About Us

District Governor

BUILD TO SERVE — Growing Stronger Together

Lions of District 4-C3,

It is hard to believe we are already in August and beginning a new Lions year together! I am incredibly honored to serve as your District Governor, and I am excited about what we can BUILD together when we are united by SERVICE.

I recently returned from the Lions International Convention in Hong Kong, where we had the opportunity to meet our newly installed Lions International President, Mark Lyon. His theme for this year is “Rooted in Service.” What a perfect message for Lions. Service is our foundation. It is our purpose. It is our roots. Being in Hong Kong with Lions representing different countries, cultures, traditions and beliefs was an incredible reminder that, despite our differences, we share one common purpose:

WE SERVE.

Thousands of Lions gathered together with the same desire—to make our communities and our world better through service. That same spirit is what I want us to bring home to District 4-C3 as we embrace our theme: BUILD TO SERVE

We have assembled an outstanding District Cabinet and an incredible team of Zone Chairs who will be reaching out to our clubs, meeting with Presidents and Secretaries, supporting club leadership and joining me as we visit clubs throughout our District. Our Global Action Team is also ready to BUILD. Through GET, GLT, GMT and GST, we will focus on club extension, leadership development, membership growth and, of course, SERVICE. But no District Governor, Cabinet or GAT team can do this alone. It will take every Lion in District 4-C3.

Think of our District as a forest.

For a forest to grow and flourish, it needs strong roots, nourishment, sunlight and trees that support one another. Our Lions Clubs are those trees and our SERVICE is the root system connecting all of us.  This year, we will BUILD by:

• Developing and supporting our future Lions leaders.
  
• Strengthening existing clubs and helping struggling clubs flourish.
  
• Growing our membership and extending Lions into new communities.
  
• Creating meaningful service opportunities throughout our District.
  
• Working across club and zone boundaries to help one another.
  
• And most importantly…REPORTING OUR SERVICE!

I want District 4-C3 to take tremendous PRIDE in the work our Lions are doing. Every food drive, vision screening, community event, youth program, fundraiser, environmental project and helping hand represents Lions making a difference.  But if we don't report it, the full story of District 4-C3 is never told. So remember:

RYSP — REPORT YOUR SERVICE PROJECT!

We will provide opportunities throughout the year to help clubs learn how to report their projects, service hours and impact through the Lions Portal.

I also want to introduce an idea I am very excited about: our LION PRIDE LIST.

Some of our smaller clubs have wonderful ideas for service projects and fundraisers but simply don't have enough active members to make them happen. Imagine having a District-wide list of Lions willing to lend a hand when another club needs help. Lions helping Lions. Clubs helping Clubs. One District serving together. Trees in a forest don't stand alone. Their roots intertwine, they support one another, and together they are strong enough to weather the storms. That is the District 4-C3 I want us to BUILD. I will proudly be the first to put my name on our Lion Pride List, and I encourage you to join me. If your club needs an extra set of hands, please reach out. I want to serve beside you.

I look forward to sharing more about our goals, leadership training, membership initiatives and service plans at our first District Cabinet Meeting on Saturday, August 29.

This year, let us strengthen our roots.

Let us grow our clubs.

Let us develop new leaders.

Let us serve our communities.

Let us help one another.

And together, let us…

BUILD TO SERVE.

1st Vice District Governor

My Lions journey began in 2006 in Kandy, Sri Lanka, when I joined the Katugastota Lions Club. Inspired by my parents' lifelong example of serving others, I discovered the joy of making a difference in my community and served as Club Secretary.

After moving to the United States in 2007, I joined the Ygnacio Valley Commuters Lions Club in 2012. In 2022, I chartered the NorCal Helping Hands Lions Club and proudly serve as its Charter President.

Throughout my Lions journey, I have served in several leadership roles, including Zone Chair, District Leo Coordinator, and Specialty Clubs Coordinator. I have also completed Lions leadership training through ELLI and ALLI.

Today, I am honored to serve as the First Vice District Governor of Lions District 4-C3 and as a member of the California Lions Council of Governors. I am grateful for the many opportunities, recognitions, and friendships Lions has given me.

I look forward to working with all of you as we bring my theme to life: Vision to Lead, Mission to Serve."

My heartful Congratulations to Governor Valari Griffin.

Very excited to be part of her team.

2nd Vice District Governor

Koshy John was born in Chennai, India and received his master’s degree from the University of Madras, India

Koshy John’s journey in Lionism began in 2015 when he joined the Hayward Silicon Valley Lions Club as a Charter Member. Since then, he has had the privilege of serving in Club leadership positions as President, Treasurer, Secretary, and Director.

He has held District level positions: Cabinet Treasurer, Region Chairperson, Zone Chairperson and District Chaplain.

He has also actively chaired and participated in multiple major service projects organized by his home club and the district.

Koshy John has maintained a long and distinguished career with an American multinational technology corporation since 1995, reflecting his sustained commitment to excellence, professionalism, and leadership in both his career and community service.

Koshy is a graduate of the Regional Lions Leadership Institute and has received a bachelor’s and a master’s degree from the Lions University.

He has been recognized with an International President’s Certificate of Appreciation and District 4-C3 Excellence Award.

Koshy a Progressive Melvin Jones Fellow.

Koshy is married to Sudha Koshy and is a proud father of two children, daughter Asha and son Arun, daughter-in-law, Shilpa and a granddaughter Arya.

His theme is ”Service At Home and Across the Borders”.

Immediate Past District Governor

Lion Laxmi Chaudhary is a devoted Lion and proud native of Sunsari, Nepal. She began her Lions journey in 2006 as a Charter Member of the Berkeley Annapurna Lions Club and has since held numerous key roles, including Club President, Secretary, Treasurer, and Service Chair.

Her impact extends beyond her club through leadership in district and global initiatives-serving as Zone Chair, Region Chair, Hunger Chairperson, Guiding Lion and Specialty Club Coordinator.

She was also instrumental in organizing a Medical Mission for Nepal .

She was also instrumental in organizing a Medical Mission for Nepal and currently serves as a Board Member of LCVI Lion Laxmi is a graduate bachelor and Master from Lions University and a recipient of prestigious honors, including the MelvinJones Fellow Award multiple International President'sCertificates of Appreciation.

Beyond her professional and Lions endeavors, she find joy in her personal life.

She Married to husband Khil for 42 years, she reside in El Sobrante, California, along with her three sons, Utsav, Ujwal, and Prajwal, their three daughters-in-law, Pasang, Riza, and Neha, and their 4 grandchildren, Norah, Norden, Cyra and Niana. 

Under her Leadership, The District Theme for 2025-2026 was "Serving With Integrity"

Past 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 did not 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 later served as District Governor. She now holds the title of Past 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."