The LIONS TALE
Official monthly publication of the Lions Club of Butler, Pennsylvania
Serving others since 1923
Liberty ∙ Intelligence ∙ Our Nations Safety
“WE SERVE”
President:
1st Vice President:
2nd Vice President:
3rd Vice President:
Secretary:
Treasurer:
Douglas Hayes
John Houston
Barry Flecken
Mary Anne Kristophel
Michael Winkler
Thomas Faller
SEPTEMBER 20 — MAY
1st & 3rd Tuesdays - 6:30 p.m.
Butler Blind Association
322 North Cedar Street
BOARD MEETINGS
4th Tuesday - 6:30 p.m.
Butler Blind Association
JUNE — SEPTEMBER 6
1st & 3rd Tuesdays - 6:30 p.m.
Alameda Park Lions Shelter
BOARD MEETINGS
3rd Tuesday following meeting
March 2016
First Meeting in March: Will be March 1 at the Butler Blind Association, starting at 6:30 p.m. Our program
will be presented by Lion Meghan Lucas; she will be talking to us about the Potter Baseball Tour and the
Cure Search Hike.
Second Meeting in March: Will be March 15 at the Butler Blind Association, starting at 6:30. Our speaker
will be Josh Taylor (Lion Art’s nephew). He will be talking about his mission trip experiences to Honduras
the last two years.
March Board Meeting: Will be held on March 22 at the Blind Association, starting at 6:30. All board
members are expected to attend; non-board members are always welcome.
Bench Raffle: The drawing for the bench and table was done during our February 16 meeting. The bench
builder, Seth Wenzel and his mother, Lisa, were our guests at the meeting. Seth was asked to pull the
winning ticket; he pulled Lion Bob Baron’s ticket! We made $572 on the raffle. The board decided to donate
$292 of that to the Blind Association; $200 to Leader Dogs for the Blind (kennel project) and $80 to pay for a
pair of glasses for a lady who could not afford to pay for them. Our thanks to Lion Shawn Paup for bringing
this idea to us; mentoring Seth; and promoting the raffle in many locations. We also thank Seth for the
excellent job he did building the bench and table and we wish him all the best in his future endeavors. Job
well done!!
Highlights from the February 23 Board Meeting: The board approved the following administrative account
transactions: $30 to place an ad in the Lions state convention program and $455.50 for printing of the club’s
new pamphlet. Approved the following public activities account transactions; paid for optical services for 2
individuals $128 and $550 for a PA Lions’ Beacon Lodge Campership.
Thank Yous: Were received as follows:
 Candle, Inc. Reality Tour for our $100 donation
 Butler Meals on Wheels for our $200 donation

Community Health Clinic of Butler County for our $100 donation
PA System that was in the Cabinet at the Blind Association: Has been removed and given to the Blind
Association to sell on their EBay store. We will split the proceeds of the sale 50/50 with the Blind
Association.
Nomination Committee: Chaired by Lion Bill Hetrick submits the following slate of officers for the 20162107 Lions year:
President: John Houston
Membership Chair: Richard Cox
1st VP: Barry Flecken
Tale Twister:
nd
2 VP:
Lion Tamer: Shawn Paup
3rd VP: Dorothy Lascuola
Director 2 years: George Bonnett, Daniel Smith,
Secretary: Michael Winkler
Carolyn Winkler
Treasurer: Thomas Faller
Director 1 year: Russell Moore, Steven Bonnett,
Immediate Past President: Douglas Hayes
Richard Schwab
The election of officers will be held at our April 5 meeting.
Butler County Youth Field Day: Will be held on June 4 at the Butler Hunting and Fishing Club. Contact Lion
John Hertzog if you are available to help with this event.
Fundraising All the Time: It seems like we are always doing something to raise money. I’ve even heard it
said “we have too many fundraisers!” Where does the money go? I’ve got some answers; between January
2015 through February 2016, we helped 35 area residents (5 of them children) obtain eye exams and
eyeglasses at a cost of $4,150. When we donate to the Salvation Army or Leader Dogs for the Blind, our
money goes to an organization (great organizations!); but, we do not know about those they help. With the
optical support, we have the individuals’ names and their names personalize the donation. Such as Rheanna,
a high school student who hadn’t had an eye exam in years; she was wearing glasses she got as a grade
schooler. Not only were they not providing her with the proper vision; they were very outdated. Certainly
the need for an appropriate eyeglasses prescription is vital; but, for a high school student appropriate
looking eyewear may even be more important than seeing properly! So, for $177 we were able to help
Rheanna. Then there is Bryceton, he is 11 years old. He has a very difficult eyeglasses prescription. His
mother has insurance which required her to take her son to a provider in Wexford. When all was tallied up;
she still owed a considerable amount for her son’s exam and eyeglasses. We were there to help her by
paying $173 toward that bill. There are 32 other Butler area individuals who we helped. They are people
and they have lives. We (Butler Lions) have helped them make their lives a little better. I can’t imagine being
in a situation where you have to choose between paying your utilities and getting food or getting and eye
exam and eyeglasses. Obviously, the first two win out! I didn’t mention the Blind Association client we
helped by buying upgraded software for his computer at $175 or the $150 of food vouchers we donated at
Christmas for Blind Association clients. Or, our $1,000 sponsorship of the Blind Association’s Harvest Moon
fundraiser event or the $1,000 we donated to the many worthwhile programs through the District
Governor’s projects. There is no doubt that for us to help others, we have to have money. Without it we
cannot be there for those who need us. Our efforts do make a difference! As IPP/1st VDG Linda states all the
time..Lions are relevant!!
April Fool Sausage: Our spring sausage sale is now on! The cost of the sausage will remain the same as last
Fall, $3.50 a pound; and we have the three varieties: sage, hot and salt and pepper. Orders are due to Lion
George by March 28. Sausage packing will be April 1, starting at noon at Miller’s Meats. Order pickup at the
Blind Association will be April 2, from 8:00-10:00 a.m.
District Calendar Fundraiser: The district is again running the calendar fundraiser. The calendar is for the
whole month of May. The winning number is based on the 3 digit PA lottery evening drawing. The cost of a
calendar ticket is $10. The prizes are $100 , May 1 – 25; except May 15 is $500; May 26 – 30 the prize is $200
and on May 31 (Lion Dorothy’s birthday) the prize is $1,000. Contact Lion Wink if you would like a ticket or
two or more!
New Butler Lions Club Pamphlet: Has been made up and printed. They are available in our cabinet at the
Blind Association. A big thank you to Lion John Houston for doing most of the work on this new pamphlet.
Say Cheese: Lion Steve is once again involved with the cheese fundraiser. There are numerous cheese
choices. He needs the orders by March 11 and the money by March 15. Contact Lion Steve for more details.
Vision Screenings: Lions Linda and Jennifer provided a very interesting and informative presentation on
vision screenings, particularly for children at our last meeting. Many eye issues in children are not detected
until they are older and then it can be too late to correct. Our Lions district has submitted a grant request to
Lions Clubs International Foundation (LCIF). If the grant is approved, there will be funding to purchase 4 of
the latest technology vision screeners (a camera). The plan is to have one of the vision screeners in Butler
County; most likely it would be kept at the Blind Association. Lion Jennifer advised that the Blind
Association currently does vision screenings, however, they do not use technology but use a manual card
system. With our club stepping up and helping with the vision screenings, we will be able to compliment and
expand the program the Blind Association is providing now. A win-win-win for the Blind Association, our
club and the community! There is probably nothing more Lion than performing vision screenings!! We hope
that all Lions agree that this is a very worthy venture and will offer some of their time to help make the
vision screenings a Butler Lions Club signature project. Because we will have interaction with children when
we do these screenings, we must have a clearance through the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania; that means
you will have to fill out some paperwork. The paperwork is not complicated and there is no cost to a
volunteer. Lions Carolyn and Wink have the clearance forms. They will provide them to anyone who wants
them. Completed forms can be returned to them and they will mail them to the appropriate agencies. These
screenings give us the vehicle to change people’s lives!
April 19 Meeting: Will be held at the Blind Association starting at 6:30. Our program that night will be John
Cyprian, Director of Butler County Veterans Services. He will talk about the services his office provides and
the first Butler County 1,000 veteran march on June 14.
Play Ball: We will once again sponsor a team in the Butler Township Baseball Association. We will post the
schedule as soon as we have it.
Another Kathy: We welcome our newest member, Kathryn (Kathy) Venditto to our club!! Lion Kathy is
sponsored by Lion Linda Gibala. Welcome Lion Kathy!
Food Drive: We are holding a food drive for the Butler Salvation Army in the months of March and April.
Please bring your food items to the Blind Association. Contact Lion Dan Smith or Lion Sue Garris if you have
any questions.
Mother’s Day Roses: We are going to sell Mother’s Day roses again this year. A dozen roses are $20. Orders
are due to Lions Barry Flecken or John Houston by April 20. We will be buying the roses from the Little
Beaver Lions Club for $10 a dozen. We will be making $10 a dozen; so, if every member would sell just 2
dozen roses, we will make almost $1,000!!!
Happy birthday to the following Lions celebrating a birthday in March:
Ken Garris (7)
Jennifer Bindernagel (19)
Bill Hetrick (29)
CALENDAR
MARCH
1: 6:30 Membership meeting, Blind Association;
Program: Lion Meghan Lucas, Potter Baseball and
The Cure Search Hike
13: Daylight savings time begins (spring forward)
15: 6:30 Membership meeting, Blind Association;
Program: Josh Taylor’s mission trips to Honduras
17: Happy St. Patrick’s Day!
20: First day of spring!!
22: 6:30 Board meeting, Blind Association
27: Happy Easter!
28: Sausage orders are due to Lion George
APRIL
1: Noon sausage packing at Miller’s Meats
2: 8-10:00 am sausage pickup at Blind Association
5: 6:30 Membership meeting, Blind Association
Election of officers
16: 7:00 am Adopt-A-Highway, Trinity Lutheran
Church
19: 6:30 Membership meeting, Blind Association;
Program: John Cyprian, Director Butler County
Veterans Services
20: Rose orders due to Lion John Houston or
Lion Barry Flecken
23: 1:30 District 14-N cabinet meeting #4 at the
Butler Blind Association.
23: 5:30 District 14-N Spring Convention at the
Atrium
26: 6:30 Board meeting, Blind Association
29-May 1: Beacon Lodge work weekend
MAY
3: 6:30 Membership meeting, Blind Association
5: 7-9:00 p.m. rose order pickup at the Blind
Association
8: Happy Mother’s Day
17: 6:30 Membership meeting, Blind Association
19-22: PA Lions State Convention at Wyomissing
21: Butler master gardeners spring market, Alameda
Park
24: 6:30 Board meeting, Blind Association
JUNE
4: Butler County youth field day
7: 6:30 Membership meeting, Butler Lions Shelter
Alameda park. Installation of officers. Spouse/friend
night
11: 7:00 am Adopt-A-Highway, Trinity Lutheran
Church
19: Happy Father’s Day
21: 6:30 Membership meeting, Butler Lions Shelter
Alameda park. Board meeting to follow
Membership meeting
24-28: LCI convention, Fukuoka, Japan
JULY
4: Happy birthday, U.S.A.
5: 6:30 Membership meeting, Butler Lions Shelter
Alameda park.
17: PA Lions appreciation day at PA Lions Beacon
Lodge Camp
19: Potter baseball tour in Butler
19: 6:30 Membership meeting, Blind Association,
Hosting Blind Association’s clients dinner social
26: 6:30 Board meeting, Blind Association
Other Club Officers:
Director, 1 year:
Debbie Hayes
Gary Miller, Sr.
Dan Smith
Director, 2 years:
Russ Moore
Steve Bonnett
Dick Schwab
IPP:
Linda Gibala
Membership Chair: Neil Ashbaugh
Tail Twister:
Carolyn Winkler
Lion Tamer:
Shawn Paup
Presidential Appointments
Chaplain: Barry Flecken
Asst. Secretary:
Asst. Treasurer: Richard Schwab
Historian: Sam Oesterling
Photographer:
Asst. Tale Editor: John Houston
Mystery Greeter: Carolyn Winkler
Parliamentarian: Sam Oesterling
Web Master: John Houston
2015-2016 Butler Lions Club Committees
1st Vice President John Houston
Community
Betterment/Environment
2nd Vice President Barry Flecken
Vision & Hearing/Diabetes
Awareness
3rd Vice President Mary Anne
Kristophel
Food
Programs/Social/Visitations
Membership/Leadership
Neil Ashbaugh*
Rich Cox
Linda Gibala
Public Relations/Trailer/Float
Fundraising
Youth Outreach
*chairperson
Lion of the Year
Russ Moore*
Doug Hayes
Bob Baron
Gary Miller, Sr.
John Houston
Member Butler County Tourism & Convention Bureau
www.visitbutlercounty.com
Butler Lions Club
P.O. Box 1905
Butler, PA 16003
ButlerPALionClub.org
Lion Mike Winkler – Tale Editor
[email protected]
724-285-4304
Facebook.com/ButlerPALionsClub