Delivers invocations at meetings, and prepares in conjunction with the Sunshine Committee, “get well” cards and visits all ill members, and determines any Club Member needs.

Conducts community service activities and chairs the major service project involving at least 20% of the Club Membership. Additionally, dispenses budgeted funds for community service, distributes Thanksgiving food baskets and coordinates the “Salvation Army Bell Ringer Day.”

The Cottage Home Foundation was established in 1969. It supports the “Cottage Home”, a home maintained to provide housing for foster children, particularly a place where siblings who have lost their parents can be kept together in a single-family environment. It is the only foster care home in the United States founded and supported by a local Lions Club. The Foundation is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit and members and others can make tax deductible contributions or grants as permitted under applicable law.

Plans, coordinates, and Leads the implementation of the Club’s biggest annual fundraiser in May. This includes reservations of the facility at the Ventura County Fairgrounds, food purchase and preparation, along with serving during the event, volunteers, live and silent auction items, billing, and the coordination and assistance of other Lions Clubs.

Promotes and encourages member participation in District Activities, Club Visitations, as well as activities of other Lions Clubs. Arranges for Club visitations to other Clubs. Encourages members to visit at least eight different Clubs each year.

Coordinates, manages, and implements charitable programs on behalf of Lions Club’s International. LCIF provides grant funding for local and global humanitarian efforts and is funded entirely by charitable donations from Lions, and friends and partners.

Ensures the coordination and implementation of plans that involve the Salvation Army, while meeting the human needs of the Community that they serve.

The purpose of the Long Range Planning Committee is to give thoughtful consideration to the long term future of the Ventura Downtown Lions Club and to ways we can strengthen and continue the Club as a vibrant, enjoyable and relevant association for service.

Promotes development and retention of Club Members. Provides new member orientation and works to provide a mentor for each new Lion. Encourages new members to become “Proud Lion” by visiting 1 Board of Directors meeting, participate in 1 of the Clubs service or fundraising projects, introduce Lions Membership to 1 potential member, visit 1 other Lions Club, and attend 1 District Zone or Region meeting, and provide “feedback” back to the Club within 6 months of Membership. Determines why members resign their membership and reports their findings to the Zone Chair. Plans, promotes and carries out Club social events, including the Installation of Officers – while striving to develop and hold four events each year.

Gather all the important information, including pictures, flyers, fundraisers, and community events and milestones that occur during a President’s year, into a digital yearbook and enter it in the District contest.

Plans, coordinates, and implements a strategy, with the Public Relations Committee, to publicize all Club Activities, charities and fundraisers through the use of all available digital media, including Club and District websites and Social Media to include Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.

Arranges and conducts the Student Speaker’s contest each February. Student Speakers are from local Ventura High Schools and speak on a topic that is current and relevant to the current environment. Winners will progress on to the District contest and potentially to the State contest. Winners can receive up to $10,000 in scholarship funds.

Plans and carries out an annual Club “Time and Treasure” auction to raise funds for the Administrative Budget of the Ventura Downtown Lions Club.

Provide services, companionship, funding, and other activities to show the Veterans of Ventura County that they are appreciated and not forgotten. We are active with the Cal-Vet Home on Telephone Road and in the past year we sponsored their “Activities Committee”. We also support the Ventura County Veterans “Stand Down” held yearly at the National Guard Armory.

BBQ meals purchased by clients during annual April Crab Feast, along with other fundraising opportunities.

Bowl to Strike Out Cancer is a fundraiser on the last Saturday of February to raise money for local Pediatric Cancer organizations. Buena Lanes is reserved exclusively for this event. In addition to the tournament the lions also host a silent auction and BBQ during the event. A celebration of survivors and caregivers occurs during the event.

Supports and promotes a local Boy Scout Troop highlighting the need to be engaged in the act of giving back to the community through community service projects. The Mission of the BSA is to “prepare young people to make ethical and moral choices over their lifetimes by instilling in them the values of the Scout Oath and Law.” Youth are trained in responsible citizenship, character development, and self-reliance through participation in a wide range of outdoor activities, educational programs, and, at older age levels, career-oriented programs in partnership with community organizations.

Publicize and promote the City of Hope for the purpose of raising funds for research and patient care around Cancer and Type 2 Diabetes. As a major fundraiser, coordinates Club participation in the “Lions Tribute Day” at the City of Hope.

88 flags are mounted from the pier to Surfer’s Point on the 4^th of July, Memorial Day, and Veteran’s Day. They go up before sunrise and are taken down at sunset. Flags on Poli and California Street are put in April at 6:00 AM and remain up through the summer.

The Health and Wellness Expo is designed to provide information and services to members of the community that will impact the quality of their lives.  The event is a resource for subjects ranging from nutrition through vital health issues and practices.  It features technologies and practitioners who are committed to the well-being of all members of the community.

Promotes a fundraiser that includes a round of golf at a local course, lunch and an awards program following the tournament. Monies raised benefit local Lion charities and community service projects.

Responsible for preparing a slate of nominees of Club Officers, and for counting ballots for election of Board of Directors for the next Lion Year.

Plans and conducts participation in this International contest, with a focus on the Creating and Maintaining Peace through-out the world. 

Plans and implements all Sight and Hearing activities and expends budgeted funds to meet Sight and Hearing needs. Some of the regular activities that club members can help with is volunteering once a month at our weekly vision clinic at the Salvation Army, collecting recycled eyeglasses from designated locations, and supporting “Lions Friends in Sight” biannual vision clinics in our area. The club also supports the Ventura school district with free eye exams and glasses for students referred by school nurses, as well as special projects that include the purchase of a SpotCam for examinations. In partnership with the Downtown Rotary and the Salvation Army provide a FREE Eye Clinic for all those in need of glasses and better sight. As Knights of the Blind it’s an inherent responsibility that we ensure that everyone, no matter their circumstances in life is able to see this great big wonderful world clearly.

Responsible for preparing and conducting an annual spaghetti dinner each October.

Arranges for Club participation in this International project to spread awareness of Lions commitment to helping the visually impaired, in our Community, our County and in the World.

The VDLCCF is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit public benefit corporation formed under California law in 2011. It was formed to provide a generic foundation to which members and others could make tax deductible contributions or grants as permitted under applicable law. Both during their lives and through bequests, to further general charitable purposes of the board type that we as Lions might support including all types of community and other programs and activities that promote or enhance the community, assist youth, help prevent blindness and so on. The specific charitable grants and donations made by the Foundation are determined at the discretion of its seven member Board of Directors.

Allocates and distributes budgeted funds to serve youth. Handles Club participation in promoting and carrying out annual International Youth Exchange Program.

Vision: Sandy Greenberg

Diabetes: Mary Saputo

Hunger:  Margaret Dunlevy

Childhood Cancer: Quincy Dungan

Environment: Steve Doll

Humanitarian Effort:  Mary Saputo

Disaster Relief: 

Youth: Allen Eggleston