Newtown Lions  Schedule  May-June 2011

 

Sat. May 7                                            Americares type project

Mon. May 9, 2011                              Blood Drive

Wed.  May 11                                      Regular Meeting and Trull-Honan Awards

Sat. May 14                                          Flag Day/Summer Flag Presentation

Wed. May 18                                       Board of Directors Meeting

Wed. May 25                                       Regular Meeting

Sat. May 28                                          Great Pootatuck Duck Race and annual Lions picnic

Thurs. June 9                                        Hospice Breakfast

Sun. June 12                                         Ladies Night/Awards/Installation

Sat. June 25                                          Orchard Hill Cleanup

 

President’s Message

 Fellow Lions,

 

What a year this has been!  The time flew so fast I can hardly believe we are approaching the end of our Lions year. 

 

We have had some really amazing results:  Last October, we wrapped up a fantastic Mustang Raffle.  We sold almost 9,000 tickets and netted $55,000 for our charities and projects.  That was so far ahead of the previous record that it astonished everyone.  As a result, we were able to continue our donations at the same level as last year while funding a few new ones.

 

Two weeks after the Mustang Raffle, we had our first Great Pumpkin Race.  More than 200 people showed up to cheer on the racers, a sure sign that this event is a winner.  The race committee has plans for an even bigger event next year.  The race was set up primarily as a fun activity for the whole community.  It certainly exceeded expectations and holds promise of rivaling the Great Pootatuck Duck Race.

 

November brought record attendance at the Progressive Dinner.  The Holiday Dinner Dance and Valentine’s Day Dinner Dance were also very well attended.  In March, we packed Gary’s Rib House for St. Patrick’s Day.  It is obvious that we really enjoy wining and dining.

We kept up our usual support for charity all year and responded immediately when the tsunami  and earthquake struck Japan.  In January, we held a blood drive and set new records. Lose the Litter Day is growing.   Another blood drive  was held last Monday, May 9.  Last Saturday, May 6,  eleven Lions under the able direction of Jerry Cole helped out a very elderly Newtowner fix her house.  A new door was installed, special steps created and the whole kitchen was painted.   Our Club is surely  a shining example of our commitment to service.

 

Our 11th Great Pootatuck Duck Race is coming up very quickly.  Many of you have been out selling raffle tickets, even in cold and wet weather.  Last year’s race was an astounding success, with record ticket sales and a huge crowd.  That sets a pretty high standard for this year but we can do it if everyone does his fair share.

 

I wanted to share some more good news with you.  You will remember that we voted to establish a charitable foundation to be called the Newtown Lions Club Foundation, Inc.  The objective is to obtain 501(c)(3) status with the IRS.  Once we have IRS approval, donations made to the foundation will be tax deductible and we can apply to the State of Connecticut for a sales tax exemption.  The first step in the process was to get approval from Lions International.  We received it in February.  Next we applied to be incorporated in the state.  We just received approval of our application from the Secretary of State.  We are now working on our IRS applications.  This process takes a while but will greatly benefit the Club in the future.

 

Let’s keep our momentum going.  Help out selling Duck Race and Mustang tickets.  Our fundraisers enable us to continue to serve our community.  Also, reach out to your friends, business associates, fellow church members and any other service minded people and show them what a great Club we have here in Newtown.

 

I want to congratulate our new Club Officers and Board Members on their election.  Good luck for your new term.

 

Proud to be a Lion,

 

Walt

 

-Odd Ball Signs

In an office:

            Toilet out of order . . . use floor below.

 

In a London department store:

            Bargain basement upstairs.

 

Put outside a second hand store:

We exchange anything, bicycles, washing machines etc.  Why not bring your husband along and get a wonderful bargain?

 

On a repair shop door:

We can repair anything.  Please knock hard on the door (as the bell doesn’t work.)

 

Notice in a farmer’s field:

            The farmer allows walkers to cross the field for free, but the bull charges.

 

                                               

    NEWTOWN LIONS CLUB 2011/2012 OFFICERS

 

 

President                                                         Ray Keegan

1st Vice President                                            Edwin Miklaszewski

2nd Vice President                                           Jim Manville

3rd Vice President                                            George Arfaras

Secretary                                                         Doug Body

Administrative Treasurer                                Peter McNulty

Project Treasurer                                             Kevin Corey

Tail Twister                                                     Gary Fillion

Cub Tail Twister                                             Gordon Williams

Lion Tamer                                                      Stan Wyslick

Cub Lion Tamer                                              Denny McLaughlin

Directors – 1 year                                            Frank Delucia

                                                                        Skip Sims

Directors – 2 years                                          Ryan Henry

                                                                        Doug Hensal

Toastmaster                                                     Paul Krueger

Immediate Past President                               Walter Schweikert

 

 

Doings of the Pride

 

            All of our snow birds have returned, generally reporting good weather and good times.  Bruce and Jane Landgrebe had similar comments but their holiday was a little different than most for it was a working vacation  Seems Bruce has an elderly and frail aunt in Florida who truly needed  their help so the Landgrebes spent much of their time cooking, cleaning and fixing things. . . .Charlie Godfrey spent  a delightful week  with his son, Kenny, his wife and children, on tiny undeveloped Water Isle.  It was a homecoming of a sort for Charlie because he and his wife, Judy honeymooned here.   . . .Peter McNulty has also been traveling.  He, his wife and two daughters, spent the Easter weekend with his father in Florida.  Soon he will hit the road again, traveling to Washington to see his younger daughter graduate. . . .Tomorrow Paul Arneth departs for a week long boat tour of the Rhine River starting in Basel and ending in Amsterdam.   Paul’s
 sail boat has had a major altercation.  Seems last October in one of the violent wind storms we have had the  boat in the  next dock broke loose from its mooring and bashed into his over and over again throughout the night.  You can imagine what kind of damage a 10,000 pound boat could do.  To repair the damage it will cost about $22,000.  Fortunately, the man whose boat was the aggressor has good insurance. Many days you can find Paul down at the marina tinkering away.. . . President Schweikert has successfully come through two cataract operations, only a week apart.    Though his eyes are not those of a twenty year old, he is seeing much better. with colors being brighter and his right eye being almost 20-20.  Bob Virgalla has had a serious operation.  Fifteen years ago he had to have surgery to remove a pituitary tumor in his brain.  Over the time it has grown back so he has had to have the same operation again.  I’m sure he’d

appreciate a call or a card.  If you want an amazing story and the bare facts ask Jon Christensen for his bear in the back yard story. . . . Finally, congratulations are due to Doug Hensal  for his Newtown Savings Bank advancement.  Hired as an electronic banking manager in 2007, he has recently been promoted to vice president of retail banking. 

 

Book Review by Bill Denlinger

The Wrecker by Clive Cussler and Justin Scott

 

The book club I belong to recently read a thriller entitled The Wrecker by Clive Cussler and Justin Scott.  The book revolves around attempts in 1907 to sabotage Southern Pacific Railroad lines both actively in use and under construction. The evildoer, the "wrecker", is brilliant, ruthless, and deadly, with the ability to appear from nowhere and sabotage at his pleasure. Fortunately there exists a brilliant, wholesome and equally deadly detective named Bell, who is sent after the wrecker by his employer. The good guy prevails, but not until after many hours of pleasurable reading.

 

Our book club was extremely lucky to have Justin Scott, a Newtown Resident, as a guest for our discussion of the book. Mr. Scott is an award winning writer of mysteries and thrillers. Among Mr. Scott’s works are the Ben Abbott mysteries which are more or less based on Newtown. I suggest you read them and try to pick out local people and places.

 

Best selling author Clive Cussler approached Mr. Scott and suggested they collaborate on a book (The Wrecker). Mr. Scott explained how collaborative writing works for both parties and how much he enjoyed working with Mr. Cussler. They have since collaborated on and published a second book, The Spy, and have other books in the works.

 

The Farmer and the Older Woman

 

A forty- five year old farmer stopped by the local mechanics shop to have his truck fixed but it was going to take some time so he decided to walk home.  On the way home he stopped at the hardware store and bought a bucket and a gallon of paint.  He then stopped by the feed store and picked up a couple of chickens and a goose.  However struggling outside the store he wondered how to carry his entire purchase home.

 

While he was scratching his head he was approached by an older lady who told him she was lost and asked the directions to Mockingbird Lane.  The farmer said,  “ Well, as a matter of fact, my farm is very close to that street I would walk you there but I can’t carry this lot.  The older woman suggested, “Why don’t you put the can of paint in the bucket.  Carry the bucket in one hand, put a chicken under each arm and  carry the goose in your other hand?”  “Why thank you very much,” he said and proceeded to walk the older lady to her destination.

 

On the way he said, “Let’s just take my short cut and go down this alley.  We’ll be there in no time.”  The older lady looked him over cautiously than said, “I am a lonely widow without a husband.  How do I know that when we get in the alley you won’t hold me up against the wall, pull up my skirt and have your way with me?”  The farmer was amazed and said, “Holy smokes lady!  I’m carrying a bucket, a gallon of paint, two chickens and a goose.  How in the world could I possibly hold you up against the wall and do that?”  The older lady replied, “Set the goose down, cover him with the bucket, put the paint on top of the bucket, and I’ll hold the chickens.”

 

 

Focus on Our Wives

 

            You’ve frequently seen her name in the Newtown Bee.  This week it’s in and last week there was a picture of her.  She is peripatetic, just about everywhere,  In fact, she might as well live in Newtown as she is here so much, instead of in Monroe where she actually resides.  “She” is JoAnne Bruno, wife of Greg, mother of two boys and a girl and five grandchildren whom she loves, babysits and goes to their games.   A former secretary, realtor, world book encyclopedia salesperson, JoAnne is retired, although she laughs about that commenting  that she is as busy today as she was when working and raising children.   JoAnne’s main volunteer activity today is the Newtown Women’s Club and she is its current vice president. Used to holding office, at one time she was president of the Wilton’s Women’s Club.  She also belongs to two book clubs and is active in St. Jude’s Catholic Church in Monroe.  An old adage states that if you want something done who better to ask than a busy person.  That surely applies to cheerful, busy JoAnne.  

 

           

 

           

                                    Exercise for People Over Fifty

 

Begin by standing on a comfortable surface, where you have plenty of room at each side.

 

With a five pound potato bag in each hand, extend your arms straight out from your sides and hold them there as long as you can.  Try to reach a full minute, and then relax.  Each day you’ll find that you can hold this position for just a bit longer.  After a couple of weeks, move up to  ten pound potato bags.

 

Keep working and you will continue to strengthen.  Eventually try fifty pound potato bags and then try to get to where you can lift a one hundred potato bag in each hand and hold your arms straight for more than a full minute.

 

After you feel confident at that level, put a potato in each bag.