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The Eugene Downtown Lions Club Annual Installation and Awards banquet was held Saturday June 18th at the Shadow Hills Country Club. Lion Past International Director Ed Gear was the MC for the night’s festivities. Lion Tim Chuey led the “Pledge of Allegiance” and Lion Wes Reynolds gave the Invocation.
 PID Lion Ed Gear presented Oregon Lions Sight & Hearing Foundation Honor Roll certificates and pins to Lions Pat Richardson, Shirley Foster, Gene Gustafson, Darlene Thomasec, Annie Harris, and Bill Baxter. Other recipients not in attendance included Lions Jan Vanderspek, Ralph Cobb, Ferne Hoffman, and Tommy Loome.
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Lion President Chuck Blanchard presented Lion Andy Bakr with the Helen Keller Benefactor for his work with Food Rescue Express and Meals on Wheels
The “Lion Cub of the Year” was awarded to Lion Karen O'Brien while Tail Twister Lion Twila Butler received “Lion of the Year” Award.
Lion Wes Reynolds was presented with the Melvin Jones Fellowship for his efforts chairing the raffle committee, the Fund Raising committee, and the revitalized Project Focus committee. Lion Nancy Thompson, who was not in attendance, was also awarded the Melvin Jones Fellowship.
Highlighting the evening was the presence of Lion International Director Dr. Sonja “Sunny” Pulley. ID “Sunny” presented all awardees a Presidential pin. Her remarks about the impact of Lions not only worldwide but also here at home were inspiring.
Lion International Director “Sunny” also installed the 2011-2012 Board of Directors including Lions Alice Bender, Mary Fechtel, Floyd Hansen, Dianne Landon Karen O'Brien, and Gail Wilkening, as well as the new officers: Lions Judith Grosenick (President), Jim Newton (1st VP), Wes Reynolds (2nd VP), Len Calvert (Treasurer), Vic Bender (Secretary), and Twila Butler (Tail Twister). Those not present who will be assuming leadership roles include Lions Don Combs (3rd VP), Walt Curtis (Lion Tamer), Ann Musgrove (Director), Andrew Miles (Director), and Jim Bradford (Membership).
Before assuming his role as Immediate Past President, Lion Chuck Blanchard congratulated incoming President Lion Judith Grosenick and presented her with her President’s pin and Lion Judith gave him his Immediate Past President’s pin.
Lion Jim Newton presented Lion Chuck Blanchard with a gift from his three Vice-Presidents. Concluding the evening Lion President Judith Grosenick spoke of the “power of one” as reflected in the story of the Daffodil Principle and the Helen Keller quotation that says: “ I am only one, but still I am one. I can’t do everything, but I can do something; and because I cannot do everything, I will not refuse to do something that I can do.”
Reporter: Lion Tim Chuey
Publicity Chairman
Eugene Downtown Lions
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The event was Lion Twila Butler’s baby from start to finish. Lion Twila came up with the idea, put together the ad that ran in the Register-Guard newspaper, booked the Vet’s Club as the venue (they donated the room for the evening), got volunteers to help man the ticket table (even Lion-to-be Corky Hughes, who was eager to dig in despite her not officially being inducted into the club yet), and provided the cookies and coffee that were available as refreshments. Our thanks to Lion Twila, her helpers, and all of the patriotic people who came to hear these famous historical individuals. To top off a perfect evening Lion Twila reports that over $500 was left over after all expenses were paid.