San Felipe Lions
Club News
Article by Kathy Preppernau
May 29th 2008
The San Felipe Lions Club held its election of new
officers at the meeting on May 22nd, electing Hal/Paco
Clark, the new president, Pastor Gary Lewis, as vice
president, Mike Miller, the new treasurer and several
members to board positions. Elayne Caldwell will remain
in her position as Secretary and we really appreciate
the great job she does.
The induction of the new officers will take place at
the next meeting on June 26th and a special event honoring
the outgoing administration and welcoming the new administration
will be held at Cantu Cove on July 5th. It will be a
day of fun and the first annual Horseshoe Tournament
in San Felipe. It is being sponsored by John & Rachel
Pack, Lions Club members and publishers of Mexico Living
Magazine and will be open to the public. You will be
hearing more about this event very soon.
The District B1 Governor of the Baja and Sonora Lions
Clubs, Joel Gomez, was introduced by President Gary
Dilley. He traveled here with 3 members from other Lions
Clubs from his district to addressed the board meeting
and the regular meeting regarding the fundraising campaign
for this area of Mexico as part of the Lions Club International
Fundraising objectives to continue the humanitarian
efforts for this District. There are 9 districts in
Mexico and District B1 is #1 in membership, #1 in fundraising,
includes 60 clubs and added 300 new members in 2007.
Worldwide, the Lions Clubs are recognized for their
service to the blind and visually impaired in developing
countries. Our local club has been working with the
Flying Samaritans for the past 15 months as part of
our mission here in San Felipe to help the visually
impaired.
The Flying Samaritans were in town again this past
week and at the meeting Gary introduced Jim Mc Kay,
a pilot and the future president of this Flying Sam’s
group. He spoke to the membership about their mission
and thanked the Lions Club for their help and support
here.
Karen Bradley, who organizes and helps coordinate
the Sam’s visits, also spoke about the wonderful
dedication of this group and how so many needy people
have been helped who would not have been able to afford
the surgeries, eye exams and glasses they’ve received.
The Flying Samaritans have performed over 50 surgeries
and examined and fit more than 600 patients with glasses
since the San Felipe Lions Club have been involved in
helping with this humanitarian mission.
On Friday, several of the Flying Samaritans visited
Dr Abasolo’s office to see the new addition to
his Clinic and brought donations of medical supplies
from the Modesto Hospice. Dr Shimon, Urologist from
the Sutter Gould Medical Group of 250 physicians, asked
Dr Abasolo for a list of equipment he will need to get
the operating room and the emergency room ready for
the fall season. He will see what he can get donated
or get at a reasonable price for the facility.
Also on Friday the screening of 20 patients already
prescreened by Dr Sergio Sandavol, our local optometrist
and Karen Bradley the week before was done at the hospital.
Only 10 surgeries could be done on Saturday so this
added screening has to be done.
On Saturday at Hospital San Felipe, Dr Greg Tesluk,
a Flying Samaritan’s ophthalmologist, performed
10 cataract surgeries with the assistance of many volunteer
nurses both local and those who came with the Flying
Sam’s. Three premed students from UC Merced came
with the group this time to observe and assist. Of course,
Karen Bradley was there working with them and seeing
that everything ran smoothly.
Food was provided by Karen, by Curt Porter, Lions
member who had it delivered from Lupita’s and
by Tom Edwards, owner of Fat Boys, also a Lion, provided
pizza for all the volunteers. Thank you all very much
for your dedication and service to our community.
A special thanks to Carlos Kuttler who donates the
Hospital for the Flying Sam’s to use. The Hospital
is fully equipped and several Lions members have praised
the care they’ve received there. (Carlos will
even deliver oxygen in the middle of the night in his
pajamas in an emergency). Cliff White knows this first
hand and is grateful for his help during Cliff’s
recent crisis.
The club also wants to thank Pat Butler, a Lions member,
for providing rooms at Langosta Roja Inn when another
hotel increased the price to the Flying Samaritan’s
because it was a holiday weekend. We really appreciate
you stepping up to the plate and finding rooms for them
at the last minute, Pat. The Flying Sam’s not
only dedicate their time and expertise but they pay
their own expenses as well.
If anyone is interested in learning more about the
San Felipe Lions Club we invite you to come to one of
our meetings. We will be meeting just once a month during
the summer on the last Thursday of the month at Cliff
& Sue’s Los Arcos Restaurant at 6 PM. FYI
to those who are offended or bothered by smoke –
the Lions Club meeting is now non smoking.