Culpeper Mid-Day Lions hosted their annual Bland contest on Sunday, February 18th at the Culpeper Baptist Church. This event was arranged by Culpeper Mid-Day members Dr. Robert McCall and Mr. Justin McFarland and former Culpeper Host Lion, Dr. Phil Ferlazzo. This event celebrates the life of Mr. James Alan Bland, an African American musician and song writer. Mr. Bland was born to a free family in Flushing, New York. He began performing at the age of 14 and graduated from Howard University. Mr. Bland wrote more than 700 songs including “In the evening by the Moonlight,” “Oh them Golden Slippers”‘ and “Carry me back to Old Virginny”. He was often referred to as the Worlds Greatest Minstrel man. The judges for this event were Monroe Greeley and John Jewell. Mr. Greeley and Mr. Jewell judged the instrumental contestants. While, Mrs. Debbie Greeley and Ms. Gina Rossetti judged the vocal competitors. The local winners were Rachel Marie Cieplak, vocal, and Willa Faye Clore Instrumental. First runners up were Lindsay Joy Sanders ,Instrumental and Emma Ellon Butler, Voice. The local winners will compete against winners from Rappahannock County and the Instrumental winners from Zone 7. This contest will also be held at Culpeper Baptist Church on March 4th, 2018. The other contestants were Georgia Laine Clore, Piano; Laura A. Perez Cutright, Violin; Annalise-Rachel Dovel, Guitar and Marie-Clare Matricardi, Piano. First Prize winners received a check for $100.00 while first runners up received a check for $75.00. After the regional winners are selected they continue on to state competition. Final competition will result in the award of a $2,500 music scholarship to both vocal and instrumental winners. All local residents, especially music teachers in the local system are invited to attend the regional contest and cheer our candidates on.

The winner and first runner ups picture reading from Left to right are: Rachel Marie Ceiplak Vocal, Emma Ellon Butler, first runner up, Vocal, Willa Faye Clore Winner Instrumental and Lindsay Joy Sanders, First Runner up Instrumental.

The group picture of the contestants reading from left to right are: Laura Cutright, Georgia Clore, Annalise Dovel, Marie Matricardi, Willa Clore, Lindsay Sanders, Emma Butler and Rachel Cieplak.

Annually, Lions Club International sponsors a competition referred to as the Peace Poster competition.  This competition is aimed at bringing out the artistic talents of Middle School students throughout the United States and the world.  The competition held in Culpeper is led by the Mid-Day Lions club. The member charged with the responsibility for arranging this competition with the middle schools is the Grand Dame of the Mid-Day club, Ms. Lawanna Stanton.

This year’s contest was held on the 10th of November at the Culpeper Middle School and the 13th of November at F.T. Binns.  Each of these contest had four (4) contestants.  The completion was spirited and the judges had a difficult choice in selecting the winners.

The winning Culpeper Middle School contestant was Stephanie Chicas and the second place contestant was Vilma Flora Kivera.  The First Place finisher at F.T. Binns was Lauren Herrera while second place went to Isabella Hardaway.  The winners at each school receives a prize of $50.00 while the second place finishers receives $25.00.

The posters from the winners have been sent to the District Governor’s office where a contest will be held to determine the District winners.  The winner of this competition will have their poster forwarded to the Headquarters of the International Lions organization.  This organization will host an international competition. The winner will receive a cash prize of $5,000 and 23 merit award winners will receive a cash prize of $500.00.

It is extremely gratifying to the members of the Mid-Day Lions club to sponsor this event.   The joy on the faces of the contestants, even those that fall short in the judging makes it worth the effort and expense of sponsoring the competition.

Lion Bruce Hundley was honored recently with a Culpeper Colonel Award for his many years of dedicated service to the Culpeper community.  His membership in the Culpeper Mid-Day Lions has spanned over 40 years and his long-standing hard work and dedication did not go unnoticed by the County Board of Supervisors.  With the help of Board member Gary Deal, Hundley was nominated and accepted to receive the honor in a ceremony held Tuesday, March 7th, 2017.  Many of his fellow Lions were present to help celebrate his recognition and the honor.  The award is much deserved and exemplifies the hearts of all the members of the Culpeper Mid-Day club.

Lutricia Toliver was the big winner of the Culpeper Mid-Day Lions Instant Progressive Jackpot on February 5th, 2017.  Ms. Toliver selected her lucky number, #3 to win $10,402.00 in the Cow-a-Bunga instant progressive game during the weekly Sunday night bingo session held by Mid-Day. Each Sunday evening folks can win money playing bingo and other pull-tab games at Best Western/Pepper’s Grill in Culpeper. Early birds start at 6:30 PM and regular games at 7:00 PM.  Come on out to have some fun and possibly win some money.  Below, the lucky winner is pictured with Lion President Lee Simpson.

THE LOCAL LIONS CLUBS SPONSORED BLAND CONTEST WILL BE HELD ON FEBRUARY 19 AT 2:00 PM.  THIS EVENT WILL BE HELD AT THE CULPEPER BAPTIST CHURCH LOCATED AT 318 S. WEST STREET IN CULPEPER.

THE BLAND CONTEST HONORS JAMES BLAND, AN AFRICAN-AMERICAN WHO WAS A POPULAR COMPOSER IN THE LATE 1880’S.  MR. BLAND’S MOST POPULAR COMPOSITION IS BELIEVED TO BE “CARRY ME BACK TO OLD VIRGINNY’.  THIS WAS THE STATE SONG OF VIRGINIA FOR MANY YEARS.

THE COMPETITION WILL FEATURE ENTRIES OF VOCAL AND INSTRUMENTAL TALENT.  THE MUSIC DIRECTORS FOR ALL OF THE SCHOOLS, BOTH PUBLIC AND PRIVATE HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED OF THIS EVENT.  MR. JUSTIN MCFARLAND ANTICIPATES A LARGE NUMBER OF CANDIDATES TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS STATE WIDE EVENT.  INDIVIDUALS NOT ASSOCIATED WITH THE SCHOOL SYSTEM BUT ENGAGED IN THE TEACHING OF MUSIC HAVE ALSO BEEN NOTIFIED OF THIS EVENT.

LOCAL WINNERS IN EACH CATEGORY WILL BE AWARDED A PRIZE OF $100.00, SECOND PLACE WINNERS WILL RECEIVE A $50.00 PRIZE.  STATE WINNERS IN EACH CATEGORY WILL RECEIVE A SCHOLARSHIP OF $2,500.00, SECOND PLACE WINNERS WILL RECEIVE SCHOLARSHIPS VALUED AT $2,000, THIRD PLACE WINNERS $1,500.  FOURTH, FIFTH AND SIXTH PLACE WINNERS WILL RECEIVE SCHOLARSHIPS VALUED AT $1,000.00 EACH.

2017 Bland Competition Entry Form and Rules

For all you musically inclined folks –

The Culpeper Lions Bland Competition will be held

Sunday February 19th, 2017, 2:00 PM at Culpeper Baptist Church.

The church is located at 318 S. West St. Culpeper, Virginia.

The rules and regulations for the 2017 contest are available at this link.
2017 Bland Competition Entry Form and Rules

Please contact me directly with any questions or concerns.

Justin McFarland 540-229- 4391

Most of the citizens of Culpeper County are aware of the primary mission of the International Lions Clubs. That mission is simply to provide financial assistance to citizens in their local area of responsibility with resources required to improve their quality of life regarding sight and or hearing deficiencies.

During 2016, the three Lions Clubs in Culpeper County (Culpeper Mid-Day, Culpeper ’92 and Culpeper Dawn) provided financial assistance to 188 citizens for assistance in procuring eye examinations, lenses and frames.  10 citizens were provided assistance in the procurement of hearing aids.

This assistance is made possible from the profits from the Mid-Day Lions Sunday Night Bingo and contributions from Club 92 and Dawn.  The dominate reason for this assistance are the local loyal patrons of the Sunday Night Bingo held at Peppers Grill each week. Not to be overlooked is the contributions made, especially in the sight area of the local firms and doctors specializing in eye related deficiencies.

As always we the Local Lions are proud of these contributions made to our citizens.  Funds in excess of those used address the sight and hearing needs of our community are used for various charitable organizations such as the Food Closet, Hospices, school lunch programs, scholarships and the soap box derby events.

Culpeper Mid-Day Lions Club was honored and privileged to receive a $1,500 grant from Walmart Corporation this past Friday, July 22, 2016.  Through the hard work of Lion Stacey Nicholson, Mid-Day was granted the award to supplement the annual gift giving that the Lions hold each year.  The grant will help to further the annual Christmas Shopping with the Kids event that is held each December by the club.  The event helps to purchase gifts and presents for under-served children and their families in the Culpeper area.  The club is thankful for the generosity of Walmart and looks forward to using the funds to help further their donations within the community.  Lions present for the presentation included from left, Bruce Hundley, Chris Settle, Lawanna Stanton, Hank Milans, Stacey Nicholson and Nick White.

The Culpeper Mid-Day Lions were privileged to welcome the 2016 Scholarship recipients from both Eastern View and Culpeper County High Schools to their General Membership Meeting on Thursday, June 23, 2016.  Seven of the nine winners were able to be with us.  A photo of the graduates is included below standing with LEO Adviser to both High Schools, Chris Settle, far left and Lion President Lee Simpson, far left.  It is an honor to be able to provide assistance to such an outstanding group of graduates who have proven themselves over their four year high school career.  The graduates pictured include back row far left: Harrison Sublett, University of VA; Lexie Bates, James Madison University; Nathan Stewart, University of VA; Kirsten Busse, Brigham Young University.  Front row far left:  Keely Martin, Lord Fairfax Community College; Jieun Kim, University of VA; Daphne Sink, College of William and Mary.  The Culpeper Mid-Day Lions wish success to all of the recipients and to Shana McMeans and Matthew Heinrich who were not able to attend the luncheon.

Culpeper Mid-Day Lions held the area Bland Competition on February 7th, 2016. A nice crowd attended the event held at Culpeper Baptist Church in Culpeper. A picture of the winners is attached to this post. Philip Grotz won 1st Place in the instrumental competition. Edwin Cutright was 2nd place instrumental. In the vocal competition, Emma Butler won 1st place and 2nd place went to Lindsey Sanders. Overall ten total contestants were apart of the competition. The top place finishers will move on to the Area competition that will be occurring in March.