Sunbird Lions Club – May

Bingo Hopes in November

Arlene Block

SunBird Lions Club Bingo will be back in November. We welcome you back for the 2025-26 season. Bingo will resume on the first and third Friday of each month through April. We thank you for your support and for your contributions to the SunBird Lions Club. See you on Friday, Nov. 7.

We wish you all a safe summer, and if traveling, enjoy and stay well.

Lions will still be collecting aluminum cans, eyeglasses, hearing aids, food, and paper goods for the food pantry, pet supplies, and helping those in need throughout the summer months.

If in need of help, please contact any Lion. We are here for you year-round.

March 21 Bingo

Sharon Erickson

We are so thankful to everyone who was at SunBird Lions Club Bingo on March 21 to enjoy a fun evening.

Our Bingo games are on the first and third Friday of each month from November through April in the SunBird ballroom. Doors open at 5:30 p.m., and the games begin at 6:30 p.m. Bingo is open to the public.

Our caller is Vern Green who also will tell you when you can double your winnings. Snacks and beverages are available for a nominal fee.

Come and support SunBird Lions Club Bingo.

Car Show Winners

Arlene Block

Harold Legreid showed his ‘61 Vet and won People’s Choice. Dennis Leedom showed his ‘40 Ford and won Best of ‘20 through ‘45s. Robert Brown showed his ‘65 Falcon and won best of ‘46 through ‘70s.

All the autos were so beautiful. We are so grateful to all the participants and to Lion Doug Davidson who planned it all. Lion Doug has been doing this for many years and is already working on next year’s shows. Look for 2026 Classic Car Shows at SunBird Golf Resort and Springfield Golf Resort. Hope to see you there!

Front row (left to right): Lions Arlene Block, Vickie Burke, Eileen Sazama, Nancy Eckstein, Colleen Norgard, and Joan Bruening; back row (left to right): Lions President Chuck Heitbrink, VP Verne Green, and Lions Ray Clark, Fred Garmeson, Ron Norgard, Carol Zittel, Pat Scott, Jana Haeffner, and Gordon Olson

SunBird Lions Club’s 30th Anniversary

Arlene Block

The SunBird Lions Club’s 30th Anniversary celebration was held on March 25 in the SunBird Golf Resort ballroom. Many displays, presented by Lion Joan Garmeson, dated back to when the Lions Club was formed up to now, along with what Lions do to help the community. It was very explicit and was enjoyed by the many members and guests. Wine and other beverages were served, along with many delicious appetizers prepared by the SunBird Horizon Room. Thank you to everyone for making this event such a success.

Membership is available for anyone who is willing to help those in need. Meetings are held on the third Tuesday of the month November through April in the SunBird Golf Resort Lakeview Room at 4:30 p.m. Meetings are just an hour long. We know you have an hour to spare to help with medical supplies, food pantry, childhood cancer, fundraisers, diabetes information, and collection of aluminum cans, school supplies for children, eyeglasses, and hearing aids, or maybe a few hours on the first and third Friday of the month, November through April, to help with Bingo.

We donate over $35,000 to various organizations.

Lion Michael Block

Arizona Humane Society Donations from SunBird Lions Club Members

Arlene Block

What an amazing amount of items Lion Michael Block was able to bring to the Arizona Humane Society Resale Store to help all our furry friends. Thank you to all who helped with this SunBird Lions Club project.

Things that we are not able to bring are sheets, bed pillows, TVs, and futons. We are now able to add gently used clothing to our list of items. Please, no undergarments unless in packages.

Please call Lion Michael at 480-238-4701 if you have a pick-up or to find out where to drop off items. You can leave items in the Poster Room in the SunBird Golf Resort.

Thank you for your generosity.

Lion Fred Garmeson with Mia Anguiano

Eyeglasses for Everyone

Arlene Block

Mia Anguiano, a senior at Basha High School, put together a project to give back to the community. Mia chose to collect eyeglasses and named her project “Eyeglasses for Everyone.”

Every senior is required to do a project, and Mia chose the SunBird Lions Club to work with. She liked the work the Lions do in making sure these donations are well taken care of and are brought to the people who need them.

Mia made flyers and donation boxes to place around and asked people for their gently used glasses they no longer needed and would service someone in need. The final donation of 64 pairs of glasses was brought to the SunBird Golf Resort and given to Lion Fred Garmeson.

SunBird Lions members are very grateful to Mia for choosing this project to help those in need.

Get Flocked by SunBird Lions Club

Arlene Block

What fun it is when people drive by and see the flamingos and signs. There’s nothing like seeing the happy recipient and others who stop by to see.

You can flock for birthdays, anniversaries, new grandbaby, welcome to the neighborhood, get well, and many other wonderful occasions.

Contact Jan Engdahl at 602-568-0511, and for a $25 donation to the SunBird Lions Club, she will set you up. You get a full 24 hours of fun.

Thank you for supporting SunBird Lions.

Lucky winners of the April 4 Lions Club Bingo: June Preder, Jackie Bard, Fred Flach, Nina Sidicbra, Mary Jo Daniel, Kim Price, Linda Brandon, Marty Eckstein (won two games), Lusa Firebaugh, Diane Fosk, Lars Sandberg, Taylor Price, Nina Rizzo-Spleh, Floy Feltmann (won two games), Trish Carrel, Fay Sampson, Joanne Sandberg, Wendy Weiser, Bob Wolbersen, Patsy Strunk

April 4 Bingo

Sharon Erickson

We are so thankful to everyone who was at our Lions Club Bingo on April 4 to enjoy a fun evening.

SunBird Lions Club Bingo is held on the first and third Friday of each month from November through April in the SunBird ballroom. Doors open at 5:30 p.m., and games begin at 6:30 p.m. Bingo is open to the public!

Our caller is Vern Green who also will tell you when you can double your winnings. Snacks and beverages are available for a nominal fee.

Come and support the SunBird Lions Bingo!

Gail Holland Relocates

Arlene Block

Lion Gail became a SunBird Lion in 2011. She was Director of Medical Supplies for eight years and helped with the Flag Program, Bingo, and the golf tournament. Gail was also on the board of directors for two years. Lion Gail was also in the Army for 27 years.

We will certainly miss Lion Gail, and we wish her the very best. We thank her for her service.

SunBird Lions Club New Member

Arlene Block

Pictured are Lion Joan Bruening (sponsor), new Lion Julie Zamora, and Lions President Chuck Heitbrink (installation officer). Welcome to SunBird Lions Club!

50/50 Raffle Winner

Arlene Block

Lion Fred Garmeson presents Rich Hobbs, Dave Erickson, and Robert Brown their winnings from the SunBird Lions Club 50/50 raffle, which was held at the Springfield Golf Resort Auto Show on April 5. Thank you to all who supported the Lions raffle.

The day was perfect, and the crowd enjoyed the autos, DJ music, dancing, and meeting with everyone.

Members Volunteer for Shred–it Event

Arlene Block

Lions Karen Lee, Joe Hart, Michelle LaBlanc, Joan Bruening, and Jan Engdahl and Shred-it worker Matt spent March 15 helping residents during the shredding event held at SunBird Golf Resort.

Thank you to all who volunteered and those who brought their items for shredding.

Doing registration are Lions Linda DiPalma, Joan Bruening, and Arlene Block. Standing is Lion Jana Haffner who helped with the 50/50 raffle.

21-S Lions Club Convention

Arlene Block

The 21-S Lions Club Convention was held at SunBird Golf Resort on March 8. The Lions convention reimagined Nominations, Leadership Development, Global Action, and Team Reports, and trivia questions were asked on when the Lions Club began up to now. A delicious lunch was served by the SunBird Horizon Room.

SunBird Lions Club meets on the third Tuesday of each month November through April.

Being a Lion is helping with childhood cancer, vision, hunger, diabetes, youth, disaster relief, humanitarian efforts, and the environment. Supporting SunBird Lions provides us the opportunity to help those in need.