April 2015
Greetings!!!! What a wonderful, exuberant, full of fellowship convention we had the last weekend. We showed our guests……”our celebration, District 1A style”. Hospitality rooms decorated and lions dressed with their super heroes costumes. Everything seemed so real that it was sometimes difficult for me to recognize them. From the parade of banners on Friday night, to the bloody-mary toast on Saturday morning celebrating milestones of a cumulation of over 855 years of service to our district and to mankind. This is tremendous lions. Thank you for your service. Four of these clubs celebrated 75 years of service to their communities and to the world at large. Keep up the great work. Also, at the convention eight of our lions were honored with prestigious, well deserved awards. Athough three of the lions will be formally awarded their medals at
the State Convention on May 16th, 2015, they were given a certificate honoring them in front of the district and in front of their peers. Lion Ben Zoleta of Filipino American Lions Club was awarded the 2nd highest award “The Presidendial Medal”. Lions Rafael Alvarado of Puerto Rico Lions Club and PDG Steve Anton of Orland Park Lions Club were awarded “The Presidential Leadership Award”, the third highest award in lionism. Five other lions were awarded “The Presidential Certificate of Appreciation”: Lion Rich Polanek of MtClare-Elmwood Park, Lion Austin D’Souza of the Forest Kala Sampath, Cabinet Secretary Lion Brenda Block of Calumet City, Cabinet Treasurer Lion Pat Duda of Mexica Lions Club and Lion Janice Wiggins of Cook County Lions Club. Congratulations to all Lions.!!!!!
As you know on April 9th there were ID $500.00 to help in disaster relief. a few tornado touchdowns in If you or your club can help in any District 1D from Kirkland to way, please let me know. Rochelle to Fairdale. Many of our lions responded in helping disaster Month of March was tremendous in victims. District 1A has also membership. We inducted into our responded and have sent District district 35 new lions as below:I NAME OF CLUB Joined # New Name of New Mbr Name of Sponsor
Bellwood Calumet City Bronzeville
1 1 2
Mt. Greenwood
Franklin Pk - Manila Hickory Hills Orland Park
1 1 1 2
Riverside Township River Grove
1 4
Thornton NEW! -Chicago Magnificent Lions
1 20
Victoria Hansen
Ted Steiskal Steven E. Dugan, DO David Kacanowski Victoria Evans Marva Allison Shirley A. Lawrence Marva Allison Nancy Landgraf Kiley Gallagher Debra Benacka Teresita Zaretsky Sara olson Judy Dineff Gail Blummer Timothy McCarthy Logan Burnson James Jankowski Jessica Frances Joseph Ballerine Amber Rena Franz Todd Woods Janis Lariviere Sean Flynn Larry Lariviere Sean Flynn Zachary McWherter Tom McWherter Douglas Beckman Dan Tondu
3-24-2015 3-24-2015 3-21-2015 3-21-2015 3/4/2015 3-18-2015 2/4/2015 1-27-2015 1-27-2015 3-10-2015 2-18-2015 2-18-2015 2-18-2015 2-18-2015 2/18/2015
Tita Alonsagay Julie Ann Gruezo Esperanza Hemmens Gilbert Iroma Elena P. Maguad Venus Pantaleon Duane Parreno Michelle Parreno Luciano Pebenito Maria Pebenito Juanito Roque Maynard Sanchez Vicky Sanchez Joe Sciackitano Maria Sciackitano
3-11-2015 3-11-2015 3-11-2015 3-11-2015 3-11-2015 3-11-2015 3-11-2015 3-11-2015 3-11-2015 3-11-2015 3-11-2015 3-11-2015 3-11-2015 3-11-2015 3-11-2015
TOTAL IN ARCH
35
Evelyn Tolledo Roberto Tolledo Maria Vaughn Criag Wynkoop Maritess Wynkoop NEW MEMBERS!
3-11-2015 3-11-2015 3-11-2015 3-11-2015 3-11-2015 -Terry D’Souza, District 1A Governor
Pictorial Editorial:
Following were the highest award winners from Lions Clubs International:
No doubt we had a wonderful convention with fun and frolic. Super heroes of District 1A were fantastic with their costumes and action. Our International Guest ID Karla Harrison and her husband Clarence Harrison thrilled with our convention – the way we organized, the way we celebrated and the way we had fellowship. She mentioned the following on her facebook: ZC Ben Zolita- International President’s Leadership Medal
“1A - the Mother District of Lionism. What an amazing District!! DG Terry has a super active cabinet of super Hero's! Up 60 in membership,1 new club started, another on its way, And a fabulous convention. One hospitality room even had a 10 piece swing band! The weekend, the Lions and the 1A service projects were all very impressive.” My hats off to PDG Steve Anton and his Team Super Heroes Convention Committee Members for their hard work, dedication, participation and hospitality with the help of 543 registered members who attended this one of a kind District 1A Convention.
PDG Steve Anton – International President’s Medal
Lion Rafael Alvarado – International President’s Medal.
Lion Maryanne O’Reilly, ID Karla & Lion Clarence Harris received US President’s Life Time Voluntary Service Award.
Lioness of the Year Award Winner Claudette Z. Below: Lions of the Year Award Winner Sharon Morey
energetic fellow who made a difference in hundreds of needy people in his community -
International President’s Certificate of Appreciation winners: Cabinet Tail Twister and Artist – Lion Richard Polanek, Cabinet Secretary – Lion Brenda Block, Cabinet Treasurer – Lion Pat Duda, Your Editor – PDG Austin D’Souza and District GLT Member – Lion Janice Wiggins.
Progressive LCIF Melvin Jones Fellows Recognition: PDG Steve Anton, PDG Harold Burkette, ZC Myrna Cordova & PDG Austin D’Souza.
Progressive Lions of Illinois Foundation Fellows: PDG Ralph & District Open Areas Chair Millie Koller. On Sunday during District Breakfast we had the honor to felicitate District 1A Citizen of the Year Award Winner was none other than a young and
Nick Gore
District 1A and MD1 Peace Poster Winner – Tina Li from St. Anastesia School. Her picture took part in Worldwide Peace Posters for 2015 and came #32. Hearty congratulations to this talented artist sponsored by Chicago Philippine Lions Club.
There was a photo booth to take your choice of pictures. This was also something new this year. Following Lions got elected as District Officers for the year 2015-2016:
PID Salim Moussan flew all the way from Beirut, Lebanon just to attend District 1A Convention! Past Exe. Director of Lions of Illinois Foundation Lion Van Stone took part in Pie on the Face Contest to raise money. Quite a few Lions took part in this contest on Friday evening and Saturday and
raised money for Lions of Illinois Foundation. Something new for this year’s convention.
Lion Pat Duda from Chicago Mexica Lions Club as II Vice District Governor Elect.
Lion Ernie Lapid from Chicago Philippine Lions Club as I Vice District Governor Elect
Lion Ralph Zarada from River Grove Lions Club as District Governor Elect.
Lion Dr. Richard Rucoba as Lions of Illinois Foundation Trustee for next 2 years.
Lion Leilanie Magana from Chicago FIL-USA Lions Club, RC Bob Hoffman from Logan Square Lions Club and PCST Dawn Grogan from Bridgeview Lions Club were unanimously selected as VOICES new Board of Directors for 2015-2018. Good News is – Lions Clubs International reached today (4-18-2015) reached 1,401928 and our Disdtrict 1A reached 1806 with 81 Plus Members and one New Club – Chicago Magnificent Lions Club. Let us keep on growing to celebrate Lions’ 100th Anniversary in 2017, Amen. -Austin D’Souza, Editor
DGE Ralph Zarada Says: My fellow District 1A Lions
The district convention is now in the history books and we are moving forward towards the start of a new leadership year. This district convention was an outstanding event with the parade of banners, the hospitality rooms and International Director Karla Harris as our keynote speaker .The district membership has made their choices as to who will lead our district for the upcoming leadership years. Thank you for entrusting me for being your District Governor for 2015-2016. I am grateful as well as humbled by this honor. The installation of the governors, LIF trustees, and VOICES directors will take place on June 7th. Please come and Join us to witness the installation of the officers, trustees and directors for 2015-2016. We still have some work to do as we move forward with this year’s leadership of Lion DG Terry. There are 3 months left for Lion Terry to accomplish her goals as the District Governor. If you have not gotten a governor visit in for your club let Lion Terry know. If you have not gotten your Plus One
member for your club, there is still time to get that done. Please support and help her achieve these goals so that we can all be proud of what we have accomplished as a district. In Lionism, Lion Ralph Zarada, DGE From District 1A Convention Chair:
YOU for your hard work, your time and efforts and realize that you have shown everyone in Illinois and around the globe, thanks to Lion Austin and Lion Gail for pushing our Facebook exposure, that we still have the Number 1 Convention and one that they should attend every year. PDG Steve Super Heroes Convention Chairman
Yet another District 1-A Convention is done, over and finished but not yet complete. The Convention Committee will now start the process of going over the entire convention and making sure that we acknowledge what worked and what didn’t. We will go over our books and make our report to the Cabinet and then close the book on the District 1-A 47th Annual Convention. I’m sure that the Lions that attended had a great time, enjoyed the Convention and the “Superhero” theme that Governor Terry D’Souza chose for her convention. We received a lot of feedback on the “Superhero” skit that was presented by the Logan Square Lions Club. The Lions enjoyed their time and efforts to present an old time radio program and have some fun doing it. Also, the “Bloody Mary” toast honoring those clubs celebrating a major service anniversary, was met with a lot of enthusiasm and request were made to make this an annual part of the convention. I would like to thank the Thornton Lions Club for their support at the toast. Governor Terry, Vice District Governors Ralph, Ernie, Pat and Doc were very happy with the way the convention was presented. It was the pleasure of the Convention Committee to be of service to all of you. Of course, as the chairman of the committee, it needs to be said, THANK
Thank You Lions for the Super Convention of Super Heroes! Also Thank You for making our District 1A – the only District in Illinois with plus in Membership and with a brand New Club – Chicago Magnificent Lions Club. Governor’s Newsletter Edited and Published District 1A Lions by PDG Austin D’Souza. govaustin@gmail.com