Champaign Lion's Chatter

1. Champaign Lion's Chatter (Click here to go to our website) 5 September 2012 Call to Order – President Ted Gonsiorowski called the meeting to order and led in the Pledge of Allegiance.

2. Invocation – David Hunter –Oh Lord, we thank Thee for this food. We thank Thee when it's sunny, we thank Thee when it rains, and when we've got some money. Amen.Vittles – Meat loaf, mashed potatoes and gravy, mixed vegetables, salad and toppings, rolls and butter, chocolate cake, tea and coffee.

3. Attendance – 21 members, 2 visitors. Guests – Larry, husband of Fonda Bowden. (That’s not a beer in front of him. It’s apple juice with a whipped cream topping.);

4. Marcella Nantz, guest of Bob Tuechel,Had served as Executive Secretary for UI President Stanley Ikenberry.

5. Birthdays – Pedro Heller and Rich King. Lions Report – Jim Smith got out of the Carle Hospital and now is back in the hospital;

6. Tom Yaxley’s father passed away and there will be a graveside service this week. If you are ill or know a fellow Lion that is under the weather, please call Pat Bryan at 586-4535.

7. Lottery – Fonda Bowden won the $13 lottery.

8. Announcements –President TedGonsiorowski handed out the Past President’s Award to David Lin for serving last year. Rich King shakes David’s hand.

9. The International President’s focus is on literacy. We are also looking for new ideas such as donating books for the schools. There is an upcoming Lions Illinois Forum in Decatur. We also need to recruit some new Lions.

10. Program – Business Meeting. Secretary Fonda Bowden read the minutes of the September 4 Board of Directors meeting. Present: President Ted Gonsiorowski, Treasurer Karl Drake, 1st VP Weldon Garrelts, 2nd VP Charlie Osborne, Past President David Lin, Director Sam McGrew, Lion Tamer Floyd “Gordie” Gordon and Secretary Fonda Bowden. Members present: David Hunter, Jay Hoeflinger, Frank Duff and Rich King.

11. Board Minutes continue herewith: • ·1 Treasurer’s Report – Karl Drake provided treasurer’s reports. August 31 the general fund has $9,720.04, the Charities fund $6,567.27 and in the Endowment fund, $2,480.64. • ·2 Assistant Secretary for Finance Rich King said all but 9 members have paid their dues. 6 members will be dropped. • ·3 1st VP Weldon Garrelts noted tootsie pop day is currently set for a week after the CU Marathon, and requested the date be moved to May 10 and 11 (instead of May 4 and 5), 2013. • ·4 2nd VP and Program Chair Charlie Osborne said he has speakers up to September 26. • ·5 Secretary’s Report -- An email from Herb Bail reported that he and Byron Balbach collected 321 pairs of used eyeglasses for the month of August. • ·6 Membership and Activities – The reunion/recruitment picnic is now planned for October 13 at Burwash Park. Past Lions we can locate will be invited as well as guests who might become members. • ·7 Rich King is still working with Randy Smith of the Champaign Fire Department on the evening group meeting.

12. ·8 Public Awareness – Club publicity was discussed. We currently do not have anyone assigned to post events in local papers or in the District Newsletter. • ·9 Fundraising – Several ideas were discussed. • ·10 Dates for your Calendar: Candy Day – October 12 & 13 (not 19 & 20) Sam McGrew and Jay Hoeflinger, co chairs (sign up sheets available soon); however, they switched back to the 19, 20. Picnic – October 13. WDWS Eyeglass Collection – November 8; District 1E Convention – December 5 in Mattoon; CU Marathon – April 26 & 27, 2013; Tootsie Pop Day – Changed from May 3 & 4 to May 10 & 11, 2013, Weldon Garrelts and Omer Benn, co-chairs • ·11 Budget for 2013—2013 – Budget items from last year’s budget were approved for the 2012-13 budget. A $250 donation to the National Red Ribbon Campaign, October 16, was approved for payment. • ·12 Endowment Fund -- Charlie Osborne suggested it is time to invest the funds donated to the endowment fund. He will look into investment ideas. • ·13 September 19 – The meeting will be held at the Regent instead of at the Windsor. • ·14 Smile Program: Remember to smile and be happy! • Respectfully submitted September 5, 2012, by Fonda Bowden, Secretary.

13. Know your Lion. Omer Benn introduced Bob Tuchel. He was born in Vener, Illinois and went to school there. He attended University of Illinois, where he and a friend left school to join the Army Air Corps when the war broke out.

14. After he became a pilot he had some really interesting stories. Once he landed at Moline (where he had had his first plane ride) and his uncle fed the whole crew.

15. They then flew over and buzzed his mother’s home and flew on to Chicago and Detroit. They then buzzed his crew chief’s dad’s farm and scared his chickens, then on to Buffalo NY.

16. Is this microphone working?

17. Maybe it’s my hearing aid…

18. The next day they flew to Bangor Maine and finally reached England where he was asigned as pilot to a B-24 bomber crew.

19. Once over Germany they came out of a cloud and they nearly ran into another B-24, which washed out his lift and caused them to fall 10,000 feet, so they flew back to England.

20. Once they got hit in the bomb bay with flack, which cut his control cables, and hit in the nose of the plane too. His co-pilot got up to bail out but Bob told hom to sit down. Bob then put the plane on autopilot and flew home at 10,000 feet.

21. Once they got hit in the bomb bay with flack, which cut his control cables, and hit in the nose of the plane too. His co-pilot got up to bail out but Bob told hom to sit down. Bob then put the plane on autopilot and flew home at 10,000 feet.

22. They had to land at another field in the dark without controls. The waist gunners threw their parachutes out the side windows to help slow them down because they had no brakes.

23. Bob is in the Illinois Aviation Hall of Fame. After he got home he went to work with Country Companies Insurance, then he got a call from Parkand College where he worked for 20 years teaching insurance.

24. He still did a lot of flying around the country and joined the Illini Glider Club, where he qualified for the "5 hour sit" by gliding continuously for 5 hours.

25. He also got interested in motorcycles and has ridden in 48 states and across Canada.

26. He just celebrated 70 years of marriage with wife, Wanda. They have two boys and two girls.

27. Tail Twister – Omer Benn asked Byron Balbach to carry the bucket.

28. Then he fined Fonda Bowden for having won the lottery;

29. TedGonsiorowski for something or other;

30. David Lin's table for his his having won the award he had just received;

31. Ed Tichenor for having won $45 playing poker;

32. And Rich King for having had a birthday.

33. Coming up Sept 12 - Matt Bollant – U of I Women’s Basketball Coach Greeters: Kathy Struck and Shaunessy Rice Sept 19 - Tate and Turpin – Illini sports Click here osborne@bankchampaign.comto email Charlie Osborne and let him know what you would like to see in a Lions Club program some time.

34. Thank you for watching Editor Rex Hess Publisher David Hunter To email Dave with your comments, click here → hunter4000@comcast.net To go to the our website, click here → http://www.champaignlions.org/