HISTORY OF THE LIONS CLUB IN SAN FELIPE

In 2005, after a 40 career in Business and three heart attacks, Gary decided to retire to San Felipe and enjoy a life of leisure. The laid-back lifestyle lasted about 6 months before he became bored. He started a new business, San Felipe Disposal. 

One evening, over drinks and conversation with his brother, Wayne, who was visiting from Washington, and Guillaume Duclos, a new friend, the subject of how the community of San Felipe could be helped. Guillaume mentioned that his father had belonged to a Lions Club in France, and that night, the seeds of San Felipe B.C. Lions Club was planted. 

Wayne made a $200.00 donation, and Lion Salvador Sanchez, who came twice a month from Mexicali to help the new Club. With Gary as the first elected President, and Ted Van de Kirk as guiding Lion a past district governor district 4-L6 San Diego and Imperial Counties.

San Felipe B.C. was chartered on January 26, 2007. Soon after, Gary was approached by the local Rotary Club. They had been working with the Modesto Flying Samaritans, helping them with eye clinics, but the Rotary felt that now that San Felipe had a Lions Club, Lions were more suited to help with the eye clinics, and the foundation of San Felipe Lions was born. 

In February of 2007, when the Flying Samaritans arrived, the San Felipe Lions Club was waiting to help. 

The help and friendship formed between the Modesto chapter of Flying Samaritans and San Felipe Lions remains strong today.

In 2008, Diane Grubb whose husband was a member, approached the club's President Paco Clark and asked the San Felipe Lions Club would like to take over a fundraising event that she had founded, The Blues and Arts Fiesta, Paco thought that it might be a bigger job than our club would want to under take, but Gary volunteered to act as Chairman, and he has been a driving force of each of the Blues and Arts Fiesta.

This October will be the 19th annual Blues and Arts Fiesta.