Lions conduct vision screening for 420 youngsters

With assistance from our all-time favorite school nurse, Brandi VanSickle, the Belle Fourche Lions Club on Tuesday, October 15th, screened the vision of 210 students at the Middle School. These were Fifth and Seventh graders.  Lions Frank Walton, Larry Schoemaker, Del Neumeister and Sue Neumeister conducted the screening, which resulted in 21 referrals for further examinations.   And now for the spooky part (It is, after all, just a couple of weeks from Halloween!)

The next day, Wednesday, the Neumeister pride (that's Lion-speak for Lions Del and Sue) were joined by Lions John Cooper and organizer Lion Joyce Drabek as they went to South Park Elementary School and screened...(drum roll, please)...another 210 students with – you guessed it – another 21 referrals among these First and Third graders. 

Lions Del and Coop were among our volunteers!

That's 42 referrals altogether!  Belle Fourche Lions are proud to offer this service and to know that these young people are getting a head start on detecting any vision irregularities – and pursuing appropriate action to deal with any vision issues.

         ~ ~ ~ ~ LIONS SERVE! ~ ~ ~ ~ ~  

Vision screening is a core activity of Lions clubs; it goes directly to our mission, and it's extremely gratifying to know that we're making a real difference in the lives of these young people.

Our sincere thanks to the Lions listed above who made these screenings possible – and to the good folks in the Belle Fourche schools who make our screening tasks  a lot easier! 

Lots of leaders...lots of information....lots of Lions fellowship!

It was a full agenda, with installation of officers, some decisions on key Lion projects, and a program presenter with a candid assessment of the Belle Fourche business climate.

District Secretary Neil Vollmer, accompanied by a contingent of other Lions from the Newell Lions Club, was on hand to lead the installation of officers for the coming year.  Leading the slate of new club leaders is Lion Joyce Drabek, who becomes the first woman to lead the Belle Fourche Lions Club.  Members of the Northern Lights Lions Club of Belle Fourche, comprised of Lady Lions, merged with the previously all-male club a couple of years ago.

Lion President Joyce leads an array of talented members from the Northern Lights club who have infused renewed vigor into the Belle Fourche Lions.  Their impact can be seen in the leadership positions of our club, as well as in the committee assignments.

Club leaders for the coming year include: Lion Joyce Drabek, president; Lion Willert, First VP; Lion Kline, Second VP; Lion Zupan, Third VP and Lion Tamer; Lion Rich Drabek, Treasurer; Lion Del Neumesiter, Secretary; Lion Sue Neumeister, Board Member; and Lion Cooper, Tail Twister.  To get a closer look at these club leaders, along with a few other snapshots from the evening, visit our Lions Gallery.

New Belle Fourche Chamber of Commerce director Gary Wood (shown at left) gave an assessment of the business climate in Belle Fourche, with some positive information about our community that is often overlooked -- such as the hefty number of manufacturing plants that call Belle Fourche home.

A full slate of business followed installation.  You can read all about it in the timely and comprehensive Minutes compiled by club secretary Lion Del Neumeister.  Click the "Minutes" tab at the top of this page.

Also lots of upcoming Lions events.  Check 'em out on the "Calendar" tab above or in the right-hand column.

Roar!!!

Seven new members inducted into Belle Fourche Lions Club

Lions Drabek, Young and Walton

It was a full house for the Tuesday, March 24^th meeting as seven new members were inducted into the Belle Fourche Lions Club at the The Stadium Sports Grill.

The ceremony was conducted by Lion Bob Drabek with assistance from Lions Rick Walton and Cherlynn Young.  

Many of the inductees had been members of the Northern Lights Lions Club, the ladies Lions organization that has been exceptionally active in Belle Fourche vision screening over the past few years.

Moderator Drabek observed that this merger of the two clubs is much like a marriage – one of the two parties usually must have a name change.

Drabek also noted that the success of this arrangement will be the responsibility of all the members.

These were among the seven new Lions members and their sponsors participating in the March 24th induction ceremony, one of the largest such events in recent memory.

New members inducted into the Belle Fourche Lions Club were Lions Jeremy Biegert, Faith Goehring, Sue Neumeister, P.J. Sloan, Kelly Walton, Frank Walton, and Kellen Willert.

For a bit more information and additional photos, visit our Lions Gallery.

We should note that you’ll not see Lion sponsor Rik Bartels or inductee Lion P.J. Sloan in any of those photos.  During the course of the evening, the fire whistle blew and Lions Bartels and Sloan had to absent themselves from the festivities.

We should note that Lion Sloan was recently selected as “Fireman of the Year” by the Belle Fourche Fire Department.  Congratulations Lion Sloan!

In his induction comments, Lion Bob Drabek challenged each of the new members to help make the Belle Fourche Lions Club an even better organization.

After the ceremony, all enjoyed a wonderful “Lions Cake” from the oven of new Lion Sue Neumeister.

Thanks to all who made this a special evening, and congratulations to our new members of the Belle Fourche Lions Club.

New member -- and new meeting dates for Belle Fourche Lions!

Lions Rick Walton and Sue Neumeister

Sue Neumeister may not have intended to help make a bit of history -- but she has.

The wife of local Pastor Del Neumeister, Sue has just become the newest member of the Belle Fourche Lions Club.  More significantly, she is the first-ever woman to join the club, which has consisted only of men since it was formed in 1936.

Neumeister was welcomed to membership in the club by President Rick Walton (photo at left) during the February 26th meeting at the Stadium Sports Grill.

And while she may be the only lady in this bastion of men, that won't be the case for very long.  Nearly a dozen members of the Northern Lights Lions Club -- formed by Belle Fourche women about five years ago -- are expected to join Belle Fourche Lions during their meeting on Tuesday, March 24th.  Their infusion into the club should give the club even more resources to provide services to the community.  They already have compiled a hefty list of accomplishments.

But Sue Neumeister is the first to break the gender tradition of the Belle Fourche Lions Club.

"My dad was a Lion for as far back as I can remember," said Neumeister, who is a native of Nebraska.  The family had lived in Avoca, Decatur,  and Weeping Water, among others communities, in eastern Nebraska.  

"I remember Lions collecting eyeglasses and having meetings, but I honestly don't remember much more.  I just remember dad was a Lion for a long time."

Husband Del is also a Lion, allowing Sue to gain even more knowledge about the Belle Fourche Lions Club and its activities.  Lion Del has been a member of the club since their family moved to Belle Fourche six years ago from Scotland, South Dakota.  They have six children and 10 grandchildren -- with another grandchild on the way. 

Starting in March -- on the 10th -- the Belle Fourche Lions Club will beginning meeting on Tuesday evenings rather than Thursday evenings.  All meetings will continue to take place at the Stadium Sports Grill, 818 5th Street on the second and fourth Tuesdays of every month, September through May.