The Marshalltown Evening Lions held a regular meeting last Wednesday at the Hy-Vee deli area at 7 p.m. After a meet, greet and eat time from 6:30 p.m. until 7 p.m., President Sandy Thomae called the meeting to order. The club stood and recited the ‘Pledge of Allegiance’ to the American flag, sang “My Country Tis of Thee” and then a prayer was led by Brad Braga.

Wendy Olinger was the club’s program speaker for the evening. She told the club that she is the director of “Athlete Initiatives” for the Special Olympics program in Iowa. She coordinates volunteers for more than 140 statewide competitions with 16,000 athletes, covering 23 different sports in Iowa each year. She also explained the “Opening Eyes” program where 179 athletes had health screenings that covered checks on vision, hearing, physicals, feet and flexibility during a state Special Olympics competition.

Olinger explained that Iowa Lions have been involved with volunteering at events regularly and shared a pamphlet and website, soiowa.org/volunteer, for available and upcoming volunteer opportunities with Special Olympics events. The president and club members thanked Olinger for coming and sharing and presented her with a Lion’s mug.

In other club business, members signed up for popping corn from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday at Hy-Vee in Marshalltown and plans continue to be made to help with the annual “Colorado peach pick up day” from noon to 4 p.m. on Aug. 25 behind the MEP building at 811 E. Main St. in Marshalltown. Peach co-chairmen, Bill Peden and Tim Fienup, with plenty of help, have continued to collect sales slips and making arrangements for this fundraiser. All peach and Dave’s Cakes orders are due Aug. 14.

During the “fun” part of the meeting, Tailtwister Elaine Peterson charged Leon Hiracheta to bring the Lion’s mascots back to the next meeting, Aug. 21 and Fienup has to bring a door prize for that meeting as well. Thanks were given to those who have signed up to help with various activities, including 9MC District Governor Judy Stone who was absent so she could represent us in the Iowa State Fair parade, Ronald Hersom for doing Meals on Wheels in August and the Hirachetas, who have signed up to volunteer at the Lion’s booth at the state fair.

The next Evening Lion’s meeting will be at 7 p.m. on Aug. 21 at the Hy-Vee deli. The program that evening will be Danielle Deahl, who is a Global Messenger for Special Olympics. Anyone interested in visiting the club and perhaps helping with its worthwhile activities is encouraged to contact Fienup at 641-485-9942 or email him at tfienup@gmail.com.