Happy 2018!

As we welcome the new year, many people consider making a resolution.  Resolutions are a tradition, common in the Western Hemisphere but also found in many countries around the globe, where a person resolves to change an undesired trait or behavior, to accomplish a personal goal, or otherwise improve their life.

The Fairfax Lions Club in its monthly newsletter suggests resolutions for consideration by all.  Here are a few from calendar year 2017:

• I resolve to participate in at least one Lion’s service activity each month this year.
• I resolve to promote the theory and practice of the principles of good government and good citizenship.
• I resolve to take an active interest in the civic, social and moral welfare of the community.
• I resolve to help unite Club members in the bonds of friendship, good fellowship, and mutual understanding.
• I resolve to provide a forum for the full and free discussion of all matters of public interest–partisan politics and sectarian religion alone excepted.
• I resolve to show my faith in the worthiness of my vocation by industrious application to the end that I may merit a reputation for quality of service.

Our January 2018 resolution:  “I resolve: when a doubt arises as to the right, or ethics, of my action towards another, to resolve such doubt against myself.”

Have you made a resolution for 2018?

All are welcome to visit the Fairfax Lions Club.  We meet the 1st and 3rd Tuesdays each month, 630-830pm, for dinner at the American Legion (upper level) on Oak Street in Fairfax City.  Please join us and learn more about serving your community.  For more information, email:  fairfaxlions@cox.net

You can still secure a tax donation for 2017 – donate your vehicle (car, cycle or boat) before Dec 31.  Donating is easy – simply have the vehicle title and call this number 844-45-LIONS (844-455-4667)., and our trained staff will do the rest!  Fast Free Pickup; Free Towing; Don’t delay – Get started now.

EVERY DOLLAR the Lions Club receives from your donation goes directly to our charity programs.  You can make a difference!

For more information:  https://fairfaxlions.org/donate-a-vehicle/

On December 21, the Fairfax Lions Club delivered holiday food baskets to 25 area families in need of assistance.  We are very happy to perform this service, as our local area has an increasing number of families qualifying for food assistance.  In Fairfax County (which ranks 2nd nationally for highest median household income), 76,000 people (7.1% of all residents) are “food insecure.”  This includes 30,930 children (12% of all children under age 18).

The holiday baskets we delivered included a frozen turkey (11 – 14 lbs) and two full grocery bags with lots of fresh fruit, vegetables, and many sides…for a complete, healthy and festive meal with dessert.  We also provided preparation instructions for the frozen turkey.

         Complete Turkey Dinner

The Fairfax Lions Club is very proud to have a new corporate sponsor which makes these holiday food baskets possible.  That sponsor is Wegley, Higginbotham & Associates, a local Fairfax City firm which offers many tax, accounting and consulting services.  Learn more about them at:      http://www.whacpa.com/home.html

Find plenty of fresh fruit, Thursday – Saturday, Dec 14-16, 2017, just in time for the holidays!  We are selling Ruby Red Grapefruit and Navel Oranges – fresh from Florida, and Vermont Maple Syrup, Virginia Peanuts and Pecans. 

Doors open 8AM-6PM on Thursday & Friday, and on Saturday 9AM – until sold out.

Location:  near Fairfax Circle, intersection of Old Lee Hwy & Old Pickett Road (GPS: 3251 Old Lee Highway) by Home Depot. Look for blue & white moving van (provided by Craig Van Lines).

Our wonderful FL fruit vendor is sending even more navel oranges – as we sold out early in our November sale.

Email discount coupons go out twice before each sale: about 2 weeks prior, and a day before the sale. Sign up now for your discount!  Click here:  citrus-sale-discount coupon

GET YOUR DISCOUNT COUPON – $3 OFF EACH BOX OF FRUIT 

Fairfax Lions Club is an all volunteer, non-profit organization. All proceeds of fruit sales go directly to our local charity programs. Pick up a brochure at the fruit sale and learn about the wonderful programs your purchases support. Fruit Sales are our primary charity fund-raising events. See our webpage: about the Fairfax Lions Club

ALSO – At the fruit sale, we will have information about preventing diabetes – the growing health crisis in our nation and around the world.

Miss Kaitlin Yang, a 7th grade student at Rock Run Middle School, has taken a big step to becoming an internationally recognized artist by winning a regional competition.

Yang’s poster is among more than 450,000 entries submitted worldwide in the annual Lions International Peace Poster Contest. Lions Clubs International sponsors the program to emphasize the importance of world peace to young people everywhere.

“We must pray for those who are not breathing air of peace” the 13-year-old from Chantilly, VA, said. The poster was selected for its originality, artistic merit and portrayal of the contest theme, “The Future of Peace.”

Winning Peace Poster “The Future of Peace,” by Kaitlin Yang, 7th Grade, Rocky Run Middle School

Fairfax Lions Club President Marty Lockard said he was impressed by the expression and creativity of the students at Rocky Run Middle School. “It is obvious these young people have strong ideas about what peace means to them. I’m so proud that we were able to provide them with the opportunity to share their visions.”

“Yang’s poster will advance through state competition to compete for a grand prize,” Lockard said.  One international grand prize winner and 23 merit award winners will be selected. The grand prize includes a cash award of $5,000, plus a trip for the winner and two family members to a special award ceremony. The 23 merit award winners will each receive a certificate and a cash award of $500.

Left to right:  Ms Linda Ledbetter (art teacher), proud mom Ms Yang, Kaitlin Yang (holding winning poster), proud dad Mr Yang, Lion Jeff Root – Fairfax Lions Club Art Chairperson

“Our club is cheering for Kaitlin as her poster advances in the competition, and we hope her vision will ultimately be shared with others around the world,” Lockard said.

View past international grand prize winners at http://www.lionsclubs.org and learn more about the Fairfax Lions club at https://fairfaxlions.org.

Lions Clubs International is the world’s largest service club organization with more than 1.35 million members in 210 countries and geographical areas around the world. Since 1917, Lions clubs have aided the blind and visually impaired and made a strong commitment to community service and serving youth throughout the world.

Andrea Lockard is a music therapist for military personnel with Traumatic Brain Injury, PTSD, and many other issues.  She spoke to the Fairfax Lions Club, on December 5th, about the benefits of music therapy.

Music Therapist Andrea Lockard

See a short video of Andrea singing “The Blues” at the Lions Club meeting – an illustration of the music used in therapy: at this link  https://www.youtube.com/edit?o=U&video_id=tjSx-X0O77s

Learn more about Music Therapy at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R0JKCYZ8hng