North Dakota Representation

Immediate Past District Governor Craig Wollenburg Lion Craig is a life long North Dakota resident who grew up in Harvey North Dakota and now lives in Rugby North Dakota. He attended school in Harvey for 12 years and graduated from Harvey high School in 1972. He continued his education at the University of North Dakota, graduating in 1977 with Honors. Following graduation he taught elementary and secondary music for the Unity Public and Rugby Public School systems for 10 years. In 1987 he began working in the financial services industry and has been working as a money manager for the past 21 years. Craig joined the Rugby Lions Club in 1997 and is currently Vice-District Governor of District 5NC. He has served the Rugby Lions as a board member, Vice President, and as President in 2003-2004. District Governor Craig has also served as the Zone Chairman for Zone 3B, Region Chairman for Zone 3, and is currently the Chairman of the District 5NC MERL team. Craig has received two International Certificates of Appreciation, the International Leadership Award for his work with the North Dakota Lions Tsunami Relief effort, was named the Rugby Lion of the Year in 2004, and most recently he was honored with a Melvin Jones Fellow in 2006. Lion Craig has been active in his local community and has held many offices in various service clubs, his church, city government, and also participated in the local musical theatre. He has been with his partner Sandy Wurgler for 12 years and they have 5 daughters and 9 grandchildren which keep them both very busy! Craig enjoys hunting and fishing, golf with Sandy, singing with anybody, and spending time at the lake.

South Dakota Representative

Immediate Past District Governor Kenneth K. Gifford  Ken was born and raised in Huron, South Dakota where he graduated from high school in 1955. He attended South Dakota State College and received his BS degree in Industrial Arts Education in 1959. He taught junior high school Industrial Arts in the Sioux Falls Public Schools during which time he completed his MS degree from Colorado State College in 1964. In 1969 he took sabbatical leave from his teaching assignments and in 1970 received his PhD from the University of Northern Colorado majoring in Higher Education and Vocational Administration. He returned to Sioux Falls as the Director of Vocational Education. For 5 years he served as the Executive Director of the State Advisory Council on Vocational Education. From 1982-2000 he was the President of Western Dakota Technical Institute in Rapid City, SD. For the past 8 years and currently is serving as the Education Director for the Building Chapter of the Associated General Contractors of SD. Dr. Gifford and his wife Bea will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary on August 2, 2008. They have two children, Michael a disaster recovery computer specialist living in San Antonio, TX and Chelaine, who lives in Rapid City is an RN specializing in intensive care nursery. Ken and Bea have 5 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren. He enjoys golf, fishing, travel, spending time with his family, and good food and drink. Ken is active in several community organizations including the United Way of the Black Hills, Humane Society of the Black Hills, German Sister City Partnership, Elks Lodge 1187, and Canyon Lake United Methodist Church. He has been the recipient of several awards and honors throughout his professional career. Ken became a Lion in 2000 when he joined the Rushmore Lions Club and has served in all leadership positions within his club. He has served as a Region Chair and the International Understanding Committee Chair for District 5SW. He is on the Board of Directors for the SD Lions Eye Bank and the Board of Directors of the SD Lions Foundation. He is a Melvin Jones Fellow through his participation of Campaign Sight First II. Serving as VDG this past year he has worked closely with his DG Joe Harris and the district MERL team to establish new clubs within 5SW, indoctrinate new members, and most importantly meet and make friends with many new Lions.

Saskatchewan Representative

Immediate Past District Governor Gladys (Gladi) Andrew Lionism has been part of Gladi’s life for a number of year President of the Yorkton LionL Club - 1977 Charter member and Past President of the Yorkton Sunland Lioness Club - chartered 1980 Charter member of the Yorkton Legacy Lions Club - 1992 >p> - President of the Bredenbury Lions Club - 1999-2000 Secretary of Home Club, the Bredenbury Lions - 96-97/97-98/98-99/07-08 District 5CA Provincial Transplant Awareness Program Co-ordinator 1990-91/91-92/92-93 District 5CA Zone Chairperson, Zone 4, 2000-2001 District 5CA Diabetes/Tabs for Tots Chairperson 2001-02/02-03/03-04 District Lioness Advisory Chairperson 2006-07/07-08 Attended four International Conventions (Chicago, Phoenix, Hong Kong, Minneapolis) Attended two US/Canada Forums (Calgary, Edmonton) Attended numerous District and Multiple District Conventions Awarded “Lioness of the Year Award” 1989-90 Presented the International President’s “Certificate of Appreciation” on behalf Of International President Biggs 1991 Recipient of the Melvin Jones Fellow Award 1991 Awarded “Lion of the Year” Award 1993 Presented International President James Coffey’s “Leadership Award” 1994 Life Member of the Lions Foundation of Canada Recipient of the Lions Foundation of Canada Fellowship Award Community Involvement: Past President of the Yorkton Figure Skating Club Past Secretary for the Parkland Boy Scout Staff member at the Canadian Boy Scout Jamboree in Prince Edward Island - 1977 Staff member at the World Boy Scout Jamboree at Kanannaskis, Alberta - 1983 Currently, Member of the Bredenbury Library Board. Gladi is mother to 3 daughters - Michelle in Montreal, Quebec - Jaci & family in Medicine Hat, Alberta - Carrie & family in Saskatoon, Sask - . and one son Robert in Altlanta, Georgia. Grandmother to four boys and three girls. In 1994 she had gained two daughters Cheryl and husband in Prince George, BC. and Michelle in Red Deer, Alberta - and one grandson, all of whom she is most proud. Gladi and Joe reside in Bredenbury, Saskatchewan.