REMINDER: There will be NO Pasta Supper in JULY because of the holiday!

We are trying to save money so, beginning in September, the newsletter will be sent via E-Mail to whoever has an email address. PLEASE send me an email at: williriz@yahoo.com so that I can add your name to our newsletter list. ALSO, the website is updated on a regular basis with all of our functions, meetings and general information!

We will be holding our regular Taftville Lions Family Picnic on August 17, 2008 at Noon. It will be held at the Fontaines Home as usual. Hot dogs & Hamburgers and clam chowder will be provided, but we will need a few salads &/or desserts for that day. Hope to see you there!!!!

Your Dues of $60.00 per member will be due June 1st for 2008-2009. You should be receiving a notice very soon in the mail regarding your dues. Send any questions to Taftville Lions, Attn. Jack Browne, PO Box 315, Taftville, CT 06380 or contact any Taftville Lions Officer!

The Night of Giving was held after the June 5, 2008 Pasta Supper.

Our 2008 Night of Giving Totals:
Our Annual Night of Giving was held on June 5, 2008. Another very successful year was proven once again. We distributed over $14,000.00 of fundraiser money that we collected throughout the year, to Local groups, State Charities and Local Organizations. Funds that came from the monthly Pasta Suppers, Breakfast Buffets, Bread & Cookie Dough Sales, Plant Sales, a Walk-A-Thon, T-Shirt Sales, a Valentine Dance, Bottle & Can pick-ups, Yard Sales, Misc. Raffles, Donations, Used Clothing Sales, and Lions Placemat Sales, all supported the Gifts that were given out. Thanks to all of the dedicated Lions and Patrons who participated throughout the year to help raise these funds. As you can see by the Gifts listed below, it is definitely worth the effort:

Kelly Middle School Athletic $1740.00
Taftville Little League Sign $150.00
LCIF $475.00
Lions Low Vision $1650.00
CLERF $550.00
CRIS Radio $250.00
Diabetes $500.00
Camp Rising Sun $2,200.00
Moriarty School $1,800.00
Sacred Heart School Computer Lab $1115.00
Hearing & Speech $800.00
Fidelco $1,370.00
Otis Library $330.00
Campaign Sight 1st II $450.00
Taftville Food Pantry $1,350.00
Taftville Pride FLAGS
Taftville Pride Landscape Merchants Ave

We held our 10th Anniversary Picnic on June 8th at the Mohegan Park Pavillion from noon until Sunset. We had a very nice turnout and had plenty of food and fun available. We also inducted 4 new members into the club that day.

We voted on the nominations of Officers 2008-2009 at the April 10th meeting; Here are the New officers for 2008-2009:
President John Quercia
1st Vice President Charles Miclette
2nd Vice President Tia Bettencourt
Secretary Priscilla Lewis
Treasurer Jack Browne
The Board of Directors: Shirley Browne, Michael Lewis, Nancy Miclette, Al Fratoni,
Lion Tamer Joan Eaton
Membership Chairman Steve Eaton
Tail Twister Richard Laidley
Immediate Past President Joan Eaton.

On behalf of the Taftville Lions, We would like to offer a sincere "Thank-You" to Joan Eaton for giving her "ALL" for the past 2 years as President of the Taftville Lions Club. We truly appreciated all of your hard work & dedication for the past 10 years! Keep up the great work!

CONGRATULATIONS: To Michael Lewis who was selected as our 2008 Lion of the Year!!! We appreciate your dedication & hard work in everything you. You definitely epitomize the Lions motto: "we serve"! Great Job!
CONGRATULATIONS go out to Lions Charlie Miclette and Steve Eaton for receiving one of Lions Prestigious Awards. They were both named "Knights of the Blind". The Club is very proud of your hard work & dedication to the Taftville Lions AND the Taftville Community!
CONGRATULATIONS also go out to Lions Diane and William Rizzuto for their becoming "Ambassador's of Sight" from "Connecticut Lions Low Vision Center". The Rizzuto's have been fundraising for the past 10 years raising money for the Low Vision Center. What a GREAT job. Thank you!!
CONGRATULATIONS go out to:Nancy Miclette and Steve Eaton who were recipients of one of the HIGHEST Awards in Lionism: the "Melvin Jones Award". You are true examples of unselfish, totally committed Lions! Everything you two do exemplifies the true meaning of being a Lion: "to Serve". What an honor it is to have had two such worthy candidates for this very prestigious award.
Thanks Mike, Bill, Diane, Nancy, Charlie, Steve and Joan for everything you do to help make the Taftville Lions Club Shine! Keep up the good work

We are selling RADA Knives & other Kitchen Utensils as an on going fund raiser. If you didn't get your order packet, please see Lions Priscilla or Mike Lewis for more information. Sales will be open until we reach enough for a minimum order when we aill send each order in for processing. These are really great knives that last a lifetime yet are VERY inexpensive.

We will be voting on the revisions of the Taftville Lions By-laws soon. More information regarding the changes will be listed in the upcoming newsletters. Your opinion is very important to us. We need your support. Thank you!

The Taftville Lions has voted to join the Norwich Lions in a JOINT "Otis Library Project". We will be joining efforts in several fundraising events throughout the next few years to help raise funds for this project. We will need a lot of help for these fundraisers. Please plan to help out whenever you can. We will have more information available on this joint project in September! Stay Tuned.

Pasta Supper Every Month...
Make sure you don't miss our monthly Pasta Supper on the First Thursday of Every Month from 4:30-6:30pm at Knights of Columbus Hall in Taftville Still only $5.00 all you can eat: includes salad, bread & butter, and beverage! We can always use help for this event. If you can't work, please Bake something for the dessert table or just come on down & enjoy a cheap night out. If you would like to help in any capacity, contact Lions Nancy or Charlie Miclette or any Taftville member. Pasta supper HELP needed on the Wednesday night prior to the Thursday Night Pasta Supper, for setting up the hall & vegetable prep. Please help us if you can. We meet at 7PM at the K of C hall.

Miscellaneous Information?
The Browne?s have designed a tee shirts which will re-enforce the claim that we in Taftville are the center of the universe. All proceeds from these tee shirts will be donated to CLERF. They will be available at all of our functions & meetings. They also have Hats available for purchase. See Jack or Shirley!

Our next major project will be the Merchants Avenue Garden renovation. Keep in touch for dates & times for work times. We have several projects planned for the Fall. If you can spare some time please contact Cam Fogg or Steve Eaton to see when they might need help with the work parties.

We have many new Projects coming up and are in need of help. Please join us at one of our meetings to see what you can do to help to make the Taftville Lions the Center of the Universe!!

Don't forget to drop off your Deposit Bottles & Cans. You can bring them with you at the Pasta Supper on the 1st Thursday of every Month or at any Lions Club Function or drop them off at Lion Steve Eaton's Home.

If anyone has old used glasses, please drop them off at any event or give them to any active member. Jack Browne is still in charge of collecting & shipping out the used glasses. Thanks, Jack for a job well done!

Know of anyone who would be an asset to our club? See any member for information on how to approach them for membership!