New Officers Installed and Awards Banquet
On April 7, the SunBird Lions held a banquet to induct new officers and present awards. The event was led by past international president of Lions, Joe Preston, who officially installed the new officers and presented recognitions.
The newly installed officers are: Chuck Heitbrink, president; Dirk Close, vice president; Nancy Eckstein, reporting secretary; Cheryl Palmer, recording secretary; Jana Haeffner, treasurer; Rob Arnold, lion tamer; Don Van Laningham, Mary Shelor, and Karen Lee, directors; Irene Zeppelin and Gordon Olson, membership chairs; and Fred Garmeson, LCIF coordinator. All officers accepted their roles and were congratulated by the membership.
At the banquet, the Melvin Jones Fellowship was awarded to Rob Arnold for his work with the AZCEND Food Pantry, Eileen Sazama for her dedication to the children of Hartford School, and Chuck Heitbrink for his leadership and service to the club.
President Chuck Heitbrink also presented President’s Awards to Carol Zittle for her many years of service as flag program coordinator and bingo cashier, known for being the fastest dollar counter; Eileen Sazama for her continued work with Hartford School; and Joe Hart for collecting aluminum cans to generate additional revenue for the Lions.
New Member Inducted and More Awards at the April Meeting
During the April meeting of the SunBird Lions Club, Denise Close was officially inducted as a new member. The membership congratulated both Denise and Dirk Close, her sponsor on this meaningful occasion, recognizing their commitment to the values and service of the Lions organization.
Unable to attend the Annual Awards Banquet, Joan Bruening was presented the Presidents Award in recognition of her outstanding dedication to the Lions organization. Her commitment was acknowledged by the club, especially for her significant work in creating all of the Lions vests for new members. The club appreciates Joan’s ongoing service and the positive impact she has made on the Lions community.
The lucky winners from April 17, not in order, are Kyndall Price, Ellen D’Amato, Sandra Aichinger, Linda Hearn, Kathy Schoenborn, Jan Johnson, Judy Mahn, Karen Snowden-Jones, Susan Brown, Gwenn Robinson, who won two games, Nina S., Jane Pile, Reinetta Moore, Jackie S., Kim Kaminski, Loren Carrel, Margaret Wiseman, and Bill Koenig.
Thanks for Almost 30 Years of Service
After nearly 30 years of Bingo, the SunBird Lions have called their final game. A heartfelt thank-you goes to the 15 dedicated volunteers who worked each week selling cards, calling and recording numbers, and paying out winners.
Over the years, Bingo proceeds supported many valuable projects throughout SunBird, including the installation of automatic emergency gates on Waterview and automatic door openers throughout the clubhouse. These contributions have left a lasting impact on our community, and we are grateful to everyone who helped make them possible.
Award of Appreciation from AZCEND
The SunBird Lions Club was recently recognized by AZCEND with an Award of Appreciation for their outstanding contribution to the community. In 2025, club members collectively donated a remarkable 1,520 pounds of food, directly supporting AZCEND’s mission to provide assistance to individuals and families in need.
Lion Rob Arnold accepted the certificate on behalf of the club. This honor reflects the dedication and teamwork of all SunBird Lions who participated in the initiative, demonstrating their commitment to service and the well-being of the local community.
Lions on Hand for Earth Day
On April 22, the SunBird Lions, led by Lion Jana Haeffner, took part in Earth Day activities by collecting eyeglasses, hearing aids, and batteries. Food donations were gathered for AZCEND, along with blankets and towels for the Animal Shelter. The City of Chandler also provided information and materials related to recycling.