Morrison Lions had a busy month of June. Members enjoyed meeting the 2015 scholarship winner, Noah Blacklock, at their Tuesday, June 2, meeting. Blacklock expressed his appreciation for the scholarship and told of his plans to attend the University of Nebraska, majoring in chemical engineering or premed. He possibly will combine both and enter medical research. Left-to-right are Glenn Blacklock, his son, Noah, and Keith Hamstra.
Aaron Johnson was in charge of the program and introduced Tom McEleney. He gave a presentation of happenings at, and the shows to be performed this summer on, the Showboat Theatre. He gave a brief history of the Showboat, from its beginning in 1935 in Ohio as a coal-pushing towboat. In 1962 the boat was given to the State of West Virginia to be used in its Centennial celebration. It was converted into a showboat named the “Rhododendron” and purchased by the City of Clinton, IA, in 1966 to become “Showboat Theatre.”
The Lions Hearing Mobile Unit visited Morrison, IL, on Thursday, June 11. The Unit is a free service to the community. Club members assisted in signing visitors in, prior to the hearing technician giving the simple test. A total of 29 persons took advantage of the unit’s visit. The club also participated in the annual Morrison Recycle Day held Saturday, June 6. Ninety-two pairs of glasses and one hearing aid were received. There was also a key donation. Collection of glasses, hearing aids, and keys can be made at anytime by contacting a club member. Old keys can also be donated at the Morrison True Value Hardware, 104 S. Genesee Street.
The family of the late Vivian Tenboer donated memorial money to the Morrison Lions Foundation. Since Vivian Tenboer was a long-time bus driver for the Morrison schools, members voted to use the memorial gift towards a school need. School nurse Andrea Allen expressed a need for a new Otoscope. This is a tool used by health professionals to get a clearer view of the ear. Realizing many children can be at school and complain of ear problems, the club voted to use the memorial money for the purchase. Left-to-right are Bob Tenboer, Superintendent Scott Vance, School Nurse Andrea Allen, and Martha Kophamer.
The Morrison Lions Foundation became a 501(c)(3) organization in 2014. Donations to the Foundation are eligible for income tax deductions. (Always check with your tax preparer pertaining to the deduction.) Anyone wishing to give a memorial in someone’s memory may do so by issuing the check payable to Morrison Lions Foundation, NFP. Add a memo if the donation is to be used for a specific purpose.
The installation of officers for 2015-2015 will be held on Tuesday evening, August 11, at Forest Inn, 20657 Lincoln Road, Morrison. Social hour will be at 6:30 p.m. with dinner at 7:00. Two new members will also be installed and a Melvin Jones Award will be presented. Past District Governor James Kloepping will be the installing officer.
The club will not meet during the months of July and August. Regular meetings will resume on the first and third Tuesday of each month at noon at Happy Joe’s, 109 W. Main Street, Morrison, starting Tuesday, September 1. Anyone interested in learning more about Lions is welcome to any meetings. Also, visit our club’s website at www.e-clubhouse.org/sites/morrisonil.