Academic Challenge

Each year the Wimberley Lions Club sponsors the Middle School Academic Challenge.  It is fun for both the Lions who help and the students who participate.  I always come away with an appreciation for both our teachers and students on how much knowledge is being absorbed by the students.  The students really like the cash they earn.  

Before the day of the Academic Challenge, the teachers had held a preliminary contest to reduce the competitors to 6 to 9 teams per class.  These top students form teams of 3.  The teams are seated in a group in the middle of the gym.   The rest of their class set in the gym bleacher to observe and cheer their favorites.

Each member answers four questions: one math, one english, one science, and one history/social studies.  After each question, ten seconds are allowed for the student to mark their answer.  The correct response is announced and the Lion marks the correct responses and flips the score card display so the audience can follow.  The team roatates to the next member after set of questions.  This rotation continues until each team member has answered 12 questions.  The teams or ordinally ranked.  Tie breaker questions are used to break any ties.

The team of three that comes in first each win $100.  The second place team each wins $50.  Each member of the third place team win $30.  This occurs for both the seventh and eight grades.

The two who make this operation work are Cathy Carolan from the Jr High School and PDG Dave Slider getting the Lion Volunteers where they need to be.  Thanks to both of you.

New Braunfels gains Parish Lions

Seba and Norm Parish are moving to New Braunfels as they change to a different lifestyle.

Norm Parish joined the Wimberley Lions seventeen years ago.  He soon became the number one Lion recruiter.  He was chair of the Membership Committee for about five years and helped the recruiting with other Lions.  A number of those seventeen years Norm was in charge of all three parking lots for Market Days.  He made sure he had the parking lot staffed for each market day. This requires about 15 Lions and 6 volunteers with shifts from 6 in the morning until 3 in the afternoon.  Besides the staffing, he set policy, assured the comfort of his workers, and collected the money from the lots.  Norm was at the field from 6 in the morning until the end of the market and the money was all counted.  Norm was recognized by the club with awarding a Melvin Jones Fellow.

Seba was a Lion wife and not a member until 2003.  That did not mean she slept in on Market Day.  She worked in Concession #2 making the best hand trimed bar-B-Que Sandwiches every market day.  It is unknown if Seba decided to join or Norm wanted to increase his membership notches.  Seba Joined.

Seba stood beside Norm, not in his shadow.  Seba worked on many committees such as Donations, she worked cleanup sessions Saturdays before Market Days, and she kept the club informed about our sick and wounded.   In addition to Lions, Seba has been a leader in the Civic Club.  She has years of creating the Hobby Lobby catalog and the annual directory.

There are many stories about King Ranch and their worldly travels.

They were very active in their church.  

This club will miss this couple as we commit to frequent visits.

John Stark Nominated for Lion of the Year 2008/2009

John Stark has been a Lion since the year 2003.  In that time, he has exhibited an outstanding willingness to serve the club, the community and his church in many capacities.   This year he served as Chairman of the Facilities and Buildings Committee and has excelled in Project Management.  Examples of key important projects includes:  Major drainage project; remodeling of Concession 2; repair/painting of Concession 2 restrooms as well as many others. This year John managed the building project to build four new vendor’s booths and one day leasing booth. He has also developed the strategy to refurbish and sell booths that have been returned to the Lions. He has been responsible for cost and time estimates, bidding, and supervision of the work.  John always takes the initiative to manually work on these projects himself when he wants to get things done quickly. John exemplifies the lion’s motto “We Serve” by his devotion and service to the Wimberley Lions Club.

John Lyon Nominated for Lion of the Year 2008/2009

John Lyon serves the Wimberley Lion Club and District 2-S3.  Serving as club Secretary for many years, the District Governor has recognized him for his reliable, accurate and timely monthly and annual reports.  He is responsible for tracking all attendance for meetings and Market Days, taking minutes at all Board Meetings, maintaining all records on new members and reporting all related activities to LCIF.  John also prepares all articles for the District Newsletter about our club.  He has chaired the District Student Exchange Program and served as host for foreign exchange students.  As chair of the District Mobil Health Screening Committee, he has revitalized this program and made it financially feasible.  John works closely with the LEO Club and co-chairs the Leo Committee.  In addition to his concession stand duties, he fills in as a concession manager when needed.

Scott Brown Nominated for Lion of the Year 2008/2009

Scott Brown is an outstanding Lion in club activities, Market Day Operations, and Community Service.  Scott serves as Lions Field and Administrative Treasurer.  He collects all monies from Market Day operation, pays sales taxes, reconciles and deposits the proceeds and prepares all financial statements and Market Day reports.  He pays all of the bills, prepares and manages the operations and administrative budgets with diligent oversight.  He provides understandable reports so the board and membership can understand the financial conditions of Lions Field.  When this Lions Club realized a potential child protection risk, Scott created child protection guidelines and training program, which he conducted with Lions working in proximity of youth.  He reviews this policy at every new member Orientation.  Scott also serves as on the Board of the Emergency Services District those contracts for Emergency Medical Services for this area.