Jasper (shown in the photo with me to the right), is the mascot for the Tennessee Valley Fair.  We met at the Dogwood Arts Festival in April.

Recently, a Lion told me that Jasper was hosting a Mascot Party during the Tennessee Valley Fair.  Of course, I was interested!

There will be a mascot parade from the Jacob Building through the park to Jasper’s “Roost”, introductions of each mascot and their organization, a group photo, and a Dance competition.

I’m not that great a dancer, but I could really use your support.  Come on out to the Tennessee Valley Fair on Thursday, September 16, 2010 from 7-8 p.m. and wear your Lions gear!

Thursday is also Knoxville News Sentinel Reader Appreciation Day. So, cut out the coupon from the News Sentinel and save $2 on adult admission to the Fair!

It’s great to have the fans and interaction on Facebook, so keep it up, and I’ll do better here.

I have revised the way my photos are displayed and now you can view photos from two different pages:

• A gallery of photo albums for 2009 events can be found on the 2009 Photos page
• A gallery of photo albums for 2010 events can be found on the 2010 Photos page

To catch you up on my events since the last blog post, I’ve been a busy Lion!

December 2009 brought cool weather (which I really enjoy) and three Christmas Parades with Lions:

• Morristown Lions Club on December 3 (view photos)
• Powell Lions Club on December 5 (view photos)
• Oak Ridge Lions Club on December 12 (view photos)

I helped the Halls Lions Club with a public relations/awareness booth at the Knoxville Center Mall (view photos).

I participated in the Lions District 12-N Convention in February and managed to get into some mischief at the Friday night social, and learn a thing or two during Saturday morning sessions (view photos).

I joined with the Halls Lions Club, West Side Leos and other Lions to walk in the 2010 Dogwood Arts Festival Parade in Knoxville (view photos).

I participated in the Walk for Sight to help raise money for the Lions District 12-N Charities’ White Cane Agencies (view photos).

I visited the Knoxville Tri-County Lions Club Car Show (view photos), but didn’t last too long in the heat and humidity (bring back winter!)

On July 3, I participated in the Powell Lions Club Independence Day Parade (view photos) and the Norris Day Celebration.

I’ve got some pretty exciting things planned for August and September, so be on the lookout!

West Side Leo Group

They had a terrific turn-out of Leo members, as you can see from the photo, and many, many students!

Hmmm. . . I didn’t realize I was looking down in that group photo. I guess that’s a new challenge for dealing with this big head!

HVA Administrator

It was nice to meet the Leo Club Advisor and one of the school administrators.

I can’t remember the administrator’s name, but she told me her son had been the University of Tennessee mascot a few years before.

So she understood the temperature challenges and was nice enough to offer me a place to rest if needed.

West Side Leos

The Leos did a terrific job setting up and decorating for the dance.

They also stayed pretty busy throughout the evening with handling admissions, refreshments, and activities!

A couple took a break from working to have a picture taken with me. Great costumes!

When I wandered back toward the dance area, several of the students wanted to know who I was. . . expecting I was a fellow student.

I decided “better safe than sorry” and left the partying to the students once the dance got moving in full gear.

Congratulations to the West Side Leos for a successful event!

Hopefully, I’ll have the chance to work with the Leos again!

I’ve got larger versions of the photos in my photo album.

Keeping Roaring!

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With Farragut Lions

I joined the Farragut Lions Club in greeting children and passing out goodies at the Farragut community’s “Freaky Friday”.

As you can see, the Lions created a festive booth, and at least the lady Lions members were brave enough to be in costume also! The guys, not so brave .

In the photo are King Lion Gerri Crutchfield, and Lions Kathy Burrow, Dave Crawford, Jim Hart, and Norvell Burrow. Lion Ann Raby was also there for a while, but unfortunately missed the photo.

Athere was quite a crowd at the park, and many of the costumes were pretty unique.

The Wizard of Oz!

The Wizard of Oz was a popular theme this year. Multiple Dorothy’s and Scarecrows, even one or two Toto’s!

What really surprised me – and made my day! – were the number of little Lions

Lion Kathy Burrow took some dual-Lion photos with her camera, so I’m hoping to get some of those to add to this page and my album!

Other popular costumes were super heroes (mostly Spiderman and the Incredible Hulk), Star Wars characters, and your normal scary creatures.

The Farragut Lions participating in a terrific event and helped raise awareness of Lionism in the community. Special thanks to Lion Dave Crawford for getting me to and from the park safely!

Larger photos can be viewed in the photo album.

Keeping Roaring!

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Smokey and Lion Paws are at the Booth!

On Monday, October 26, I joined the Morristown Lions Club at Morristown’s Fred Miller Park for Boo-Fest.

The committee designed a terrific booth with a large Tennessee Smokey (that lit up when it got dark).

Smokey was holding a skeleton labeled as Steve Spurrier. . . the coach of the South Carolina team Tennessee will be playing on Halloween night!

That was a big hit!

Some of the Lions Club members were dressed up, too!

With 'Bloomin' Idiot'?!?

One member proudly described her costume as the “Bloomin’ Idiot” – cute idea.

There were also a handful of members who weren’t brave enough to dress up for the event. . . and they REALLY wanted to know my identity!

I’m starting to see a theme here!

They actually threatened to gang up on me, tackle me, and rip off my head!

If I could have talked, I would have reminded them about Lion’s GOOD WILL! All in good fun, of course. . . I hope!

A Friend of the Lions

Trick-or-Treat Fun!

It was great to see so many children and families out, as well as some creative costumes!

It’s always fun to meet new friends, and I heard that there were over 5,000 people who participated in Boo Fest!

More Fun!

Congratulations to the Morristown Lions Club for participating in a terrific event. And thanks again to Lion Kaye Forester for driving me to the event, taking photos, and otherwise protecting me from her club members

I’ve got a few more photos in my photo album, so check them out!

Keeping Roaring!

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With Bonnie Peters (Inskip Lions Club)

With Martin Skinner (Kingston Lions Club)

I met a few new friends, including Bonnie Peters of the Inskip Lions Club, and Martin Skinner of the Kingston Lions Club.

I’ve been trying to find my way down to Kingston for a Lions Club project, so hopefully I’ll be able to do that soon.

In any event, it was nice to meet Lion Martin in person!

It was also great to recognize many faces from some of the other events I’ve attended.

Testing an LVBI Mattress

There aren’t too many strangers among Lions!

Although I have been to LVBI a couple times now, this is the first time I had an opportunity to wander into the retail show room.

The blind and visually impaired employees at LVBI make, among other things, mattresses.

The bright orange UT headboard stood out from across the room, and it wasn’t long before I was resting a bit

I’ve got a couple other photos in my photo album.

Keeping Roaring!

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Morris Blvd Lions

For the most part, I was able to dodge the rain, and it was good to see the turn-out given the weather.

I recognized some friends from the Morristown Lions Club and Knoxville Tri-County Lions Club. It’s great to see Lions supporting other clubs’ events!

I also met some new friends and had lots of photos taken!

A new friend!

There sure was a lot of interest in knowing my true identity! Clark Kent? Diana Prince? Bruce Wayne? Hee, Hee!

And one member of the club really wanted to give my outfit a try. He tried bribing me with a hundred dollars!

Through an “interpreter” I called his bluff and said I would let him wear the head for that $100 to be donated to the cause. Of course he didn’t have it

Lion Paws a Sponsor!

Special thanks to PDG Kaye Forester for including me as one of the event sponsors. . . my name was included on the back of the shirts!

'Pick of the Pride' Award Winners

So, of course I had to wear an event shirt.

But, all they had left were extra large sizes, so the shirt fit this Lion more like a dress!

I helped present the “Pick of the Pride” award voted on by members of the club. That was fun!

But, I REALLY like the “People’s Choice” award – that trophy was almost as tall as me!

I tried to sneak it out, but no such luck.

Another fun time being a Lion! See you around!

For Me?

Check out my photo album and hopefully, I’ll get even more photos to add!

Keeping Roaring!

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Welcome to the Forum!

The Lions of Tennessee, Arkansas, Mississippi and Missouri hosted almost 2,800 Lions from the U.S. and Canada in Memphis from September 24-26, 2009.

Hop over to visit the USA/Canada Lions Leadership Forum web site to learn more, see photos and seminar material from 2009 and plans for 2010!

With LCI President Eberhard Wirfs

I had the opportunity to meet our current Lions Clubs International President Eberhard Wirfs from Germany.

He was generous to let me have a picture taken, and he even asked for a copy of it for HIS web site.

I’ll have to be on the look-out for that!

Of course, you cannot be in Memphis without thinking about Elvis!

I missed the Elvis Tribute artist concert on Friday evening.

But, you can be sure Elvis had NOT left the building. . . though some were more realistic than others!

I met and had my picture taken with lots and lots of great Lions!

With Elvis?

Elvis Again!

I wish I had room to show them all here.

But they are included in my photo album or the slide show below, so be sure to check those out!

There is one Lion friend that I want to be sure to introduce to you. . .

Leo is from Multiple District 7 (Arkansas).

Leo and Lion Paws

We both had a great time mingling and “working the crowd”.

But amazingly, we didn’t have a chance to meet each other until Saturday evening!

Hopefully, our paths will cross again in the future!

There was also a presentation and booth for next year’s Forum, which will be in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

I visited the Lions working the Milwaukee pre-registration booth, and you’ll never believe what they had there!

On a Harley to Milwaukee in 2010!

A Harley Davidson motorcycle!

I still am not sure how I “sweet-talked” my way onto the bike. . . without actually talking!

I guess it helps to have friends in high places

Hopefully, next year’s host committee can use some of the photos, too!

I almost forgot to mention the trolleys!

On the Trolley

I wasn’t ready to tackle Beale Street, but I was able to hop on the trolley that took you along Main Street from the Convention Center to Beale Street. Lots of Lions used the trolleys this week!

Gosh, I feel like I’m leaving so many details out. The best I can say is “Next year, you gotta be there!”

Congratulations to the 2009 Forum Planning and Host Committees for a terrific event!

Don’t forget to check out my photo album of USA/Canada Lions Leadership Forum activities or enjoy the slide show of all the photos below.

Keeping Roaring!

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Slide show video of photos:

Knox County North Lions at Registration

On August 29th, the Knox County North Lions Club held it’s annual “Fun” Dog Show.

PDG Clare Crawford has helped me at some other events, but this was the first time I had met many other members of her club.

The Westminster Kennel Club had NOTHING on this show!

There were classes for fastest wag, best trick, longest ears, cutest puppy, popcorn toss, hot dog dunk, and more.

There was also a class for the “Best Costume”.

If ANYONE was going to sponsor this one, you KNOW it had to be me

Best Costume Trophy

“Best Costume” was the first class of the day, and I led all the costumed canines in a parade around the gym while the judging took place.

I didn’t have time to get a photo with the winning dog, but here’s a picture of the trophy taken ahead of time.

There was a pretty intimidating Great Dane (I think?) that sent me running.

Lions aren’t afraid of too many things, but this dog was bigger than me!

A Vol fan!

Wendy Cain and her dog

Another of the dogs, as you can see, was a Tennessee Volunteer fan all decked out in its orange.

PDG Wendy Cain was kind enough to help me out during this appearance.

But she also had her hands full with her own dog, a Bassett Hound.

We were taking some pictures outside, and since he was a shorter dog, I knelt down for a closer photo.

I don’t remember that crazy dog’s name, but he had no fear as he climbed up on me!

A new Friend!

Finally, one of the new friends I made was the little girl of the Knox County North Lions Club President.

I think she was ready to take me home as an over-sized stuffed animal, and she was definitely curious as she continued to wave to me and come up to see me.

We both LOVED sharing big hugs and posing for the camera

I wish I could have stayed around longer, but be sure to check out my additional photos with people AND dogs.

Go to the photo album from the Knox County North Lions Club Dog Show to see more!

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Sign

By the way, you can visit the West Knox Lions Club web site here. I don’t think the Farragut Lions Club has a web site.

I didn’t have room for all the photos in this post, so go to the photo album for more!

Registration table with Shaaron McFarland and Nancy Hall

I tried to register at the check-in table with Lions Shaaron McFarland and Nancy Hall, but had difficulty writing with my paws.

Fortunately, I later realized the registration was for cars anyway!

Farragut Lions at Refreshment Table

It didn’t take long for my nose to lead me to the refreshment area staffed by the Farragut Lions Club!

Lion Norvell Burrow was handling the grill and I really wanted to help out, but I was plenty hot enough without being near the charcoal.

Rolls Royce

There were some intersting cars at the show.

This is the closest I’ve ever been to a Rolls Royce. You don’t see these cars very often!

Car Hop

Here’s one that was staged just like a drive-in movie with the speaker in one side, tray of food on the other side and a child with a bucket of poporn in the back seat.

There were two mini cars at the show: a Model A that used to be used by the Knoxville Downtown Lions Club in parades (now part of the West Knox Lions), and a Mustang.

Mini Model A

I was able to climb in both. . . though I wasn’t sure about the Mustang! Good think they were convertibles, especially with my big head

Mini Mustang

Eventually the two cars raced around the parking lot; of course, the Mustang won!

Congratulations, to the West Knox and Farragut Lions Clubs. It was great to see two clubs working together this way!

Check out my photo album from the West Knox – Farragut Lions Club Car Show.

Keeping Roaring!

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