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. 

The Loss of Lion Don Tatum

Shocking news was sent out today. Don Tatum has passed away. Don was a great Lion! He joined our club in 1997 sponsored by Leon Hewlett. You could count on Don to work Market Days, the cleanup the Saturday before Market Day.

Don was active in the Mobile Health Screening Unit. He was a willing volunteer who always had something nice to say to co-workers and clients.

Don just completed two years as a Director on the Lion Board providing his sage advice to the club.

Don's wife, Sally, has suggested any memorials be to the Texas Lions Camp. Their address is P. O. Box 290247, Kerrville, TX 78029-0247. You can contribute directly by this link: https://payments.auctionpay.com/ver3/?id=w013612

Anyone wanting to add their comment to this are encouraged to do so. Just click on the blue or pink "comments" below.

Breifing on Texas Lions Camp

Our old friends PDG Dennis Heitkamp, Ex Wimberleyite PDG Bill Daniels, and District Director Skip Stem visited our club this last Tuesday. Dennis brought us up to date on the history and activities of Texas Lions Camp.

He told about how sixty years ago the camp was created as the polio pandemic was at its peak. How there is no charge for the campers. How it is supported through all of the Texas Lions Clubs, memorials, Century Club Members. The fortune of the crippled children population shrinking has allowed the inclusion of Type I diabetic children as its population expands. He told us of efforts the camp has taken to seek alternative funding to keep the camp viable.

One bit of good news for the Wimberley Lions was that this year the April workday will be the second Saturday meaning we will not have a conflict with Market Day. That is a day of hard work, fun, comradary. I just hope not in a bunk between Lee Coble and Joe Thompson doing their snoring duet again!

Canyon Lake North Shore has Charter Night

Wimberley Lion Boss Lane Hartsock and Lion John Lyon presented the U. S Flag, Club Banner, and gong to the Canyon Lake North Shore Club President Linda Johnson on their Charter Night. The Dripping Springs Club contributed toward these purchases with the Wimberley Club.

PDG Dave Slider, as Master of Ceremonies, kept the program moving at a quick pace while dishing out merriment! The DG, IPDG, 1stVDG and 2ndVDG all participated. Lion Cameron Bradfute of New Braunfels Noon Club had us all laughing as he pulled a half dozen Lions into bringing his candy store vision to life. Sheriff Lion Bob Holder provided the County government's welcome to the new club. He said he would be keeping a special eye on Lion Milford. International Director Beverly Stebbins was the keynote speaker. While she kept the mood lighthearted, she was able to deliver her powerful message on Lionism and service to her audience. Lions Linnea Bailey and Dan Williams completed the Wimberley contingent. It was a good night and a great start for a new club in 2-S3.

To see more pictures of this event please go to this link:

http://beta.kodakgallery.com/gallery/creativeapps/slideShow/Main.jsp?token=716661983115%3A96534140

You are also invited to post a comment below

Wimberley Lions take action to prevent fires!

The Austin Flea Market fire has caused a some people to ask how safe is Lions Field? I believe the Wimberley Lions have been aggressive in fire prevention.

• Fire Extinguishers are required to be displayed by all vendors and physical inspections are regularly performed to be sure they are present and not outdated.
• Hay bales, straw, and loose newspaper are not allowed in booths.
• Wood shaving can not be spread on the ground.
• A/C and heaters are prohibited in the booths.
• Electrical wiring is inspected requiring the vendor to repair bad wiring.
• GFI circuit breakers have been installed to shut off electricity in the event of a short circuit.

The Wimberley Lions Club has property insurance on the Bar-B-Que, rest rooms, and concessions. The vendors are encouraged to obtain their own insurance for their structure and contents.

Market Day Preparation Saturday clean-up

Some lions work all month either fixing what broke from the last Market Day to adding new features for the next Market Day. But the Saturday before Market Day they have some help from the club members.

A few minutes before 8:00 on each Saturday before Market Day, Wimberley Lions begin to walk into Concession Number One next to the flag poles. They get a friendly greeting from Jack Bourke and the rest of the Lions gathered. Fresh Hot Coffee, canned drinks, and a variety of doughnuts await. Cub Scouts with their parents also mingle around the refreshments awaiting their assignments.

The assignments are typically to pick up trash on Lion Field or one of the parking lots. Others sweep up the accumulated leaves around the pavilion. What I enjoy is talking to a Lion that I have been paired with that I don't know well. We get to know each other as we work.

By 9:00 we have finnished our task and are on our way to what ever activities we have for the day, knowing we have helped get the field ready for market.

So the Saturday before Market Day, come join us for a quick cleanup and have some fun!

Annual Trek to Kerrville

Once a year the Wimberley Lions make a trip to Kerrville to the Texas Lions Camp for crippled children. The Lions prepare and serve an outdoor meal for the campers and staff of the camp. This meal is usually Hamburgers or Bar-B-Que with all of the trimmings.

About 400 campers and staff show up. The Wimberley Lions Club has a good reputation among the camp staff assuring a high turnout.

The camp host two types of campers: traditionally the camp provided for physically challenged children. It also has sessions for children with diabetes. These children learn how to test themselves for their blood chemistry and how to handle out of range conditions. Due to the special needs of the campers, there is a high ratio of staff to campers with emphasis on the medical side. These kids get to experience all facets of camping from horseback riding to cannoeing to overnight camping. Often a wheelchair bound camper has their first experience of swimming and horseback riding at this camp. The pool is designed where a wheelchair or crutches can be used to wheel or walk into the pool without the trauma of jumping into the pool.

Graduation/Awards Night is on Friday and each camper is recognized for their achievements. You can not set through this ceremony without both crying and having a feeling of pride in Lionism.

On Sunday, June 28, the Wimberley Lions Club members will be loaded up with food and supplies by 1:00 PM. The plan is to be cooking by 3. The campers will start lining up with their group about 6. You might see a child with no legs in a wheelchair being pushed by one that is blind. Both singing or chanting a drill chant their counselor is teaching them. All are having a good time. They will eat in the pavilion. The staff is always friendly and help with hauling away the trash. The Lions and spouses who participate in this worthy cause will be hot and tired. But they will have a great feeling of accomplishment.