2009 4-C6 Convention

Thank you all for your support and confidence in electing me as your next District Governor. Special thanks go to my wife, Linda, to my club, and to my committee, headed by Lions Bud and Jean Westcott and Lions Tom and Maureen Moore for all their hard work during the year and at convention. I am looking forward to working with 1st Vice District Governor Ray Maglalang and 2nd Vice District Governor Liz Crooke to make 2009-2010 a great Lionistic year for District 4-C6 in membership, growth, and public awareness.

Raffle Drawing

The drawing was held Saturday night of convention and the winners were:

1st Prize
GPS Auto Navigation System
Winner: Monterey Peninsula Lions

2nd Prize
Dean Martin Variety Show DVD set
Winner: Bob Madsen, Cabrillo Host Lions

3rd Prize
$100 gift card to The Grill Restaurant, San Jose
Winner: Regina Mappala, Sampaguita Lions

4th Prize
Weekend bus trip to Reno courtesy Freedom Lions
Winner: Ray Maglalang, Milpitas Executive Lions

5th Prize
Plantronics Blue Tooth head set courtesy Marlene Bowles, Freedom Lions
Winner: VBF, East Valley Lions

Congratulations to all!

Yours in Lionism,

DGE Joe Pugliese
lionpugliese@hotmail.com
www.lionjoe.com
(408) 996-2986

We Serve Better . . . Together
Communicate Cooperate Collaborate

HELLO LIONS !!!

I can’t believe how fast time has gone by during these past months as your Vice District Governor. The District Convention is virtually upon us and there is much to do in preparation for making it a great one. The District Convention Committee, your Governor, Vice District Governor, and candidates are working diligently to make it One to be Remembered.

As you all know, I am seeking your vote for the office of District Governor. Even though I have no one running in opposition, I must obtain a plurality of the votes cast. Therefore, I ask again that you officially give me your confidence, and that you delegates, who represent your Lions clubs, cast your ballot for me as your next District Governor.

I am fully aware of the task ahead, especially with a dwindling economy rearing its ugly head. However, I am confident that we as Lions can and will weather the storm, as it were. We have done it before, during the Great Depression of the thirties, and most certainly will carry on and do our job no matter what challenges we may have. Why? Because we are LIONS.

If we must, we will have more barbecues, more crab feeds, more pancake breakfasts, more of anything that will enable us to carry on with improving the lives of those less fortunate. We will attack any negativity towards reaching our goals and concentrate on our passion as Lions to get the job done. You, each and every one of you, are the reason why we will overcome any obstacle we may face. We will rely on teamwork, because TOGETHER, WE DO BETTER.

Linda and I attended a very pleasant, entertaining, and educational event. It was the “Melvin Jones Brunch” held at the beautiful Boulder Ridge Golf Club. We had a great breakfast and were given a great presentation on the subject of what constitutes or defines a leader, by professor/author Barry Posner of Santa Clara University. Kudos to DG Marlene, PDG Don Simpson, and Lion Jan Morris for making it happen.

Everyone who is a Lion is already a leader in the sense that he or she has engaged in a behavior way ahead of the non-joiner. That in itself is leadership by example, especially by spreading the gospel of Lionism.

See you at the Convention.!!! Come to my hospitality room and we’ll have a “Cup of Joe.”

GOD BLESS US ALL, GOD BLESS LIONS, AND GOD BLESS AMERICA

Take a look at some of the pictures from the latest bus trip to City of Hope, one of the best ever. San Miguel Lions hosted us again for a great pancake breakfast and a few joined us on the bus trip. As usual, Mo and Tom Moore kept us entertained on the bus with comedy movies, bloody marys, bingo, and snacks. We did something different this year traveling down scenic 101 instead of Highway 5 on our way to the Reagan Library. So much to see, we’ll have to go back next year to see it all. After a short stop at the hotel we headed out to Montebello Lions who hosted another fabulous Mexican dinner, lots of fun, and this year Marimba music. The next morning we got back on the bus to City of Hope for a tour of the grounds and one of their newest buildings with state of the art labs and treatment centers. Lunch was delicious as usual and after listening to an inspirational speaker, District 4-C6 got up on stage to present our check for $16,081 for the Walk for Hope to Cure Breast Cancer that we did in October. For those who have never gone to City of Hope, this is a fun and informative trip not to be missed.

Hello Lions!

            I love quotes, don’t you?  Especially quotes from famous people.  Eleanor Roosevelt once said, “Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; small minds discuss people.”  I personally do not agree 100 percent with the second part.  I don’t entirely agree that a discussion of events is a sign of “average” intelligence. 

            But I fully agree with the third part of the quote.  How many times do we try to defend our own views with so much passion and vigor that we end up sidetracked into pointless arguments, directed at “who” is talking, rather than “what” they are saying.  Constant questioning and discussion are a major part of life in any association, including our very own Lions Clubs International.

            In participating in any gathering of Lions, large or small, in a convention or seminar, you will always find rich discussions going on at dinner tables, in hallways, coffee shops, and, of course, bar lounges!  Oftentimes the most valuable thing you learn at a seminar comes from a discussion outside the formal educational sessions.

            Certainly not all the discussion is of a particularly high quality.  The point is that you never know from what unlikely source the next very important, applicable idea is going to emerge, an idea that may lead you to a great project in serving your Lions community or a novel idea for starting a new club or a fundraiser for some important charity and on and on and on.

            We all must keep in mind what Eleanor Roosevelt said, to listen for truth and wisdom in what every person says, especially Lions, even when something is said in anger, in ignorance, or by someone representing a position or a cause we disagree with.

            Let’s all work together to work on ideas that are worthy of debating, illuminating, and perfecting, without being led off course into trivial issues of personality.

VDG Joe

Dear Lions of District 4-C6,

During the past year I have had an opportunity to meet with many of you and also Lions from other districts, and I have attended a considerable amount of training in preparation for the position of District Governor.

The major lesson I have learned is that cooperation, collaboration, and communication among people with common goals brings about the best results.  Working together as a team, with open communication, is much more productive than doing things on an individual basis.

This is an exciting time for district leadership teams.  The addition of a second vice district governor is now an official leadership position.  Districts around the world have found this addition to be helpful, not only in strengthening district operations, but in enhancing the preparation of future governors.

Together, the District Governor, First Vice District Governor, and now the Second Vice District Governor make up the core of an efficient, diverse, model District leadership team.  During the 2009-2010 Lions year, with your confidence and vote, we will join together to move this association to even greater growth:  growth in service, growth in membership, growth in public awareness. 

I pledge that I will serve you as your District Governor with openness and honesty and a willingness to sit down with you over a cup of coffee and discuss any of your concerns or suggestions.

Once again, I am asking each of you, as members, to give me your endorsement, support and vote for office in this great district, for the honor and privilege of serving with you and for you as your District Governor for the year 2009-2010.

We are one!  We are united!  We are together!  We are a team!  We are Lions! 

VDG  Joe