River Hills Lions Club

The River Hills Lions Club has been busy in the first half of this Lions fiscal year (July 1 through December 31 2006. Let’s review the River Hills Lion’s Club activities, accomplishments and recognize those special volunteers who exemplify our motto “We Serve”.

The Program Committee of Chuck Beck, Fred Glickman and Dick Lewis continue to provide outstanding guest speakers. This included the Spratt/Norman Debate, WBT radio personality, Tara Servatious for the ladies at our Lioness/Lions Dinner and Governor Mark Sanford at our September breakfast.

Club members were presented the first documented Charitable Budget that included written description of each recipient’s justification. Thanks to Paul Boggs’ chaired committee of Gerry Orlick, Bonnie Hart and Neet Rounds with the approval of Club Board membership.

Benefit Drawing and Auctions-A record breaking charitable event to support the River Hills Emergency Squad. Thanks to the committee: Chairman Paul Boggs, Debbie Dagilus, Tom Stall, Jay Wolf, Ron Kraft, Pat Duffy, Jon Killian, Bob Daily, Barrett Smith, Bob Goddell, Tommy Houghton, R.J. Phillips. Special thanks for decorations by Cindy Kelly, Judy LoTruglio, Liz Mueller, Mary Ann Robinson, Marianne Lewis, Peggy Burley.

Community Service Project - River Hills Flu-Shot Administration at the church Life Center. Ben Rawls submitted the idea to the club and the River Hills Community Association. The following volunteers staffed the administration desk and assisted the recipients. Darla Lewis, Ed Mack, Bill Burgin, Pinky Funderburk, Jack Haher, Bob Hill, Bob Meeker, Pat Kirby, Russ Snader, Bob Ballard, Win Reese, Gene Stutz. We received many compliments from the community for a job well done.

USO Service Project- Arnie Bendet and family recruited Lions and local residents to assist at the USO Greeting Facility for service personnel and their families at the Charlotte-Douglas Airport.

The River Hills Lions Community Foundation received significant donations and future commitments in 2006 and reported they will plan on disbursing funds in 2007.  Thanks to the dedicated work of C.J. Nager, Dave Brown, Dona VanLeer, Ken Sanford, Bonnie Hart, Russ Leinbach, Paul Boggs, Posty Postweiler, Dick Lewis and Bruce Roberts.

Christmas Tree Sales- The team of Dagilus and Daily did it again. Under the leadership of captains Gene Stutz, Arnold Stone, Gus Sagos, Hank Gerald, R.J. Phillips and Bob Ballard we achieved another profitable and fun year at the YMCA “Horse Lot”. Thanks to over 78 volunteers and the beautiful weather, we sold out earlier than ever and made money on every tree and wreath. Special thanks to over 20 members who helped organize and set up the lot. Lion Iron Man Awards to Tom Dagilus and Lee Rowley for the post pounding duty.  R.J. Phillips, our man of all seasons, again provided many hours of work toward the success of this fund raising event. Many thanks to our own famous celebrity Lion Frank VanLeer who magically becomes Father Christmas for all the kids and grown ups too.  He alone makes this event one of our most worthwhile projects.

Holiday Party- Chairman: Donna Grove, Tom Grove Young McWhirter, Cary McWhirter, Neet Rounds. This committee has received many compliments for an enjoyable evening highlighted by the musical presentation of the children from the South Carolina School for the Deaf and the Blind. The dinner and dancing music by the Tom and Judy Gray of Top Hat Entertainment rounded out the fun evening in style.

All of the hard work along with the fun times have resulted in the River Hills Lions Club living up to our motto “We Serve”. At the Holiday Party we presented financial assistance to the following organizations: South Carolina School for the Deaf and the Blind, YMCA-Camp Thunderbird, and the River Hills-Lake Wylie Emergency Squad. We also crowned Jane Chislett as our well deserved Un-Sung Hero.
 

I thank all of you for your outstanding support in 2006. It was a very good year! Now, we need to continue working hard and get off to a fast start in 2007. First up is the important Directory Sales Program. In February we start the Juvenile Diabetes Campaign under the direction of Sandy Decker and Dona Van Leer. Then comes the Golf Tournament start up meetings in March. We are very thankful to have the experienced Don Meyer already working on this. Next I ask your support for the River Hills Lions Board there is always room for improvements and new ideas.  Let us hear from you, the door is always open, please give us your suggestions.
Sincerely,  Bob Daily