Well, my year as 2nd Vice-District Governor is half over…where has the time gone?
The best campaign team in the district (yes, I am a bit biased!) worked feverishly today, stuffing envelopes, making buttons and keeping an eye on NFL play-off games. At the end of the day all tasks were done, and I am ready for the next campaign.
Thanks to those of you who have confirmed a date for me to visit your club, and Lion Jan is still calling for those of you who have not yet heard from us. We have a growing list of FABULOUS raffle prizes, and we will be awarding all raffle prizes at our convention in Sacramento, so you will want to be there !
HUGE thank-you to Lions Don & Dirk for their assistance today….
I hope you all have had a great start to your New Year and I look forward to seeing you on the campaign trail!
I arrived at the meeting place for the Milpitas Host Lions after a trip down memory lane….remembering my time in Milpitas working for the Police Department…good times !!
I was welcomed by Lion President Irene and had a chance to order dinner and visit with our Governor and the Milpitas Host Lions briefly before the meeting was called to order. Lion Irene runs a great meeting ! A full agenda was covered, and a new member inducted (WELCOME LION JONNA !!!) All in just a bit over an hour….WOW !!! I was impressed with all this club has going on, and look forward to hearing more about their magic show.
I spoke about my campaign, and answered a few questions, and sold raffle tickets ! Thanks so much to the Milpitas Host Lions for their warm welcome and great support of my campaign!
See you all at convention!
Lion Jan & I met up in the parking lot outside the restaurant where the Bay Area Indo American Lions Club meets. We went inside and were chatting with the manager when Lion Karen arrived, and we all headed into the meeting room where the early arriving BAIA Lions were already in discussion. What this club (temporarily) lacks in membership, they make up for in desire and dedication. The energy at the table was inspiring, and I’m betting that by this time next year this club will have more than doubled in size…..keep an eye on the BAIA Lions, and support them every chance you get !
I did speak about my campaign, and appreciate the questions and support that came from these Lions. I hope to see some of them at convention!
I had my first authentic Indian meal, and was pretty overwhlemed, next time I’ll order smaller and do better at cleaning my plate!
Lions Denny & Jan & I braved the sheets of rain and wind that accompanied our trip up highway 101 to San Jose and the San Jose Los Amigos Lions Club. We were a bit early, so decided to sit down in the bar and spend some time planning for convention. I barely had my notebook open before Lion President Alberto was greeting us and inviting us back into the meeting room. If you have not had the opportunity to meet Lion Alberto, he is one of the most charming Lions I have ever met ! But don’t be fooled, he can exchange kidding with the best of them, especially when Lion Tailtwister Victor is in the room !
We were in store for a very special evening, from the food (YUMMY!) to VDG Joe’s installation of 3 new members ! Welcome Lion Lillana, Lion Patricia and Lion Ioan! Lion President Alberto allowed me to speak about my campaign, and the club joined in with support – thanks so much!
I hope to see a few of these Lions at convention….no excuses this time Lion Victor!
It was a great evening of Lions fellowship…and new members!
I met Lion Karen at the Beverly Heritage Hotel, home of the Milpitas Executive Lions Club. We had the opportunity to chat with several Lions who had arrived early, including visiting Lions from San Jose Sampaguita. Lion President Joselito opened the meeting with a reduced “staff” of Lions, as several were off with Lion Ray assisiting at his visitation. None-the-less, the meeting was full of information, plans for future events and news. The most exciting of which was that the Peace Poster winner from their club’s contest had just been anounced at the MD4 convention as the winner of the International contest!!!! She, her parents and Lion President Joselito will be flown back to Washington for a presentation at the United Nations…..way to go Milpitas Exec Lions Club !!!
I was given a few moments to share my campaign plans, and entertained a few questions before turning it over to Lion Karen and her raffle ticket sales.
3 perspective Lions were also at the meeting, and were deep in conversation with a member of Milpitas Exec as well as Co-Membership Chair Lion Karen…I’m thinking we will have more members to celebrate soon!!
Thanks to the Milpitas Executive Lions, and the visiting San Jose Sampaguita Lions for your support of my campaign!
Lions Jan, Denny & I made the short trip up beautiful highway 1 to the little town of Aptos and the home of the Cabrillo Host Lions.
The meeting place of this club is one of my favorite, it sits next to a small park which is the location of the Santa Cruz Blues festival each year. Their hall is very well suited for a Lions meeting and dinner, and the Cabrillo Host Lions (and visiting Scotts Valley Lions) filled the room with great energy and fellowship.
We had a great time pre-meeting talking with all the Lions, and I especially enjoyed listening to Lion (Dad) Harvey Bustichi who shared a bit about his years gowing up in the San Francisco and Santa Cruz area. Thanks Lion Harvey!
The meeting was opened by Lion President Barbara and introductions were made all around. Lion Barbara ran a very informative and well organized meeting, and gave me a few moments to talk about my campaign. It was great to see 2 new Lions in the room, one each from Cabrillo Host and Scotts Valley Host !
Thanks to all the Cabrillo Host Lions for your support of my campaign. It was a pleasure spending the evening with you !
Lion Jan and I headed north to the lunch time meeting of the Los Gatos Lions. Arriving early, we chatted with Lion Secretary Tim and chose our seats toward the back of the room…not wanting to get “in the way” of any food tossing that might happen…(I had been warned that it was not uncommon for the club, if they felt anyone was out of line to toss rolls or wrapped butter at the offending Lion…) We no sooner sat down than a Lion who shall remain nameless (but his initials are Gary Cayton) told us we were sitting in his spot ! Now, mind you, we were the first 2 to sit down !!!! We came to a compromise (we moved over one seat) and had a good time meeting the other Lions who shared our table, and kidding with Lion Gary.
The meeting was opened by Lion Presidnet Roger, and I have to say he is very well suited for the office he holds with this club ! He did not miss an opportunity to return a “friendly comment” with another Lion, much information was shared, and all at a very quick pace! Well Done !
I shared my campaign plans, and answered a few questions from a very polite group of Lions and am happy to say no food took flight while I had the floor!
The program for the day was a representative of the San Jose Giants introduced by Lion Jan Morris. Unfortunately Lion Jan Miller & I had to leave before she finished, but it was a real treat to hear from someone with such a long tenure with that organization. She shared information on the players, insights into the future for the Giants (both San Jose & San Francisco) and a discussion on the impacts if the Athletics were to move to Fremont. Very interesting ! (And since this post is being created a few weeks after the visitation – a very sincere thank-you from me to the San Jose Giants for a donation of a “bucket” of tickets to their games for my campaign raffle!)
Lion Jan & I met in the parking lot at the Scotts Valley Senior Center, and breakfast was already set up for the arriving Lions. Lion President Mike opened the meeting, and after introducing the guests, asked one to join him at the podium to be inducted as a new Lion! It is always a treat to attend a meeting where a new Lion joins our oranization. Lion Kate was duly installed, and we learned she is a financial planner who works in Los Gatos, and lives in the Scotts Valley area. She will definitely be a great addition to the club ( I see a Mardi Gras event in this clubs future!), welcome Lion Kate !!!
Then, with some trepidation, Lion President Mike introduced the tail twister, Lion Jay. Little did I know that for the next several minutes I would be treated to one of the best “tail twistings”‘ I have ever seen….and from a relatively new Lion according to PCST Lisa! Everyone was visited by Lion Jay, not everyone was required to feed his bucket, but his commentary was not to be missed! I encourage every Lion to visit this club just to see Lion Jay in action….I promise you can’t help but walk away with a smile on your face after this club meeting ends!
Thanks to Scotts Valley Host Lions for your support of my campaign…and a great start to my day!
PDG Denny (on the eve of his birthday) and I traveled to Mama Mia’s in Gilroy to visit the Gilroy Lions Club. We arrived a bit early, but Lion Vic was already there and welcomed us into their private dining area. In no time at all the room was full and Lion President Marilyn opened the meeting. The highlight of the evening was meeting their guest speaker, Frances Reitz, a student from Gavilan College. Apparently Frances has been instramental in finding volunteers from the campus to assist with Lions activities. Frances has a real passion for making a positive difference in her commuity….sounds like a Lion in the making ! Her time in Gilroy is limited as she has been accepted to CSU Fresno, and plans to look for a Lions club in Fresno to volunteer with ! Hopefully, before she leaves she will be able to connect some other students with the Gilroy Lions Club who can step in when she is ready to leave.
Lion Denny & I had an enjoyable evening with the Gilroy Lions, even including the dice game, with rules that seem to change as the game progresses ! Thank-you for the opportunity to vist, and for your support!
The crew met in the parking lot of the Golden Rickshaw, Lions Jan, Andy, PDG Denny & I. We were ready for great Chinese food and a chance to visit with the Pajaro Valley Lions. While it was a “lightly attended” meeting, we spent the evening talking “Lions history” and campaign plans. Lots of laughs and a chance for relatively new Lions Andy to learn more about our organization.
Thanks to the Pajaro ValleyLions for allowing us to schedule a visit – and for their support!
