Sertoma

December 7, 2018 By Tom Smith Leave a Comment

Tis the Season – 2018

It’s that time of year again! Time to get together in celebration of the season and in recognition of people who deserve to be recognized. For Leona Valley Sertoma members, December has two long standing traditions, the Senior Christmas Dinner, held on December 2, 2018, and their annual Christmas party for the members. The Christmas party is an opportunity to enjoy fellowship with their fellow Sertomans and to hand out the Awards and was held on December 1, 2018 at the home of member Shirley Kraft.

2018 Senior Christmas Dinner

Leona Valley Sertoma once again hosted its annual Senior Christmas Dinner on Sunday, December 2, 2018 with plenty of good cheer and delicious food to go around. This event is not a fundraiser, but rather a thank you to our senior citizens. After all, Leona Valley would not be what is is without them.

The photo on the right says it all — “Service with a Smile” along with a good helping of “Service to Mankind”. These volunteers were so happy to serve the seniors who attended the annual Senior Christmas Dinner. From the left are members Catherine Lord – Bridget Razo and Teresa Braley. Also lending a helping hand are 4-H Club Members Evelyn and Madeline Copeland.

2018 Senior Christmas Dinner dessert team, Beverly Brownfield (left) and Betty Wade (right). — Bev Brownfield/Betty Wade

Two very special ladies took on the duty of serving up some sweet desserts at our 2018 Sertoma Seniors Christmas Dinner. Left, Beverly Brownfield – Right, Betty Wade.

2018 Sertoman of the Year

On December 1st, Mary Thomas received the “Sertoman of the Year” award representing her many years of loyal service to our organization. Mary has made quite an impressive contribution to the longevity and success of our small but mighty group – ALWAYS keeping us together with a smile and a loving hug.

2018 Service To Mankind Award

On December 1st Steve and Tamara Reaves were surprised with the Sertoma “Service to Mankind” award for their excellence in community service. Their entire family has not only provided a special comfort zone for Leona Valley, but have worked very hard organizing events that would appeal to the entire family.

August 12, 2018 By Jan Clark Leave a Comment

2018 – Gala Under the Stars

The 2018 – Gala Under the Stars

On June 9th, our Leona Valley Sertoma organization hosted the 2018 – Gala Under the Stars, which proved to be a very special and successful wine, beer, bourbon and food tasting event. It was a “sell out”! We are proud to say that with all of the many events that we have hosted in our community, this was a first time raising funds for Canine Companions for Independence” and I believe that, by now, you understand that our main mission and goals are to contribute to nonprofit organizations pertaining to the hearing impaired.

The realization came to us that we have never provided help to a person with a hearing disability who was in need of a special assistance dog. Due to many requests to host another Gala Under the Stars, Leona Valley Sertoma knew we needed to begin the process and secure the plan very soon – HOWEVER, who would be receiving the funds raised! We were directed to contact “Canine Companions for Independence” (CCI), in the Oceanside area, and to speak to Melissa Billingsley in Tehachapi, who operated a CCI satellite office for assistance dogs… she not only spoke at one of our meetings but brought three very well trained dogs to demonstrate the many commands that were required to be the eyes, ears and hands of their human partners. At our meeting, it was a unanimous decision that the 2018 – Gala Under the Stars would definitely take place and ALL PROCEEDS would go to sponsor one goodwill ambassador service dog.

There are four types of assistance dogs: Service Dogs, Hearing Dogs, Facility Dogs and Skilled Companion Dogs —– why not visit the Canine Companions for Independence website to better understand the actual meaning of these four categories and also learn so much more about “Canine Companions for Independence”. I guarantee that you will be amazed and will learn that they are “miracle dogs”.

With the generosity and faith of our sponsors, vendors, entertainers (and especially our guests) Sertoma was proudly able to recently provide a $10,000 check to CCI which gives us the honor of naming a puppy on behalf of Leona Valley Sertoma, but also help provide the essentials to raise the puppy during its training session.

As ALWAYS, we in Leona Valley Sertoma are forever grateful for the support you have given to each and every event we have hosted, but your generosity toward CCI was “over the top”.

Sertoma in general, has always stood for “Service to Mankind” and we truly believe that we have done a great job proudly representing the needs and requests of Leona Valley and beyond, as there is nothing stronger than the heart and spirit of a volunteer.

Thank you, again, from ALL of our Sertoma members and you are invited to check: LeonaValleySertoma.org for more information.

July 26, 2018 By Tom Smith 1 Comment

Leona Valley Sertoma Scholarship – Margaret Mihaljevich

Leona Valley Sertoma Scholarship Presented to Margaret Mihaljevich

On June 7, 2018 the Leona Valley Sertoma Scholarship committee Chairperson, Charlene Moore, presented Margaret (Maggie) Mihaljevich with her $1,500 scholarship award to help launch the beginning of her college adventure. This Autumn, Maggie will begin studying business at the University of Washington. This young lady isn’t “just a student”, she has been named the University of Washington’s Purple and Gold Scholar at the Seattle Campus and has been offered $1,500 each academic year for four years. Sertoma’s scholarship choice isn’t just because of her yearly academic scores – it pertains to her focus on leadership and impeccable community service outside of school such as organizing blood drives, helping the homeless, volunteering at animal shelters, and time spent with local veterans for their service in the military – not to mention captain’s for the Quartz High School swim team and cheer-leading squad.

Every Spring, the Leona Valley Sertoma Scholarship Committee prepares to receive local applications from the areas of Three Points, Lake Hughes, Elizabeth Lake, Green Valley, and Leona Valley, and every Spring it is always a difficult choice, as all the potential recipients have worked very hard and are quite deserving. We never know how many applicants we will have to screen, but, I truly believe we make the perfect choice(s) every year.

The mission of Sertoma International is to improve the quality of life for those at risk or impacted by hearing loss through education and support, so the Leona Valley Sertoma is committed to providing one scholarship to a graduating student, who will be attending Antelope Valley College, and who is either majoring in deaf studies or who has a hearing disability.

2019 Leona Valley Sertoma Scholarhip

Charlene Moore will continue to chair the 2019 scholarship committee and we all look forward to helping deserving students dream of furthering their education after their high school graduation. The 2019 scholarship application period will open in early 2019, so be on the watch for an announcement at that time. For more on the scholarship program click here page.

As always, good luck to each and every student.

April 24, 2018 By Tom Smith Leave a Comment

Gala Under the Stars – A Look Back

Gala Under the Stars – 2018

On June 9, 2018, Leona Valley Sertoma will present the 14th annual Gala Under the Stars. There has been a change in the entertainment line-up for this year’s Gala Under the Stars from the March 5, 2018 post, the revised event information can be found at the end of this post.

Now a Look Back at the Gala Under the Stars

For those who might not know, and those who have forgotten, the first Gala Under the Stars was held in June of 2005. It was the brainchild of the Heritage Park committee, of Leona Valley Sertoma, as a fundraiser to complete the Leona Heritage Park Museum and to restore the local one-room schoolhouse. This was to support the work of the West Antelope Valley Historical Society, which owned the schoolhouse and had saved it with the move to the, at the time, newly named Heritage Park. In addition, many historical Leona Valley artifacts that had been saved over the years needed a place where they could be displayed and shared with others.

Of course, it would take more than money alone to make the Heritage park vision a reality and the members of the Heritage Park committee deserve a lot of credit for bringing together the people and the resources to make it happen. The good people of Leona Valley volunteered and stepped up and took on the challenge of making the Heritage Park Museum and the finished schoolhouse a reality and something that today can be enjoyed by anyone with an interest in history, especially the history of this little corner of Los Angeles County.

This all came about thanks to the efforts of Leona Valley Sertoma, the LVIA, the Leona Valley Town Council, and the West Antelope Valley Historical Society. You can learn more about the West Antelope Valley Historical Society by visiting their website at: avhistorical.org

To learn more Leona Valley Sertoma and what we do go to: About Leona Valley Sertoma.

Below are a sampling of pictures taken by Karl Pearcy, Chairman, Heritage Park Committee, of Leona Valley Sertoma:

The Leona Valley One-room Schoolhouse supported by the Gala Under the Stars — The Schoolhouse

The Leona Valley Heritage Park Museum under construction #1-supported by the Gala Under the Stars — Museum Barn #1

The Leona Valley Heritage Park Museum under construction #2-supported by the Gala Under the Stars — Museum Barn #2

The honors wall at Heritge Park-supporting the Gala Under the Stars — The Heritage Park Honor Wall

Display wing under construction #4-supported by the Gala Under the Stars — Museum Construction #1

Display wing under construction #2-supported by the Gala Under the Stars — Museum Construction #2

Display wing under construction #1-supported by the Gala Under the Stars — Museum Construction #3

Display wing with winery items-supported by the Gala Under the Stars — Museum Display – Winery Artifacts

An artist’s depiction of what the Leona Valley Heritage Park Museum would look like:

Leona Valley Sertoma Presents
“Gala Under the Stars”
Wine ~ Beer ~ Bourbon and Food Tasting
Saturday, June 9, 2018 from 5 to 9pm
Lazy T Ranch ~ 4218 Elizabeth Lake Road in Leona Valley

This event is specifically to sponsor a service dog for the hearing impaired.
All net proceeds will be contributed to “Canine Companions for Independence”
Please visit www.cci.org to better understand the training of these assistance dogs.

COWBOY POET, MIKE WILLIAMS and BROKEN HORN ROPERS
“THE SWEETWATER GENTLEMEN” – Bluegrass and Classic Country Band

OUTDOOR EVENT ~ SILENT AUCTION ~ DANCING

Commemorative Wine Glass:

Leona Valley Sertoma 2018 St. Patrick’s Day Dinner

Leona Valley Sertoma Says-

“THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT”

THANK YOU to the MANY folks who supported our epic 2018 St. Patrick’s Day dinner …

The rain, sleet, and snow did not keep the folks from our Lakes and Valley’s and our neighbors from Palmdale, Lancaster and Rosamond from coming out to enjoy this annual event, as we served over 200 dinners. This year, the net proceeds of the fundraiser will be presented to the Leona Valley Improvement Association to help defray the repair costs for a new driveway and/or additional building expenses.

This year we prepared 260 pounds of prime corned beef, 55 heads of round green cabbage, 100 pounds of red potatoes, 2 ½ cases of carrots and 80 pounds of onions all to be enjoyed by our guests. AND, it took the muscle power of over 30 volunteers to make it all happen.

We also owe a big THANK YOU to Rally Auto Group for their sponsorship, one anonymous contributor, Chefs – Bill Moore & John Seymour, Casa Gutierrez, LVIA, Gymkhana, 4-H Racketeers, LV Queen Contestants, Cherry Chapters, Lakes & Valley’s Gazette, AV Press, Live Again, Mayde in Ireland, Merrie Profitt, Karl Pearcy, John Glover, Linda & Darik Bolin, KJ & Sandy Miller, Juanita & Vance Kirkpatrick, Pam & Bill Elliott, Charlene Moore, Bev Brownfield, Betty Wade, Linda Lorenz, Deserie Taback, Mary Thomas, Ray Mullins, Jan Clark, Kathy Bramwell, Bud & Sharon Lehrner, Teresa, Matt & Alex Braley, Bridget Razo, Susan Heinold & Cathy Lord.

Patrick and Christine Bonas of Rally Auto Group – event sponsor

Bill Penn of Rally Auto Group – event sponsor

Bev Brownfield (l) – bartender, Betty Wade (r) – dessert specialist

Kathy Bramwell, Teresa Braley, Bridget Razo serve guest (l to r)

Leona Valley Sertoma is always looking for new members and we invite and welcome you to join us at our local 8am fellowship breakfast meetings held at Jack’s Place – 40352 90th Street West. We meet on the 1st. and 3rd. Saturdays of each month. You can also check out our website at LeonaValleySertoma.org.

MARK YOUR CALENDAR for:

Sunday, April 15th – “Sweet Sundae” Ice Cream Social to benefit the repair of the LVIA driveway. Please check your Cherry Chapters for details.

Saturday, June 9th – “Gala Under the Stars” wine, beer, bourbon and food tasting to benefit “Canine Companions for Independence”. For details and tickets email Jan Clark at: 1grannyjanny@att.net

– written by: Jan Clark, Sertoma Chairman of the Board.