History
Making a Difference - Since 1963
| 2011 |
President: Tony Acosta |
Secretary: Jenny Cutter |
| The Lions sponsored the Summer Lunch Program, which provided daily lunch to Union City children at the local community centers. The fireworks fundraising effort took place in July. |
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| 2010 |
President: Fred Penning |
Secretary: Jenny Cutter |
Several Lions participated in the Sister City Festival, where the Club hosted a table. The Lions again helped restore the gardens at the Meyers’ Estate, and held the Thanksgiving Dinner for Seniors. The holiday party was held at Federicos’ restaurant, and a Crab Feed fundraiser was held in January. Proceeds from the Crab Feed were used to build a new food pantry at Centro de Servicios. The sold-out Restaurant Stroll at Union Landing was a huge success. The club also raised funds selling fireworks, and participated in Make a Difference Day once again.
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| 2009 |
President: Bill Stone |
Secretary: Jenny Cutter |
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The Installation of Officers took place in June and kicked off a year of fun activities, including a cruise to Mexico fundraiser. Several Lions worked on the Gathering in the Park event in July, and the Lions participated in the UC50 Concert and Fireworks show in September, including a food booth to raise funds. Six volunteers participated in a Lions in Sight eye clinic in Guaymas, Mexico, where they distributed over 400 pairs of eyeglasses to the needy. The fireworks booth and Student Speakers Contest continued, along with our Senior Thanksgiving Dinner at Ruggieri Senior Center. The club organized a casino bus trip, and participated in Make a Difference Day at the Meyer’s Estate.
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| 2008 |
President: Dave Sweilem |
Secretary: Gloria Watson |
| 2009 Marks the 50th Anniversary of the City of Union City, and the Lions sponsored the celebration with a $10,000 donation. Additionally the Club took charge of putting on the City’s anniversary parade, and organized a car show the same day. As usual, the Club hosted the traditional Thanksgiving Dinner for Seniors, held the fireworks fundraiser, and presented the Student Speakers Contest. |
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| 2007 |
President: Linda Fernandes |
Secretary: K. Gallegoes / G. Watson |
| Installation held at the Meyer’s Estate. Fireworks fundraiser held in July. Hosted the Lion Al Roderigues Memorial Thanksgiving Dinner for seniors. Five Lions participated in a Lions in Sight clinic in Valladolid, Mexico. Rajiv Narayan won the Student Speakers Contest for the second year in a row. Club visit to City of Hope was inspirational to all who attended. |
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| 2006 |
President: Tony Acosta |
Secretary: Kristina Gallegos |
| Six Lions volunteered on a Lions in Sight clinic trip to Union deTula, Mexico. Held fundraiser in partnership with the New Haven Schools Foundation. Partnered with the American Red Cross to host two blood drives at Logan. Meeting location changed to the Crowne Plaza. Union City's Student Speakers Contest winner advanced to the MD4 championships. Make a Difference Day Project at the Meyer's Estate. June Luau raised $12,000 and an additional $5000 was used to benefit the Scouts from California School for the Blind. The year ended sadly with the passing of beloved Charter Member Tom Kitayama. |
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| 2005 |
President: Carol Dutra Vernaci |
Secretary: Linda Fernandes |
| 13 members got CERT training for local disaster response. Club donated $1000 for Hurricane Katrina relief. Renovated the rose garden at the historic Meyer's Estate (Dry Creek Cottage) for Make a Difference Day. President Carol lost a membership bet and had to play the sax and do stand up comedy. Field trips tours of the Masonic Home and Alma Via. Participated in WinterFest. Hosted the University of the Philippines Concert Choir fundraiser. |
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| 2004 |
President: Rick Sealana |
Secretary: Pam Navarro |
| Meetings moved to the eMocha Café in Union City - By joining the Chamber of Commerce, we attracted several new members and formed a good partnership for projects - Raised almost $9000 on fireworks sales - Six Lions made an eyeglass clinic trip to Mexico with Lions in Sight - The Luau raised over $5000 to help the ailing Oakland Blind Center - Losing a membership challenge, 2VP Tony Acosta appeared in drag as the now-infamous Lion Antoinette. Rick Sealana, President – Pam Navarro, Secretary. |
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| 2003 |
President: Jim Navarro |
Secretary: Don Watson |
| The Lu'au for Gabriela raised over $11,000 to buy a wheelchair lift for a child with Muscular Dystrophy and fund other service projects - A Police Appreciation Dinner was held, and the Club served 400 seniors for Thanksgiving Dinner - Membership challenge brought in 16 new members, and humiliated the Prez, who shaved his head; and 1VP Rick Sealana and Tail Twister Ken Buffum who got a pie in the face. The Union City Leos Club was revitalized. |
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| 2002 |
President: Gloria Watson |
Secretary: Don Watson |
| The year started off well with the induction of new member Bernard Lipscome at the first meeting of the year. The Club participated in the Relay for Life with the American Cancer Society, built a wheelchair ramp for a disabled person in need, and collected many used eyeglasses for recycling. |
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| 2001 |
President: Marilyn Moody |
Secretary: Chris Bohn |
| Built wheelchair ramp for disabled citizen - Toiletries collected for the homeless. Decorated and auctioned a Christmas tree at the Union City WinterFest - Third Pancake Breakfast held at Kitayama School - Lions cooked and fed 300 Make a Difference Day volunteers - First live auction held at Spaghetti Feed - Fingerprinted children at PAL Truck Show. |
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| 2000 |
President: Ken Buffum |
Secretary: Chris Bohn |
| Fireworks sales continued as main fundraiser - Second pancake breakfast held at Kitayama School and Greenhouse erected - Lions painted another home for Make a Difference Day - Served breakfast at PAL Truck Show and hosted third Western BBQ - Seniors' Thanksgiving Dinner moved to Ruggieri Senior Center and featured a big band and dancing for the first time. |
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| 1999 |
President: Helen Kennedy |
Secretary: Gloria Watson |
| Launched Kitayama School Garden & Greenhouse project - Joined with Destination Imagination for a new Leos Club - Western BBQ fundraiser continued, and cooked at the Tow Truck Assn. BBQ - Al & Marcella Roderigues and Muthulakshmi Balavenkatesen selected Lions Community Heroes for Alameda County Fair - PAL Truck Show participation - Lions named Volunteer Organization of the Year. |
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| 1998 |
President: Chuck Aarmes |
Secretary: Ann Riojas |
| Western BBQ dinner held for the first time as a new fundraiser - Donated shopping carts for senior citizens - Fed participants at the American Cancer Society Relay for Life - Lions painted and repaired a home for Make a Difference Day. |
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| 1997 |
President: Larry Cheeves |
Secretary: Ann Riojas |
| Cooked, served, walked in the American Cancer Society Relay for Life - Held three Pancake Breakfasts at the Farmers' Market to increase community awareness of the Lions Club - Built planter boxes and beautified El Centro de Servicios Community Services and Police Substation as a World Service Day project in conjunction with 'Make a Difference Day' - Membership 64. |
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| 1996 |
President: Steve DeLucchi |
Secretary: Ann Riojas |
| Cosmetics and baby clothing collected and donated to Tri-Cities Shelter - Donation to UC Police for domestic violence alarms - Clothing and food collected for disaster aid to flood victims in Modesto - World Service Day project done on 'Make a Difference Day' where we cleaned, painted, repaired and replaced the 'Welcome to Union City" sign - Eyeglass collection boxes placed in several business' in Union City resulting in bigger collection of used glasses turned in to Lions in Sight project - Membership 67. |
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| 1995 |
President: Joan Honebein |
Secretary: Ann Riojas |
| First woman President of Club - Regular donations continue - Participated in the Police Department Bike Rodeo - Collected $1000 in a successful White Cane Days - Membership 68. |
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| 1994 |
President: Don Watson |
Secretary: Ann Riojas |
| Fireworks Booth continued to be big fundraiser $11,300- Made donations to sponsor a race car, a soccer team, a Boy Scout meeting place, and other community projects - New fundraisers were added, including Safeway script, Entertainment Books, and Rexall Drugs - Disaster aid for flood victims was given in the form of clothing, household items, food, and money - Membership 83. |
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| 1993 |
President: Jerry Taylor |
Secretary: Thom Allison |
| Referrals to Sight Savers continue - Donation to building of memorial to Korean and Vietnam War Veterans in Union City - Six clients received eye surgery in Project Sight First - $1,000 each donated to Union City Police Department Bicycle and Canine Unit - Club honored eight members with Melvin Jones Fellowships ($8,000) - Club assisted Police Department with Bike Rodeo for over 500 children - Membership 100. |
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| 1992 |
President: Don Dickover |
Secretary: Thom Allison |
| Scholarships to Logan students amounting to $3,000 were awarded - $1000 was given to the victims of wildfire disasters - Used eyeglasses were collected for underprivileged countries - On March 20, 1993 UC Lions chartered the Golden State Lions Club - Membership 116. |
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| 1991 |
President: Mark Tayo |
Secretary: Jerry Taylor |
| Summer and winter Youth Exchange students were hosted - Student Speakers contest had other clubs requesting Logan students too - Many hours were worked at Bingo and many hours spent repairing and maintaining the Oakland Blind Center's van - another visit to twin club In Santa Rosalia - Over 85 exams for eyes and ears were done at Our Lady Festival - 200 close captioned TV decoders were donated to School for the Deaf - Rex Davis elected as District Governor - Membership 123. |
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| 1990 |
President: Luther Powell |
Secretary: Jerry Taylor |
| A Third delegation traveled to twin with the Ilo I lo Lions in the Philippines - the traditional projects of Flag Day, White Cane Days, Senior Thanksgiving. Pancake Breakfasts, Lions Night with the "As", Special Kids, Crab Feed, Youth & Community continued - Candidate for Lt. Governor was Rex Davis - First woman inducted into the Club was Mary Olsen - Membership 130. |
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| 1989 |
President: Pasquale Palmieri |
Secretary: Buzz Wittler |
| The Club took First place in the Governor's contest - An entire field hospital was obtained and shipped by the UC Lions and distributed to the Pasay Hospital and Cebu Medical Center - The Second Special Kids Circus was sponsored with 4 public performances in December - Lion of the Year, Bill Bohn - Membership 125. |
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| 1988 |
President: George Hagan |
Secretary: Buzz Wittler |
| Twelve Lions traveled to Philippines to twin with Cebu City on January 1989 - The Clubs reconditioned and donated three ambulances, to Pasay General Hospital. Cebu Medical Center and Santa Rosalia, Mexico - over 1500 Special Kids were guests of the UC Lions at a "World Class" circus held In Union City. four other performances as part of a fundraiser profited the Club $15,000 - The Club was awarded the District Community Service Award at the 4-C3 convention where the Club took Second place In the Governor's contest - Lion of the Year, Tom Salata - Membership 120. |
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| 1987 |
President: Wayne Barker |
Secretary: Buzz Wittler |
| Club held it's 25th "Silver Anniversary Dinner at the UC Holiday Inn - Special Kids Party included Santa arriving by helicopters at the corner of Decoto & Alvarado Niles in Union City 500 in attendance - Club shipped more books to Pasay City and Cebu City Philppines - Served Pancake Breakfast at Gladiola Festival to 300 - Club budget was 874,877 - Second Place in District Governor's contest - Lion of the Year, Luther Powell - Membership 115. |
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| 1986 |
President: Mike Riley |
Secretary: Buzz Wittler |
| Held Bowl-a-thon as fundraiser for White Cane, raised $1,387 - Painted and repaired Hearing Screening Unit for the District Foundation - Hosted 256 at Senior Citizens dinner and 152 at Special Kids Party - Youth & Community profit $5.4000 - Lion of the Year Pasquale Palmieri - Membership 107. |
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| 1985 |
President: Jerry Fox |
Secretary: Buzz Wittler |
| Replaced broken windows in the African Methodist Episcopal Church in Union City - Provided services at the ABAG dinner, raised $1,500- participated in Drug Awareness Program "Quest" contributing 81.200 - Membership 105 - Lion of the Year, Wayne Barker. |
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| 1984 |
President: Al Guzman |
Secretary: Buzz Wittler |
| A delegation of Lions visited the Philippines and twinned with the Pasay City Host Lions - Donated 400 pounds of school books and supplies to Philippines and later 10,000 pounds more - Held "First Fathers Children" dinner - Dedicated and donated Community Reader Board - Lion of the Year, Rex Davis - Membership 93. |
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| 1983 |
President: Rex Davis |
Secretary: Buzz Wittler |
| Club led District in holding Special Kids Party at Great America - Collected 1032 pounds of clothing for needy adults and children in community - Hosted Community Appreciation Dinner for social and service clubs in City - Held first 'bowl-a-thon - Donated pill counter to Tiburcio Vasquez Clinic - Worked with other clubs on "Eyes for Peter" project - Committee formed for twinning with Lions in Philippines - Lion of the Year Buzz Wittler - Membership 96. |
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| 1982 |
President: William Bohn |
Secretary: Buzz Wittler |
| Sent four deaf children to Wilderness Camp - Participated in Union City's "Low Rider Happening" - Served 251 senior citizens. 259 Special Kids, 950 at Crab Feed, 436 at Pancake Breakfast - Distributed 15,000 phone books with Leos - Harry Duncan nominated as International Director and elected at International Convention in Honolulu Hawaii July 1983 with representation by Julian & Ann Riojas, Ken Garcia, Bob & Bernice Ferguson. Chuck Armes, Larry Duncan - Lion of the Year, Al Guzman - Membership 85. |
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| 1981 |
President: Bob Ferguson |
Secretary: Buzz Wittler |
| Larry Duncan served as District Governor - Donated $2,317 to Jerry Lewis Muscular Dystrophy Telethon. several Lions manned phones 2:00 a.m. to 4:00 a.m. - Removed trees and did landscape work at Oakland Blind Center - Lion of the Year, Bob Dent - Membership 70. |
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| 1980 |
President: Julian Riojas, Jr |
Secretary: Buzz Wittler |
| Sponsored Union City Leo's Club with 19 members - Sold 380 tickets to Lions Night at "A's" - Hosted Thanksgiving Dinner for 210 senior citizens - Second Annual Crab Feed at Centennial Hall - Electrical, concrete and paving work done at Oakland Blind Center and repaired Sight Mobile - Larry Duncan nominated as UC Lions Candidate for District Governor - Lion of the Year, Bob Ferguson - Membership 52. |
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| 1979 |
President: Eduardo Xavier |
Secretary: Buzz Wittler |
| Operated two Fireworks Booths - Four Lion families hosted Youth Exchange students from Japan - Held first "Pizza Fun Meeting" at Uncle Joe's Pizza - Held First Annual Crab Feed at Veterans Hall in Niles, 572 meals, raised $5,000 - Donated station wagon to Oakland Blind Center - Placed Third in Governor's Service Contest - Lion of the Year, Bill Bohn - Membership 46. |
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| 1978 |
President: Dennis Greenberg |
Secretary: Bill May |
| Participated in First Annual Founders Day Parade for Union City's 20th Birthday - Hosted Thanksgiving Dinner for 50 senior citizens - Thirrd Annual Special Kids Christmas Party had 200 in attendance - Worked on security lighting at Oakland Blind Center - Membership 57; Lion of the Year Buzz Wittler. |
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| 1977 |
President: Larry Duncan |
Secretary: Terrance Belanger |
| Harry Duncan served as District Governor - First Special Children's Party held at Union Square Mail - Club finished 2nd in District Governor's Contest - Lioness Club of Union City chartered February 2, 1978 - Blood drive collects 23 pints - Lion of the Year Bob Ferguson - Membership 50. |
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| 1976 |
President: Jacob "Buzz" Wittler |
Secretary: Fred Dent |
| Held first Flea Market - Club began tradition of honoring a Club member as Lion of the Year, with first Lion of Year Larry Duncan - Club adopted slogan 'Lionism is Offering Needed Service" - Club announced Harry Duncan as candidate for District Governor - Membership 53. |
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| 1975 |
President: Bill May |
Secretary: Fred Dent |
| Started "Dime and a Prayer" collection jar to help City of Hope - Club contributed $1.00 per month per member to Oakland Blind Center - World Service Project - Repaired, painted and donated storage trailer to "Little Angels School" - Worked on painting and fixing up new Chamber of Commerce office building - Membership 51. |
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| 1974 |
President: Harry Duncan |
Secretary: Ralph Kirkup |
| World Service Project, the Club installed siding on the Tiburcio Vasquez Medical Clinic in Union City - Club sponsored a Western Dance as a White Cane fundraiser - Mobile Sight Unit screened 80 persons as part of "FIesta Days' celebration - Membership 55. |
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| 1973 |
President: Earle Leffingwell |
Secretary: Bill May |
| On March 30,1974 the UC Lions sponsored the Tropics Lions Club - participated in the Flag Day program for the first time and passed out 950 flags to fourth graders - Membership 48 - Population of Union City 24,290. |
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| 1972 |
President: Don Miller |
Secretary: Dick Piepenburg and Bob Pounds |
| Fireworks sales netted $2,400 - "Tenth Anniversary" celebrated February 23,1973 with 53 In attendance - Lion President also served as Mayor of Union City - Membership 42. |
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| 1971 |
President: Ralph Kirkup |
Secretary: Bob Pounds |
| First fireworks booth net profit $700 - Club blood bank formed - The "Secret Lion'" came into existence at Club meetings - Stoves purchased for use at Pancake Breakfast's - Club finished eighth in Governor's Service Contest - Membership 41. |
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| 1970 |
President: Manuel Seoane |
Secretary: Bob Pounds |
| First Annual BBQ Dinner held July 18 - UC Lions assisted with Rubella Inoculation where 1490 were vaccinated - President represented the Club at International Convention In Las Vegas - Membership 31. |
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| 1969 |
President: Rome Collins |
Secretary: John Geoghegan |
| Club operated a Putting-Skill Booth at Union City "Fiesta Days" netting $20 - Changed the number of meetings from one per week to two per month - Lions President this year also served as President of the Chamber of Commerce - Tom Kitayama represented the Club at the International Convention in Tokyo, Japan. |
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| 1968 |
President: Joe Kimura |
Secretary: John Geoghegan |
| The Club voted to sponsor Boy Scout Troop #177 - Bob Pounds elected Deputy District Governor - Al Roderigues chosen "Citizen of the Year" by Union City Chamber of Commerce - Membership at 32 - , President. |
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| 1967 |
President: Roderigues |
Secretary: John Geoghegan |
| Club purchased two season tickets to the Oakland Raider Football games which were given away to members at a drawing each Thursday prior to the home games. The President visited Lions Clubs in Taxco and Acapulco, Mexico. |
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| 1966 |
President: Oscar Dowe |
Secretary: Joe Kimura |
| Membership grew to 37 with a budget of $26,425 in Youth & Community, and $19,400 In White Cane funds - Club donated $725 towards the building of a Washington High Unified School District scoreboard for stadium. |
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| 1965 |
President: John Monohan |
Secretary: Joe Kimura |
| Union City Lions Club and the Union City Chamber of Commerce jointly sponsored Third Annual New Teachers' Luncheon - Club was officially incorporated on March 29, 1966. |
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| 1964 |
President: Robert Pounds |
Secretary: Clayton George |
| Emphasis was on building membership and a solid place in our community. |
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| 1963 |
President: Kenny Garcia |
Secretary: Jim Duncan |
| Chartered by Centerville on February 26th 1963 - 29 charter members - First White Cane Drive in October. |
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