Incoming officers installed and awards handed out at annual dinner

It was a fun evening at the Eagles as 47 Lions and guests enjoyed a catered salmon and chicken dinner with plenty of awards.

In the photo above are the incoming officers for Poulsbo Lions and Poulsbo Evening Pride (PEP): Front row - Andy Hento, membership, PEP tail twister Erika Dodsley, Dave Damazo and Zone Chairman Bob Theale, who installed everybody. Middle row - Rick Wright, tail twister Linda Schwind, Karen Reitan, Elda Armstrong, Sandi Dahlquist and first vice president, Joe Stenstrom; Back row - PEP President David Risley, Michele Grenier, Steve Calhoun, Julia Ratcliff, John Macdonald and Poulsbo Lions President Pat Osler.

 

The biggest awards of the night, the Melvin Jones Fellow, went to Lion Sherri Burch (above) and North Kitsap High School teacher Stephen Nolet, who has been the LEO Club advisor since 2005, when Jim Stark "stuck" him with it. Past District Governor Patrick Burch was pleased to award the MJF to Sherri for so many reasons - being membership chair for years, having the Heart of a Lion, organizing highway litter clean-ups, organizing the drink table at our pancake breakfast, and so much more.

King of LEOs, Lion Karl Ostheller, was happy to present Nolet with his MJF Award. Nolet's LEOs is the premier LEO club in the state! Ostheller also presented Nolet with a service award for his work with the LEOs. Thank so much Stephen!

 

President Dennis Deitch presented Elda Armstrong with the Most Active Member Award. Elda headed the tulip fundraiser and Hooked on Fish, helped with the pancake breakfast three days in a row, worked the strawberry shortcake booth and was in the parade, and so much more!

 

PEP Lion Erika Dodsley is the incoming tail twister.

 

PEP Lions Amanda Cheatham and incoming President David Risley with his mom, Ginny. David received an award from outgoing PEP President Cecelie Burleson for his Outstanding Leadership and Guidance. He also is responsible for handing out a record number of dictionaries to kids in Kingston, Poulsbo and Bainbridge Island.

 

Zone Chairman Bob Theale and PEP President Cecelie Burleson. Theale installed the new officers.

 

Lion Dennis Tesch was credited in an award given out by President Dennis Deitch for being instrumental in raising $18,000 for the Poulsbo Lions Raab Foundation Bellringer this year. The funds were split between Fishline Food Bank, St. Vincent de Paul and The Coffee Oasis. Lion Terry Blais earned an award for the Most Service Oriented Project, which is the monthly Loads of Change.

 

Lions Steve Calhoun, Karen Reitan and PDG Patrick Burch.

 

John Armstrong and friend.

 

Dan and Sue

 

Lion Dave Damazo and his wife, Becky. Standing: Sherri Burch, Julia Ratcliff, Linda Schwind and Dori Swokowski.

 

NKHS LEO Club advisor Stephen Nolet with Lions Karl and Pauline Ostheller and Michele Grenier.

 

Lion Dori Swokowski and hubby John.

 

Incoming Poulsbo Lions President Patrick Osler.

 

Lions Jay and Sandi Dahlquist.

Lion John Macdonald acted as our Master of Ceremonies and received an award for helping raise $18,000 with the Bellringer this year.

 

Lion Rick Wright (left) received the Most Energetic Lion award from President Dennis Deitch (right). Rick is always on hand to help out, set up and clean up. He's pictured here with his wife, Marsha, and Denise Deitch.

 

Kim Lathum with boyfriend Lion Joe Stenstrom and his mom, Jackie Stenstrom.

Lions Paulette and Mike Alvarado

 

 

PEP President Cecelie Burleson presented Sherri Burch with an award for teaming with PEP and helping with their events and garden. Also recognized was Lee Metcalf, who didn't attend the dinner, for his help with the Firehouse Garden and White Canes.

Julia Ratcliff received an award for Outstanding Secretary and terrific communications from PEP President Burleson.

Ostheller hands out LEO awards and recognition while LEOs help sort eyeglasses

Poulsbo Lion and LEO Club Advisor Karl Ostheller and NKHS LEOS spent time at the end of the school year sorting eyeglasses and receiving awards, such as outstanding LEO recognition and appreciation. Present were Wren Mason-Todd, Leah Parmalee and Nathan Kent. #NKHSLEOS #eyeglasses #poulsbolions #LEOawards #WeServe

 

Our club donates $2,000 to Ukraine

Our club has contributed $2,000 to Ukraine - half from our activity fund and the other half from the Poulsbo Lions Raab Foundation.

 

From Lions International - Where there's a need, there's a Lion. In response to the humanitarian conflict in Ukraine, Lions around the world are collecting goods, caring for refugees and donating to Lions Clubs International Foundation. Today on #WorldRefugeeDay, we thank Lions everywhere for their support. Learn how you can help: https://bit.ly/38wWZEi #WeServe

Only a few weeks left to submit photos for 2023 NK Photo Calendar

We're getting down to the wire for photo submissions of your favorite North Kitsap sites for our 2023 NK Photo Calendar. The deadline is July 15, so submit your photos soon. #nkphotocalendar #poulsbolions #NKphotocalendarfundraiser #WeServe
 

A dozen more kids are screened

 The vision of a dozen children was screened by Poulsbo Lions Steve Calhoun, Karen Reitan and Lee Metcalf June 15 at Martha & Mary in Silverdale.

 

Scholarship recipients receive their checks at Lions meeting

  

Poulsbo Lions handed out $22,000 in scholarships recently to some of the best and brightest students from North Kitsap and Kingston high schools. A bunch of the kids joined our meeting today. Special thanks to our LEO advisor, Karl Ostheller, who has been doing this job for many years at the club and district level - thanks Karl!

 

 

These three young ladies are all from Kingston High School, where they were members of our LEO Club. From left to right: Claire Moe (plannong in attending Colorado College in environmental science), Maddie Seid (going to the University of Washington in public health and biochemistry), and Sophie Svarthumle (going to Central Washington University in graphic design).

 

These four young men are all NKHS Vikings - from left to right are Dalton Brockett, Jason Hart (going to UW for engineering), Carl Burchill (going to Gonzaga and probably majoring in economics) and Jonah Holmes (just received his associate degree at Olympic College and has been accepted at Brigham Young University and plans to go into law).

 

These three have received a Poulsbo Lions scholarship before and were each given another. From left to right: Aranya Kitnikone (in her second year at University of Washington), Nara Deller (former LEO Club president and Achievement Award winner in 2020-21), and Treyson Gleich (just finished his third year at the University of Washington and majoring in aeronautical engineering).  

 

 

Sophia Svarthumle from Kingston High School was named Leo of the Year for 2020-2021.

 

Loads of Change helps 35 people with cleaning their laundry

 Penny is just one of the 35 people we helped with laundry today at Loads of Change. In all, we spent $428.50 ($90.25 of that was in donations, including the $30 we received at the laundromat, so Thank You!), we washed 66 loads and dried 67 loads.

Ria and Ray McMahon have been volunteering their time every month at the laundromat for well over a year. Also helping out was Terry Blais (photographer).

Happening tomorrow!

 

Lions screen vision of 54 children in Silverdale

 Our Poulsbo Lions were at Martha & Mary's in Silverdale to screen the vision of 54 children June 7. Fourteen children have been referred on to optometrists. Many thanks to Steve and Karen Calhoun, Sherri McCormack Burch, and Larry Linn.

 

Lions celebrate 105 years

 Happy birthday, Lions Clubs International! Lions began in Chicago 105 years ago. We've been there for our communities for over a century...and we're just getting started: https://bit.ly/3Q5JqNg #WeServe

Visitors are always welcome to our meetings. We meet every Thursday from 12:15-1:15 p.m. in Grace Chapel at Vinland Lutheran Church, 2750 NW Finn Hill Rd, Poulsbo. Coffee and water are available. Bring a lunch!

 

The art of setting up

 Just sharing a few photos of our Poulsbo Lions getting stuff out of storage (thank you Reliable Storage!) to set up at the Viking Fest Pancake Breakfast a few weeks ago. It took Lions Tom Settle, Greg Supancheck, Ryan Smart, Rick Wright, Scott Puhn, Larry Lynn and Sherri Burch to grab the grills and tables and various supplies. #Vikingfest #poulsbolions #Lionspancakebreakfast #WeServe #pancakesforscholarships

 

Vision screeners keeping busy

 Our vision screening committee has been working weekly through dozens of children. The crew, led by Lion Steve Calhoun, has screened children at both Martha & Mary children centers. Approximately one-third of the children are referred on to optometrists.

Most recently, Lions Lee Metcalf, Pauline Ostheller  and Steve Calhoun screened 10 pre-K kids June 1.

 

Firehouse Garden produces veg for local food banks

Poulsbo Lions Rob Radcliff, David Risley, Lee Metcalf, Sherri Burch and Cecilie Burleson (taking photo) worked in the Firehouse Garden recently, including one Lion's 3-year-old daughter. Vegetables grown in the garden are donated to local food banks. #FirehouseGarden #poulsbolions #stophunger #sharenet #fishline #growveggies

 

Epperson receives scholarship

 Poulsbo Lion and Leo Club Advisor Karl Ostheller presented Grace Epperson of Kingston High School with a scholarship check at our June 2 meeting. Epperson was a LEO Club member for four years. She said her favorite activity was handing out cookies and hot chocolate at the Port of Kingston around Christmas time. She is planning on attending Montana State University in environmental science.

 

More trash picked up along Waaga Way

 Poulsbo Lions Sherri McCormack Burch and Dave Damazo, along with litter friends Larry W. and Doris picked up 10 bags of trash along Waaga Way June 1. There are many homeless people living in and around there, creating plenty of trash. Special thanks to our volunteers Larry W. and Doris!