Great Odds, Big Prize

Posted on 20/08/2008 by Grumpa Joe
Lions Logo
Lions Logo

In nineteen forty, a small group of men chatted over a beer. The subject was how to make a difference with their lives. One had heard of Lions Clubs, and suggested that they form a club in their town of Frankfort, Illinois. By the spring of nineteen forty-one they chartered the Frankfort Lions Club, and adopted the Lions motto “We Serve.” Over the years, the club grew to have more than a hundred members. Their primary mission was directed toward helping people with blindness and vision problems. It remains the focus of the club to this day.

The club required funds to serve the growing needs of the community. Again, they discussed the matter over a few beers, and the idea came to them to hold a raffle. Members brain-stormed a formula for raising money that has served them well for the last twenty six years. It was simple, Lions sell tickets for twenty dollars apiece, but limit sales to two thousand. The idea grew. Why not rent the entertainment tent for a dance on the Thursday before the Frankfort Fall Festival begins? They would serve beer, food, and hire a band. A single sweeps-ticket will allow a couple to enter. On that night, Lions, friends, and neighbors fill the tent. They dance, listen to the lively music, or just socialize. The grand finale is the draw of the winning tickets.

Initially, first prize was a new car, but inflation took over, and cars became too expensive. First prize is now ten thousand dollars in cash, with thirty-one hundred and fifty dollars of additional prizes. Lions continue to limit the ticket sales to two thousand. It makes the odds of winning good. The sales effort is more challenging because the club membership is down to forty. The decrease in members is typical of service clubs around the United States. In spite of fewer members, and the reduced value of the dollar cutting the charities budget, the Frankfort Lions Club continues to “Serve.” Please help support by participating in the “27th Annual Charities Sweepstakes Dance,” Thursday, August 28, 2008.

For more information on where to buy tickets visit our website at http://www.frankfortlionsclub.com

Filed under: Election, family, Funk, Garden, grief, Memories, Motivation, Travel, Writer | Tagged: , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment »

Dancing the Night Away

Posted on 13/08/2008 by Grumpa Joe
Having a Beer and a Ball

Having a Beer and a Ball

In nineteen forty, a small group of men chatted over a beer. The subject was how to make a difference with their lives. One had heard of Lions Clubs, and suggested that they form a club in their town of Frankfort, Illinois. By the spring of nineteen forty-one they chartered the Frankfort Lions Club, and adopted the Lions motto “We Serve.” Over the years, the club grew to have more than a hundred members. Their primary mission was directed toward helping people with blindness and vision problems. It remains the focus of the club to this day.

The club required funds to serve the growing needs of the community. Again, they discussed the matter over a few beers, and the idea came to them to hold a raffle. Members brain-stormed a formula for raising money that has served them well for the last twenty six years. It was simple, Lions sell tickets for twenty dollars apiece, but limit sales to two thousand. The idea grew. Why not rent the entertainment tent for a dance on the Thursday before the Frankfort Fall Festival begins? They would serve beer, food, and hire a band. A single sweeps-ticket will allow a couple to enter. On that night, Lions, friends, and neighbors fill the tent. They dance, listen to the lively music, or just socialize. The grand finale is the draw of the winning tickets.

Initially, first prize was a new car, but inflation took over, and cars became too expensive. First prize is now ten thousand dollars in cash, with thirty-one hundred and fifty dollars of additional prizes. Lions continue to limit the ticket sales to two thousand. It makes the odds of winning good. The sales effort is more challenging because the club membership is down to forty. The decrease in members is typical of service clubs around the United States. In spite of fewer members, and the reduced value of the dollar cutting the charities budget, the Frankfort Lions Club continues to “Serve.” Please help support by participating in the “27th Annual Charities Sweepstakes Dance,” Thursday, August 28, 2008.

For more information on where to buy tickets visit our website at http://www.frankfortlionsclub.com

Filed under: family, Funk, Garden, grief, Lions Club, Memories, Motivation, Music, Travel, Warm and Fuzzy, Writer | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment »

Winning Ticket

Posted on 08/08/2008 by Grumpa Joe

It still amazes me how much my post “I Am A RACIST,” is being viewed. More, and more I am convinced that the world thrives on the dark side. Darth Vader lives on. Good will overcome evil in the end. There is no doubt in my mind that mankind is basically good. It seems however, that those men who thrive on BLOGS lean toward the dark.

My days have been filled with activity designed to make a difference. God has given me a rich life, and I intend to use it for good purposes. My current project is a fund raiser for the Frankfort Lions Club. I am in charge of advertising. I am also on a campaign to sell a record number of raffle tickets. A Sweepstakes ticket costs twenty dollars for a chance to win ten thousand dollars first prize, and another three thousand one hundred and fifty dollars in additional prizes. A ticket also gives a buyer entrance for two into our Sweepstakes Dance. The music for the night is Brother John Band.  We drink alot of beer and have a great time. Mark your calendars, August 28, 2008 at the Entertainment tent in Frankfort, Illinois.

If you have a spare twenty bucks to take a chance with great odds. Contact me through the comments section. I will be very happy to sell you the winning ticket.

Filed under: family, Lions Club, Motivation, Music, Uncategorized, Writer | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment »

“Warm and Fuzzy Weekend”

Posted on 27/07/2008 by Grumpa Joe

I had the great pleasure of not only enjoying a “warm and fuzzy” moment, I had a “warm and fuzzy” weekend. So many positive events transpired it is difficult to understand. First, I spent two days writing thank you letters to friends. These are people that responded to my appeal for the Frankfort Lions Club Charity Sweepstakes. I won two ways. I sold sweeps tickets, and I heard from friends that I hadn’t communicated with for months. Next, Peggy and I drove to Michigan to my family reunion. My daughter and grand daughter came with us. That alone was a beautiful time. It is rare to have one on one time with Jacque anymore.  She is way to busy raising her family.

The family reunion was smaller than expected. All of the cousins stayed home for various reasons. That meant spending time with my kids, my brother and sister-in-law, neices, nephews and their families. The weather cooperated and added to the beauty of the day.

This morning, Peggy and I slept in. We did make it to eleven o’clock mass. Before mass, Deacon Dan struck up a conversation that made us feel we were part of his family. After mass, and much to my surprise, Peg suggested that we go to the club for lunch. I love eating at the club. The parking lot was crowded, but all were at the pool or on the course. The dining room was empty except for another couple, who had been in church with us. They were neighbors from Aberdeen Road. Hanns and Lydia have been married just short of fifty years. Both were born in Germany, he in Hamburg, she in Stuttgart. They met in the U.S. and raised a family here. We had lunch together and had a totally enjoyable time.

Peggy and I spent the remainder of the afternoon searching for perennial plants on sale at Home Depot. We got some really nice plants to add to the collection.  On the way home we stopped at the Creamery for a tastee freeze. How much better can it get?

Filed under: Characters I knew, family, Garden, Travel, Warm and Fuzzy | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment »

The Need is Great

Posted on 30/06/2008 by Grumpa Joe

My chest is bursting with pride. I just completed and posted a new website for my Lions Club. I had one linked to my Lions page, but it led to a funky page that was hard to find, hard to use, and limited in what I could do on it. This new one starts with our own domain name, frankfortlionsclub.com.
My goal was to have the website up and running as part of the Frankfort Lions Club 27th Annual Charities Sweepstakes. Tickets went on sale this week. The Sweepstakes Dance is the unofficial kick-off for the Frankfort Fall Festival. First prize is $10,000 in cash. We charge twenty dollars per ticket. It is a chance in the raffle, and entry for two adults into the beer tent for the dance.  We limit ticket sales to 2000. Since I joined this club we’ve never sold all the tickets. That means the odds to win are really good . In addition to the $10,000 first prize there are six additional prizes ranging in value from $1000 to $200.
The Sweepstakes Dance is a lively affair with the famous “Brother John Band” providing the music. Sandwiches, pizza, and drinks are available for sale. It turns into a neat social gathering. The crowd starts out with the seniors and evolves into the “Thirty Something” group closing it down.
The dance is on Thursday evening August 28, 2008. Action begins at 6:30 p.m. The music plays from 7:30 p.m. till 11:30 p.m.
The charities supported by the affair are: Scholarships to deserving Lincolnway East H.S. grads, food baskets to needy families at Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter, the “Sights and Sounds” fund of the Lions of Illinois Foundation, free eye exams and eyeglasses for poor children, and a host of additional community needs. The list is endless, the need is great, the resources in short supply.
Help me out by going to our new website, and calling a Frankfort Lion from the list for a ticket now.
http://www.frankfortlionsclub.com 

Filed under: family, Garden, grief, Memories, Motivation, Writer | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment »