of dedicated
doctors, nurses and pilots fly here 3 times a year to
give of their time and expertise, at their own expense,
to help those in need in our community. Last week Lions
members registered 44 patients who were then seen by
Doctor Marquez with the assistance of local nurse, Blanc
Hafcamp for prescreening at Central de Salud. On Friday
the Flying Sam Doctors and nurses will see those patients
selected and on Saturday will perform Orthopedic Surgery
to help those with the greatest needs. We will also
continue our Eye Glass Clinic’s to provide sight
to those in need. Our first one will be announced soon.