Prizes Galore Gathered for Golfers

The Sanford Lions are just one month away from tee-time for the 5^th Annual Sanford Lions Club Golf Tournament to be held Saturday, June 5, at Quail Ridge Golf Club. Golfers will take to the links at 8:30 a.m. for this fundraiser for charity.

Hole sponsorships cost $100 and are still being sought from the local business community. Sponsors’ names will appear on attractive, permanent markers on the course and will be given to sponsors following the tournament. These sponsorships make up a significant portion of the proceeds raised and your support is appreciated by the Sanford Lions.

Golfers are also urged to sign up for the event. Outstanding prizes will be awarded in three flights with nine teams to place and there will be gifts for other feats such as closest to pin, longest drive, raffle winners and many others. Anyone interested in playing or being a hole sponsor can contact any Sanford Lion or tournament chairman Jim Romine at 774-1173 or online at jromine@windstream.net. Entry forms are also available on the Lions website at www.sanfordlionsclub.com.

At the club’s regular weekly meeting April 22, members learned of the work done by the regional ombudsman for nursing and adult care facilities in the seven-county Triangle J Council of Government Region. Guest speaker was Nancy Murphy who serves Lee, Moore and Johnston counties as an advocate for the elderly and others in long term care facilities. She stressed the importance of community advisory committees who work closely with the ombudsmen and facility directors to solve issues brought to their attention.

Murphy also stressed that her job is to help work with both families of residents and facility operators to solve problems and often their assistance is sought by facility managers to ensure that all sides are represented. They are not there in a regulatory capacity, she said. The ombudsmen also conduct training at care facilities and are a source of information for families needed direction in placing a loved one in long term care. Murphy can be reached at 919-558-2703, or by email at nmurphy@tjcog.org.

President Richard Hendley presided while Ismael Rivera presented the guest speaker. George Harvey led the club in the Pledge of Allegiance.

Golf Tournament, Membership Night Coming Up

The Sanford Lions Club is preparing for a busy spring with its annual golf tournament slated for June 5 at Quail Ridge Golf Course and a special membership promotion meeting scheduled for May 27.

Many outstanding prizes and awards will be presented to players at the 5^th annual Sanford Lions Golf Tournament chaired by Jim Romine. Teams are needed and any interested golfers are urged to contact Romine or any Lion or Quail Ridge Golf Course. Local business and professional services are also encouraged to support the Lions as hole sponsors. For $200 your business name will be prominently displayed on a plaque located at a tee and presented to you after the event.

May 27 will be membership night for the local service club with members urged to invite guests in hopes of attracting new members, according to John Walden, past president and membership chairman. Dr. Matt Garrett, past president of Central Carolina Community College, will be the guest speaker with an inspirational message.

Club members welcomed two guests at the weekly meeting April 15. Preston Sellers was introduced by Avron Upchurch and Donnie Oldham was a guest of Richard Holshouser who was also program chairman. Johnny Poindexter led the club in the Pledge of Allegiance. George Harvey assisted in introducing Bo Hedrick, chief professional officer of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Sanford and Lee County, Inc. Hedrick gave an informative report of the many positive programs offered by the club to youth in the local community. Last year 1,409 young people were served by the Boys and Girls Clubs.

The organization is in a financial bind this year with the loss of $313,000 in program grants, but Hedrick said its work will continue with some belt-tightening and increases in fees. He said the Boys and Girls Clubs is one of the best values as it provides daily activities for 350 youth that teach positive behavior and life skills education that help keep youngsters out of trouble. These services help save local and state government agencies many dollars, Hedrick stressed.

Accompanying Hedrick was India Berryman, 15, a Lee County High School student who is a junior staff member. India has participated in the Boys and Girls Clubs programs eight years and now works with younger youth as a positive role model. She described the excellent Phenomenal Girls program for ages 12-18 where issues such as teen pregnancy, date rape, and eating disorders among other subjects are discussed.