District 21B Lion of the Year

Lions of 21-B:

As a Lion for many years, I have been puzzled as to why someone has been chosen as Lion of the Year in a District or Multiple District. I chose Lion ZC / CS Laurie Genz of the Sierra Vista Lions as your 21-B Lion of the Year for 2010-11. Here’s why:

I knew Lion Laurie was an active and contributing member of the Sierra Vista club, a past president, past secretary, past club Lion of the Year, Melvin Jones Fellow, and chair of various club committees. But she really caught my attention as Membership Chair of her club. She was one of the few club membership chairs to make the effort to attend PCC John Hart’s Membership Workshop in 2009, and to prepare a detailed and extensive membership growth plan that she worked with enthusiasm and vigor during her year as Membership Chair.

Seeing Lion Laurie’s enthusiasm for Lionism, I asked her to chair Zone 11, 3 clubs in the Sierra Vista area. As Zone Chair, she conducted one official Zone meeting, but supplemented that meeting a zone orientation, a zone diabetes / blood pressure screening event, a zone Christmas party and a zone public awareness / recruiting activity. (I think that effort more than equates to 2 more “official” zone meetings). She visited the clubs in her zone several times and kept your District Leadership Team aware of the service and fund-raising activities in each club. ZC Laurie also carried my message as DG and the message of International President Sid Scruggs to the clubs in her zone.

The zone-wide service and recruitment efforts ZC Laurie initiated elevated the visibility of Lionism and alerted the Sierra Vista / Huachuca City communities that the 3 Lions Clubs in the P. 2 ZC Laurie Genz area are alive and well and providing needed services. Lion Laurie’s efforts set a standard for Zone Chairs in 21-B!

In real life, Lion Laurie is a civilian employee of the U S Army managing hazardous waste disposal. Her husband, Lion Mark, is a Cochise County Deputy Sheriff. Their 2 sons have provided 4 grandchildren for Laurie and Mark to dote on and spoil.

In summary, Lion Laurie is a dedicated Lion who looks for opportunities to serve and improve Lionism in her community. While she will tell you she doesn’t do anything that any other Lion, Lion Laurie did go out of her way to find the time between work and family obligations to make a real difference in 21-B.

Thank you Laurie, you are appreciated!

Lion Carl Johannesen
IPDG, District 21-B