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Blanketeering Night 2015

About twenty of us turned out for the De Anza Lions’ 5th Annual Blanketeering night on March 5th. We had Lions, Leos, friends and family attend. Everyone pitched in, enjoyed an evening of warm and friendly companionship, and got some wonderful work done. There were fewer of us this year — a good number fewer, in fact — and fifteen more “pieces of fleeces” to complete so we knew we had to step it up if we were going to complete our task at hand. And we did, no problem! Blanketeers completed 63 blankets in about 2 1/2 hours and then four Blanketeers  volunteered to take the remaining twelve fleeces home to complete by the following a.m. meeting! That is the dedication I have grown to accept and expect from our Lion family. No one ever says, “no, it can’t be done”; it is always, “let’s get this done!” And it just happens. Lions serve.

Two volunteers from the San Jose Chapter of Project Linus, Barbara and Linda, joined us for the evening bringing their tools of the trade with them — scissors, tape measures, rulers, labels, instructions and stories. I know many of you still wonder what Project is or is all about.  You can go to projectlinus.org to learn what it is. Barbara told us a story, revealing what it is about. My synopsis of her story goes like this: Usually Project Linus volunteers aren’t lucky enough to hand out the blankets to the children in need of them; the head of the agency or the head nurse on the floor gets to do that job. But this volunteer was lucky and was at a site when they began giving the blankets out to the children. During that time, one wide-eyed little girl of about 5 years of age wrapped in her blanket stepped up to the Blanketeer. “Are you the Blanket Lady?” she asked. “Yes, I am,” came my reply. “I am so glad you are here. I got my blanket yesterday and I haven’t been warm and cozy for so long. Thank you.” That’s what Project Linus is all about and that is why I am proud to say that De Anza Lions love Project Linus.

~~respectfully submitted, by Lion Leslye Noone

GRACE ZHOU WINS LOCAL COMPETITION IN DeANZA LIONS’ STUDENT SPEAKER CONTEST

Cupertino, February 6, 2015 – Grace Zhou, a student at Monta Vista High School, was awarded first place at DeAnza Lions’ Club 2015 Student Speaker Contest.

Ms. Zhou was one of 5 high school students participating from the Fremont Union High School District who took part in the event held at the Jesuit Retreat Center in Los Altos. The topic was “Water Conservation – How do we Reduce, Recycle, and Reclaim.”

The other finalists were Jimmy Zhi from Lynbrook High School, Habiba Sallam from Cupertino High School, and Edward Li and Jacob Jiao from Homestead High School.

This has been the 78th year that the Lions’ Student Speaker Contest has been held.

By winning, Grace Zhou will advance to the Zone level competition scheduled for March 9th, to be held at the Lions Lodge in Los Gatos.

According to the Lions Club Treasurer, Al Knox, the winner at each level can advance through Region, District, Area, and the Final Contest. This year the final contest will be held in San Jose. The Grand Winner will be awarded a $10,000 scholarship although accumulated winnings at each level will total closer to $20,000.

PS: Picture 1: Student Speaker winner Grace Zhou from Monta Vista High School with Speaker Chair Lion Walt Strach. Picture 2: from left to right, finalists Jacob Jiao Homestead High and Jimmy Zhi Lynbrook, Picture 3: Finalist Habiba Sallam Cupertino High, winner Grace Zhou Monta Vista, and finalist Edward Li Homestead High. Picture 4:  the Judges, Jerra, Cris, Sandy, and Larry.

Contributed by Lion Walt Strach

Topping 100 LEOs at Monta Vista

On Sunday October 19th, the Monta Vista Leo Club held an outdoor ceremony at Jollyman Park in Cupertino in which the new officers and 29 new members were inducted by De Anza Lions President Jeff Ludlum. The induction ceremony followed an afternoon of LEOs bonding.

Lion Kent, our coordinator between Monta Vista HS and the De Anza Lions, welcomed the new members to LCI and Lionism, and encouraged them to share the Lions’ motto “We Serve”. He also pointed out how to earn “LCI Young Leaders in Service” awards to bolster their college applications.

Five De Anza Lions attended the event.

Contributed by Lion Dagi

A Perfect Combination

In the interest of one of the club’s most important projects, the “OneSight” program, it had been decided to combine a variety of other events with a fundraising effort. The result was a tail-twister party with an early Halloween theme, including the induction of the new officers by the district governor Karen Fillmore, the presentation of awards, and some fun for the kids, all surrounded by potluck goodies, various drinks and tri-tip, expertly bbq’d by Lions Eli and Jim.

Approximately 45 individuals, including 8 kids, joined in the action in mid-October, which was staged in a festively decorated Odd Fellows Hall.

After a good Happy Hour of mingling and chatting, the Lion District Governor took the floor to commend the club on recent accomplishments and proceeded to induce the officers for the Lion year 2014 – 2015. Lion Eli got a hearty handshake for his 40 years of membership in the club. Lions Mary, Anne and Walt were awarded the Life Member Award of the Blind center, while Lion Carl was installed as the pm tailtwister.

The generously stocked buffet was a great hit, and afterwards most attendees needed a little break during which the kids were drawing raffle prizes which were generously donated by Lions Yvonne and Dan Fimby. The specially organized DJ, whose music was playing rather softly in the background for most of the afternoon, now increased the volume slightly for the kids who enjoyed the final dances.

Thanks are in order to the organizers and all attendees for making this another successful social event and for bringing scrumptious foods to share. Many thanks also to Lions Eli and Jim, who spent a lot of time standing by the BBQ, watching the tri-tip get ready.

Thanks to Lion DG Karen Fillmore (suitably dressed as a cat) for officiating the inductions and presenting the awards.

Last but not least – we are grateful to the Odd Fellows for letting the club use their hall.

The event netted approximately $ 500.00 for the OneSight program – thanks for all the donations!

Flag Days 2014

As in previous years, the DeAnza Flag Team under the leadership of Lion Mort had several very successful presentations during spring time at 3 local schools. The first event was held in February at Sutter Elementary (Santa Clara) where 90 3rd graders were present. The second show was put on in March at Trace Elementary School (San Jose) for another approximately 150 young students.

The last presentation took place on May 23rd at the Hughes Elementary School library (Santa Clara), attended by some 90 students. Lion Yvonne distributed goodie bags, and the students enjoyed a BBQ at the Fairway Glen Park, where hot dogs, lemonade and chips were served

Major thanks go to the Flag team members (Lions Mort, Anne, Yvonne, & Walt, as well as Lions Leslye and Linda). The kids had a ball and learned lots of flag facts, too!  Many thanks go also to the crew at the park who cooked and helped organize. “I feel blessed to have a club that takes such great care of our Hughes community. It was AWESOME”, says Lion Jenni, a teacher at Hughes. One little boy asked how he could become a Lion – “Can’t beat that!” commented Lion Mort

A total of almost 350 students participated in this fun and educational learning experience thanks to DeAnza Lions.

Contributed by Lion Mort

2014 May FlagDayHughes (640x478)

Camp Via West – Annual Spruce Up

Over the last weekend in May, DeAnza Lions Bill, Ron, Charlie, Herb, Steve, Walt and Ray power washed and painted the BBQ Pit area, fire circle benches and tables, and amphitheater benches at the camp. They also repaired the roof over the BBQ pit.

After painting was finished on Monday June 2, Lion Bill presented a check for $2,700. to Rick, the manager of the campus. These funds will be used to help pay for camperships for eight disabled kids who could not afford to attend camp with the one-on-one care they require.

This is another example of our sweat equity and charitable funds in action.

Thanks to everyone in the club.
Contributed by Lion Ray Lancon2014 052914 CampVia

Habitat for Humanity – New ReStore Opening

A big Thank You is due to all the De Anza Lions along with more than a dozen De Anza College LEOs who volunteered with the Grand Opening of the new Habitat for Humanity ReStore on May 31st. The club also donated $1,000. in the continuing efforts to support Habitat for Humanity.

The new 15,000 Sq. Ft. ReStore facility is located at 1608 Las Plumas Ave. San Jose near 101 & McKee. It is one of three in the Bay Area (the others being in Oakland and South San Jose)

Each Habitat ReStore accepts donations of quality new and gently used items including building materials from individuals and businesses in the community and sells them to the public at reduced cost, usually at 50-75% of the original retail value.  The proceeds help build homes in the area, making home ownership a reality for limited-income families.

Again thanks to all for your time and dedication.

Contributed by Lions Ron Ahearn & Ray Lancon

LEOs receive Young Leaders Service Awards

Seven Monta Vista High School students are this year’s recipients of the prestigious Lions Clubs International Young Leaders in Service Award. The award honors students who contribute 50 or more hours of community service in a given year. Caroline Chen, Katie Chen, Sharon Tung, Jennifer Chen, Rachael Tham and William Chang received Silver Seal Awards (50 hours), and Kevin Coe received the Gold Seal Award (100 hours). Kevin Coe is a two-time recipient of the Gold Seal Award, an honor realized by only 3-4 four students per year world-wide. The students are each members of the Lions-sponsored Monta Vista High School Leo Club, a campus community service organization.

The awards were presented by Cupertino De Anza Lions’ Kent Vincent on May 18 at a banquet held in honor of the Leos at TGI Friday’s Restaurant in Cupertino.  Two-year Leo Club President and graduating senior Jessica Ho was also honored with a special Lions award for outstanding leadership. The club has tripled in membership (105 members), outreach and charity fundraising during her tenure, focusing on such projects as the Special Olympics, the National Children’s Cancer Society and One Sight programs for disadvantaged students needing glasses.

The club is one of the largest and most active in the Bay Area. It has introduced and motivated many students to community service and made possible the service hours that earned so many members this year’s Lions Clubs International Young Leaders in Service Award.

Contributed by Lion Kent

Did you feel the fuzz?

You would have if you had been with the De Anza Lions the evening of March 27th. More than twenty-five Lions, Leos, friends and family members met that night at Cupertino’s Odd Fellows Lodge for our Club’s 4th Blanketeering Party.

That warm and fuzzy feeling permeated the room as we were coached on how to convert a piece of fleece into a soft and cozy blanket that will be given to a child in need. As Blanketeers arrived, they selected their fleece, grabbed a table and spread out; with scissors in hand, all were ready to go. After some initial instruction—how to cut off the salvage and measure out the tassels for cutting and tying—the gang got started. Chitter-chatter, giggle-giggle, snip-snip-snip. Then, out of the din, rose an unmistakable sound, “Hee-onk, hee-onk!” It was not-so-little-anymore Eli squeezing a horn announcing the completion of the first blanket!! After that, let the wild ruckus start! As blankets were finished off, Eli was called to each table to announce the triumph. With feelings of great accomplishment, Eli and newest member-in-training Anjali were called to duty and (on top of blowing the horn!) asked to carry completed blankets to the table where Sharon Lee, Project Linus’ local Chapter Chair, was sewing on the final touch—a tag stating the blanket was made by Project Linus and the De Anza Lions.

In the midst of the work party, we listened and watched as Sharon gave a presentation describing Project Linus’ humble beginnings and telling the heartwarming story of how it grew to be the worldwide maker of blankets for children in need. After her presentation, the Blanketeers had a clearer vision of what they were doing there that Thursday evening and what an impact their simple contribution—only ~2 hours of their time!—will have. For those of you who are interested, please go to www.projectlinus.org to read the mission of this special organization and you will see why there is such a comfortable relationship between Linus and Lions.

At the end of the evening, our group completed fifty-one blankets and seventeen have since been completed at home totaling 68 Lion-made blankets donated to Project Linus this year. As our Blanketeers left, each knew they had done good work those last few hours. The flyer that was sent out to the Club announcing the event stated, “IT WILL MAKE YOU FEEL ALL WARM AND FUZZY INSIDE AND OUT”. Ask anyone who was there and I know they will tell you they felt the fuzz!

Special thanks to Lion Don Lang for arranging the venue; it is the perfect spot to do this sort of event. And extra-special thanks to Sharon Lee who has given up her evenings to come and join us each of these past four years. And thanks to all Blanketeers, present-past-and-future! Special, you all are!!

Contributed by Lion Leslye

SHALMALI PATIL WINS DeANZA LION’S STUDENT SPEAKER CONTEST

Shalmali Patil, a freshman at Cupertino High School, was awarded first place in the DeAnza Lion’s Club 2014 Student Speaker Contest held on February 11th, 2014. It was the 77th Lions Student speaker contest.

Ms. Patil was one of 4 high school students from the Fremont Union High School district who took part in the event held at the Jesuit Retreat Center in Los Altos. The topic was “Community Service – What Does It Mean & Why Does It Matter.”

The other finalists were Jimmy Zhi from Lynbrook High School, Erik Yang from Homestead High School and Justin Fu from Homestead High School.

By winning Shalmali Patil will continue to the Zone level competition, which is scheduled for March 4th, 2014. It will also be held at the Jesuit Retreat Center in Los Altos. The winner at each level will advance to the Region, District, Area, and then Final Contest. The Grand Winner will be awarded a $10,000 scholarship.

”Our club is cheering for Shalmali as she moves up in the competition; we think she is a GREAT speaker and has excellent potential,” said event Co-Chair Lion Walt.

We thank the Jesuit Retreat Center, the contestants and their families, the judges as well as all lions and their partners who volunteered at the event. It was a great turnout with close to 30 people.

Contributed by Lion Walt