About Us

District Governor 

Lion Darlene was born in Pittsburg, CA, and moved with her family to Antioch, CA, when she was three and a half years old. Although she always participated in volunteer work, she didn't belong to a club until 1994, when she met Lion Mary Dys, who invited her to join the Lafayette Lions Club.

Darlene has served in various leadership roles at the club level, including President, Treasurer, Secretary, and Director. At the district level, she has held positions such as Zone Chair, Cabinet Secretary (twice), 1st and 2nd Vice District Governor, and is currently serving as District Governor.

Her sponsor, Mary, along with other Lions, introduced her to several important organizations, including the Lions Center for the Visually Impaired, the Lions Blind Center of Oakland (also known as the Lions Vision Resource Network), the Lions Eye Foundation, and the Wilderness Camp for the Deaf.

Over the years, Darlene has been involved in numerous projects, with some of her favorites including:

• Serving as Volunteer Coordinator for Matteo’s Dream, a playground designed for children of all abilities.
• Participating in work parties to beautify and repair both Blind Centers, where she helped with tasks such as painting, cutting bricks for a sensory garden, preparing meals for volunteers, repairing a roof, and cooking holiday meals for clients and appreciation lunches for volunteers.
• When her work schedule allowed, she enjoyed bowling with visually impaired clients every other Friday. It was during one of these outings that she met a client who had lost his sight to glaucoma due to improper administration of eye drops. Little did she know that a quarter of a century later, she would be diagnosed with glaucoma herself and benefit from the advice she received from him.

Darlene also served as secretary and on the fund development committees for both Blind Centers. After a 42-year career with a financial institution, she is now retired. She has been married to Bill for 21 years, and together they have five grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. Her theme for her current role is "United in Service."

1st Vice District Governor

Our 1st Vice District Governor Laxmi Chaudhary is a dedicated Lions member, known for her passion for service. A native of Sunsari, Nepal, she exemplifies the Lions' commitment to community service through her extensive and impactful journey within the organization.

In 2006, she joined the Berkeley Annapurna Lions Club as a Charter Member and Joint Secretary, marking the start of her distinguished Lions career. She served as the Club President for the 2012-2013 term and has held various roles such as Club Secretary, Treasurer, Membership Chairperson, and Service Chairperson multiple times.

Her dedication extends beyond her club. She has been pivotal as the Coordinator of the Student Speaker Contest, Blood Drive Program, and various fundraising events. She also coordinated the Medical Mission for Nepal, showcasing her commitment to global service. Her influence expanded as she became the Guiding Lion of Berkeley Makalu and the Specialty Club Coordinator for Lions Club International. Additionally, she has served as Zone Chair, Region Chair, and Hunger Chairperson for her district.

Laxmi is a Melvin Jones Fellow. Her outstanding contributions have earned her numerous accolades, including the MD4 Excellence Pin and four International President's Certificates of Appreciation, highlighting her exceptional commitment to Lionism. She also remains active in the Nepalese community, serving as an Advisor for the California Chapter of NWGN (Nepalese Women Global Network) and as Treasurer of the Nepal Endogenous Federation Society California USA.

Beyond her professional and Lions endeavors, she enjoys her personal life. Married to her husband Khil for 40 years, she resides in El Sobrante, California, with their three sons, Utsav, Ujwal, and Prajwal, their daughters-in-law, Pasang, Riza, and Neha, and their three grandchildren, Norah, Norden, and Cyra.

2nd Vice District Governor

Lion Valerie Griffin grew up in Albany, CA, and graduated from Albany High School in 1982. She received an AS degree from Contra Costa College. Recently, she retired from the West Contra Costa Unified School District after 33 years of service.

Griffin joined the Albany Lions Club in 2006 and has served as Club President three times, becoming the club's first female president. She has also served as Club Director and is currently the Club Secretary.

At the district level, Griffin has served as Zone Chair twice and District Student Speaker Chair. She has also held positions as LCVI Club President and Director.

Griffin is married to Lion Stuart Griffin. At their wedding in 2018, they requested donations to Lions causes instead of gifts. Her family, including her twin sister Victoria, brother-in-law Clifford, and niece Cassandra, are also dedicated Lions members.

Lion Valerie is a proud member of Card Angels, providing handmade cards each month to veterans at the Martinez Veterans Hospital. She and her husband, Lion Stuart, also manage the Lions in Sight trailer, collecting eyeglasses throughout California and parts of Nevada. They were awarded Couple of the Year for District 4-C3 in 2023.

Griffin has received several honors, including the Melvin Jones Fellowship, Kay K. Fukushima Fellowship, and Dwight E. Stanford Fellowship. In 2022-23, she was awarded Zone Chair of the Year and received a Governor's Merit Award. She also received the International President's Certificate of Appreciation in 2022-23 from IP Brian Sheehan.

Her motto is "Build to Serve!"

Past District Governor

Manil Babu Shrestha is a prominent figure in the Lions Clubs International, having served as the District Governor for District 4-C3, which encompasses Alameda and Contra Costa Counties in California, during the previous year. Born in Kathmandu, Nepal, Shrestha has been involved in community service from a young age. His journey began in 1995 when he joined Kathmandu Jaycees, eventually becoming its president in 2006.

In 2008, Shrestha moved to the United States and joined the Berkeley Annapurna Lions Club in 2010. Within the Lions Club, he has held various leadership roles, including Club Director, Vice President, Club President, Zone Chairperson, and Region Chairperson. He has also been an advisor to many Nepalese Lions Club members and played a significant role in founding new clubs in his district.

Shrestha's contributions have been recognized with several awards, including the Melvin Jones Fellow, Kay K. Fukushima Fellow, and Harry J. Aslan Fellow. He received the International President’s Certificate of Appreciation in both 2019 and 2020 and was named Lion of the Year by his club for three consecutive years. Additionally, Shrestha was honored with the US Presidential Award during a District 4-C3 Lions Club Convention.

Under his leadership, the district theme for 2023-2024 was "Collaborative Leadership," focusing on community service, leadership development, and fostering inclusivity.