January 4, 2006 Newsletter

LIONS CLUB OF UNION CITY NEWSLETTER
NO. 7  January 4, 2006

REPORT ON BOARD MEETING OF DECEMBER 12, 2005

Lions in attendance were Carol Dutra Vernaci, Tony Acosta, Helen Kennedy, Jim Navarro, Fely Fernandez Kwan, Ken Buffum,  Cathie Kelley, and Ed Xavier.

Jude Baldo, Assistant coach for JLHS Forensics, appeared on behalf of Tommie Lindsay and reported on the accomplishments of the past year of the Forensics program. They won the prestigious Glenbrooks tournament in Chicago.  Our club has $500.00 budgeted to support this program and this amount will be given to the program.

Our Club level Student Speaker’s contest will be held on February 15, 2006, at 7:00 p.m. The topic this year is “The internet: Friend or Villain.”  Lion Regis Amann will chair this event and Forensics will again participate.  Volunteers are needed.

The Board conducted a post mortem of the Al Roderigues Senior Citizens Thanksgiving Dinner.  We need to speed up the food service, perhaps by adding a second serving line from the kitchen.

Winterfest: We received a donation of $300.00 from US Cold Storage and gift donations from Wilson Sporting Goods.  This allowed us to make a small profit from our auction items.  Lion Glo purchased the beautiful tree and reindeer that she created for the Lions’ Club entry.  Lion President Carol purchased the gift basket.  The Leos were a big help serving the food for the event. A large group of Leos participated.

JANUARY CLUB MEETINGS
Our two meetings in January are field trips.  The January 12 evening meeting is a field trip with dinner at the Masonic Home.  We will need RSVPs from members who intend to attend.  We will also have a visit from candidate for Vice District Governor, David Kory, that evening.  The January 26 lunch meeting will be a tour of the new Alma Via facility followed by lunch at the facility.

January 16, 2006, Oakland Blind Center Dinner: Our club is set to serve dinner at the Oakland Blind Center on January 16.  Lion Jim Navarro will coordinate.  Five or six volunteers are needed.

Crisis Intervention: Last month we donated $500.00 to this worthwhile program.  Lion President Carol also helped them to arrange space in the new Washington Hospital Clinic building on Alvarado Niles Road for their use.  They will be able to provide child care during the parenting classes.  

REPORT ON CLUB CHRISTMAS PARTY ON DECEMBER 8, 2005
A good time was had by all.  Extra thanks go to Lion Diane LaMountaine and to her husband Steve Miller, for their generosity as hosts of this event.  Many Lions and friends enjoyed a pot luck dinner at the Miller/LaMountaine home.  There was plenty of cheer to go around.  We even attempted some carols.   

A MODEST PROPOSAL
Marjorie and I spent Christmas in Santa Fe, New Mexico, and observed how the residents on that part of New Mexico celebrate Christmas.  Santa Fe, Albuquerque, and Taos, all have a Plaza with a church either on the Plaza or very near by.  The Plazas are lighted and festivities (carols, etc) take place on the Plaza on Christmas eve.  New Mexicans also do something which I do not think will work here - they have candles in paper bags that are weighted down with sand and are lit.  The candles outline the plaza and neighboring properties and are very attractive.

Here in Union City we have an attractive Plaza in Alvarado.  Old Saint Anne’s church is a block off the Plaza. Can we begin a tradition of our own in town?  One that involves decorating the Plaza with lights and holding events on Christmas eve and perhaps on New Years’ eve?  Do we risk wrapping Winterfest into this tradition?  Is it too risky to make Winterfest an outdoor event?  Are we ready to start a holiday tradition of our own in Union City? MASONIC HOME VISIT:

We will hold our January 12, 2006, meeting at the Masonic Home in Union City.  Our program will be a tour of Masonic Home with our dinner being served in the auditorium.  More details will be announced later. 

ALMA VIA VISIT
Our January 26, 2006, meeting will be held at Alma Via of Union City.  Lion Lydia Hertzler will conduct a tour of the facility and lunch will be arranged at the facility.  More details will be announced later. 

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

• January 9, 2006: Board of Directors meeting at City Hall at 7:00 P.M.
• January 12, 2006: Dinner meeting at the Masonic Home in Union City.  Details to be announced.
• January 16, 2006: Serve dinner at Oakland Advisory Board meeting in Oakland.
• January 26, 2006: Lunch meeting at Alma Via of Union City with Lion Lydia Hertzler
• February 9, 2006: Charter night, Valentine’s dinner.
• February 15, 2006: Student Speakers’ Contest at James Logan High School.
• February 23, 2006: Noon meeting. Relay for Life.
• March 9, 2006: Dinner meeting.  Lion Larry Cheeves will give the City Manager’s state of the city report.

VISIT OUT WEB SITE
Did you know that our club maintains a web site?  Lion Bruce Davis is our webmaster.  Visit our website at www.unioncitylions.com.  Lion Bruce does a superb job with our web site.  See, you have a web site and lion Bruce does all the work.  Thanks Lion Bruce. 

MEMBERSHIP DRIVE
Remember that the club will treat a prospective new member to their first lunch or dinner as our guest.  This gives people an opportunity to visit us and see if they have an interest in our club without incurring any financial obligation.  You also get to invite a friend to lunch and have that lunch paid for by the club.  Such a deal.
 
SUNSHINE REPORT
I have nothing to report in this newsletter. See you soon.