Churchville Lion John Rabideau

'Lions' Lion' John Rabideau on to another level

Churchville Lion John Rabideau made local Lion history in April when club members from across the state gathered in Saratoga Springs and elected him as their candidate for the International Board of Directors for Lions Clubs International.

"He put our club on the map," said his wife and fellow Lion Bernie Rabideau. "Once every three years an individual is given an opportunity to secure the endorsement. It's not something that just happens. It's quite an honor."

Rabideau will continue to campaign until next July, when he heads to the international convention in Osaka, Japan to compete for one of the seven seats on the board which go to districts from the United States. There are 33 board members representing districts worldwide.

Rabideau campaigned from November of 2000 until April of 2001 to secure the endorsement, putting about 25,000 miles on the family car traveling around New York state, especially in New York City. "The other two candidates were both very good candidates," he said. "It was an overwhelming victory."

The campaign was a family affair. Daughter, and fellow Lion, Valerie Pataki, said the three-day convention in Saratoga Springs was a great opportunity to meet new people. She said as the elections neared on the final day, the excitement built up and adrenaline was pumping.

"When they announced (the winner) the place just exploded," Pataki said. "We got a great response from across the state."

"I'm very, very proud," Pataki said. "He definitely deserved this. He is a prime candidate and an asset to Lionism. He is a Lion's Lion."

Churchville Lions Club President Joe DeLeo said it will be an honor to have a member of the local club serving on the international level. He said the Lions are lucky to have Rabideau, "Not only as a club but as a district, the state as a whole ... He will serve us well. He is a good leader all-around."

According to DeLeo, Rabideau has "served every position in the club, sometimes twice." At the local level, Rabideau has served as two-time past president, secretary and bulletin editor of the Churchville Lions Club.

At the district level, he served as a zone and regional chairs, was the 20-E1 District Governor from 1990-91 and served on various committees. He has also served in various capacities at the multiple district level, and participated in many training seminars.

Rabideau moved to Churchville with his wife in 1973, and joined the Lions Club in 1974. "We love Churchville and feel blessed to live here," he said.

"Anything I have been fortunate enough to accomplish over the years is because of my wife's support. She is a Lion and has been by my side all the way," Rabideau.

Son, Shawn, is not a Lion, but "We're working on that," Rabideau said. Daughter, Pataki, said it was her father who inspired her to become a Lion. She calls the Churchville Lions Club "one big family," and said her father could not have reached this level of recognition without their support.

A veteran of the United States Navy, Rabideau is the owner of the Boughner-Rabideau Insurance Agency in North Chili. He is a communicant of the St. Vincent de Paul Church, serves on the church's planned giving committee, chairs the Churchville-Chili Central School Redistricting Committee, and is past president, and the current director, of the Churchville Chamber of Commerce.

Pataki said her father's campaign motto, "United in Service," not only garnered support at the convention and throughout the campaign, but inspired other Lions in their own service. She said it means, "No matter who you are, what race, where you live, we're all doing the same thing."

Whether helping the blind, the hearing impaired, those in need in the community or in the schools, it is the service that counts, she said. "He deeply believes that," she said.

In an introduction on the website developed as part of his campaign for director, Rabideau said, "... it is my belief in the power of Lions "United in Service" that underlies all that I do. We as Lions are the luckiest people in the world because we receive so much more than we give."