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Planting Trees – One Tree at a Time

On May 15th, Lions Bill Reed and Ray Lancon planted 5 pine trees at Via West Campus (formerly Camp Costanonan) near the protected garden area where the DeAnza Lions built a vegetable garden a few years ago. The pine trees are seedlings about 16″ long with 8″ root and 8″ tiny trunk so they are not easily visible that is why sticks were put up so no one will run over them. Expected growth is 3′ per year. Eventually the trees will help hold the soil and prevent soil erosion.

This action is in keeping with the objective of Lions International President Wing-Kun Tam to have millions of trees planted around the world during this Lion year 2011-2012 to demonstrate the strength of the Lions Clubs’ global network.

The DeAnza Lions thank associate Club Member Lion Jim Goodheart for his generosity in donating those trees

So far, 9,575,312 trees have been planted around the world.

Contributed by Lion Ray L


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First Flag Day Presentation 2012

The Cupertino DeAnza Lions Flag Team visited Sutter Elementary School in Santa Clara on Tuesday April 18th. Our Flag Team members are Lion Mort, Lion Anne, Lion Leslye, Lion Yvonne, and Lion Walt. We had a successful Flag Day Presentation with the Third Graders…about 85 students. We talked about Lions Clubs and what they do for others. Some of the kids were interested in volunteering. We had fun with some facts and history about the American Flag and how our first flag came to be. Did you know that our flag has changed designs more than any other flag in the world? It also needs 64 pieces of fabric to sew. A good time was had by all! Future Flag Day Presentations will be on Friday May 18th at Hughes Elementary in Santa Clara and on Tuesday May 29th at Eaton Elementary in Cupertino.

Contributed by Lion Mort

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Joint Clubs India Eye Camp Completes 5th Year – Another Lions Success

A program that started as one Lion’s vision in 2007 marked its fifth year this past December, with the Ambikanagar Lions Club in west India partnering with the De Anza Lions Club of Cupertino to provide life-changing eye examinations and surgery through a free eye camp.

The 2011 eye camp saw about 200 people examined and 52 patients selected as good candidates for the intra-ocular lens implantation procedure. All procedures were successful, and the patients would be called back the next week for a follow-up exam.  

This joint eye camp program was initiated after a visit in April 2007 by Ambikanagar Lion Dr. Neelkanth Byakod to the De Anza Lions PM meeting in Cupertino, CA. During the visit Lion Byakod invited the De Anza Lions to enter into a partnership with his club by sponsoring an annual free eye camp, to serve those who had no other option for such eye care. Were it not for this program, the disadvantaged people in this particular area of west India (near Goa, but inland) would have little chance having their sight improved in such a dramatic way. 

The De Anza Lions responded positively and enthusiastically to the opportunity.  Since Lion Byakod’s first visit to the club, he’s been back a couple of times to update the De Anza club and share Lions fellowship. This program is a fine example of the true spirit of Lionism, a great program that furthers the Lions core mission of helping those with sight issues, and our timeless motto, “We Serve.”

By Lion Jeff Ludlum

Helping 160 Families at Thanksgiving

2011 112011 FoodDrive13Thanksgiving Food Drive provides food baskets for 160 families in the community.

The DeAnza Lions want to thank Safeway , the community, the DeAnza Lions and the LEO club of Monta Vista High School volunteers for making our Annual Thanksgiving Food Drive this past weekend a huge success.

With food and cash donations, we are able to provide Thanksgiving food boxes to 160 families in our community, including low income families with kids in Hughes Elementary and Merritt Trace Elementary schools as well as the Sunnyvale Support Network for battered women, Even Start Program and others. Excess food donations were taken to the Sunnyvale Community Services to supplement their food bank.

2011 has been another tough year for many people in our community. It is with much gratitude that the DeAnza Lions Club acknowledges the donation of food and funds of well over $ 12,000 during this year’s food drive. 

We thank each and every volunteer, especially the members of the LEO club, and the owners of the Safeway Stores, for donating time, energy, goodwill and money to this worthwhile cause.

Happy faces and kind words of thanks met the Lions who delivered the gift baskets. 

2011 112011 FoodDriveA big Thank You again to the patrons of the Safeway Stores for opening their heart and wallets to help people in need.

2011 112011 FoodDrive06Happy Thanksgiving!

“Happiness is..” 35 Warm Blankets

Project Linus

A second Blanketeering night for DeAnza Lions

If “happiness is a warm puppy”, 3 dozen little “puppies” (children in need) will be happy when they receive the blankets that were made with love and proudly donated to Project Linus by our group of thirteen.

On November 3rd, 13 lions – old and new, spouses, family and friends – met at Lion Al and Barbara Knox’s home for an evening of peaceful joy. After a brief introduction to Project Linus and their mission (visit www.projectlinus.org), the lions armed themselves with the necessary tools and were let loose. It did not take long before the pile of cute fleece cuts was transformed into blankets, 27 blankets to be precise.

As the original goal of 35 blankets was not quite achieved by wrap time, many attendees asked to be able to take some pre-cut blankets home to be completed within a week.

The Nov 3 Blanketeers

The Nov 3 Blanketeers

It was a very warm and happy way to spend time working and playing together. Thanks so much, Lions, for considering this a worthy cause and for trusting me with the assignment.  Thanks to Project Linus volunteers Sharon and Cathy. And thanks to Blanketeers Mort, Kathy, Dagi, Amy, Bernie, Barbara, Nancy, John, Veronica, Rhonda, Steve and Ellen.

Respectfully submitted to you all with joy, Lion Leslye

Lionism Sometimes Comes in Small Packages…

“SS Helpers” Donate to Lions Club

A special presentation of a donation to the Lions Club was given by two young girls, the daughter of a Lions Club member and her close friend, recently at the PM meeting. The girls cleaned houses, sang, and sold products that they created to make some money. $32.00 to be exact, and decided to donate rather than spend it on some dolls they wanted to buy. We are so proud of the young Lions-to-be!

Founding members of "SS Helpers"give their presentation

Founding members of "SS Helpers" give their presentation

The young ladies donation came appropriatly (and creatively) packaged

The young ladies donation came appropriately (and creatively) packaged

DeAnza Lions try a new Fundraiser

A roaring “Thank You” to the DeAnza Lions, their families and friends who dined out at Holder’s Country Inn on Monday 23rd of May, 2011, for our new  fundraiser. The club made $263 for the community fund.

Some people arrived early for breakfast, stayed and played bridge. Some friends and Lions came for breakfast and dinner to support our club. We had a total of over 50 people for dinner seated around two large tables in the back where they could stay longer and socialize.

Senior friends of Ann Ratner from Chai House Retirement Home came for brunch, thus helping the DeAnza Lions. They said they had a great time and wanted to know when the next fundraiser would be.

Lion Steve and his wife Ellen had a nice conversation with some 20 women of a Church Group, who were having breakfast. One member of that group expressed an interest in joining the DeAnza Lions club. They also supported our fundraiser that day.

Thanks again to all those who supported DeAnza Lions Club in our effort to raise money for our community projects.

Report submitted by Lion Steve and Ellen Ratner

Flag Days 2011

During May, this year’s “Flag Day Team”, led by Lion Mort Eliason, with Lions Yvonne Fimby  and Leslye Noone, took DeAnza Lions’ Flag Day Presentations to three schools. They talked about Star-Spangled Banner to approximately 290 Second and Third Graders at Garden Gate Elementary and Eaton Elementary in Cupertino, as well as Hughes Elementary in Santa Clara. Another dozen or so fellow Lions, among them Lions Steve and wife Ellen, Ron, Ray Gamma, Walt and wife Carol, Charlie Waters and Jenni as well as Mike Martin, Al and Ray Lancon, were helping and assisting with cooking and serving the kids at Hughes, who were treated to hot dogs, chips, cookies and lemonade at the “Bird Cage” play area behind the school. A good time was had by all at these 3 events.

Lion Cliff Govaerts, who worked so hard on Flag Days in the past, is smiling down on us.  Go Lions!! 

Report submitted by Lion Mort

Flag Days, 2011, with Lions Walt, Anne, Yvonne and Mort

Flag Days, 2011, with Lions Walt, Anne, Yvonne and Mort

Lions Honor Monta Vista Leo Advisor

Monta Vista High School Leo Club Advisor Andrew Goldenkranz was presented the Lions International Outstanding Service Award by Lion Kent Vincent on June 3, 2011. In his remarks, Lion Kent thanked Andrew for his leadership in guiding the Leo club through its very successful charter year. The club currently has over 30 members and was instrumental to the success of several De Anza Lions  fundraising and charity events held during the year. Andrew is a popular biology teacher at Monta Vista High School.  

Report by Kent Vincent

Leo Advisor Andrew Goldenkranz and DeAnza Lion Kent Vincent

Leo Advisor Andrew Goldenkranz and DeAnza Lion Kent Vincent

Fish-A-Thon …Lionism at its best

Members of the Cupertino De Anza, Almaden Super and Cupertino Host Lions Clubs joined forces at Stevens Creek Quarry in Cupertino on Saturday, May 7 for the 51st annual Fish-A-Thon for disabled children and adults. The event provided an extraordinary outing for 108 special needs individuals having Down’s syndrome, cerebral palsy, blindness or similar disability. With the help of Lions volunteers each participant experienced the joy of catching their own fish and taking home a memorable photograph with their catch, which the Lions cleaned and iced for them. A lunch was provided for some 400 participants, their families and volunteers by the Cupertino Host Lions, which sponsored the event. Participants were drawn from Lions sponsored organizations such as Via Services/Camp Costanoan, Parents Helping Parents and the Santa Clara Valley Blind Center, as well as invitations to Special Education classes throughout the community. The Fish-A-Thon is a great example of Lionism at its best and a heart-warming experience for each volunteer.  

Report by Lion Kent Vincent