(Cushing, Okla) Jim Pickard, President of the local Lions Club International, called the meeting to order today at 12:20 p.m. The agenda started with song and pledge by Lion Jerry Snyder. This was followed by prayer requests for local families along with prayer by Russ Thurman.

After an introduction of guests, Pickard told the club they still needed a 2nd Vice President Candidate for Club Officer. The name and recommendation should be turned in by May 15, 2015.The Distinguished Young Women of Payne County (2016) thanked the club for inviting her to come visit with the Lions about the DYW program.

Junior Olympics is coming up in the first week of May and Lion Club members are being asked to sign up for helping out at the event.

Bob Noltensmeyer, Cushing Emergency Management Director, and fellow Lion introduced today’s speaker Sharon Dilley. Dilley, with the help of her husband John, work with Certified Search Dogs. However, Sharon is the only one that is actually certified to work with both dogs.

Two of the search dogs were Lions Club guests today. Piper, who is a black Labrador and a Disaster Search certified, “live find only” search dog. Her mate Kate, is a yellow Lab and is an Area/Wilderness certified search dog. That means that Kate works more on natural terrain, not rubble so much. Kate is good for lakes and large areas where someone might be lost. Both Piper and Kate are for “live find” and cadaver or human remains. Although both of the dogs are Labs, a search dog can be any hunting or working breed. Dilley said that she prefers the personality of a Lab. Decertifying takes place every two years and to certify as a team, you match one dog and one person.

To learn more about Certified Search Dogs, visit Dilley’s Facebook page: www.facebook.com/sharon.dilley.944

 

Tom Cummings was the lucky winner of $16.50 today in the 50/50 drawing.

The meeting adjourned around 01:03 (p.m.).

Cushing Lions Club meets each Tuesday at noon in the Lion’s Den in downtown Cushing.

For more information about Lions Club International go to https://www.lcif.org/

 

 

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