Rami Arad
Israel Lions Commissioner between 1993-1994
His motto: “Serve us”
Rami Arad was born in Bulgaria in 1944 and immigrated to Israel in 1958. Married, father of two and grandfather of three grandchildren. Graduated from the realist major at “Kogel” high school in Holon. He served 27 years in the Air Force, in the technical formation, where he advanced through the chain of command and was discharged with the rank of lieutenant colonel (res.), after two positions as head of a branch. He characterizes his service as years of personal development, alongside the technological development in the Air Force. Upon his release, he integrated into the industry, where he held a variety of senior positions.
The late Avraham Pleyner, Varda’s father, Rami’s wife – was one of the founders of the Holon Lions Club, so the connection with the Lions was an everyday thing in the Arad family home. While still in the military service, Rami was involved in the community activities of the Holon Club, which he joined Officially in 1987, at the request of the late former Commissioner Mike Frank. In those days, the number of members gradually decreased, and it was important for Rami to work to revive the club. One of the things that worked to forge the unit pride of the club members was the hosting of the Lions Israel incoming youth camp that year, which was headed by Rami.
During his activity as president of the Holon Lions Club in 2003/04, 1989/90, Rami Arad devoted his full energy to the expansion of the club and its operations.
In 1990/91 he was elected to the Israel Lions Cabinet.
Until his election as district commissioner in 1993, he worked in the following national committees:
– Member and Chairman of the National Youth Exchange Committee (1992/93, 1991/92, 1990/91, 1989/90).
– Chairman of the Person of the Year and People of the Model Committee. The event was held at the Holon Theater and for the first time in the history of the organization, the “Dear Lions Israel” award was awarded to Gerd Kahlstatt (Holocaust survivor and former Commissioner at Lions Luxenburg) for his activities on behalf of Lions Israel (1992).
– The concentration of activity to transfer the District of Israel to the European Forum (1993/94, 1992/93, 1991/92, 1990/91).
In July 1993, at the World Conference in St. Paul, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA, he was ordained as the 33rd commissioner of Lions Israel.
Activity as commissioner:
Moving from the Afro-Asian forum to Yunus Israel to the European forum
All the activities for the transition of Lions Israel to the European Forum, see in a separate chapter.
The women’s clubs – decisions
In 1987 it was decided at the Lions World Conference in Taipei, Taiwan to accept women as equal rights in the organization. Until then the women were affiliated with the men’s clubs
(in the name of “Lionesse”), without voting rights.
After the decision made by the International Lions, Rami Arad, from a liberal mindset, which says that everyone should be allowed to realize themselves, turned to the women’s clubs at that time, asking them to choose between establishing a separate independent club framework, and joining existing clubs. Three of the women’s clubs that existed at the time: Nazareth, Abuka-Pat and Aviv-Ta’a, continued as independent clubs and only the Dekla club split, with some of its members joining the Holon (parent) club and the rest continuing as an independent club.
Recruitment for Sight First
The year 1993 was the third and decisive year of Operation SF, in which Lions International, through its districts, raised enormous financial resources to fight eye diseases and other causes of blindness in the world. It was the first time that the Lions members around the world were asked to personally contribute to the solution of a global problem when the Israel Lions District got involved for this purpose.
At the Person of the Year and Men of the Moffet ceremony held in Jerusalem, the following men of the Moffet were chosen: Aryeh Luba Eliav, Tamar Kolek, and the late Prof. Kalman Yaakov Man.
Establishment of the “Or” club in Ramat Hasharon.
Activity as a former commissioner
Chairman of the International Relations Committee (1996/97, 1995/96, 1994/95).
Return to regular activity at the Holon club as president (2003/04) and treasurer (2008/09, 2007/08).
Participation in 5 world conferences: Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA (1993), Phoenix, Arizona, USA (1994), Montreal, Canada (1996), Birmingham, England (1998) and Honolulu, Hawaii, USA ( 2000).
Participation in 7 forums in Europe: Genoa, Italy (1992), Vienna, Austria (1993), Berlin, Germany (1994), Rotterdam, Netherlands (1995), Deville, France (1996), Zurich, Switzerland (1997), Budapest , Hungary (1998).
special signals
1991 – “Top ten youth exchange” award from all over the world
Top Ten Youth Exchange Chairman.
1994 – Melvin Jones Fellow.
1994 – District Governor Award.
1997 – International President Award.
2006 – Holon mayor’s shield – volunteer of the year.