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SJI Lions help students participate in sportsposted 09/03/2006
Vermeire's presentation to the Lions was meant to be informative, and not a request for funds, however, at a recent Lion's Board meeting, a unanimous vote of the Board approved $600.00 to assist financially needy students to be able to participate in an extra curricular activity. Four other individual Lions matched the $600 for a total of $1200 or eight students to be sponsored. Momentum then gained for this idea..... Dr Mark Fishaut heard about the Lions support and agreed to match dollar for dollar, the total of the Lions contribution, with his own donation to help financially needy students making the total committed to date of $2400 or 18 students to be assisted. Although this one particular effort was directed toward sports, the Lions also wish to encourage extra curricular student activities in music, the arts and other extra school student curricular activities. Everyone agrees it is far better to see the youth engaged some extra curricular activity and participation. Determination of whom receives the funds will be determined in this case by the Athletic Director and Principal(s) with emphasis on financial needs, grades and school attendance. San Juan Lions encourage other island service clubs to consider sponsoring students in some way. San Juan Lions Club will also be chartering a Leo Club for the youth in the next few months to encourage service to the community. For more information please contact Jim Carroll - President, San Juan Lions Club, at sanjuanlion@aol.com Lions ROARing about new programposted 11/19/04
You may also call the Lions for a free 55 gallon drum to save your cans in at home. This fundraiser is about more than just making money. It makes a difference for our environment and community. Would you throw away your aluminum cans if you knew:
The money made from this fundraiser will be used to support local activities. Simply put, recycling aluminum makes sense, is easy, reduces pollution and conserves a nonrenewable resource. The Lions Club is the islands oldest non profit service organization. The Lions motto is "We Serve". The Lions have fundraisers to raise money for numerous yearly local activities such as: scholarships, the health screening van, youth sports, blood drives, town Christmas lights, Food Bank, Family Resource Center, Christmas Ship, Youth Sports….. The Lions also provided funds for many long term projects. For example, in years past the Lions paid to pave the Inter Island Medical Center parking lot, and they put in the fishing dock at Egg Lake. Questions? Please call Lion Tony Hall or Lion Frank Penwell-378-6473.
posted 12/26/03 Noel back on top
posted 11/23/01 NOEL, no more at Friday Harbor ferry terminalBy Matt Pranger
A NOEL sign that welcomed travelers to San Juan Island close to 40 years rests on its side on the roof of the Friday Harbor ferry terminal. A complaint is prompting Washington State Ferries to unplug and remove the sign. posted 11/23/01
"It’s not hurting anyone," Jeremy Talbott says of the sign, maintained by the San Juan Lions. Talbott, a Lion, dubbed the complainer "The Grinch Who Stole NOEL!" "When one person forces their will on a whole community, it’s not healthy," says Andy Provchy, also a member of the Lions. The NOEL sign might not shine from the ferry terminal roof the rest of this holiday season, but it will continue to greet San Juan Islands’ travelers: The Lions plan to move the sign across the street to the balcony of the Dr.’s Office building on Saturday, Dec. 16. The structure’s owners, Bill Giesy and Dave Moorhouse offered their space before the Lions could ask, explains Lions President Minnie Knych. "They said, ‘We’d be honored to have the noel sign up on our building.’" Lions have placed the sign each holiday season since the early 1960s, according to several members. After S. Jon King filed a complaint with the state, the sign was put on its side Thursday. Someone stood it up again that night, but Friday afternoon it was placed down again. King, in his complaint letter to the Washington State Ferries, says the sign violated the state’s constitution, which prohibits using public money or property for "religious worship, exercise or the support of any religious establishment." A message left on King’s answering machine was not returned Friday. Darrell Edmonds investigated King’s complaint for the state Department of Transportation. Provchy says Edmonds visited Friday Harbor and told the Lions that non-denominational decorations are acceptable -- Santa Claus, trees, "Happy Holiday" signs -- on state property but those with religious connotations are not. Webster’s New 20th Century Dictionary defines noel and noël as: n. [from French noël, replacing Middle English nowel; Old French nowel, nouel, from Latin natalis, pertaining to birth, a birthday, from natus, born.]
Provchy believes most islanders identify with a secular "joy" definition. Other holiday decorations also were removed from WSF property: Angels and wreaths have also been removed from the inter-island ferry, says Talbott, who travels the islands regularly. "It’s just a little too far," he maintains. Talbott and Provchy can’t understand why decorations from any denomination are not welcome. "I don’t have a problem if someone would put up a ‘Hanukkah’ or ‘Season’s Greetings’ sign," Talbott says. Even though the NOEL sign has a new spot, the signs’ supporters plan to explain their position again Monday when they meet with Edmonds. "The ferry workers," Provchy says, "they don’t want it down. We don’t want it down. It seems like most people I talk to don’t want it down." "It’s carrying political correctness too far to punish a whole town, to break a long-standing tradition," Knych says. "To S. Jon King, I wish bon noël." |
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