The city’s oldest service club came together last week to install the officers that will guide the Brentwood Lions into their 84th year.
“Our biggest challenge will be getting new members,” said President Fred Ginsler, who is embarking on his second year at the club’s helm. “We’re looking for people at the point in their lives where they want to give back instead of take.”
The July 11 event, held at Cap’s Oak Street Bar & Grill, was a combination installation of officers, induction of new members and awards presentation.
Following dinner, the first order of business was the installation of officers for the 2012-13 club year, performed by Lions 4C3 District Gov. Don Kiang, a member of the Oakland Chinatown Lions Club and the Pleasant Hill Lioness Club. The incoming officers are Ginsler, First Vice President Rod Linn, Second Vice President Barbara Wilson, Secretary Rene DeLuna, Treasurer Maggie DeLuna and directors Jim Clark, Carolyn Sherfy and Robert Wing. Also installed were Gary Hingley as Lion Tamer and Anita Wing as Tail Twister.
Kiang also inducted five new members into the club. Bertha Ruiz, a past Brentwood Citizen of the Year; Jose Martinez; Annette Seabury; Diane Martin; and Lynelle Russell were all welcomed.
Among the many awards and recognitions presented were Lion of the Year, conferred jointly on the De Lunas, who received prestigious Progressive Melvin Jones Fellowships. Ginsler received a plaque for serving as president last year, and the President’s Award was presented to Wing for establishing and maintaining the club’s website, www.lcobw.com.
Certificates of Appreciation were awarded to the project chairmen for the year: Rod Linn – Student Speakers Contest; Sherfy – Spring and Fall Flea Markets and Peace Poster Contest; Barber – Lions Share; Judy Morgan – scholarships for graduating high school students (the club gave nine $1,000 scholarships this year); Anita Wing – Coloring Book Sales; Jim Clark – CornFest participation; Mike Morgan – Youth in Government and Lions Stride for Diabetes Awareness; plus Barbara Wilson, Gary Hingley and Elizabeth Ramirez – Health Fair and Vision Screening.
Among those in attendance were many past presidents, including the club’s three most senior members: Robert Dal Porto, a member for 62 years, Dewey DeMartini (58 years) and John Slatten (54 years). All have been past Brentwood Citizens of the Year.
The Lions meet for a no-host dinner on the first and third Wednesdays of the month at 6:30 p.m. in the Blue Iguana Room of La Fuente Restaurant on First Street in downtown Brentwood. For information on how you can become a member, call Ginsler at 925-642-2825.
– Contributed by Carolyn Sherfy. Staff writer Rick Lemyre contributed to this story.
Post a Comment