Thank You!

PCC DAN EBERHARDT JR., DISTRICT 27-A1 COORDINATOR

For many years Lions from all over the State of Wisconsin have collected deer hides and tails in support of the Wisconsin Lions Camp.

The collection of deer hides started as an idea in 1988 from Past WLF Director Bernie Stuttgen. Since then, this project has snowballed. District 27-A1 started in the 1990’s with only two hides. District 27-A1 started the project, it has grown every year and has topped the previous year’s numbers. This year 27-A1 collected 1638 hides. An increase of 582 hides from last year.

There are many ways that Lions can participate, including having a collection point, donating salt/supplies to a collection point, sharing fliers, and getting the word out on social media. If your club is interested, please go to the website wlf.info/deer-hides-collection and it has all the information to make that happen. Every little bit matters to make this a success.

There are not enough words to express gratitude to all of those that have made this cause a success. All the people, donors, organizers, buyers, and Clubs that participated.District 27-A1 Clubs that held collection points in 2022 include Big Foot Fontana, Big Bend/Vernon, Burlington, Caledonia, East Troy, Franklin, Paddock Lake, South Milwaukee, Tichigan, and Whitewater.

BIG BEND/VERNON LIONS CLUB – The Clubs donated $1,000 to “MS Just Keep Moving.” The organization is a free gym dedicated to helping people with Multiple Sclerosis. The Waukesha gym provides a place for people with MS to work on strength and movement in a space of encouragement and friendship. The organization plans on maintaining and expanding the gym. There are 20 to 25 volunteers who help in assisting people with MS on and off the exercise machines. Pictured in left photo is Lion President Donnie Walsh, Lion Bob Brandemuehl and Dan Erschen of “MS Just Keep Moving.” In right photo, members of “MS Just Keep Moving.”

MUSKEGO LIONS

CLUB – Educating our youth before they get to high school about the dangers of drugs and teaching them how to avoid risky situations is a function of the D.A.R.E. program. When it was unable to train officers in 2021, it created a shortage and two middle schools needed help! The committee sent letters to community businesses asking for financial support and in June, held its 2nd annual Wish Lantern event. They facilitated a $5,000 donation to Officer Lange and the Muskego Police Department.

BIG BEND/VERNON & MUSKEGO LIONS

CLUBS– The Clubs showered the Southern Wisconsin Center (SWC) with Christmas presents once again this year. SWC serves adult clients with intellectual disabilities combined with other physical or mental health disorders. 110 residents received gifts. Also donated were five grills for the cottages, two Keurigs with cups, and a microwave along with snacks for the staff break rooms. Pictured: Big Bend/Vernon Lions ~ Rick Rosiak, Sue Nicgorski, President Donnie Walsh, Mary Lewandowski, and Lynn Sprecher. Muskego Lions ~ President Matt Watry, Don Edwardsen, Ron Petersen and Mike Kuspa.

FRANKLIN LIONESS/LIONS CLUB – The Club has been busy. They bring a little joy to residents in a nursing home by sponsoring bingo at Elizabeth Residence every other month. They support three food banks for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter. The goal is to provide everyone in the Franklin area, no matter their finances, an enjoyable holiday meal. They support St. Martin of Tours, Faith Presbyterian, and St. James Food Banks. On December 3rd, they participated in the Franklin Christmas parade. This was a wonderful opportunity to display our new banner and hand out candy. In December, a couple of members assisted the Salvation Army shop and distributed presents for underprivileged children at the distribution center in Milwaukee. Also, several of our members were Salvation Army bell ringers at various Pick ’n Save locations. Bell Ringers pictured: Gloria Grabarcyzk, Judie Gamboa, Vicky Gabrus, Pam Lehouillier, Georgia Ness and Helen Kacmarynski. Pictured in the Christmas Parade: Peg Kukla, Lindsay Safranek, Gloria Grabarcyzk, Pam Lehouillier and Vicky Gabrus. Vicky Gabrus and Cindy Johnson are pictured helping the Salvation Army distribute Christmas toys.

MUSKEGO LIONS CLUB – Girl Scout Lily Pemble, started working on her Gold Award in April of 2021. The issue she wanted to address with the project was the lack of summer camps geared towards children with special needs. Working with the special education teacher at Bay Lane Elementary School, she designed “Camp Day Kits”. These kits include everything school staff needs to hold a day camp right at school. They have activity binders for arts and crafts, music, and games packed full of awesome ideas. The kits also included a giant wheelchair accessible tent that all the students and staff could fit in. In November of 2021, Lily met with the Muskego Lions Club. They discussed her project and its financial needs. The Club was excited about the project and enthusiastic to help. Getting supplies for two kits, especially everything needed to make two tents, was no easy task and certainly not a cheap one. The Club offered to donate the funds she needed to purchase all four pop-up canopies! Lily visited the Club again in September to tell them about the successful project. Lily is so grateful for the Club’s continued support and encouragement.

TICHIGAN LAKE

LIONS CLUB –

Wisconsin Coaches Basketball Association (WCBA) just recently award Tichigan Lions member Ron Kluth for his achievement in winning 345 games in his 19 years of coaching. A combined record of 344 W & 132 L for a 722% winning percentage at Franklin High School and Brookfield Academy, winning a total of 10 conference championships and four state appearances.

South Milwaukee

Fundraiser Night at Culvers

Monday, March 6th, 5-8 pm

6031 W. Layton Ave, Greenfield

Community Meal

Thursday, March 16th, 4-7pm

First Congregational Church

1111 S. Chicago Avenue, South Milwaukee

St Patrick’s Day Party

Friday, March 17th, 9:30am – 5pm

Oak Creek Community Center, Irish Food, Bar Olympics, Irish Dancing Cornhole Tournament

Saturday, March 18th

Lions Community Center, Dousman

3.1 Zone Meeting

Thursday, March 23rd

New Berlin V.F.W. Hall, 17980 W. Beloit Rd.

Bay View Lions

Pancake Breakfast/ Egg Hunt

Saturday, March 25th

Humboldt Park Pavilion

3000 S Howell Ave, Milwaukee

West Allis Lions Club

FROM THE 27-A1 DISTRICT GOVERNOR

David Stedman

tubabuzz@charter.net

920-650-2113

How Firm A Foundation

District Governor

Many have heard the saying, “A foolish man builds his house upon the sand, while a wise man builds his house upon the rock.” How true this is for any structure – or organization. As Lions we are fortunate that our foundation is strong, thanks to the generosity of our members, both through individual and club donations. It has always been the mission of Lions Clubs International Foundation, which was founded in 1968, to empower Lions Clubs, volunteers, and partners to improve health and well-being, strengthen communities, and support those in need through humanitarian services and grants that impact lives globally, and encourage peace and international understanding. Our foundation’s history is filled with high-impact projects, meaningful partnerships, and the kindness and efforts of Lions everywhere.

PROSPECT LIONS CLUB –

Knowing the need is always greater during the winter season, the Club focused their efforts in November and December toward feeding the hungry. They would like to thank all who came to their Wine & Beer Tasting and their Drive-thru Wine Sale. All proceeds from these events went directly to the New Berlin Food pantry. Also during those months, they teamed with a local deli to deliver complete dinners to a family shelter in Waukesha. Pictured: Lion Sue Neckar.

GENOA CITY

LIONS CLUB –Club President Greg Pryor presented a donation to Officer Kevin Saunders for the Twin Lakes Police Department’s Shop with a Hero Program.

48th Annual Spaghetti Dinner

Sunday, March 26th

St. Augustine’s School, 2025 S. 67th Pl.

Spring Bowling Night

Friday, March 31st

Lake Ripley Lanes, Cambridge

Oak Creek Lions MKE Brewers

Home Opening Day Watch Party

Monday, April 3rd , 10:30am – 5pm

Oak Creek Community Center

• Includes food, beer and soda.

• Check Presentation to The Little Warrior Foundation and District Childhood Cancer Match Challenge.

Prospect Lions Club

Steak and Shrimp Dinner

Friday, April 28th, 4:30-7:00pm

New Berlin VFW Post, 17980 W Beloit Rd.

NEW BERLIN LIONS CLUB – Over

We know that 100% of the contributions given to Lions Clubs International Foundation goes back into our communities through the many grants and projects that our foundation supports. Whether it be vision, youth, disaster relief, humanitarian efforts, diabetes awareness, childhood cancer, the environment, or hunger, our Foundation provides aid and truly makes a difference in the lives of people around the world. Recently, right here in Wisconsin we have received grants from Lions Clubs International Foundation to help in the purchase of a flow cytometer, used in immunotherapy treatment of blood cancers, providing a “Healing Space” at the Marshfield Clinic Hospital in Marshfield, our Wisconsin Centennial Video project, and the ability to purchase vision screening devices to improve our vision screening efforts. These are just a few ways our Foundation has given back to our communities. Even though we have just completed Campaign 100 where our foundation raised over $325,000,000 to support Lions service around the world, our International President Brian Sheehan wants to remind all of us that our work is not done and wants all Lions to help keep our foundation strong. If you wonder whether your contributions to our foundation are worth the effort, just look again at that list of recent grants that have been awarded to our multiple district and know we get back more than what we invest.

27-A1 CONVENTION – Canned goods were collected at the District Convention. The food was delivered to the Waukesha Food Pantry.

$96,000 was presented to three dozen organizations as a part of January’s Parade of Checks - the largest in their 73-year history. Work at the State Fair Corn booth and 4th of July celebration makes this possible. The largest recipient was the Wisconsin Lions Foundation. Lions International, Vision Forward, and 35 non-Lions groups including the Stars and Stripes Honor Flight also received funds. Pictured are Lion Rich Nuccio, Dennis Ziebell, President Patt Goerke, and Kent Rice.

Remember that your contributions to Lions Clubs International Foundation can come back in the form of recognition for members of your club in the form of Melvin Jones Fellowships. For every $1,000 that your club or individuals has accumulated in credit for donations to LCIF, a Melvin Jones Fellowship can be given to deserving individuals. LCIF has dedicated their energies to increase the ability of Lions everywhere to meet the humanitarian needs worldwide and couldn’t be prouder of where they stand. With continued support, you can count on Lions Clubs International Foundation to expand programs to improve lives around the world far into the future.

SOUTH MILWAUKEE LIONS

OAK CREEK LIONS CLUB – Lions

Rob, Joe, and President Bruce deliver a $1,500 donation to Strides, an organization dedicated to assisting special needs. Students gain independence by learning life and job skills.

CLUB – 25 boxes of eye tissue or recovery kits in 15 transports were completed. These provide the gift of sight in Wisconsin, the U.S., and internationally. This represented 35 service hours by 15 Club members. Transports were made from medical facilities in the Milwaukee area to Johnson Creek, as well as pick ups in Johnson Creek that were delivered to the Milwaukee area.

GRAFTON LIONS CLUB – Three new members were inducted into the Club in the past few months and we would like to welcome them and look forward to their new ideas and service to the Club and community. It is always great to increase the membership and feel the enthusiasm they bring.

Pictured (left photo): Past District Governor, Lion Barry Boline, new member Jan Teuscher, sponsor Lion Carrie Buri and Grafton Lions President Rose Sauers. Pictured (right photo): Lion Tim Kohlwey, new member Matt Demler, Lion Dan Delorit, new member Dennis Pampel, Past District Governor, Dan Montaine, and Grafton Lions President Rose Sauers.