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The Los Gatos Lions Club is not just a group of rookie cubs. And the local Lions proved it by beating out 53 other groups to be named the best club in the district, which includes Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, San Benito and Monterey counties.
Dominating the district pack, Los Gatos came out on top in all of the awards given out during the district convention, held May 711 in Sacramento. In addition to placing as the foremost club, Los Gatos club President Chris Morris was named Lion of the Year, and members Tim Mussleman, Eric Childs, Tony Palma and Gary Cayton were recognized as outstanding Lions by Lions Club International.
The club award is determined by a point system, which gives points in relation to service projects such as youth activities, scholarship fundraising and networking among the district clubs. The last time Los Gatos took best in district was in 1996, although each year the group has placed in the top two.
"Am I excited? Oh yeah," says Morris. "We won every major award this year." He says winning wasn't a matter of the group doing "a whole lot more"—it was "everyone pitching in and doing just a little bit more."
Morris says the club has a major activity every six to eight weeks, including a golf tournament every July, a car raffle in August, White Can Day in October and the famous holiday parade in December. The parade is what earned the club the Community and Cultural Activity Award this year and placed them in high ranking throughout the district. The club also works the Los Gatos High School snack shack during track and football seasons.
Although Morris says he had a feeling the club would be in consideration for first place, he was shocked to be named the Lion of the Year. "It was a surprise," he says. "I was absolutely not expecting it." Morris believes he received the award for his help with the Lions Club, the Lions Silicon Valley Center for the Blind & Sight-Impaired and Los Gatos High School. "I'm not sure it is necessarily for this year but more of a cumulative award," he says.
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