EL CAJON VALLEY HOSTS LION’S NEWSLETTER
June 15, 2026, Members: _27___ Guests: _7__
Facebook: El Cajon Valley Host Lions Club
Volume 2026 _______________________________________Issue 14
CALL TO ORDER: __Ron Nevels____________________________________
Invocation: _Phil Smith______________ Pledge of Allegiance: PP Walt Simmons ____
Patriotic Song: Kat Zeman & Chris Bramwell________ Song: _Yankee Doodle Dandy__
HELEN KELLER QUOTE BY: __Van Wilsey_____________
“Security is mostly a superstition. It does not exist in nature, nor do the children of men as a whole experience it. Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure. Life is either a daring adventure, or Nothing. “
GUESTS: 7 Guests
| Rachel Galkowski |
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COMMUNICATIONS/ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Fundraising and Donation Impact
The meeting highlighted significant fundraising achievements and generous donations supporting various community programs.
- Over $65,000 raised by the club and foundation in total donations for community programs
- The foundation contributed $28,000, and the club added over $37,000, bringing the total to more than $65,000.
- Funds support multiple initiatives, including eyeglass programs, youth sports sponsorships, and the IRAS program.
- The club withheld seed money for the next Gunsmoke event and allocated specific amounts like $3,000 for Little League and $1,500 for LCIF, and $9,000 for the eyeglass program
- This financial support demonstrates strong community commitment and sustainability for ongoing projects.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU
YVONNE PARIS ( 6-03-41) CATHY ZEMAN (6-16-58)
GARY SIMS (6-04-56) GRANT THIEM II (6-26-57)
JULIE SHERMAN (6-26-85)
SAD NEWS: _________________________________________________________
IF you know of any members who are in distress, sick, or in the hospital, PLEASE notify PP Yvonne so our good wishes can be conveyed to him/her. 619/838-4262
We regret to inform the Club of the passing of PP Jay Jacobsen
Club members showed strong support and camaraderie following the unexpected passing of PP Jay Jacobson
VICE PRESIDENT REPORTS:
1st VP Grant Thiem III:
- Lion’s Installation event is scheduled for June 28th at Past President Hoban’s house with live music
- The Club Steak Fry is planned for July 11th
- Installation will run from 2 pm to 6 pm, featuring Second VP Kat Zeman and her band.
- The steak fry returns to Tom’s house, continuing successful traditions.
_Tom House is at 1682 Hidden Mesa Road, El Cajon, CA 92019
2nd VP Kat Zeman: __the club’s community service efforts, especially in vision and youth support, were a key focus.
Chris Bramwell read
A letter from the Mountain Empire School District
Vision screening and eyeglass distribution reached 612 students across multiple grade levels in the 2025-26 school year
Screens were conducted in kindergarten, 2nd, 5th, 8th, and 10th grades, plus at least 30 IEP students.
The Welch Allen spot machines improved screening accuracy and efficiency for young children.
The club’s support enabled these health interventions, positively impacting student vision and learning.
The eyeglass program’s ongoing importance and training for new school nurses highlighted
The retiring nurse ensured smooth program continuation by instructing her replacement.
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3rd Dyna Jones: Del Mar races event on July 24th with limited availability and a $27 fee
Only 10 spots left, urging members to sign up promptly.
The event includes shaded clubhouse seating, with races starting at 2 pm.
June EXEMPT BADGE: Chris Bramwell
HAPPY DOLLARS/FINES: TT __Bob Moreau___________________________
| Gary Sims | $5 + $5 | We went to the Motley Crew concert at the Casino on Friday night and Saturday night |
| Bob Moreau | $20 | The passing of Jay Jacobson |
| Chris Bramwell | $10 | Going to see Herb Albert and the Tijuana Brass. |
| Guide dogs | $5 | $5 for the club. |
| Dolores Galkowski | $20 | I’m so delighted to have my granddaughter Rachel with me today. |
| Don Anthony | $20 + $5 | The passing of Jay Jacobson20 for the foundation for Dr. J and $5 for the club. |
| Van Wilsey | $40 | The passing of Jay Jacobson |
| Grant Thiem Jr. | $50 | The passing of Jay Jacobson |
| Carter Short | $20 | The passing of Jay Jacobson |
| Phil Smith | $20 + $5 | The passing of Jay Jacobson20 to the foundation for Dr. J and $5 for the club |
| Keith McCar | $20 | The passing of Jay Jacobson |
| Grant Thiem III | $20 | The passing of Jay Jacobson |
| Bob Acker | $50 | The passing of Jay Jacobson |
| Gary Robinson | $20 | The passing of Jay Jacobson |
| Gary Sims | $20 | The passing of Jay Jacobson |
| Ron Nevels | $50 | The passing of Jay Jacobson |
| Ron Black | $20 | The passing of Jay Jacobson |
| Yvonne Paris | $20 | The passing of Jay Jacobson |
PROGRAM: Check Distribution
Lions Club Checks
| Camp Jack $8,500 Currently, we are in our 30th year right now. Camp Jack is growing, and this will go a long way toward youth health impact. | Bliss Care Foundation. $2,500 So, this will go directly to the care of seniors that we’re serving at the mobile home park here in East County. |
Lions Foundation Checks
| Canine Companions $10,000This money’s going to go directly towards helping us match more service dogs with the recipients. And completely free of charge. 35 people this year, and we’ll probably do another 30 before the end of the year. So this will go a long way to help us. | Guide Dogs of the Desert $10,000I have information on your dogs that I’m going to put out on the table. The last four, Kenny, not Kenny, but I have them all here. Just looking at them, Duke and Kate, a couple of the other dogs that you’ve named. The other thing I’m going to call out here is that I need everybody’s help here. We always need puppy raisers. And that’s going to be my commercial puppy raisers. If you know of anyone who wants to become a puppy raiser, I’ll have information out there. | San Diego Center for the Blind $8,000Resource Information for the Blind, where we have outside stakeholders who come in shows us how to use a defibrillator. So our students have already been trained, and now we’re able to apply the money to this cause. |
UPCOMING PROGRAMS: No Meeting June 29th
ATTENDANCE DRAWING: __Terry Winger (not here)____________ $___10_____
50/50 OPPORTUNITY DRAWING: __Bob Acker __________$__ 65____
TODAY’S RIB TICKLER
Lead to serve and serve to lead
Together in service
AP Singh, International Lions President