One of the means of communications for the Wimberley Lions Club. This club has about 172 members. The Wimberley Lions Club generates annual donations budget between $118,000 and $170,000 through its Market Days the first Saturday of the month, March - December. In addition to this blog please go to shopmarketdays.com and visitwimberley.com. These community oriented Websites provide essential information for the Lions Market Days and the latest club news.

Sunday, November 22, 2009

What a Celebration for $3 Million of Donations



On Tuesday night, November 17th, the Wimberley Lions Club held a celebration to honor the club's accomplishment of earning and donating $3 million.  It was quiet a celebration.  Several hundred people were present with many faces that we don't see everyday.  In one corner was a giant multiple flavored sheet cake with a large Lion logo.  It was surrounded by huge delicious cookies.  Lion Meta Crow was wielding a sword like knife dividing the cake into servable sized pieces.  Across the room was Beth Watson insuring a plentiful buffet.  Leos snaked through the crowd with  trays of tasty morsels.



The crowd visited with each other while visiting informational tables staffed by some organizations that both volunteer at Market Days and receive donations from the Lions.  Lion Frances Jones had a display with hundreds of pictures of new lions and those being recognized that she has taken over the years.  Tables were displaying flags and momentous brought back by exchange students.  A table contained proclamations from many dignitaries for the accomplishment of the Wimberley Lions Club.  These declarations were from Vice President Biden, Senator Hutchinson, Senator Cronin, Congressman Doggett, State Representative Rose, County Judge Sumter, and Mayor Haley.


It was good to see past Lions that we had not seen for a while like PDG Bob & Maybell Lorenc.


Our Lion Boss, Lane Hartsock, Called the group to order to start the meeting with an invocation led appropriately by Past District Governor Dave Slider; pledge to the flag by Lion Larry Williams.  Lion Jim McMeans led us in a great Song.


Lion Treasurer Scott Brown reported the historic record results of this market Day.  It was the best ever.  All records were broken.



1st VP Beverly Nesmith passed out donations to some organizations like Habitat for Humanities, WHS Texas Cheer, Community band, ARF, and HOPE.


Lion Boss Introduced Past President Don Campbell as the celebration emcee.
Recognition of VIP guests County Judge Liz Sumter, Sheriff Tommy Ratliff, Wimberley Mayor Tom Haley, and JP Andy Cable.


Presentation of Hays County Judge Sumter presented a Commissioner's court Proclamation of Wimberley Lions Club Day.


Wimberley Mayor Tom Haley read a proclamation by the Wimberley City Council for the Wimberley Lions Club.


First Vice District Governor Mike Smith spoke a few words of congratulations and how the Wimberley Lions Club is respected in the district and Lions International.


Lion Don Campbell acknowledge how Market Days could not be possible without the community volunteers.  He also acknowledge the Leos present that served food for the crowd.  


Past President Lee Gibson held drawing for the door prizes'.
Don Campbell acknowledge current board members and the fine work of the celebration committee Lee Gibson, Scott Brown, Nathan Dean, Frances Jones, Lane Hartsock, Frank Curtis, Meta Wilson, Madonna Kimball, Bill Noles, Linnea Bailey, Beverly Nesmith, Annette Harrington.



Lion Nathan Deans prepared a multi-media history of the Wimberley Lions Club and its intertwined history of Market Days.  The video was presented to a receptive audience,  Special kudos to Nathan.  Lion John Devenport, Charter Member of the club and star of the video was introduced to the audience.


Special pins were designed to commemorate the occasion and were presented to the Lions present based on the years they had been a Lion.


Commemorative ballpoint pens were then pass out to the crowd.


Don announced the next meeting would be the Christmas party on December 15 and adjourned the celebration.


Saturday, November 14, 2009

Lions reach the $ 3 milion donation mark and are looking higher!


Forty years ago, a group of Wimberley community leaders chartered our Lions Club to serve the community and support the worthy causes of Lions International.  They were asked to take over the community market day operation which was outgrowing the capacity of the Wimberley square.  Individual Lions signed personal bank notes of $3,000 each to buy a patch of land that became the initial plat of Lions Field.  The first market day at the new field included the normal art, crafts, and produce.  It also included the sell of new cars and livestock from rabbits to horses.  


All of the profits from Market Day from the beginning have gone to donations and that total has reached 3 $million.  This is from just a just a few dollars in the beginning.  The nineteen eighties saw profits and donations average about $25,000 per year.  The last decade has seen donations in excess of $100,000 each year.  This money is donated to Lion programs such as blindness prevention, hurricane and tsunami relief, Texas Lions Camp for crippled and diabetic children, special EMS equipment, classroom technology, Katherine Ann Porter school equipment, soccer equipment, athletic field lights, and band instruments.  Major expenditures have been for the Nature Trail on Cypress Creek, Visitors Center, Wimberley Playors Playhouse,  the Community Center and restoration of the Winters House.  Each year Wimberley Lions give to Habitat for Humanity.  The fourth house they built was underwritten by Lions to the amount of 87% of the cost.


Two programs are pretty unique to Wimberley.  Our scholarships are mostly four year scholarships and 160 students have benefited from them.  The foreign exchange program has sent 80 students to foreign countries for several weeks living with a host family and about three weeks in a Lion camp with 30 kids from other countries.  These are life changing experiences.  


The Lions earn revenue at the Market Days by parking fees, booth rentals, concession stand sales, and premium Bar-B-Que.  The staffing requirements for Market Days exceeds 200 people.  The Lions club can not marshal that size staff.  A combination of volunteers, LEOS,  and members of organizations that often receive donations from the Lions Club make up the difference.  We could not do without the volunteers.


Tuesday, November 17, 2009 a celebration will occur at the Wimberley Community Center, 14068 Ranch Road 12 from 6:00 pm to 7:30pm.  All Lions, Ex Lions, donation recipients, and anyone with an interest are welcome.  All sorts of activity is planned along with refreshments.


Come join us for this celebration!

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

Collecting the history of the Wimberley Lions


Lion Frances Jones has done double duty for many years!  She has been responsible for club publicity and chair of the History Committee.  Frances takes the official photos of new members, speakers, honored students & teachers, and any one being honored with an award.  She gets those photos into the newspapers along with a caption with accurate name identification and with many event write-ups.  She works with the newspapers to provide excellent coverage of the club.


Lion Frances has put out a call for other photos and memorabilia in order to adequately document the history of the Wimberley Lions Club.  This collection from meetings, picnics, Texas Lions Camp, and Market Days.  Lions John Lyon, Cecil Gibson, and Dan Williams are scanning newspaper articles to include in the November 17th celebration on reaching the $3 million mark in donations.  Anyone with items to be included, please send to Lion Frances.


After this collection is completed, a copy of the scanned items will be provided to the Wimberley Institute of Culture Archive Collection.  This will be of value because many civic and community leaders are either Lion members or speakers at Lion meetings.