Summer in Yosemite with Yosemite Lions Club

Summer has come and gone in Yosemite, along with our annual summer fundraisers: Gear Swap, Mosquito Festival and Golf Tournament. The newest club event - the gear swap - raised $200 at the Curry Village Community Center in June by giving community members the opportunity to sell and swap old gear for hiking, fishing, biking and camping in Yosemite National Park. In August, we hosted the Mosquito Festival at the Yosemite Valley School to celebrate the leaving of the mosquitos from Yosemite (or at least we hope so!) and raised $874. Our biggest fundraiser of the year, the Yosemite Lions Club Golf Tournament, raised $5000 from 68 golfers at the Wawona Hotel golf course on September 6th. BBQ dinner on the hotel lawn and a prize raffle capped a perfect summer day in Yosemite. We are ever thankful for the enthusiastic participation in the tournament by so many community members and offer congratulations to this year's tournament winners:

1st Place Team:  Bill Carroll, Bob Blumerich, Rich Waller and Mike Lewis

2nd Place Team:  Jim Barstow, Guy Bostick, Kyle Hypes, Dave Gunderson

Golfers with the Longest Drive:  Kevin Lauterbach and Max Ringrose

Pink Lady Winning Team:  Brian Burt, Loren Fazio, Jodi Gover, Gary Rosenfeld

Special thanks to Lions Club Volunter Shari Baudoux for again being Registrar Extraordinaire and keeping everyone in the know, along with club members Audrey Lanting, Brett Archer, Jennifer Cleary, Bil Gleason, Michelle Hansen, Alison Grove, Kym Wright-Youngdale and Jodi Gover for keeping it all running smoothly.

Volunteer Shari and club members Michelle, Bil, Audrey, Brett, Alison and Jennifer.

We started off summer with officer elections in June and are pleased to announce our new club officers:
President Brett Archer (former club secretary)
Vice President Michelle Hansen
Secretary Alison Grove
Treasurer Audrey Lanting
Club members are also busy recruiting new members this year. Would you like to become a Yosemite Lion? See any club member for details or join us for noon lunch at The Ahwahnee the first and third Thursdays of each month.

Just before we teed off in Wawona in late summer, we received a visit from Lions Club District Governor Kent Christensen and entourage at our bi-weekly lunch meeting in the first week of September. Kent shared news about Lions and introduced us to the rest of the district cabinet while having lunch at The Ahwahnee in Yosemite Valley. Kent also presented awards to some of our club members for years of service with Lions Club: Jodi Gover for 15 years, Yolanda Cheley for 10 years and Sean Pence for 10 years. We are proud to serve with such dedicated club members!

Jodi Gover and Kent Christensen

We are set to host the annual fall blood drive, along with the Central California Blood Center, in the community of El Portal just outside of Yosemite's west gate and even planning a new fall fundraiser with a dinner of Mexican food at Curry Village. Stay tuned for details, and we hope you will consider donating blood this year.

Happy New Year from Yosemite Lions Club!

We are so pleased to announce that two new members have joined the Yosemite Lions Club: Lyn Maher and Bryan Hammil, both residents of Yosemite Valley and employed by DNC Parks & Resorts at Yosemite. We are off to a great start for 2014 and we hope it is our best fundraising year ever. See the recap below of events in 2013.

Club Treasurer Brett and new members Lyn & Bryan

2013 Event Wrap-up: After El Mosquito Fiesta in July, we held the annual Yosemite Lions Club Golf Tournament in early September at the Wawona Hotel. Our two largest summer events were also our most successful - we raised a record-breaking $6800 at the golf tournament this year! After the successes of summer, we are also pleased to announce that our annual fall blood drive, held at the community center in El Portal, collected 48 pints of blood from the Yosemite community. As always, we could not do these good deeds without you! Bill Thomas, club member and blood drive coordinator, thanks you from the bottom of his heart!

Take a look at the fun we had at the golf tournament this year on yet another perfect late summer day in Yosemite National Park. Though the Rim Fire was still burning to the north, we appreciate the support of all those who braved Mother Nature to participate. Tournament winners received gift certificates for any DNC lodging, retail or restaurant operation in Yosemite. Congrats to tournament winners young Max Ringrose and his family team including Bill Cordry from Oakhurst!

Many thanks to all the club members who worked hard to host this fundraising event. Special thanks to volunteers Shari Baudoux and Cynthia McFann - Shari for once again being our registrar extraordinaire and Cynthia for taking on our newest addition to the registration table: bake sale goodies! The tournament committee consisted of co-chair club members Audrey Lanting and Michelle Hansen, along with volunteer Shari Baudoux and club president Kym Wright-Youngdale. Thanks to club secretary Brett Archer for stepping into the raffle auctioneer role, with thanks to Bil Gleason, Yolanda Cheley, and Alison Grove for making the tournament run so smoothly! Despite the club's best efforts, we can't have a golf tournament and BBQ dinner without the staff of the Wawona Hotel and golf course so we thank Joe Alfano and his wonderful staff for their support.

 

 

Upcoming events include the Pancake Breakfast at Spring Fling in El Portal in April and our annual Spring Blood Drive hosted in Yosemite Valley. We hope to see you at both events, so check back for details. Happy 2014!

Gracias and Golf in Yosemite

Lions Club Secretary Brett and Vice President Jodi get ready to serve up a fiesta

The Yosemite Lions Club would like to send a heart-felt "Gracias!" to the Yosemite community for supporting El Mosquito Fiesta and Summer Gear Swap. We raised over $900 for local schools by hosting an excellent Mexican dinner prepared by the fabulous Maria La Veaga (who donated her time preparing this wonderful food) and the First Annual Summer Gear Swap.

Newest member of the Lions Club, Bil, is at your service

Five participants provided used gear in the form of backpacks, trekking and fishing poles, camp stoves, bike gear and other goodies for rock-bottom prices. The swap was well-attended and we received many encouraging comments from shoppers who liked the idea of purchasing used gear from the community. We hope that you will join us next year by bringing old gear to sell and purchasing some items that are new to you.

Are you joining us next weekend in Yosemite National Park at the Wawona golf course for the annual Lions Club Golf Tournament fundraiser? Though this popular event is nearly filled, you can check with Registrar Extraordinaire Shari to see if we can squeeze in one more team. Contact Shari at 209-628-5941. We hope to see you there for a late summer day on the greens, BBQ dinner at the Wawona Hotel and the Greatest Raffle in the Known Universe! This year we have many golf-related prizes such as rounds of golf at local courses in addition to dinners for two at The Mountain Room and Wawona Dining Room, Brunch for two at The Ahwahnee, and spa treatments from Tenaya Lodge!

Travel to the Wawona area of Yosemite is unaffected by the Rim Fire. However, the air quality may be affected by this large wildfire that is burning in the northwest wilderness of the park. We'll keep our fingers crossed for clear blue skies on the date of the tournament and give big thanks to the firefighters doing their best to contain the fire. For more info about the Rim Fire, visit http://www.yosemitepark.com/yosemite-fire-update.aspxhttp://www.yosemitepark.com/yosemite-fire-update.aspx

Big Summer Events with Yosemite Lions Club!

After successful spring events such as the Relay for Life fundraiser for the American Cancer Society in Mariposa where we raised over $3000 dollars for cancer research, and the Spring Blood Drive in Yosemite Valley, the club takes a breather before the two biggest events of the year: The Mosquito Festival and the Annual Golf Tournament.

On Monday, August 12, the club will host the venerable Mosquito Festival (now known as La Mosquito Fiesta) at the Curry Village Community Center in Yosemite Valley. From 5:30 to 7:00 PM, we'll serve a Mexican fundraiser dinner prepared by the lovely and talented Maria La Veaga. New this year, we will also host a Summer Gear Swap during the dinner. Inspired by our friends at the Yosemite Winter Club, we hope that community members will bring their old gear to swap or sell. Summer gear only, please, as the Yosemite Winter Club hosts a winter gear swap every year in November during their fundraising dinner. If you would like to participate in the Gear Swap, come on down to the CVCC and with the items you would like to sell tagged with your name and price. We'll sell the gear for you and at the end of the evening, you'll collect the funds from your sold items. Any unsold items must go home with you. If you would like to donate any of your funds to the club's fundraising efforts, we'll certainly accept! We hope to see you and your gear on Monday evening to share a wonderful Mexican dinner of tacos, burritos, beans, rice, chips & salsa and a drink.

On Saturday, September 7, we will be hosting the Annual Golf Tournament at the Wawona Hotel Golf Course in Yosemite National Park. This popular event is filling fast, so if you would like to come golf in a national park for a good cause, please contact our registrar, Shari, at 209-628-5941 or send us a message at yosemiteliosnclub@yahoo.com. You can also download the registration form here: 
http://www.scribd.com/doc/159444362/Yosemite-Lions-Club-Annual-Golf-Tournament-2013

We hope to see you in September too!

Yosemite Lions Club Golf Tournament 2012

Thanks to thirteen teams competing in the golf tournament this year, the club raised $6000 in funds for the Yosemite community! On a sunny September 8th at the Wawona Hotel golf course in Yosemite National Park, tournament players enthusiastically participated in a putting contest, 18 holes of golf, BBQ dinner and a prize raffle - all for a $75 registration fee. This year's winners - Rich Sischo, Ken Kehrer, Steve Morelli and Bob Berkler - shot a combined total of nine under par to become tournament champions with prizes of $50 gift certificates for each team member. Second place winners Michael Lewis, Robert Lewis, Mike Wally and Dave Braun scored seven under par and $25 gift certificates.

Demonstrating his putting prowess, Bill Carroll reigned supreme in the putting contest and won dinner for two at the Wawona Hotel. Other winners included players with the longest drive: Renae Rippentrop and Matt McNease, and players who averaged closest to the pin: Renae Rippentrop and Jason Dubburke. Success with keeping the Pink Lady in play throughout the entire tournament was achieved by Pat Reilly, Greg Owens, Dennis Baker and Mike Gover. These categories were also awarded prizes of $25 gift certificates good for any DNC Yosemite retail or restaurant location.

After the fierce competition, players relaxed on the lawn at the Wawona Hotel with BBQ dinner and participated in the prize and wine box raffles. Prizes included a travel golf bag, a Pendleton blanket from Grand Canyon National Park, various and sundry goodie bags with golfing items, dinner for two at the Mountain Room, brunch for two at the Ahwahnee and tickets for a September game played by the San Francisco Giants.

Thanks to all the tournament participants and their generosity in supporting our fundraising efforts in Yosemite. The Yosemite Lions Club extends special thanks to the staff of the Wawona Hotel - particularly Golf Shop Manager Roger Lyons - for making the tournament a success, and to Lions Club volunteers Shari, Shani, and Julie. Fortunately, the club has many supporters who contributed raffle prizes or donations to help raise funds: Peets Coffee, Impact Photographics, California Sungold, Smith Western Company, In the Breeze, Smith Novelty Company, Studio Vertu, Porter World Trade, Ramatex, Dutch American Import Company, Staples Promotional Products, Dry Associates, Aloe Up, Bryce Dorst, DNC Parks & Resorts at Grand Canyon, and of course DNC Parks & Resorts at Yosemite. We couldn't do it without you!

The 2012 Golf Tournament Committee consisted of President Kym Wright-Youngdale, Lion Teri Tudela, Lion Michelle Hansen and Club Volunteer Shari Baudoux. Big thanks to all the club members for their participation and fundraising efforts.

Hope to see you again at next year's tournament which is scheduled for Saturday September 7, 2013.

Fore! Golfing for a Good Cause

The kids have gone back to school, but there's still time to squeeze in one last summer weekend in Yosemite National Park. Join us for the Yosemite Lions Club Golf Tournament on Saturday, September 8th 2012 at Yosemite's Wawona Hotel Golf Course and spend a late summer day raising funds for the Yosemite Community. As of this writing, there are still some twenty openings for tournament players and we want you to join us! Tournament prizes include $50 and $25 gift certificates good for any stores and restaurants operated by DNC Parks and Resorts at Yosemite, and raffle prizes include dinners for two at the Mountain Room and the Wawona Dining Room, brunch for two at the Ahwahnee Dining Room and San Francisco Giants tickets!

As always drinks and snacks will be available for purchase on the course during the tournament prior to the BBQ dinner included with your registration fee. You can buy keys for the wine box raffle at Hole Five and during dinner - if your key opens the box, you win the wine bottle inside! And if you feel you need a do-over, mulligans can be purchased along with raffle tickets or snacks and drinks.

New this year:
We'll be conducting a pre-tournament putting contest with a grand prize and previous year's tournament polo shirts and caps will be available for purchase - $5.00 per cap and $10.00 per shirt.

Celebrate summer's last hurrah in Yosemite National Park and help the Yosemite Lions Club fund community projects. Is there a better reason to get out on the course? Check out the link below for the registration form or call Shari at 209.628.5941 with questions or to sign up over the phone.

REGISTRATION FORM

Summer in Yosemite with the YLC

Summer in Yosemite is swimming in the Merced River, hiking to the top of Half Dome, toasting s'mores over the campfire and preparing for the Yosemite Lions Club's two annual park events: the Mosquito Festival in Yosemite Valley and the Golf Tournament at the Wawona Hotel golf course. Below you will find the registration form for the golf tournament that takes place on Saturday September 8th, 2012. Tournament players demonstrate their skills on the 9 hole Wawona golf course before sitting down to a BBQ dinner and prize raffle at the Wawona Hotel. Join us for a day of summer fun in Yosemite to help raise funds for the club. Golf teams are welcome to bring non-golfing companions to round out their dinner party and participate in the prize raffle. Look for upcoming details on the annual Mosquito Festival to raise funds and celebrate the exodus of mosquitos from Yosemite Valley.

At the last monthly club meeting, we shared a lunch date with luminaries from Lions Club District 4-A1 at the Ahwahnee Hotel, including Vice District Governor Tom Bauder, Yosemite Region Zone Chairperson Chris Baker, District Governor Jim Syvertsen and Yosemite Region Chairperson Dwight Stephens (that's YLC Secretary Brett and YLC President Kym in the middle of the photo above). It was inspiring to connect with Lions outside of our club, and we shared thoughts and enthusiastic ideas concerning the Lions Clubs in our district. Speaking of enthusiasm, two YLC members were awarded  commemorative pins to celebrate their commitment to the club and enthusiasm for Lions Club events. After being nominated by President Kym, District Governor Jim presented Secretary Brett and Lion Michelle with "You Mean the World to Lions 2012-2013" pins.

We look forward to seeing you at our summer events and hope you'll spread the word to help raise funds for the Yosemite community.

Use the download link to get a copy of the registration form below:

Yosemite Lions Club Golf Tournament 2012

Sucessful Summer Fundraising Events for the Yosemite Lions Club

Another summer has come and gone in the Sierra Nevada and we here at the Yosemite Lions Club want to thank the Yosemite community for supporting our two biggest fundraising events: the Mosquito Festival in Yosemite Valley and the annual Wawona Golf Tournament at the Wawona Hotel.  Though rain threatened and finally arrived during the afternoon BBQ dinner and raffle, the golf tournament raised $6000 for community projects.  Though the club regularly supports the Yosemite Child Care Center in Yosemite Valley, this year the center became a focus of fundraising as the outdoor play area and equipment was destroyed during the late spring snowstorms.  In addition to the funds generated by the golf tournament, the Mosquito Festival also raised $4000.  Thanks to you, the Yosemite Lions Club can provide support to the Child Care Center and other community projects such as scholarships for college students and supporting sight-impaired citizens.

Not only do we support worthy causes by sponsoring events, we also provide the opportunity to win prizes such as the week's stay in a house in Hawaii at the Mosquito Festival and dining certificates for the Ahwahnee Dining Room and the Mountain Room restaurant at Yosemite Lodge.  You can contribute to your community and have fun doing it!

The Lions Club is grateful to DNC Parks & Resorts at Yosemite for partnering with all our fundraising events, but we'd especially like to thank the food & beverage staff at Yosemite Lodge for providing the dinner at the Mosquito Festival and the Wawona Hotel staff for facilitating the golf tournament.  The Club would also like to thank all the business partners and friends who contributed raffle prizes, and the community members who attend and make the fundraising possible.  We hope to see you next year at these and other great Yosemite events!

Yosemite Lions Club Golf Tournament 2010

On a perfect late summer day in Yosemite National Park, the Yosemite Lions Club hosted the 18th annual fundraising Golf Tournament on the Wawona Golf Course at the Wawona Hotel.  On Saturday, September 11th, before golfers teed off on the nine hole course, tournament participants observed a moment of silence for Patriot Day.  This year's tournament attracted 37 golfers in 10 teams of four or less with raffle prizes, a barbecue dinner at the Wawona Hotel, a bag of free goodies at registration and a day of golfing in Yosemite National Park.  Raffle prizes also included the Wine Box Raffle.  Purchase a key for $1.00 to a locked box containing a fine bottle of wine (and one bottle of Scotch) for a chance to see if your key opens the box allowing you to keep the bottle inside.  In addition to the raffle, prizes were awarded to first, second and third place teams based on overall score, and individual golfers with the longest drive and closest drive to the pin.  The Pink Lady Prize was awarded to the team that could keep their pink golf ball in play the longest throughout the tournament.

Golfers register outside the Wawona Hotel Golf Shop

Golfer goodie bags

Lions Club members Mike and Kym, along with volunteer Terri, register golfers for the tournament

Lions Club members Patty, Alison and Michelle sell raffle tickets

Wawona Golf Shop Supervisor Sam and tournament participant Bill

The shotgun start allowed all 10 teams to start on the course at the same time.  The tournament requires two rounds of this nine hole course and rules of play were announced by Lions Club member Mike Osborne prior to the start.  Throughout the day, refreshments were available for purchase from the Lions Club via the refreshment cart that toured the course or the popular refreshment table at Hole Five.  Known as the "Hole Five Girls", Lions Club members and community volunteers serve refreshments and encouragement to parched and weary golfers midway through the course.  The only hole on the course where golfers will be lauded with the polite golf clap for their performance, Hole Five has become a tradition at the Lions Club Golf Tournament.

The historic Wawona Golf Course is an organic course in Yosemite National Park, also serving as important wetland habitat for wildlife as a certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary.  Opened in 1918, the course was designed by Walter G. Favarque to blend in with the Sierra Nevada landscape.  No pesticides are used in maintenance of the course and only gray water is utilized for watering.  Golfers of every skill level can enjoy the tranquil setting of this national park course.

Play continued for most teams until between 3:00 and 4:00 PM.  The barbecue dinner included with tournament registration is another summer tradition at the Wawona Hotel.  Every Saturday at 5:00 PM, the hotel staff serves hungry hikers and golfers a buffet style dinner that includes barbecue classics like ribs, watermelon, corn bread, beans and apple pie.  Thanks to the efforts of the Wawona Hotel staff, the Lions Club had a section of reserved tables for tournament participants to enjoy dinner and the prize raffle.

Lions Club member Sean purchases raffle tickets (or is that a bribe?!)

Yosemite Lions Club President Kym Wright Youngdale gave an update on the Lions Club's efforts in the community and the various projects they support, including Camp Pacifica, the Yosemite Valley and El Portal schools, and local junior college student scholarships.  Lions Club member Mike Osborne kicked off the prize giveaways by demonstrating a winning key at the Wine Box Raffle, which also included a 12 year aged bottle of Scotch donated by Stu Good.  Other raffle prizes included an OGIO golf club carrier bag, original artwork by Lions Club member Alison Grove, Wawona Golf Course jackets, photo albums, golf balls, and Yosemite souvenirs.  Tournament prizes included $50 DNC gift certificates for the first place team and $25 gift certificates for second place, the Pink Lady prize, the longest drive and the closest drive to the pin.
And the winners were:
Tournament First Place: Steve Morrelli, Ken Kerr, Richard Sischo and Bob Berkler  score 57
Tournament Second Place: Bill Carroll, Pat Carroll, Bob Blumrick and John Garner score 58
Longest Drive for Men: Michael Whaley
Longest Drive for Women: Cindy Bigalt
Closest to the Pin Drive for Men: Bob Blumreich 4 feet 7 inches
Closest to the Pin Drive for Women: Renae Rippentrop 47 feet 2 inches
Pink Lady Prize: Hank Barrett, Fred Cruz, Kristie Ratchford and Paul Ratchford
Most Indecent Amount of Raffle Prizes Won (Based on Whopping Number of Tickets Purchased): Bill and Guy

Most tournament participants won raffle prizes, but Hank Barrett walked off with the coveted golf club carrier bag valued at $250.00.  After all the prizes were distributed to their deserving recipients, dinner was served.  Everyone enjoyed the barbecue in the late afternoon sun after a day spent enjoying the great outdoors at Yosemite National Park.  Don't miss this fundraising (and fun!) event next September, when golfers can make a difference in the Yosemite community by supporting the Yosemite Lions Club and Yosemite National Park.  Together, the Wine Box raffle and refreshments for purchase raised $500, while the registration fees and raffle ticket sales accounted for the remaining $3500 for a grand total of $4000 in funds raised at the tournament this year.

Many thanks to all the tournament participants who made it a great day in Wawona for the Yosemite Lions Club.  Thanks to DNC partners and local businesses for their generous donations, including Impact Photographics, 4 Bare Feet, Aloe Up, Titleist, Budweiser and Valley First Credit Union.  Thanks to the Lions Club members whose efforts make the golf tournament happen every year.  Thanks to community volunteers Kelly Osborne, Julie Spence, Shani Spence, and Terri Tudela who assist the Lions Club with tournament tasks - Hole Five Girls Rule!  And extra special thanks to DNC staff members Debbie Hoffman of Group Services and the crew at the Wawona Hotel.  Without  General Manager Joe Alfano, Golf Shop Supervisor Sam Winstead and the rest of the dedicated hotel staff, the tournament would not be possible.  See you next year!