The history of the Point Venture Lions Club rightly begins with a few members of the Lago Vista Lions Club who resided, not in Lago Vista, but in the nearby community of Point Venture. Starting around 2000, Lions Terry Hickman, Rich Witmer, Ray Burch,Hank Reimer, and Joe Conger began to wonder if there was sufficient interest in forming a “branch” of the Lago Vista Lions Club in Point Venture.

 

Over the next few years, these Lions periodically investigated the process of forming a “branch” Lions Club in Point Venture but it wasn’t until early 2005 that they had sufficient time and information to actively pursue the concept. They all hoped that the Lago Vista Lions who resided in Point Venture and possibly other Point Venture residents might be interested in joining such a branch.

 

On March 13, 2005, Lion Rich Witmer distributed a letter to all Point Venture members of the Lago Vista Lions Club seeking their support in forming a branch Lions Club in our community. Lions Ray Burch, Joe Conger, Terry Hickman, Hank Reimer, and Rich Witmer included their names on a flyer that was eventually distributed to all Point Venture residents announcing an informational meeting to discuss the branch concept.

 

With support and approval from the Lago Vista Lions Club, the informational meeting to investigate the formation of a Point Venture branch was held on April 26, 2005, at 7:00 p.m. in the Venture Room with approximately 15 people attending. With the help of a flip chart, Lions Hickman and Witmer presented the branch concept and held a question and answer session. They then gathered names and phone numbers of interested persons and scheduled an organizational meeting to actually form the branch Lions Club on May23, 2005.

 

As indicated in the notes taken by then Lago Vista Lion Judy Poss, the organizational meeting facilitated by Lion Witmer on May 23, 2005, was very successful. Since they were already Point Venture residents, Lago Vista Lions Terry Hickman, Rich Witmer, Joe Pedigo, Mary Switters, Ray Burch, Hank Riemer, and Joe Conger all indicated a desire to transfer their membership to the new branch. Also, Point Venture residents Joe Solpietro, Jerry Matthews, Kevin and Laurie Baisdon, Ernest and Linda Godsey, John Franz, Larry Ryden, Colleen Hickman, Jeanne Calvi, Roy Ables, Gary Robertson and Joe Putman indicated their desire to join. At the organizational meeting, a Branch Coordinator and Branch Vice Coordinator were elected. Point Venture Lions Club meetings were scheduled to be held the second and fourth Monday (later changed to Tuesday) of every month, with a social hour at 6:00 p.m. and meeting/dinner at 7:00 p.m.

 

Via e-mail on May 24, 2005, Lion Rich Witmer notified District 2-S3 Governor Burrell and Lago Vista Club President O.L. Bell of the formation of the branch club and of the election of Terry Hickman as Branch Coordinator and Mary Switters as Branch Vice Coordinator. President Bell was requested to name a Branch Liaison from the Lago Vista Lions Club. The request to form a Point Venture Branch Lions Club was warmly approved by our parent club – the Lago Vista Lions Club, Lions District 2-S3 officials, and Lions International.

 

Due to its tremendous growth in membership, the Point Venture Lions Club requested and received its Charter from Lions International as a standalone club in March 2006, and ceased being a branch of the Lago Vista Lions Club at that time. Distinguished guests at Charter Night on May 9, 2007 included District Governor Burrell who presented each member with a certificate and pin as charter members. Current members as of March 2006 jointly signed the Charter that evening.

2005 Highlights

 

At the May 23, 2005 Organizational Meeting, Lion Terry Hickman was elected Branch Coordinator, and Mary Switters was elected as Branch Vice Coordinator. Both served in this capacity until the club received its official charter. Dick Humphrey and Jim Daugherty were named by Lago Vista Lions President O.L. Bell to serve as joint club liaisons from the parent club. Both of these gentlemen’s advice to the Point Venture Club’s Board of Directors and to its club officers has proven to be invaluable.

 

The first official meeting of the Point Venture Branch, Lago Vista Lions Club was held on June 13, 2005. By ballot, the first and third Mondays of each month were selected as meeting dates - changed at the next meeting to the second and fourth Tuesdays. A potluck dinner was served and a cash bar set up with volunteers Joe and Debbie Pedigo, Charles Knapp, Gary Robertson and Joe Solpietro serving drinks. At the meeting, Joe Solpietro volunteered to oversee crews to clean up Point Venture streets and right-of-ways.

 

At the second meeting of the branch on June 27, 2005, the first 50-50 drawing was held. The first guest speaker at a Club meeting was a PEC representative who presented a program about identity theft. Joe Conger and Joe Solpietro organized the first golf tourney on November 12, 2005. A joint garage sale with the Lago Vista Lions Club was held October 21-23, 2005, raising $1,330. Linda Godsey volunteered to be the Club’s Tail Twister. Colleen Hickman inaugurated the “Lion of the Night” program and Ray Burch was designated to oversee the used eyeglass collection program. Lions Kevin Baisdon and John Franz indicated that they would work on recycling. The “cooking team” concept was proposed and accepted.

 

During fiscal year 2005-06, the Club gave charitable donations to the Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired ($750) and Texas Lions Camp ($2,000).

 

New members to the PV Lions Club in calendar year 2005 who either transferred from Lago Vista Lions or were newly inducted included Terry and Colleen Hickman, Ron and Mim Hruby, Gary Robertson, Roy Ables, Joe and Debbie Conger, Charles and Nan Knapp, Joe Solpietro, Ernest and Linda Godsey, Jerry Matthews, Elaine Strong, Ed Stuart, John and Liz Franz, Kevin and Laurie Baisdon, Paul and Shirley Woods, Jeanne Calvi, Jim and Judy Poss, Hank Riemer, Mary Rugaard, Mary Switters, Rich Witmer, Ray Burch, and Carole Thomas.

 

2006 Highlights

 

Upon receipt of the Club’s new Charter in March 2006, the following members were elected to serve as the Club’s first Officers and Board members until June 30, 2007: Terry Hickman, President; Gary Robertson, 1st Vice President; Jerry Matthews, 2nd Vice President; Joe Solpietro, 3rd Vice President; Mary Switters, Secretary; Ron Hruby, Treasurer; Linda Godsey, Tail Twister; Nan Knapp, Lion Tamer; Rich Witmer, Membership Chairman; Carole Thomas, At-Large Director; and Jim Poss, At-Large Director.

 

Spouse Appreciation Night was held on Valentine’s Day, 2006. April 1, 2006 was designated as a workday at the Texas Lions Camp in Kerrville with members clearing brush. Point Venture street cleanup duties were scheduled to be conducted on a quarterly basis, to be overseen by Joe Solpietro. Mary Rugaard was named publicity chairman.

 

The PV Lions Golf Tournament was held on June 10, 2006, generating a gross profit of approximately $7,300. A Sponsor’s Appreciation Dinner was held on September 12, 2006, to thank all golf sponsors for their donations. The PV Lions Club sponsored Christmas in the Village, a tour of five homes on December 9, 2006. It was a big success and generated $1,945 in funds to be used for Campaign SightFirst II.

 

During fiscal year 2006-07, the Club gave charitable donations to these groups – Campaign SightFirst II ($2,781), Lago Vista Volunteers ($200), Leader Dog ($40), LCIF ($40), Lions World Service ($80), Lone Star Lions Eye Bank ($400), Texas Lions Camp ($1,150), Texas Lions Eyeglass Recycling ($40), Texas Lions Foundation ($80), American Legion Girl’s State ($275), Guide Dog of Texas ($500), School for the Blind and Visually Impaired ($4,500), Texas Lions Camp Dues ($360), and other contributions ($100).

 

Inducted as new members in calendar year 2006 were Kim Alvarado, Bob Adolph, Don  Lacey, Roger Lubka, Michael Maritz. Mike Gougler, Laurie and Gene Glass, Nate and Rhonda Bedard, Carolyn and Lloyd Blackmon, Saralee and Bill Nugent, and Sandy Norling.

 

2007 Highlights

 

Based on recommendations of the Nominating Committee chaired by Bob Adolph and nominations from the floor, the Club elected the following members to serve as the Club’s Officers and Board members from July 1, 2007 until June 30, 2008 – Gary Robertson, President; Jerry Matthews, 1st Vice President; Joe Solpietro, 2nd Vice President; Debbie Conger, 3rd Vice President; Terry Hickman, Immediate Past President; Jackie and Chuck Lambert, Co-Secretaries; Ron Hruby, Treasurer; Linda Godsey, Tail Twister; Nan Knapp, Lion Tamer; Laurie Glass, Membership Chairman; Carole Thomas, At-Large Director; Jim Poss, At-Large Director; Roy Ables, At-Large Director, and Ray Burch, At-Large Director. Upon Jim Poss’ decision to relocate out-of-state, Rich Witmer was named an At-Large Director by the Board on August 13, 2007, to complete the remainder of Lion Poss’ term of office, i.e., until June 30, 2008.

 

The June 2, 2007 Lions Golf Tournament was a huge success generating a gross profit of approximately $14,000. The Lions Club had a number of booths at a Community Garage Sale on May 5, 2007 and generated $276 in sales. Nineteen members signed up to work at Texas Lions Camp on March 3, 2007, painting buildings and building benches. A technology committee composed of Lions Bill Nugent, Jerry Matthews, Gary Robertson Mim Hruby and Terry Hickman developed a Point Venture Lions Club website that went online in February, 2007. Bill Nugent was named Webmaster with Jerry Matthews named as backup Webmaster.

 

Through August 2007, the Club has given charitable donations to these groups – Campaign SightFirst II ($1,830), Lago Vista Volunteers ($200), Leader Dog ($56), LCIF ($56), Lions World Service ($112), Lone Star Lions Eye Bank ($560), Texas Lions Camp ($560), Texas Lions Eyeglass Recycling ($56), Texas Lions Foundation ($112) and Mobile Health Screening Unit ($56).

 

Through August 2007, new inductees include Dan and Kathy Christian, Brian and Amanda Koraska, June and Marvin Wuthrich, Chuck and Jackie Lambert, Jim and Lisa Graham, Don Conyer, Frank Fayyaz, Martha Millan, Dan and Mary Russell, Chris and Terri Scafidi, Leslie Matthews, and Clyde Hance (a transfer from the Lago Vista club).

 

(Compiled – September 2007)