SAN PEDRO LIONS CLUB-- 82 YEARS OF COMMITMENT <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><> August 19, 2004 Calendar August 19th - 12:10 pm - Regular meeting. Antes Restaurant, 729 South Palos Verdes St., San Pedro, CA 90731. August 20th - 6:00 pm - Hot August Nights. The Plaza at Cabrillo Marina, 224 Whalers Walk, San Pedro, CA 90731 August 26th - 6:30 pm - Tri Club meeting with the Harbor City/Lomita and Wilmington Lions Clubs. 6:30 pm Social. 7:00 pm dinner. Antes Restaurant, 729 South Palos Verdes St., San Pedro, CA 90731. August 29th - 9:00am - Charity Downhill Races, Pt. Fermin Park, Gaffey St. and Paseo Del Mar, San Pedro, CA 90731. September 2nd - 12:10 pm - Regular meeting. Antes Restaurant, 729 South Palos Verdes St., San Pedro, CA 90731. September 9th - 7:00 pm - Board Meeting. - TBA September 16th - 12:10 pm - Regular meeting. Antes Restaurant, 729 South Palos Verdes St., San Pedro, CA 90731. September 23rd - 6:30 pm - Tri Club meeting with the Harbor City/Lomita and Wilmington Lions Clubs. 6:30 pm Social. 7:00 pm dinner. Antes Restaurant, 729 South Palos Verdes St., San Pedro, CA 90731. Hot August Nights Hot August Nights is this Friday, August 20th! If you haven't called Lion Wayne Bettis at 310-833-5261 with the number of tickets you have sold, so that he and Lion Julie may get an estimate of the number people attending, please do so today. Any items you may wish to donate for raffle prizes are still very welcome and can be dropped off at Lion Wayne Bettis's office at 350 West 5th St., Suite 205, San Pedro, CA 90731. If you wish to donate money to buy raffle items, you may drop the money off at Lion Wayne's office or mail it to Lion Julie Nicosia, 4020 Bluff Place, San Pedro, CA 90731. The evening's meal for Hot August Nights is again being specially prepared by Ante's Restaurant and will feature the great food Ante's is famous for. This year, as in the past, in addition to our local charities, Lions Project for Canine Companions for Independence will share in the proceeds. We are looking forward to a great event with great food, drink, fun and prizes. We'll see you this Friday, August 20th at Hot August Nights! Charity Downhill Race The Charity Downhill Race is on track and speeding for the finish line! This year's event will be the best ever. The Downhill Race Committee met on August 10th and reported there will be many new sponsors this year, an expanded larger and more colorful program, more race entries and there should be more show cars, vendors and great bands. Lion Eddie Keyse says that volunteers are needed to help with this years expanded event, please call Lion Eddie at 310-833-2444 and let him know how you are going to help. Its still not too late to sell any unsold raffle tickets, please sell them ASAP and send in the money to the Lions Downhill Race, 1901 S. Pacific Ave., San Pedro, and CA 90731. If you need more tickets to sell, please call Lion Eddie Keyse at the number above. See you at the race! Important Correspondence Lion Annette Ciketic sent in a wonderful letter regarding a young student helped by her, Lion Mike Weitzman and the Love Program. Lion Annette also included a very nice donation for the Love Program. The San Pedro Lions Club Board of Directors voted to add to Lion Annette's doantion and a total donation of $500 was made to the Love Program. The family of Lion Julian Hernandez sent a note of appreciation to the Club. The Wilmington Lions Club sent a sympathy card to the Club. All of the above correspondence has been included as an insert in this week's The Lions Tale. From the President's Computer Any written contributions for The Lions Tale will be truly appreciated. Please fax your material to 310-831-6076, email it to tomd@sanpedro.net or snail mail it to PO Box 470, San Pedro, CA 90733-0470. Thank you! Speakers are needed for both the noon and evening meetings. If you have any ideas or potential speakers, please call me at 310-831-6245 or email tomd@sanpedro.net Lion Tom Dorsey -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The family of Julian Hernandez acknowledges with deep appreciation your kind expression of sympathy 7-30-04 Dear Lions, These past few weeks have been so difficult after Julian's passing, but your expression of kindness, comforts our family. Your thoughtfulness is very much appreciated. Thank you for the beautiful flowers and your many members who attended the services. You all know how much you meant to Julian. He considered all of you his true friends. Thank you to all of you who came to see Julian in the last few months. He perked up so much whenever Wayne, Tom, Mike, George and Gojko came to see him. Eddie came too. He talked on and on about his wonderful experiences as a Lion. Our whole family cried when we read Mike Weitzman's comments in your newsletter. We love you. Fondly, Lupe and Family. --------------------------------------------------- Sorrow comes to all. Perfect relief is not possible, except with time. You cannot now realize that you will ever feel better .... and yet you are sure to be happy again. Abraham Lincoln May you find healing and strength, day after day. With Deepest Sympathy For your recent loss. Your friends at the Wilmington Lions Club -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- MARTINA'S STORY Four year old Martina Guggia cuddled her way up to my desk, as she often does, to give me her latest educational progress report. "I'm getting a promotion tomorrow! Wanna come?" "Oh, I'd love to come, Martina! What is the promotion?" "I am going to kindergarten!" "Martina, I knew you would; you know your address and telephone number, and all the colors, your birthday; you can spell your big beautiful name; you are so smart! I can hardly wait 'til tomorrow!" In fact it was bit bitter sweet to watch our once upon a time 2 year old, not a word of English immigrant Argentinian leave us for the "Big School". She was a sparkling joy in the classroom, alert, inquisitive, extremely social and welcoming the "new babies" on a daily basis. Her mother stood in the background with a tear in her eye that caught my heart. As Martina fluttered out the room to join her pals, I stopped the mother. "What's the matter?" "Oh, Annette, something is the matter with Martina. Her teacher says she has a big seeing problem and I should take her to a clinic." "Don't worry, Monica, I have one of my best friends who is an eye doctor. He will help us." "But, Annette, I am so angry with myself. How come I as a mother didn't see it sooner!" "You can not blame yourself, she is so bright and has made up for her problem by excelling in other areas. The good news is we are going to get to the bottom of it and Martina WILL see! She is only 4, she has her whole life ahead of her. She will see in kindergarten." I had prayed for a miracle right on the spot, then did the next best thing, called Dr. Michael Weitzman. "Michael, I have never asked you for a favor before, this time I come begging. There is a most precious little girl who needs your help. Her teacher says that as bright as she is, she cannot recognize the letters, she thinks she has a major sight problem." "Set it up, Annette, of course I will see her." As predicted, Dr. Weitzman diagnosed Martina with a severe condition, but also discovered that with ongoing visual correction and glasses she would be able to see. "Whatever it costs, Michael, this child is a keep... ." "Forget it, Annette you cannot afford what she will need. We will take her case to the Love Foundation. They may accept her." It is with sincere gratitude that I send a huge thank you to you, my, colleague Lion Members. Martina was accepted by the Lion's Love Foundation, and the family called me yesterday to tell me the good news. "Hello, Annette, this is Martina! I got new glasses! I can see everything is bigger now! I will come to show you soon. Now I can even see the stickers you gave me before!" "Great, Martina, stop by to show me and collect a bright new shiny sticker! Are you cute in your new glasses?" "Yes, now I can see that I am cute." Lion Annette Ciketic