Marissa F., district winner in the Sun Lakes Lions Club International Peace Poster contest
International Peace Poster Contest: Casteel Student Wins Sun Lakes Lions Peace Poster Contest
Marissa F., a 7th grader at Casteel, emerged victorious as the district winner in the Sun Lakes Lions Club International Peace Poster contest! Her winning poster has advanced to the regional competition. This year, 14 schools took part in the contest, with each school sending its champion to compete at the district level. The 14 schools are Arizona College Prep Middle School, CTA Independence, CTA Liberty, Conley Elementary, Elite Performance Academy, Hancock Elementary, Hartford Sylvia Encinas Elementary, Navarrete Elementary, Rice Elementary, Riggs Elementary, Shumway Leadership Academy, Tarwater Elementary, and Wenberg Gifted Academy. Congratulations to all the school winners, and especially to Marissa for her achievement!
For over three decades, Lions Clubs around the globe have been sponsoring a very special art contest in schools and youth groups. Creating peace posters gives children everywhere the chance to express their visions of peace and inspire the world through art and creativity.
The winning poster will advance through the district, multiple state districts, and international levels of competition if he/she is to be declared the international grand prize winner.
The winning poster is among more than 600,000 entries submitted worldwide in the annual Lions International Peace Poster Contest. Lions Clubs International is sponsoring the program to emphasize the importance of world peace to young people everywhere.
One international grand prize winner and 23 merit award winners will be selected. The grand prize includes a cash award of $5,000 and will be recognized at a special awards ceremony at Lions Day with the United Nations. The 23 merit award winners will each receive a certificate and a cash award of $500.
All of the students who entered a poster were honored for their participation by the Sun Lakes (evening) Lions Club on Feb. 6.
Sun Lakes Breakfast Lions Flag Work Detail
Brian Curry
Sun Lakes only sees the end product of all the beautiful, patriotic American flags flying in the breeze, but there is a lot of hard work that goes into it before they go in the ground.
Pictured (left to right) are SLBLC Vice President Brian Curry, Margaret Burkert-Smith, former District Governor and former SLBLC President Jim Brotherton (who has also raised six future guide dogs for Guide Dogs of the Desert along with his wife and fellow Lion Dottie), and Sun Lakes Breakfast Lions President Jack Dreyer. (Photo by Mac Davey)
Sun Lakes Breakfast Lions Host Sun Lakes Resident with Guide Dog
Brian Curry
Sun Lakes Breakfast Lions Club (SLBLC) Vice President Brian Curry invited Margaret Burkert-Smith, a Sun Lakes resident who uses a guide dog from Guide Dogs of the Desert, an extremely worthy organization that they support with their yearly donations, to speak at their monthly meeting. Margaret and her dog Joey talked to the Breakfast Lions about her journey through sight issues and her experiences with Guide Dogs of the Desert.
Fly the Flag Program
Chris Linder
Sun Lakes (evening) Lions Club wishes to thank all the homeowners who participate in the Fly the Flag program. Your participation in this program allows us to fund many local, state, and international service projects and charities.
Sun Lakes (evening) Lions Club provides not only the American flag but also flags representing the various branches of the Armed Forces.
Your annual donation ensures that a flag will be posted in front of your home for seven holidays: Presidents’ Day, Flag Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day/Patriots’ Day, and Veterans Day.
Subscription costs are as follows:
$45 for one flag for one year
$80 for two flags (American and service flag) for one year
Please call 480-352-8076 if you are interested in participating in the Fly the Flag program.
A few of the local service projects and charities our club supports are AZ (veterans) StandDown, AZCEND (food bank), HOBY (Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership), J Herdt High School Scholarship, Neighbors Who Care, Vets Administration Volunteer Services, AZ Adaptive Waters Sports (for disabled individuals), Hope Women’s Center, and the Sheriff’s Posse.
State service projects and charities are C Kirby Smithe Youth Exchange, Lions Camp Tatiyee, Lions Foundation of Arizona, Lions Hearing & Vision Foundation, and Lions Melvin Jones International Memorial.
The international projects and charities are Disaster Relief Fund, Guide Dogs of the Desert, and Leader Dogs for the Blind.
Also, as a result of donations to the Fly the Flag program, the club is able to offer services such as vision screening, school supplies, and books for the Kids Need to Read Program to area schools and organizations.
In every corner of Arizona, Lions Clubs are actively embedded in community engagement. The Sun Lakes (evening) Lions Club welcomes individuals with a passion for service to join our ranks. All funds (after expenses) raised from the public by Arizona Lions are dedicated to charitable outreach, and we actively collaborate with similar service-oriented agencies, foundations, and corporations. The Sun Lakes (evening) Lions Club is committed to the Lions’ motto “We Serve.”
Lions Clubs International has been and remains a member of the United Nations since its founding.
If you or someone you know would like to help serve, please contact us at 480-352-8076. If you are interested in attending a meeting, we meet on the first Thursday of each month at 7 p.m. at the Methodist Church on Riggs Road.
Again, thank you to all who participate in the Fly the Flag program.