Events
2023
2023 National Fishing Tournament (October 16-18, 2023)
The trip to 2023 National Visually Impaired Persons (VIP) Fishing Tournament on the Outer Banks of NC was very successful.
This year’s team included: Randy LaFountain (East Providence), Ray Gonsalves (Cranston) Derek Camile (East Providence) and Joe Bonardi (Massachusetts and a RI VIC Club Lion).
There were a lot of firsts this year: two 1st-timers from RI, Randy and Raymond; an impromptu 1st VIP Mini-Golf Tournament; Ray experienced the ocean for the 1st time; and a 1st place in the National Tourney awards!
During the whole trip, there was pleasant weather with no rain and mild temps, although there was a stiff North wind throughout the tournament.
Due to a significant cost increase in chartering the bus (the charter company charges by the mile), the team and their guides drove from RI early Sunday morning to meet the bus and the CT Team in Clinton, Connecticut.
Upon the team’s arrival at the Comfort Inn on the Ocean in North Carolina, it was greeted by Connecticut Lion transplants, Bob and Dee Christensen, who hosted a Welcome party with Pizza, Beverages and fresh Strawberry Shortcake.
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Monday was for registration, getting oriented, shopping, and relaxing before the Welcoming Dinner at Manteo Hall. This year’s theme was to Honor our Military and wear something representing the military. The RI participants where given a fishing towel with Camo pattern and the Sight Foundation Logo and American flag as an accessory.
On Tuesday, the North Carolina State VIP Fishing Tourney was held on 3 piers and 2 head boats. To make it interesting for the New England VIPs, the New England teams hold a “New England Fishing Tournament” on the Miss Oregon head-boat. The fishing was pretty sparce but everyone was kept very busy rebaiting the fishing hooks. Whatever was down there, it would strip the bait in minutes. A school of dolphins put on a spectacular show.
The RI VIP’s still managed to do very well compared to the rest of the VIPs on the boat and Ray managed to catch a 17.5” Flounder that could have been the largest fish of the day. Unfortunately, he was not a North Carolinian and was not eligible for a prize in the North Carolina tournament.
Trophies for the New Englanders were
awarded at the Wednesday breakfast.
The 2023 winners were:
1st Place – Joe Bonardi, MA
2nd Place – Maryanne Melley, CT
3rd Place – Len Schlenk, CT
The 1st Mini-Golf Awards (VIP T-shirts) went to:
Derek Camille – 9-Hole Champ
Maryanne Melley – 18-Hole Champ
The National Tournament was held on Wednesday on Jennette’s Pier and, once again, the prolific rebaiting of fishing hooks continued and the catch was very light and small.
Then, mid-tournament and out of nowhere,
3 poles were bent to their limits, including
Derek and Randy’s from RI and Larry’s from NC.
They soon realized that they really had hooked
Black Drumfish from a school that had passed
through, a very rare occurrence according to
locals. The caught fish were 24-25 inches long
and, since all fish caught are scored by a
species/point system, they all counted the same.
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The balance of what each VIP caught determined the winners.
The day finished at the Awards Dinner during which Ken Barthelemy (Scituate Lions and organizer of the trip) had the honor of presenting a Progressive VIP Ambassador pin to PDG Dom Branco.
Tournament awards were then given out to the top 3 scores for each fishing venue; the 1st place winners will be invited to next year’s National Tournament. There was great anticipation on the announcing of the results of the National Tournament winners.
Much to the RI team’s surprise and confusion, 2nd and 3rd place were awarded to two NC VIPs who did not catch one of the Drumfish, but when it came to 1st place, they announced a 3-way tie andgenerously awarded three 1 st place trophies! So, Derek Camille and Randy LaFountain, both from East Providence, came home with 1st Place Trophies!
Thanks to Ken Barthelemy for organizing the trip, and Bill Hawkins and Dom Branco for their great assistance and posting photos and updates on their FaceBook pages during the trip. Also, a big thank you to the CT Leaders, Lori, Charlie, and Andy, for all that they did to help in arranging the bus and assistance during the event.
Also, the Dattco bus driver, Hector, was as awesome as usual in his service and enthusiasm.
Thanks to the RI Lions Sight Foundation and the Lions Clubs that donate to VIP Fishing
Program and provide support for this special opportunity for the Visually Impaired Persons of RI.
This year's Summer Camp Mauchatea was held at the beautiful Mount Saint Charles (MSC) Academy in Woonsocket, RI.
We spent 5 days and 4 nights on the amazing grounds of MSC and various field trips. The lodging, staff and food at Mount Saint Charles was a huge upgrade for us!
We started the week off with a visit from Dave Marchetti and his amazing reptiles. The campers were able to hold and interact with snakes, turtles, bearded dragons, a bunny and so much more. We finished out Monday with a bounce house, water slide and fun sports.
Tuesday, we headed to Nurse Alli's parents' private pool and had a wonderful day filled with swimming and food. That night we got to have dinner with some members of the RILSF and the Foster Lions even brought in an ice cream truck!!!
Wednesday we were hosted by the Burrillville Lions and had an awesome day at Spring Lake, complete with a cookout and ice cream treats! We ended the evening with a friendly game of mini golf at Mulligans Island along with a campfire complete with smores and sing-a-longs.
Thursday, we headed out to Bristol Connecticut for a fun day at Lake Compounce. Many campers were able to go on the rides, some for the first time. We ended Thursday night with another campfire and sing-a-longs.
Friday, we stayed at MSC and had a phenomenal dance instructor, Heather, come and join us. We spent the rest of the day with a scavenger hunt, BINGO, games and sports.
Thank you again to the RILSF and the Narragansett Lions for continuing to fund this amazing camp, it means so much to all of our campers. Also, a HUGE thank you to our amazing staff of Counselors, we could never create such amazing camps without your help and support.
16th Annual RI VIP Fishing Tourament
Another successful event is under our belt and we had a nearly full boat with 65 onboard, including 30 VIP’s, who managed to catch 58 fish even though the catch was slow. We out fished the other boat which is a compliment to Captain Cory and the VIP’s. The foggy conditions did cause a couple of “casualties” that took one for the team and did some chumming that may have helped.
This year we went back to the AM Trip which allowed us to get back to having an awards luncheon at the Carriage Inn which is much better than doing it on the boat.
2023 RILSF VIP Tournament VIP’s & Guides
The 1st Fish was caught by Randy LaFountain of East Providence, the not so large and only Fluke was caught by Barbara Henry of Providence, and largest Sea Bass at 19.5” was hooked by James Killingham of Providence. Honorable Mention was awarded to Derek Camille for his Black Fish, a rare sight for this time of year, that he hooked by the tail as the most unusual fish caught.
Trophies and Visa gift cards were awarded to:
1 st Place $50 (22 pts/7 fish) – Randy LaFountain, East Providence
2nd Place $25 (20 pts/6 fish) – Joe Bonardi, Worcester MA (Member of RI VIC Lions Club)
3 rd Place $25 (18pts/7 fish) – Mike Prusco, North Smithfield
Randy LaFountain (1st) Joe Barnardi (2nd) Mike Prusco (3rd)
There was a points tie for 3rd that was broken by the largest fish caught.
4 th Place (18pts/6 fish) – Ray Gonsalves, Cranston
5 th Place (16pts/5 Fish) – Derek Camile, East Providence
Ray and Derek are our “Horses in the Barn” if any of the 3 winners cannot go to the National Tourney on the Outer Banks in October.
On behalf of the RILSF, the VIP’s and their Guides, I want to thank the individuals, clubs and organizations that donated to cost of the tournament.
I also want to thank our volunteers, the Hawkins breakfast &lunch team and the Frances Fleet Staff, Captain Cole & Crew for treating us so well!
Ken Barthelemy
RI Lions Sight Foundation and Scituate Lions Club
School Year 2022-2023 Vision Pre-Screening
Vision pre-screening by the RI Lions Sight Foundation (RILSF) and RI Lions clubs began soon after the school year started.
A new process was instituted to make sure school nurses knew about the change in RI Health Department regulations for vision screening before accepting help from the RILSF.
Initial focus was on schools in towns where the local Lions club could do vision screening. Once screening at many of these schools was completed, members of the RI Sight Foundation and volunteers from some local Lions clubs started assisting school nurses with vision screening in other towns .
By the end of the school year, RI Lions clubs and the RILSF have helped screen over 22,000 students at more than 95 schools in RI, with about 15% of the students getting recommendations to see an eye professional for a medical checkup of their eyes from these pre-screenings.
Thanks to all the volunteers that put in valuable time screening and organizing the screening with the school nurses.
Winter Camp Mauchatea was held January 14-16, 2023.
This year we started at USA Skates and had an amazing time, skating, playing arcade games and eating pizza. We then headed to the Cape Codder Resort in Cape Cod! All the campers had a blast with swimming, water slides, games and movies. Campers ended the weekend at EP Bowling lanes.
They can't wait for summer camp!!!
