Meet the Incoming District Governors!

A1: Tal Janowitz

Hello Fellow Lions, Lioness/Lions and Leos of District 27-A1. It is an honor to be your incoming District Governor for the 2023-2024 year. My wife Lion Darlene, whom I have been married to for 29 years, and I are excited for this year. We are members of the Lions Club of Waterford. I have been a Lion for 22 years. Before I started on the trek of being a district governor, I was district cabinet secretary, president of the Wisconsin Lions Foundation, Environmental chair, district tail twister, and zone chair, to name a few. My wife and I are active in doing vision screening in our club. We are excited and continue to look forward to coming to your club events or meetings. We are ready to serve this district and guide it along with the district cabinet for a successful Lionistic year of 2023-2024.

A2: Brenda Rumppe

I am retired and live in West Bend with my husband, Skip. We have two boys and two girls. We have five grandchildren and one great granddaughter.

I have been a member of the Allenton Lions for 18 years. I joined the Lions to do service work and help those in need. I have had, and still have, great mentors, who have helped and encouraged me throughout my time in the Lions. During this time, I have been a club President, Secretary, Membership Chair as well as the District Newspaper editor, Zone Chair, and WI Mission Chair.

As District Governor, I am excited to work alongside of the Lions and Leos to make our 2023/2024 Lions year a great success. I am excited to hear about your service projects and the service work each of you are passionate about. I have been very passionate about, service work within my local communities as well as Mexico and South Dakota. My passion for service involves Mission work, Children’s Vision Screening, as well as many other projects.

B1: Greg Kubichka

My theme for the 2023-2024 year is, “Ignite the Passion for Service” When we are passionate about helping others, those around us will also become passionate about helping others.

My name is Greg Kubichka. I have been married for 18 years to my amazing and supportive wife Amy. We have two wonderful boys, Austin 14 and Owen 10. I enjoy sports, bowling, Potter ball, and track. I served in the National Guard for eight years. This June I will be a fireman with the Chilton Fire Department for 21 years. I am a Regional Property Manager for 500 units for northeast Wisconsin. I am in multiple service clubs to help landlords, youth and our communities. The club I am most proud of is Delightfully Calumet. A drive-thru Christmas Light show at Calumet County Fairgrounds in December. It is a way to raise canned food donations. We started in 2017, and raised over 26,000 lbs. for our local food pantries.

B2: Shirley Dahlke

I am from the Denmark Lions Club. I started my service journey by helping at various club fundraisers prior to becoming a Lion. I felt welcomed and comfortable helping them.

When asked to become a Lion, it was an easy decision to make. I have been a Lion for 17 years having held various offices in my club and District. In this time, I have continued to grow and learn not only as a person, but as a Lion. I could not have asked for better guides, mentors, and teachers through this process in continuing “To Serve”. I hope and pray to be a district governor who will be a great ambassador for state of Wisconsin, but also for District 27-B2. Thank you for this opportunity to continue my Lion journey “To Serve”.

C1: Patty Hollis

In my life, I value serving others with a heart. I have been proud to be part of the Stevens Point Noon Lions for the past six years. Along with being a Lion, I am an ambassador for the Portage County Business Council. The past five years I have been working in my husband’s (Phil) business as a Community Relations Director.

My husband, District Governor Phil Hollis and I own an insurance agency in downtown Stevens Point. When we are not serving as Lions, we are kept busy with our three fur babies. We are proud grandparents to five grandchildren. We love to travel - our favorite place to go is Tennessee as we enjoy the mountain views and the slow pace. I enjoy watching documentaries, as I love to learn new things. Together, Phil and I like doing anything that allows us to be a team.

I can’t wait to start my year as District Governor. With all the training for the past two years, I feel ready. With good Lions in our district, we will continue to serve our communities. Make A Difference…One at a Time

C2: Don Meeder

I was born and raised near Pittsburgh and moved to Three Lakes with my lovely wife Joan and our first two children in 1993. We added a “native born” daughter in 1994. I joined the Three Lakes Lions Club in 2009 and became a Club Director in 2014. Since then I have served as Club President for four years, Service Chair, and Treasurer as well as Zone Chair. I’m a Melvin Jones Fellow, and have certifications from RLLI and Servant Leadership training.

I hold a Bachelor’s degree in Recreation and Park Administration and a Masters degree in Counseling Psychology from Slippery Rock University in Pennsylvania. Though currently retired, I am still a Licensed Professional Counselor and have worked for numerous organizations.

My motto for the District next year will be “It’s time for some Serious Fun”. Our Global and Wisconsin Lions Goals are targeting some very serious challenges for our communities, but, to quote Dale Carnegie, “People rarely succeed unless they have fun in what they are doing.”

D1: Jeff Winkler

Jeff and Mary Winkler were married while they were attending UWPlatteville in 1980. They have three sons, TJ, Andrew, and Jordan, along with six grandchildren. Jeff grew up in several parts of the country, living in eight different locations before graduating high school. Jeff has been employed at Vita Plus, a livestock feed company, since 1984. He started as a swine nutritionist and is currently general manager of their Madison manufacturing and distribution operations. Jeff started his Lions journey with the Deerfield Lions Club in 2008. He enjoys attending Lions events as Leo the Lion, so you might not see him, but he is there! Jeff and Mary have always enjoyed raising animals and currently have five dogs and three reptiles. Jeff loves traveling and camping with his converted cargo trailer and taking his camera along with him to document his travels. Jeff is excited to be part of the Council of Governors and lead the district during 2023-24.

D2: Anita Kelley

My name is Anita Kelley and I’m the current FVDG for 27-D2. I’m the oldest of 12 children and the first lady in the Soldiers Grove Lions Club. I’ve been a Lion since 2003. I’m currently the Secretary/Treasurer of our club and Region 3 Chair for the district. I worked for the Grant County Highway Department as a bookkeeper for 30 years and am now retired. I enjoy doing things with my family and helping others when needed as our motto says, “We Serve”. I look forward to serving as your District Governor for 2023-2024.

E1: Dennis Sykora

I’ve been happily married for 26 years to Brenda and have a daughter, Jessica, who is married to Marcus, and a four year old grandson, Archer. In my free time, I enjoy camping with friends and family, hunting, and spending time with my grandson. My family has a long history of involvement with the Lions Club organization. My father, Bernard Sykora, was a Charter member of the Tilden Lions Club when it originated 50 years ago. He was an influential member until he passed seventeen years ago. My mother, Frances Sykora, has also been an active Club member for several years. I have been a Tilden Lions Club member since 2002 serving as President for two terms and Zone Chair for four years. I have also been on the Board of Directors for more than half of my time as a member and I am a Melvin Jones Fellow. Upon my appointment in July, I will be the first District Governor from the Tilden Lions Club. It is with great pride that I will accept my position as the District Governor and I look forward to continuing to advance the impact of the Lions Club members in our local communities. I await the opportunity to meet and work with all the members and partners of the 27-E1 district. I am excited to share with you my theme for the upcoming 2023-2024 service year, “Lend a Helping Hand.” In alignment with the Lions Club’s mission, the generosity of our members to serve their communities by lending a hand can and will lead to change in the world and make a lasting impact locally and globally. I encourage you to please join me in bringing this campaign to life.

Lastly, I want to say thank you to all the Club members for everything you have done and will do. Without your commitment and selfless contributions, the Lions Club is unable to continue its long-standing tradition of compassionate and noble service.

E2: Jay Nesseth

Greetings Lions of MD27-E2. My name is Lion Jay Nesseth, and my wife of 20 years is Lion Stacey Nesseth. Together we have served as a team in our District in many capacities and are looking forward to serving as your District Governor again in 2023-2024. We are looking forward to visiting your clubs again, visiting with old friends, making new friends, and seeing how you have been serving your communities. Club visits are the best part of being Governor and we have made wonderful friends from those visits. I have recently retired, I am looking forward to spending time at the campground starting my retired role of campground host along with plans to do lots of fishing.

I look forward to working with my Council and serving the Lions of our District and the Lions of Wisconsin. Thank you for all you do and your commitment to serving your communities and helping those in need. WE SERVE!!

At the March 3rd Council of Governors Meeting Friday Night, a Birthday Cake Kits Service Project was completed and will be distributed to food pantries in our state. Each District Governor was given four kits for their local food pantry. Lions Lynn Klug, Nancy Johnson, Sonny Hagen, Greg Clark, Heidi Brinkman, Betty Ingwell, Amy Reil, Kate Pryor, Greg Pryor, Joanne Cerniglia, and Tom LeCleir