Algona Lions Iowa KidSight Team
(photo caption left to right Barb Goecke, Judy Reinking, Dee Lenz and Pam Ridner)
The above Lions make up the Iowa KidSight vision screening team for the Algona club. The team holds vision screenings several times a year for children 6 to 48 months of age. This is a free screening in conjunction with The University of Iowa Opthamology Department.

James Rush Kolp Jr. Received Prestigious Warren Coleman Award at June Picnic, Club Installation and Awards Ceremony
“You can’t imagine how humble I feel in the acceptance of this award,” Said James. “I so appreciated all the Lions coming from other towns to be at our award night.”
“I will try, with all my present ability to live up to the standards set by the award.” Mentioned James.
“Iowa Lions Foundation’s” Warren Coleman Award is named for longtime Executive Secretary-Treasurer Warren Coleman, who has given freely his time and dedication to the Iowa Lions Foundation and the programs for which it supports. This award is conferred on persons who demonstrate community service, and can only be made possibly by a contribution of $1,000.00 to the Iowa Lions Foundation.
James is a forty year member of the Lions and has served as club President, program chair and on committees including; community betterment, radio days, sight and hearing, glaucomobile, scholarships, and diabetes.
James and his wife Nyda are longtime members of Algona.

Lion Pam Awarded the Artillery Order of Molly Pitcher
January 17, 2009-(Photo caption Pam and CPT Eric Wieland) Pam was awarded the Molly Pitcher During the Red Bull Chapter, United States Field Artillery Association 1st Battalion 194th Field Artillery St. Barbara's Day celebration held at the Wild Rose Casino in Emmetsburg. This prestigious award is given by the association for honorable support of an Artillery unit. The Honorable Order recognizes Pam as having demonstrated incredible dedication to an Artillery unit in ways that stand out in the eyes of the recipients, seniors, subordinates and peers alike. LTC Matthew L. Pitstick, the 2nd Brigade Combat Team Effects Coordinator ws the approving authority for the award.

Juli Cook of Algona, Iowa is Algona Lions Club Lion of the Year for 2009
Juli Cook, club treasurer for the Algona Lions Club was awarded the honor of Lion of the Year by the club during club picnic and officer installation, June 13, 2009 at the Izaak Walton League.
Juli has been a member of the club for nine years and has served as treasurer since 2003. Juli is also active in many committees including; finance and budget, sight and hearing, diabetes awareness and Iowa KidSight vision screening.

Algona Lions Club hold Installation of Officers during Club Picnic
Each June the Algona Lions hold their annual picnic and awards ceremony, if the event sounds abit dry, you probably have never attended one. The club knows how to throw a party along with the serious business of installing new officers. Each year the club holds a delicious picnic and the always popular “white elephant” raffle. The raffle serves as a fund raiser and the gifts are not the typical gift that keeps on giving. Raffle winners might win a nice candle with one ticket with the additional tickets winnings of such prizes as balls of yarn, photos of outgoing President Reg Roberts in drag, a wooden cactus; many fun prizes that are brought back year after year in hopes of getting rid of them.
The Lions picnic was held Wednesday, June 10th at Izaak Walton in Algona. Between the food and raffle the club held the awards ceremony and installation of new officers. District officers that attended included 9NC District Governor Judy Hankom and her partner in service Ron, incoming 9NC District Governor Don Schwab and his partner in service Laura, Zone Chair R1Z1 David Miles and family, Extension Chairperson Dale Entner, Leader Dog Chair Gary Schriver, Multiple district public relations chair, 9NC Lions Club International foundation coordinator and 9NC leader dog co-chair his partner in service and Chairperson of the peace poster Elaine, and Gary’s leader dog Logan.

Algona Lions Club Donates New Diabetes Books to Algona Public Library
Monday, July 20th was the first day of employment for the new Algona Public Library Director, Kyle Neugebauer; what better way to spend it than receiving new books!
Algona Lions Club President Jerry Brown presented Kyle with a selection of new books on Diabetes education the civic club recently purchased. The books range from subjects such as a diabetics first year, diabetic cookbooks, carbohydrate counting and a wide variety of books available to the public on Diabetes awareness and education.
The Lions have been involved in Diabetes awareness programs since 1984. Lions Clubs such as the local club became involved in diabetes education through their mission of sight, as diabetic retinopathy is the leading cause of blindness among people between the ages of 20 to 74. Nearly one-half of people with known diabetes have some degree of diabetic retinopathy.
The Algona Lions are also involved in improving the lives of children and youth who have diabetes through their sponsorship in sending local children to Camp Hertko Hollow. The camp is dedicated to providing an educational and recreational camping program for Iowa’s youth between the ages of 6-18 who have diabetes that promotes diabetes management skills to gain independence and a positive attitude for controlling diabetes. The goals at camp are: recreation, education, regulation and fun! The Lions sponsor children for a week of camp and also the entire family for a weekend camp.
For more information on the Algona Lions please call 515-341-7800 or email pridne01@yahoo.com. The club meets each Tuesday from 12:00 to 1:00 p.m. at the Pizza Ranch in the KMART parking lot in Algona, if you are interested in becoming a member, join us as our guest.

Algona Lions Club Gives Generous Monetary Donation to Summer Reading Program at Algona Public Library
The Algona Lions Club is an avid supporter of the wonderful summer reading program the Algona Library holds each year from the beginning of June through the middle of July. The children’s librarian Beth Kinder and young adult librarian, Sonya Harsha spent many hours planning the program and creating a memorable summer for the 250 children’s participants that completed level 1. The program consisted of pre-school, kindergarten through 4th grade and 5th grade through 12th grade.
The summer reading program was held from June 4th through July 16th. The program finale was held at the National Guard Armory in Algona, on July 16th with the Treasure Village Children’s Theatre presenting Rumpelstiltskin to a crowd of over 200. Lions helped direct traffic and parking for the event.

Algona Lions Club President Jerry Brown Hosts 2009 Heritage Award Ceremony
Each year Algona organizations of AAUW, Founders’ Day Committee, Kiwanis, Rotary, Soroptimist International and Lions rotate the responsibility for chairing the heritage awards committee.
In 2008-2009 the Lions chaired a very focused, organized responsibility for this award. Year long responsibilities included calling of meetings, notification of all member organizations, chairing of meetings, distribution of nomination forms, eblasts, publicity, and voting.
The culmination of introductions at the Heritage Award Ceremony held July 10, at the Founder’s Day Celebration at the Carnegie Library Lawn.
President Jerry did a wonderful job of introductions and introduction of the local organization representatives.
Bob and Alice Benck and Howard and Katherine Hoenk were this year’s recipients.
A big thank you and congratulations to the awards committee, Reg and Jerry for all of their efforts in chairing this event.
The Lions club nominated Lion Dave Smith as our candidate and wrote a wonderful nomination for Dave.

Lion Ted Herbst Celebrated for 55 Years of Membership!
Algona Lion Ted Herbst was recently awarded with a plaque recognizing his fifty-five year membership as a Lion. Ted was honored for the milestone at the annual Lions picnic and more recently during a club meeting. 10/05/2006.

Eldon Winkel is 2006 Recepient of Warren Coleman
Algona Lions Club member Eldon Winkel was presented with the Warren Coleman award plaque and lapel pin acknowledging his humanitarian service, by Dee Lenz, Board Member during club meeting.
The award is named for longtime executive secretary-treasurer Warren Coleman who has given freely his time and dedication to the Iowa Lions Foundation and the programs for which it supports. This award is conferred on persons who demonstrate community service. 2006

Judy Reinking is Algona Lion of the Year
(photo caption left Dr. Judy Reinking and right Board Member, awards Chairperson, Dee Lenz)
6/13/2008. Tailtwister Judy was awarded the Lion of the year award for her outstanding efforts on the clubs behalf. The award was presented during the annual club picnic held at Veteran's Park. Dr. Judy is a Podiatrist in Algona. Judy is also a member of the Iowa KidSight team.

Santa Reg Comes to Downtown Algona
(photo caption President Reg Roberts and Grandson Griffin)
Santa Arrives for the Annual Window Scenes in Downtown Algona - Santa Reg arrived sans padding for the annual holiday Christmas card greeting scene in the window of Party Party.
Santa came with a red wagon full of wrapped presents and his faithful reindeer, Gordie.

Lion John Diekmann Awarded 2008 Warren Coleman
JULY 29 ~ Algona Lions Club member John Diekmann was presented with the Warren Coleman award plaque and lapel pin acknowledging his humanitarian service, by President Reg Roberts during the club meeting, Tuesday, July 29.
The award is named for longtime executive secretary-treasurer Warren Coleman who has given freely his time and dedication to the Iowa Lions Foundation and the programs for which it supports. This award is conferred on persons who demonstrate community service. John is an 18 year member of the Algona Lions Club. John has been involved in the committees of Pies for Eyes, projects, golf, diabetes and mints. John is responsible for the Lions mints and serves currently as the club Lion Tamer.
John and his wife Joan are Algona residents.

LaRue Weaver Awarded 2007 Warren Coleman
July 8- President Reg Roberts had the honor of presenting LaRue with the Warren Coleman Award. The Lions had held the award for some time for LaRue hoping he would feel well enough to attend a meeting. Presenting the award was a bittersweet celebration as LaRue mentioned at that he would need to go to member at large status due to illness.
For all of his fellow Lions that have had the pleasure of knowing LaRue and working with him on the many committees throughout the years, we will miss him greatly in our weekly meetings and at time for Pies for Eyes and Thanksgiving baskets to the needy.
I spent some time looking through LaRue’s member record and his record of service to our club has been outstanding; from fair stand coach, FCA skating, Director, sight committee, community betterment, mints, membership, pies for eyes, Thanksgiving baskets for the needy .. The list goes on.
In November, LaRue will reach another milestone as a Lion celebrating 40 years as a Lion club member.
How does a small club like ours accept a member such as LaRue leaving our meetings and projects? I’m not sure that we ever have to, his legacy of Lion service will be with our club always, his gentle manner and smile not forgotten. LaRue we wish many more days for you and you are in our thoughts and prayers.

Algona Lions Club Member Eldon Winkel Celebrates a Milestone Fifty Years Practicing Law
Longtime Algona Lions Club member Eldon Winkel celebrated fifty years as a practicing lawyer in Algona, Iowa. Eldon's legal secretary Dee Lenz is also a club member. Eldie was awarded with the prestigious Warren Coleman Award in 2006. Eldie is active on many committees for the club including; social, installation and awards, spring fall project, pies for eyes and lenten fish sale.
If you are interested in becoming a member of the club, you may come as a guest to our weekly meetings, held from 12:00 to 1:00 p.m. at the Pizza Ranch in Algona. Or you may contact club secretary Pam Ridner at 515-341-7800 or pridne01@yahoo.com