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In good tradition, the DeAnza Lions and the Sunnyvale Rotarians put together the 18^th annual Crab Feed on January 25^th, 2014. Six hundred tickets for 2 seatings were available for sale, only a few dozen remained unsold. Once again we were able to rent the Community Hall of St. Williams Parish in Los Altos – surely the regulars already knew the drill: where to park, where to check in, where to get drinks, etc.

As in previous years, the hall was soon filled with happy noise and cheerful music, presented by the famous Thrown-Together-Jazz-Band, while a substantial group of LEOs, Interact Students, and other high-schoolers lined up to wait the tables.

The scrumptious fare included staples like family-style salad, bowls of crispy crunchy garlic bread, spaghetti with tomato sauce and of course an endless supply of crab, prepared and cooked by volunteers of the FishMarket.

Lion Steve and his wife Ellen once again had worked full time jobs for weeks before, during and after the holidays to secure prizes for the raffle and the silent auction – the latter included a Disneyland outing with 4 hopper tickets and a 2 night stay in the Anaheim Marriott Hotel.

Thanks to our young helpers, tons of raffle tickets were sold, and all prizes were handed over to the happy winners. The sale of keys to the ominous lockbox went really well, too – from the proceeds, $ 1, 000 were donated to the victims of Typhoon Haiyan which struck parts of the Philippines in the first week of November 2013.

This year’s takings overall might be slightly lower than last year’s record profits due to the increased price of the crab, but the preliminary results show that all efforts in putting the event together paid off.

A roaring Thank You to all of our guests, sponsors and contributors!

We also want to thank all of our volunteers, Rotarians, LEOs, members of other youth clubs like Interact, the Fish Market, the Band, Lions and their family members for working to make this fundraising event a huge success.

The Cupertino DeAnza Lions had their Second Halloween Party Fundraiser (bash) on Saturday, October 19th, 2013. The event took place at the Santa Clara Valley Blind Center. About 70 adults and 50 kids had a great time with games, prizes, music and dancing. Food and drinks were of course served as well. We brought in a profit of $ 2,700.00 that will be used to provide eye exams and eye glasses for those who qualify for our “OneSight” program. It was a fun-filled family event. Thanks to all who helped, including the LEO crews. [contributed by Lion Mort]

Once again the DeAnza Lions and the Sunnyvale Sunrise Rotary club had teamed up for the annual crab feed on January 26^th, 2013. As always, two seatings were planned for 300 people each, and by golly, almost all tickets were sold, despite a slightly higher cost for each ticket this year.

For the fourth year in a row, the event took place at the Community Hall of St. Williams Parish in Los Altos. Our friends from the Fish Market restaurant arrived with fresh crab which was already cleaned so the usual scrubbing crew did not have to get up by 5:00am on Friday morning. 

Beer (Firehouse brewery), music (the Thrown Together Jazz Band), about $ 9,000 worth of gifts in kind (tirelessly solicited by Lion Steve and his wife Ellen) as well as hundreds of volunteer hours were donated to the event – all of it helps raising funds for the two clubs and its charities.

After serving a small salad, endless bowls with garlic bread, pasta and crab were served by eager high school students from various youth clubs, including LEO clubs from Monta Vista and Lynbrook High. While volunteers from the Fish Market helped cook the crab outside, a team of lions and Rotarians were busy in the kitchen, cooking, washing pots and serving bowls, and replenishing the latter with freshly baked garlic bread and pasta. Needless to say that lemon wedges, melted butter and lots of tomato sauce rounded out the dinner. 

Shouts of joy could be heard when a guest found that his or her raffle ticket matched the ticket number announced by the maître d’ or one of his little helpers – prizes and auction items worth $ 9,000 were raffled and auctioned off. At the end of the first round of diners, the band members lead a march through the densely populated hall, followed by many happy guests. 

After a short break, in which the tables were prepared for the second set of guests, the volunteers enjoyed a slice or two of Pizza, before another crowd of almost 300 people showed up.

This year’s takings in the lockbox amounted to $ 1420.00, earmarked for the victims of Hurricane Sandy, while overall funds raised amounted to $ 24,000. A roaring Thank You to all of our guests and contributors!

We also want to thank all of our sponsors, volunteers, Rotarians, Leos, members of other youth clubs like Interact, the Fish Market, the Band, Lions and their family members for orchestrating another successful fundraising event.

Contributed by Lion Dagmar

On November 8^th, 2012, 35 blanketeers, amongst them Lions, spouses and friends of Lions, as well as 16 LEOs from Monta Vista and Lynbrook High schools gathered at the Odd Fellow Hall in Cupertino for a Linus Project Blanketeering evening. In less than 2 hours, almost 60 blankets were completed. They will be delivered to local children in need, as well as victims of hurricane “Sandy”. Please read Lion Leslye’s fun report (attached). For more information about Project LINUS, please visit their website (www.projectlinus.org).

Contributed by Lion Leslye Noone

Hello there Fellow Lions,

               In case you haven’t heard, we held a Blanketeering Party for Project Linus last Thursday, November 8^th!

               I am thrilled to report that we had 35 people in attendance. It was totally unexpected; I was hoping for 18! You all took my gentle nagging to heart and I was amazed and touched by your willingness to give up an evening at home to come and join us.

               Our evening began when Odd Fellow and Lion Don Lang met John and me at the Lodge promptly at 6:30. I was thrilled to walk in to a meeting hall already set up for us and ready for use.  Lions and Leos began arriving very soon after 6:30. As they entered, everyone was invited to choose a fleece from the 57 pieces we had waiting for them. (We had 5 already completed before we began-one purchased by the Lions and already made as a sample, 2 purchased by the Lions and already made by the Ratners and 2 more purchased and made by the Ratners. Thanks, Ellen and Steve.) The Coordinator of San Jose’s Chapter of Project Linus, Sharon, began her power point presentation about Project Linus just a bit after 7:00 during which she told us that most blankets made at the Blanketeering Parties are given to local children in need but that at least some of our blankets would be sent back to children who are victims of Hurricane Sandy.  She then gave us directions about making blankets and how to proceed. And we did!

               Lion Carl was the first to complete a blanket and received a special Project Linus Blanketeering pin (that I hope he will wear to the next PM meeting, hint, hint) but there were several blankets completed not long after his. Lion–in-law Nancy worked quietly in her corner and completed 3 before she left. We had eleven Leos from Monta Vista High and five from Lynbrook High; they spread out, chatted and laughed as they completed one blanket after the other. At about 8 o’clock, Sharon gathered all of our Blanketeers together for pictures with their blankets and I hope to submit some that we took for display on our Lions website before Christmas.

               Then, believe it or not, all of a sudden, we were done at about 9:10! It only took about an hour and forty-five minutes for our Clubs to make almost 60 blankets. I was shocked and amazed and, I must admit, completely tickled down to my toes and back up again!! The blankets were bagged and placed in Sharon’s minivan, the meeting hall was cleaned and tidied up, and the Leos were safely picked-up to be delivered home before 9:30—a  terrific ending to a very warm and cozy evening.

               Special thanks to Lion Don for helping us get the Odd Fellows Lodge for our use. And more thanks to Lions Dagi and Amy for supplying the munchies. And more thanks to Lion Hubby John for smiling through my bossiness. Biggest and best thanks go to Sharon and all of the participants, now officially called Blanketeers, who came out on the 8^th for a good cause and for a warm evening of fun and community.

~~~~Respectfully submitted by Lion Leslye Noone

The first annual fundraiser “Sock Hop” was introduced by Lions Dan & Yvonne Fimby on Oct 13^th, 2012. Disguised as an early Halloween Party, the event took place at the Santa Clara Valley Blind Center, featuring a “Best Costume” contest, raffle, a fortune teller, trick-and-treat bags for kids as well as dance music “50’s style” with DJ Miguel Avalos. The story of the “Sock Hop” originated from the Fimby’s being owners of a classic car and remembering the “50’s” and the Dick Clark Show. With many club members from this time of bobby socks and 57 “Chevy’s”, it was a fun event with music from movies like “Grease”, and many rock-and-roll tunes.

The party mood was enhanced with very affordable hot dogs, hamburgers and, of course, “root beer floats”. The net proceeds of over $ 1,000 will go to the “One Sight Program”, something Lion Yvonne is very proud of. She said she wanted to do more to help meet all the budget costs associated with this great program for children and create awareness about how the Lions are improving the quality of people’s lives. About 60 adults and 20-25 kids, most in costumes and decorated in period outfits, attended and were part of enriching a child’s life with a small donation. In turn, they experienced an evening of laughing, dancing, good eats and lots of quality family time.Lion Yvonne definitely hopes to do it again next year, so be sure to gather you friends for a fun night of “Blue Suede Shoes” and “Great Balls of Fire”.

Thanks to “Debbie Lyn’s Costumes” for sponsoring the event.

Contributed by Lion Yvonne Fimby