LIONS CLUB OF UNION CITY NEWSLETTER
NO. 1 July 7, 2004

Welcome to Lion Rick Sealana's year as President.  Lion Rick assumed the position of President on July 1, 2004, and is looking forward to a great year of service.

REPORT ON BOARD MEETING OF JUNE 14, 2004:

The fireworks sale program was discussed in detail.  Final arrangements were approved and the club is looking forward to a rewarding fundraiser.
Our Leos' club donated money to help by a service dog for a young lady who needs help.  The dog helps open and close doors, picks up objects from the floor, and does other tasks to help disabled people.  Our club also contributed $300.00 to help purchase this dog.
Lion Jim Navarro will be installed as our Zone Chairman at the district cabinet installation set for July 24, 2004.  Lion Jim is starting up the long ladder of service at the district level of Lionism.
The Board thanked Lion Don Watson for his three years of service to the club as Club Secretary.  This job demands a great deal of time.  It is mainly behind the scenes work.  Lion Don served well and we all appreciate his unselfish and uncomplaining service.
We also approved setting up a Club web site. Lions Helen Kennedy and Art DeNoga will do much of the work involved in setting up the site.  They expect that each Lion will have to maintain a personal page. This old Lion will have to see how a web site will help the club.  Old Lions can learn new tricks.

REPORT ON CLUB MEETING OF JUNE 4, 2004

Our guest speaker at this meeting was Erika Leonard from Kidpower, Teenpower, Fullpower, International. She told us about the training programs provided by her organization to assist people of all ages to protect their own personal safety.
Two of our Lions families reported weddings among their children.  Lions Jim and Pam Navarro's daughter get married in Hawaii.  Lion Larry Cheeves and Lori's daughter got married in southern California.
Lion Tom Kitayama and Heidi celebrated their 59th wedding anniversary.
Lion Helen Kennedy announced that a trip to Santa Rosalia, Mexico is in the planning stages.  Our club is planning to take used eyeglasses to Santa Rosalia and operate a testing and fitting clinic to give free eyeglasses tot hose who need them.  Each Lion will have to pay his or her own transportation.  The local Lions Club in Santa Rosalia will probably put us up in their homes and work the project with us. We will have to pay for an optometrist to go with us.  The physicians' time is donated.  Santa Rosalia is also a sister city of Union City.  The Lions members who are also affiliated with Union City are also planning to make this a sister city visit. This sounds like an ambitious project that should also be a great deal of fun.
Our Leos club reported that they worked one evening for KQED and staffed the telephones for their fundraiser.  Good work Leos.
It was announced that our next lunch meeting to be held on July 22, 2004, will be held at Southern Wine and Spirits located in Union City.  This is part of Lion Rick's program this year to hold more meetings in Union City and to expose Lions to others in the community in an attempt to form partnerships.

REPORT ON CLUB MEETING OF JUNE 10, 2004

This was our installation dinner.  We met at Extended Stay America in Union City.  Outgoing Region Chair Lion Cathy Hudson was our installing officer.  Our officers and directors were duly installed.  Lion outgoing President Jim Navarro named two Lions of the year.  Lions Gloria Watson and Helen Kennedy were recognized for their outstanding efforts in service over the past year.  We also saw our first case of plaque envy.  Then the fun began.
This was the day of reconning for Lions Rick and Lion Ken Buffum.  It was pie in the ace time.  Lion Tony Acosta was superb as Pie Master and conducted an auction for the right to do the dirty deed.  Kathy Sealana bought the right to cream Lion Rick and Lion Carol Dutra Vernaci purchased the rights to make Lion Ken remember this night for the rest of his life.  Lion Ken reported that he couldn't hear for two days after the event.  It took him that long to get pie out of his ears.  Lion Carol did a great job of giving Lion Ken a double whammy.
Our Lioness Club joined us for the evenings fun.  Their new officers and directors were also installed.  Lioness Lu Goni will once again lead our lionesses through a year of service.
This was one of the most enjoyable meetings this old Lion had ever attended.  I can't remember a time when I have laughed so much.

LEOS' CLUB INSTALLATION:

The Leos' Club installation took place in May at the home of Lions Gloria and Don Watson.  So many Leos attended that their weight collapsed the deck at the Watson's home.  I heard that Lion Ken Buffum's weight contributed to the cause.  The Union City Lions Club helped to feed these hungry teens.  A barbecue was enjoyed by all.  Then the rowdies appeared.  Lion Ken Buffum started throwing Leos into the pool and control was lost. A good time was had by all.

FIREWORKS BOOTH:

           Chairperson Lion Bill Fournell reports that the sales of fireworks was a huge success.  We almost sold out of product.  Preliminary estimates are that the club made more than last year to help fund its work this year.  Lion Bill Founell says THANK YOU, THANK YOU to all Lions who helped make this a successful fundraiser.
The following Lions helped work at the booth this year.  If I omitted your name, please forgive me, call me, and I will make the correction in our next bulletin:
Lions Bill Fournell, Rick Sealana, Joe Kimura, Collen Hernandiz, Jeene Quyen, Christine Friday, Joan Honebein, Jaime Jaramillo, Chuck Harvey, Steve DeLucchi, Andy DeNoga, Joe Albano, Bowie Lee, Tony Acosta, Cathie Kelley, Jim Navarro, Tom Allison, Alexander Choi, Helen Kennedy, Gloria Castro, Ida Gueco, Pam Navarro, Alice Huang, and Ed Xavier.
Great work Union City Lions!


CALENDAR OF EVENTS:

July 8, 2004: Regular club evening meeting at Mezzo Mezzo.  Meeting starts at 7:00 pm.  Guest speaker will be Mark Leonard, Director of Community Development for Union City.  He will be talking about the City's vision and current works towards a "new downtown" transit hub.
July 12, 2004: Board of Directors meeting at Union City City Hall.
July 22, 2004: Club lunch meeting to be held at Southern Wines and Spirits in Union City.

MEMBERSHIP DRIVE

Remember that the club will treat a prospective new member to their first lunch or dinner as our guest.  This gives people an opportunity to visit us and see if they have an interest in our club without incurring any financial obligation.  You also get to invite a friend to lunch and have that lunch paid for by the club.  Such a deal.

See you soon.

Lion Ed Xavier