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Post-Standard, The (Syracuse, NY){PUBLICATION2}
October 27, 2007
Section: News
Edition: Final
Page: A1
SO, THESE GUYS ARE TRYING TO THINK OF A DIFFERENT WAY TO RAISE MONEY FOR A GOOD CAUSE ...
Matt Michael Staff writer
Move over, Chippendales. The Men of Martisco are here.
The Martisco Lions Club in Marietta is selling "The Men of Martisco" 2008 calendars to raise money for the club's community service projects. The tongue-in-cheek calendar features scantily clad men from the Lions
Club posing on machines - a snowmobile, payloader and motorcycle - or doing their favorite hobbies, such as hunting, playing the guitar and picking apples.
The $15 calendar has turned the men into hometown celebrities.
"I'm "Mr. December' in Borodino," Tom Trachimowicz said.
At a recent senior citizens' function, one woman said she couldn't afford to buy a calendar. But she paid $5 just to look at it.
"We'll give up a little pride for a good cause," said Mr. January 2008, John Haney. (There's also a bonus Mr. January, 2009.)
Lions Club member Laura Palen floated the calendar idea a few years ago, when the club was looking to do something different to raise money. It took the men a while to warm up to it, but Palen convinced them the photos would be fun, yet tasteful.
Laura's husband, Bob, is Mr. April.
"They were all great sports," said Palen, who shot most of the photos. "You just have to laugh at some of them."
Haney, the Palens' next-door neighbor, was the first to go, in January. He drove his snowmobile to the Palens' house and posed on it with his dog, a Lhasa apso named Murphy.
It was about 20 degrees and snowy, and after just one picture, Haney had to wait while the Palens deleted some pictures from their digital camera's memory card.
"I'm out there stuck to the seat, and Laura had tears running down her face from laughing," said Haney. "It gave a whole new meaning to "man's best friend,' because I needed Murphy to keep warm."
No, Playgirl (magazine) didn't call yet," Trachimowicz cracked.
Bruce Laubacher, the Lions Club secretary, is Mr. September. In his photo, Laubacher is carrying a brief case - held in just the right place - while walking past the deck in the backyard of the Lions Club' building.
"I thought it showed too much paunch, but I guess I'm not the only one," Laubacher said.
So far, the club has sold about 300 calendars, Laura Palen said.
As for the Chippendales, they haven't called yet.
Matt Michael can be reached at 470-3085 or mmichael@syracuse.com.
How to get one
To get the "The Men of Martisco" 2008 calendar, contact any Martisco Lions Club member or call 673-9378. Autographed copies will be available at the club's Ham and Turkey raffle 1 to 5 p.m. Nov. 18 at the Marcellus Fire Department.
Illustration: PHOTO
NO CREDIT
Mr. December: Tom Trachimowicz
Mr. January: John Haney
Mr. September: Bruce Laubacher
MAP: Martisco
The Post-Standard.
Copyright, 2007, The Herald Company
Purchased for use on the Borodino Bullett.com