The Birth of San Diego Premier Lions Club (#100585)
Lion Teresita Paje, Charter President
It all started with a vision that by organizing a group of people working together as a team, we could make a difference in our community, in the lives of other people, and in our lives as we reach our full potential. My career as a financial adviser, enhanced by my passion to help people in their financial and life planning enable me to access and meet a lot of people in different situations with different needs. Over the time that I was working as a financial adviser, meeting these people everyday to help in their financial planning, I was able to build not just a business relationship with them but most importantly a friend to them. I enjoyed sharing ideas and tools that will help them improved their life goals.
Driven by my passion to help others in their financial and life planning, and equipped with knowledge, abilities and capabilities, I was inspired to organize this club. This passion was guided by my business philosophy which is: To build a lifelong relationship with clients based on mutual trust and honesty, thus providing high quality personalized financial services in a friendly environment. Adopting this business philosophy became a trade mark in my career.
The month was September of 2007. I came up with a list of names of clients and friends, whom I believed have the hearts, desires and readiness to help people. I prayed to the Lord to give me the wisdom to talk to these people. I first approached a friend of mine who is a lady dentist, Dr. Myrna Lazaga, and shared with her my vision. Dr. Myrna Lazaga didn’t know anything about Lions Club, but she gladly accepted my invitation to join me and start a club. The next person I share to was a lady doctor, Dr. Bettye Albritton, who indeed as very excited when I was sharing the vision. The third person I approached was another doctor and also a lawyer, Atty. Roy Landers, who out rightly embraced my vision. Friends like Mr. and Mrs. Mike and Fedelie Lutz were both very supportive of my plans. And to all the members who accepted my invitation, I will ever be grateful and thankful.
The first organizational meeting held on September 23, 2007 was a big success. A total of 27 charter members were installed on December 17, 2007, there were seventeen women and ten men. The San Diego Premier Lions Club was born and became officially chartered on November 26, 2007. To date there are 29 charter members, and the club are constantly soliciting for more membership.
As the charter president of the San Diego Premier Lions Club, what I envisioned of the club is the acronym of the word, P R E M I E R – a Person who Respects an Excellent Mentor with Innovative Empowered Responsibilities. Encompassing the diverse concepts of each of our different ethnic backgrounds, cultures, careers, and occupations, will further enhance the visionary concepts and expand the territorial boundaries that are necessary to the success of the club. I strongly believe that working together we can utilize each of the member’s capabilities and abilities to uphold the club’s mission and vision.
Indeed, I am blessed and forever grateful to all members of the San Diego Premier Lions Club and I strongly believe that each of these members are potential leaders in their own right. Our club is absolutely ready and eager to begin our humanitarian service, as we use the association motto “WE SERVE.” May our actions guided by our club slogan “enabling the weak, supporting the strong” reflect the true spirit within us members of the San Diego Premier Lions Club.
