Yossi Dror
Israel Lions Commissioner between 1990-1991
His motto: expansion – this is the goal.
Born in Petah Tikva, married to Pagit, father of three children and grandfather of five grandchildren. Grew up in Ramat Gan, where he was a member of the “Working and Learning Youth”, and headed the group of volunteers for the Nahal. He served in the army, in the parachute Nahal. Upon his release from the army, he began working at the aerospace industry as a machining technician and reached the position of head of the procurement and logistics administration of the “Lion” project and then of the “Lehav” factory, which manufactures and repairs fighter jets. In 1998, he was sent on behalf of the Aerospace Industry to manage the procurement organization in a delegation in New York, in the capacity of Vice President of Procurement and Logistics, in charge of all purchases in North America. During his stay in the USA, he completed bachelor’s and master’s studies in management sciences. In 2006, upon his return to Israel, he joined the procurement and logistics system of the division for the production of civil aircraft, in the position of head of the director.
Dalia and Nahum Yaakovi, members of the Kfar Saba Lions Club, were the ones who brought the scent of the Lions to Yossi Dror’s nose, when they suggested to him, in 1983, to establish together with them and other friends, the Kfar Saba Lions Club. Yossi agreed to join the club and was among the pillars that founded and stabilized it.
In 1986, when Yossi Dror was elected the third president of the Kfar Saba club, the club was still in its infancy and needed a guiding hand. The members were still in the midst of a process of social and community formation. The annual activity was mainly focused around the social formation and assimilation of the Lionist spirit among the members.
The community activity focused on:
* In the decision to adopt the children’s department of “Meir” hospital, for this purpose a large fundraising event was held, which made it possible to purchase a unique device, at the request of the director of the department.
* Staffing at the tram station at the Ra’anana/Kfar-Saba North junction.
Until his appointment as commissioner, in July 1990, at the World Conference in St. Louis, Yossi served as head of a district and as a cabinet member.
A number of actions taken for the first time in Lions Israel, distinguish Yossi Dror’s year as commissioner:
1. Representation of Lions Israel in the public committee for the selection of the President’s Badge for a volunteer, during the term of office of the late President Haim Herzog.
2. Initiate a joint project between the Kfar Saba club and the management of the “Meir” hospital, the main of which is the establishment of the blood bank at the hospital, with the financing coming from the L.C.I.F., the international aid fund. This was the first time the foundation participated in financing a project in Israel.
At the time of receiving the donation, in the amount of $50,000, the management of the KPF at that time completed a similar amount for the purpose of establishing the blood bank.
3. At the beginning of his term as district commissioner, Yossi Dror decided to implement the decisions of the national conferences of Lions Israel, to move district 356 – Lions Israel – from its place on the Lionist map, in the Afro-Asian region, to the European region. The implementation of these requests to Lions International encountered enormous difficulties. A former commissioner, Rami Arad, came to his aid and together, they began to convince the countries of the Afro-Asian region to agree to the “liberation” of District 356 from their region, and at the same time to convince the European region to accept the Israel Lions. These activities lasted many months. Dozens of letters of persuasion were sent to many countries, and at the end of his term, Yossi Dror managed to convince the European Forum to accept a delegation from Israel to the annual conference, which was held in Istanbul in August 1991. The conference was the cornerstone for the inclusion of the Israel Lions in the European Forum, and it led to the transition to the European Forum, under the new number – 128 .
4. The establishment of the Friends of the Lions Enterprises Association in Israel, headed by Ruti Ofer. The opening was held with the participation of the ambassadors of the United States and Egypt in Israel, the mayors: Eli Landau and Yitzhak Wald, the leadership of the Lions and other public figures. The day after the opening, the first Gulf War broke out, which torpedoed the entire move.
At the Person of the Year ceremony, the following were chosen as exemplary people: Prof. Dan Michaeli, for his contribution to health; Chaya and Eliyahu Hirsch, for their contribution to the community; Michael Gordos, for his contribution to the media.
The new clubs established in the year of Yossi Dror’s commission: Rehovot, Rishon Lezion, Dror Ra’anana, Lish Holon.
Yossi Dror continued his current activities at the Kfar-Saba club and took part in its achievements as an outstanding club, several times in district 356 and then in district 128. Also, during the term of office of Israel Nochem district commissioner, Yossi served as the chairman of the national Person of the Year committee.