Welcome New Members!
We are excited you have taken the time to review our "new members" page and we hope that you will join us for our next meeting. The Lake Forest / Lake Bluff Lions Club is growing every day and we are continually looking to add to our group of awesome Lions! There are so many benefits to serving the community through the Lake Forest / Lake Bluff Lions Club and we invite you to come learn more!
Join us for our next club meeting. Please see our calendar for meeting times and location.
It all starts with great people!
We are a great group of people with diverse skill sets and eclectic interests that come together to support the initiatives of Lions Club International and our local community. To give you an idea of who we are, we feature one member profile per month so that our visitors can get an inside look at the great group of Lions that enjoy membership with the Lake Forest / Lake Bluff Lions Club.
Please see below for our featured member profiles.
Featured Member for January 2017
Ben Gralla
What do you do for a living? What is your favorite hobby? Or what subject(s) do you enjoy and excel in?
I am retired after a 35-year career in the Power Generation Service business. We provided Technical and Maintenance services on the turbine-generators in utility powerhouses. I managed service operation in the Midwest.
Hobbies: My favorite things to do is any outdoor aerobic exercise including hiking, biking, and cross-country skiing. Also enjoy fishing, golf, and travel. I have spent some of my retirement time tutoring Algebra.
How did you hear about Lions Club or what prompted you to get involved?
My neighbor asked me to come to a meeting 35 years ago. I decided to join to meet people in the community and to give some of my time to a charitable cause.
What is your most memorable experience so far?
Many years back the LF/LB Lions Club sold hamburgers, hot dogs, chips and sodas after the 4th of July. It was a big club effort that started at 6 AM and ended around 3 PM, but it was a great team building event for us.
What would you share with a potential new member about the benefits of joining our Lions Club?
If you are new to the community or just want to meet more people from the community from different walks of life this is a good opportunity.
What is your favorite book and favorite movie?
Recent favorite book was “The Secret Race” by Tyler Hamilton and Daniel Coyle. It is a good insight on what was going during the doping years in the Tour de France.
I am not a big movie goer but I thought “Lost in America” was funny.
Featured Member for December 2016
Scott Lackie
What do you do for a living? What is your favorite hobby? Or what subject(s) do you enjoy and excel in?
I am co-owner and Managing Broker of Griffith, Grant and Lackie Real Estate
Hobbies: I read a lot. I also enjoy my grandchildren, golf, bike riding, and fishing.
How did you hear about Lions Club or what prompted you to get involved?
I have been involved in the LF Lions Club since 1979 and have enjoyed the fellowship and the mission of the Club which is serving the community with a specific emphasis on sight and hearing disabilities.
What is your most memorable experience so far?
Successful execution of our very first golf tournament this past month.
What would you share with a potential new member about the benefits of joining our Lions Club?
We have a very friendly group of civic-minded members who, although busy, enjoy the monthly meetings and like giving back to their communities.
What is your favorite book and favorite movie?
Favorite book: My current favorite is "American Ulysses" about U.S. Grant, the most misunderstood general to ever serve in that capacity.
Favorite movie(s): My favorite movie was "Braveheart"
Featured Member for November 2016
Mark Allen
What do you do for a living? What is your favorite hobby? Or what subject(s) do you enjoy and excel in?
Retired US Navy Aviator. Aerospace Industry professional. Management Consultant.
Enjoy motorsports/cars, boating, scuba diving, equestrian pursuits, and golf.
Mentor and coach high school students in entrepreneurship and early stage business pursuits.
How did you hear about Lions Club or what prompted you to get involved?
Became familiar with Lions while living on the east coast in Dewey Beach, DE.
Was recruited by Ted Moorman to join our Lions Club here in LF / LB.
Opportunity to give back to our community, something I have enjoyed being involved in for a number of years since serving on budget and finance committees for HOA’s and the Town of Dewey Beach.
What is your most memorable experience so far?
Successful execution of our very first golf tournament this past month.
What would you share with a potential new member about the benefits of joining our Lions Club?
The opportunity for fellowship with like-minded individuals while fundraising and doing great things for people that need it far more than ourselves.
What is your favorite book and favorite movie?
Favorite movie(s): TopGun. The Godfather
Favorite book: “Gameplan for Life” by Joe Gibbs
Featured Member for October 2016
Craig Lepkowski
What do you do for a living? What is your favorite hobby? Or what subject(s) do you enjoy and excel in?
I’m a police officer for the City of Lake Forest. I’ve been with the LFPD for 24 years. I enjoy reading when I have time. These days I’m busy with work and KUBER (Uber for Kids) shuttling my 3 kids to sports and school activities every day!
How did you hear about Lions Club or what prompted you to get involved?
A former president of the club was my neighbor and invited me to join. I was interested in meeting other people outside my work circle and getting to know others in the community from diverse backgrounds. My grandfather suffered from Macular Degeneration and eventually went blind, so the Lions assistance with vision and the community service outside law enforcement was a great fit for me.
What is your most memorable experience so far?
I enjoyed convincing the club to spend over $1000 to purchase the Lion mascot costume. I had to promise to wear it and it’s been a blast. I think it really catches people’s eyes and I really enjoy being the “Lion on the Segway” for parades. Kids seem to really enjoy the low fives I do as I Segway past them on the parade route.
What would you share with a potential new member about the benefits of joining our Lions Club?
We are a small club that has a huge but kind of secret impact on the community – locally, nationally and internationally. For such a small club, we donate a good amount of money to those in need and I don’t think people here know how many financially strapped families are assisted with low-cost eye exams and glasses – here in Lake Forest/Lake Bluff. We do a very responsible job of spreading funds among worthwhile organizations that provide services to the visually and hearing impaired and kids development as well.
What is your favorite book and favorite movie?
I really enjoy the Spenser series by Robert B. Parker. I’m a fairly big Star Wars Fan and love almost all the movies.
What specific question do you think would be helpful to new members?
What am I expected to do if I join the LF/LB Lions?
Get active! Join a committee (or 2!) and come up with new ways to bring in membership, funds, involvement. We are not a very active club compared to other Lions clubs or Rotary, but we definitely make a difference. Network prior to meetings at the social ½ hour.
Featured Member for September 2016
Rick Young
What do you do for a living? What is your favorite hobby? Or what subject(s) do you enjoy and excel in?
I run a food ingredient company called Ingredients Inc.
My favorite hobbies are 16” softball and outdoor activities with Patti. Formerly, it was competing in triathlons (over 100 including 3 Ironman) and marathons (26).
I also am COO of a Comedy Group, Chicago Comedy All-Stars.
How did you hear about Lions Club or what prompted you to get involved?
My comedy group did a fundraiser at the Gorton and I won the silent auction for a membership. Ben Gralla actually convinced me to join.
What is your most memorable experience so far?
Being in charge of several galas including “Jazz and Jokes” last year that raised a significant amount of money for our causes.
What would you share with a potential new member about the benefits of joining our Lions Club?
Great group of philanthropic men doing good things for others!
What is your favorite book and favorite movie?
Favorite book is the Bible and favorite movies are Shawshank Redemption and The Godfather.
What are you most proud about?
5 healthy and independent kids, 8 (soon to be 9) healthy grandkids, a 96-year-old mom and a great life’s partner, Patti!
I love to help others which include feeding the homeless in Waukegan.
Featured Member for June 2016
Rob Wilder
What do you do for a living or what is your favorite hobby?
I am the owner of Wilder Management Inc., a property management company focused on helping real estate owners be proactive with their tenants and properties. We service residential and commercial properties in the North Shore.
I am an entrepreneur by nature so my favorite hobby is exploring and evaluating existing or new business models in a variety of industries.
How did you hear about Lions Club or what prompted you to get involved?
My good friend and fellow Lion, Sean Burke, invited me to a meeting by saying, "hey, you should come to one of our Lions Club meetings - we're a great group united by a common interest in serving the community. We raise money via fun events and we get together once per month for dinner and drinks to discuss where we can donate the monies we raise to the community". Social activity, dinner, drinks, and serving the community? Yeah, I was sold immediately.
What is your most memorable experience so far?
I've already had many memorable experiences so far. Our Fall Gala was really awesome! But honestly, the most fun was probably walking in the 2015 4th of July parade with my 3-year-old son on his balance bike! I really got a unique perspective and appreciation for how large the 4th of July parade actually is. Plus it was really fun because my son enjoyed handing out candy to the parade attendees/audience. Definitely looking forward to this year!
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