Dye becomes Rancho Bernardo Lions Club president

July 20, 2014 1:30 PM PT

By Elizabeth Marie Himchak

Continuing the Rancho Bernardo Lions Club’s philanthropic efforts, increasing youth involvement via LEOs and attracting more younger members are among President Betty Jean Dye’s goals.

Dye was recently installed as the club’s 2014-15 president after having served in numerous other offices since becoming a Lion 10 years ago.

“I have new ideas for direction, but with the same mind-set of outstanding service,” she said.

Dye said a neighbor invited her to join soon after her retirement from the construction industry in 2004. She moved to San Diego in 1946 as a child and has been a Rancho Bernardo resident since 1977.

“When I went to a meeting — though not a joiner per se — I saw they are about service and not just going out to lunch, so I got hooked,” she said.

At the time, the club had around 80 members and due to most members being retirees and few young adults joining, it has dwindled to 29 over the past decade. But Dye said she is optimistic since seven Lions living in the Fallbrook area recently transferred their membership from a National City club to the Rancho Bernardo club since they work in the RB area.

“They are very enthusiastic and have brought new ideas that are excellent,” Dye said. “We’re open to change.”

According to Dye, the Lions — like all other service organizations — are having difficulty recruiting younger members because of their work and family commitments.

For this reason, Dye said reaching out to youth before other obligations become a factor is important. When introduced to Lions International and its philanthropic works as middle and high school students through LEO Clubs, some want to continue that involvement as adults. She said RB Lion Justin Souter — one of the club’s youngest members — is an example. He was a LEO at Rancho Bernardo High and several years ago joined RB Lions after starting his career.

Dye said she is looking forward to continuing the club’s sponsorship of the LEO Clubs at Rancho Bernardo High School and Bernardo Heights Middle School. While the Lions primarily focus on sight and hearing impaired issues, and the LEOs join them in these efforts, the teens also collect blankets for the homeless and do beach cleanups.

She said the Lions also provide a college scholarship to a graduating LEO and sponsors a student speaker contest at RB High. The winner advances to the District 4L6 competition, which has 62 clubs.

The club is also reaching out to former Rancho Bernardo Lady Lions. When it began, Lions International was only open to men. So when the RB club formed 50 years ago, members’ wives formed Lady Lions, a local group with no larger organizational affiliation.

Though women were allowed to join Lions International in 1988, the RB Lady Lions did not merge into RB Lions Club — opting instead to continue their separate organization that supported Lions’ projects. Almost two years ago RB Lady Lions disbanded so Dye said the Lions are trying to recruit former Lady Lions to increase membership.

The Rancho Bernardo Lions Club meets at 11:30 a.m. on the second and fourth Tuesday of the month at Bernardo Heights Country Club. Annual dues are $140 (covers local, district and international fees). There is also a $20 fee for each luncheon.

For membership details, call Dye at 858-487-8175 or go to