On Friday, March 14^th, 2008: Friends Across the Border departed to do a vision-screening clinic in Baker, CA.  The screening was part of a community health faire put on by the Baker Lions.  We left the Hemet staging area at 2:15 pm,Yucaipa at 3:00 pm and Victorville at 4:15 pm.  We arrived in Baker at 6:00 pm and set the equipment and glasses up in the community center for the next day’s event.  With the task accomplished we all met at the local Coco’s Restaurant for a nice meal and socialization.  By 9:00 pm we were turning in for the evening.

On Saturday, March 15^th, 2008:  the vision screening started at 10:00am and finished at 4:00pm.  Listed below is a synopsis of the day’s clinical findings:

• 61 patients were seen for the day.
• 10 needed no prescription
• 2 need their prescription made at the optical lab
• 49 received recycled eyeglasses.

With the equipment/glasses packed and salutations made, we headed for Victorville at 4:41pm.  We arrived in Victorville at 6:30pm and said good by to part of our group.  We made it though the snow, wind, rain and hail and arrived in Yucaipa at 8:00pm.  The balance of the caravan arrived in Hemet at 8:45pm.

It was a nice trip to support a need and fellow Lions.  While the turn out was less than what was expected, it was a great opportunity for socialization and education.  New friendships were started and more Lions know how to use the equipment and what the prescriptions mean.

Listed below are those that participated directly in the clinic:

Baker Lions Club: Christine Rellihan, Debbie Tucker and Dewain Tucker

Calimesa Breakfast Lions Club:  Don Ranney, Pat Ranney, Jim Selby, Rob Manning, Ron Meader, Pati Van Dusen and Brian Van Dusen.

Crestline Lions Club: Ricardo Terrones, Kathy Ogaz and Dan Ogaz

Norco Lions Club:  Bob Shine

Norco Valley Lions Club: Cathy Shine

Big Bear Lake Sunset:  Linda Peroutka

Big Bear Lions Club: Mel Niez and Robert Niez

Rialto Host Lions Club: Donita Jepsen

Lucerne Valley Lions Club:  Irene Morales