Union City Lions Club

LIONS CLUB OF UNION CITY NEWSLETTER
NO. 11 May 7, 2005

REPORT ON BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING OF APRIL 11, 2005

Not enough Board members attended the meeting. No quorum was attained. No business was conducted.
The committee to erect a memorial for Flight 93 made a presentation to those present.
Plans for the upcoming Luau were reviewed.

REPORT ON CLUB MEETING OF APRIL 14, 2005

This report is courtesy of Lion Don Watson.
Our speaker was Kris Lee, the student from Irvington High School who came to our Board meeting in January to request help for a Quest service project relating to eyes. Kris is a senior at Irvington High. Lion Don Watson worked with her as well as with Diana Nguyen, another Irvington High student, to organize a glasses cleaning project to clean glasses for a trip to Mexico. Kris organized a team of students from Irvington High to do this job for Lions.
On March 15, Lion Vice District Governor Walter Griffin came to Irvington High with two Lions from the Ygnacio valley Lions Club and set up the cleaning equipment. After school the students cleaned about 3500 pairs of glasses. Union City Lions provided snacks and drinks for the occasion.
The Quest project at Irvington High requires each student to make a presentation about their 40 hours of volunteer work. Kris brought her power point presentation to our meeting and presented it to us.
Kris has been accepted at UC Berkeley for the fall term with a major in Biology and Chemistry. She hopes to go on to graduate school at UC Berkeley’s school of optometry.
Attending were Lions Fely Fernandes-Kwan, Don Watson, Gloria Watson, Tony Acosta, Helen kennedy, Rick Sealana, Jim Navarro, Diane La Montaine, Steve Miller, Bruce Davis, Joe Kimura, Joe Albano, Andy Denoga, Laura Stewart, Bernard Lipscomb, Thom Allison, and Mark Tayo. Robert Lee, father of Kris Lee also attended.
Laura Stewart was inducted as our newest Lion.

REPORT ON CLUB MEETING OF APRIL 28, 2005

Our officers and directors for the year 2005-2006 were duly elected. They are:

President Carol Dutra-Vernaci
First Vice President Tony Acosta
Second Vice President Linda Fernandes
Secretary Christine Friday
Treasurer Fely Fernandes-Kwan
Director Ida Gueco
Director Diane La Montaine
Director Cathie Kelly
Club Counselor Rick Sealana
Lion Tamer Johny Tahirkheli
Tail Twister/Le Advisor Gloria Watson
Oakland blind Center Representative Jim Navarro
Lions in Sight Representative Ken Buffum
Bulletin Editor Ed Xavier
Membership Director Helen Kennedy

The following are non-voting positions on the Board of Directors. These Lions have been appointed to fill these positions for the upcoming year:

Lioness Liaison Tom Kitayama
Webmaster Bruce Davis
Ear of the Lion Representative Thom Allison

Lion Helen Kennedy conducted the election of officers and directors. She also conducted the voting on special issues. All special issues passed.

Lion Ida Gueco and Johny Tahirkheli briefed the club on the upcoming Luau.

Lion Diane Montaine reported on the upcoming installation dinner. It will be held on June 11, 2005, at Mexico Tipico located at the corner of Horner and Vallejo streets in Union City. The Union City Lioness Club will also hold their installation at this meeting.

Note that our regular meeting of June 9, 2005, is cancelled.

Lion Don Watson reported on the ongoing situation with the Oakland Blind Center. The center now has enough funds to see it through the end of 2005. No cuts in personnel were made. New programs have been instituted and the number of clients served is growing.

THE DECISION TO CLOSE THE BLIND CENTER HAS BEEN RESCINDED!

Help is being offered by the Lighthouse for the blind.

THE OAKLAND BLIND CENTER IS VIABLE!

Lion President Rick announced that our May 26 meeting will be joint meeting with the chambers of commerce of union City and Fremont. It will be a preview of the upcoming Alameda County Fair.

Lions Rick Sealana, Jim Navarro and Pam Navarro will attend the Lions District 4C3 conventions as representatives of our club.

Lion Bill Fournell reported that all paperwork has been submitted for this years fireworks booth.

Lions attending were Rick Sealana, Fely Fernandes-Kwan, Ken Buffum, Carol Dutra Vernaci, Joe Kimura, Mark Tayo, Larry Cheeves, Tom Kitayama, Ida Gueco, Johny Tahirkheli, Conrad Preciado, Bill Fournell, Don Watson, Gloria Watson, Diane La Montaine, Helen kennedy, Greg Stewart, Christine Friday, and Ed Xavier. Also attending was Lioness Heidi Kitayama.

REPORT FROM STUDENT SPEAKERS

Mike Joshi, the speaker from the Union City Lions Club, won the District contest and will compete in the Area contest on May 14, site to be announced. He has been accepted at Harvard and will attend there next year. By winning the District contest he earns a $4,000.00 scholarship and has a chance to win more. The City of Union City department heads also voted to award him a $1,000.00 college scholarship.

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

May 9, 2005: Board of Directors meeting at City Hall. 7:00 pm.
May 12, 2005: Evening meeting at eMocha at 7:00 pm. TriCed Community Recycling will tell us about the Union City facility and their work. Lion Richard Valle will speak as will Robert Munoz, UC Recycling Director.
May 26, 2005: Lunch meeting at 12 noon. Location TBA. Joint meeting with UC and Fremont Chambers of Commerce. President Rick Sealana, who also is a director of the Alameda County Fair, will tell us about this year’s fair.
June 9, 2005: Evening meeting cancelled in favor of June 11 installation of officers and directors.
June 13, 2005: Joint Board of Directors meeting at City Hall at 7:00 pm. Members of outgoing and incoming Boards are requested to attend.
June 11, 2005: Installation of Officers and directors at ~~Mexico Tipico~~ TBD. Time to be announced
June 23, 2005: Lunch meeting at noon at eMocha. BFI/Allied Waste will make a new presentation on their new service offerings as they replace Waste Management as Union City’s exclusive waste hauler. Lion Richard Valle and David Langer of Allied Waste will be presenting.

MEMBERSHIP

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 or dinner and have that lunch or dinner paid for by the club. Such a deal.

LUAU FUNDRAISER FOR THE BLIND CENTERS

Lions of Union City, congratulate yourselves for putting on a very successful fundraiser for the Blind Centers. Lions Ida Gueco and Johny Tahirkheli are also to be congratulated for all their hard work in organizing and putting on the Luau. The event was a sell out. All attending had a wonderful time.

Lions attending were Ida Gueco, Johny Tahirkheli, Roy Panlilio, Rick Sealana, Kathy Sealana, Andy Denoga, Joe Albano, Jim Navarro, Pam Navarro, Conrad Preciado, Anil Sikka, Regis Amann, Don Watson, Gloria Watson, Bill Fournell, Thom Allison, Bernard Lipscomb, Linda Fernandes, Carol Dutra Vernaci, Fely Fernandes-Kwan, Tom Kitayama, Joe Kimura, Greg Stewart, and Laura Stewart. Lioness attending and helping were: Heidi Kitayama, Marcella Roderigues, Antoinette Seoane, and Laura Wittler. Rohit Sikka, son of Lion Anil Sikka, provided security.

All lions attending worked hard to make this event a success. Many hands working together make work light.

SUNSHINE REPORT

Lion Ken Buffum was hospitalized with congestive heart failure. He is now back in the saddle, working at his office, and not quite yet being his old bah humbug self. Keep him in your thoughts and prayers.