This is a year of changes, starting with our new name, Santa Monica – Pacific Palisades Lions Club and new members, we are also creating a new fundraising event!
After more than 60 years of hosting our Annual Pancake Breakfast, our club has decided it is time to start a new chapter in our history by hosting our first spaghetti dinner. Save the date for The Godfather of All Spaghetti Dinners to be held at the Elks Lodge in Santa Monica on Sunday, October 16 at 5 p.m.
With a theme is based around the 1972 Oscar-winning film, “The Godfather,” the evening will include plenty of fun references and throwbacks to the iconic film, an all-you-can-eat spaghetti dinner, magical entertainment, basket raffles and so much more! With proceeds benefiting local nonprofits, vision-related services, scholarships and other community projects, this year’s gut-busting fundraiser promises to be more fulfilling than ever! More details to come.
At our last meeting, we were fortunate to have Past District Governor Ken Blackwood as our inducting officer for Councilman Phil Brock and installing officer for our new club officers and board of directors. The installation was our first formal installation since 2019. Following his induction, Lion Brock briefly shared how he first heard about the Santa Monica Lions Club from past Lions Fred Schwengel and Johnny Lonsdale because of participating in activities at the SM Boys and Girls Club. It was a lovely tribute to two great Lions and Santa Monica legends.
We also were excited to welcome a new prospective member, Edward Sim, whose father had been a Lion. Not only did Ed get to see Lions pomp and circumstance, but he also got to meet five members of the Venice Marina LAX Club whom we consider our sister club. They are having their own installation on July 23rd at the Del Rey Yacht Club, with many SMPP Lions members attending.
Our next meeting on Wednesday, August 10 at 6 p.m., at the Elks Lodge will be a busy one with a surprise speaker, more planning for the spaghetti dinner, and discussion about upcoming service projects. If you are interested in being our guest for this dinner meeting, please contact either Yoriko Fisher, at smpplionsclub@gmail.com or Kingsley Fife at 310-454-2960. As we move forward to reshape our Lions Club, we need your ideas, creativity and passion.
