Cranbury Lions Club member receives Presidents Excellence Award.
By: Matt Kirdahy
Cranbury Lions Club President Bob Virgadamo was the recipient this year of the Presidents Excellence Award given by Lions Clubs International but he didn’t even know he was in the running.
"It was news to me," Mr. Virgadamo said about discovering the award existed before accepting it on behalf of the Cranbury Lions. He received the award at the Lions district meeting on Jan. 27 in Piscataway.
Mr. Virgadamo has been a Cranbury Lion for the past five years and is currently completing a two-year term as the organization’s president. He spoke modestly about receiving the Presidents Award, which is only presented to 10 Lions in the state. He credited the recognition of his extraordinary service to the team effort from the Cranbury group of 81 members.
"I’m proud to receive it, but it’s not me, it’s the entire club," he said. "It’s in honor of the group that is most exemplary of the ideal Lions Club."
The Presidents Excellence Award is awarded annually by Lions Clubs International district leaders. The district leaders monitor the service that Lions’ presidents have performed to better their communities. There are a total of 250 Lions Clubs in New Jersey, and those clubs are partitioned into districts. The Cranbury Lions are part of District 16-D, according to Mr. Virgadamo. He said four other Lions presidents in the district were the recipients of the same award.
"We serve," Mr. Virgadamo said. "That’s the Lions’ motto. We are a bunch of dedicated people."
He added that Lions Clubs all over the country have the same goal of helping the community, and it is just a matter of how those groups attain that goal.
Mr. Virgadamo said he will pass his president’s gavel to a fellow Cranbury Lion by June 20. The change will be effective at the following meeting on July 1.
Andy Jost, who has been a Lions member since 1995, is running unopposed to replace Mr. Virgadamo in the president’s position. If elected, Mr. Jost said Mr. Virgadamo’s shoes would be large ones to fill.
"He gives 110 percent of his time to the Lions," Mr. Jost said. "Bob has set the standard that his successors can only hope to match."
Even though he plans to remain a big part of the Cranbury Lions’ efforts to keep making Cranbury a great place to live, Mr. Virgadamo said he is glad to step down as president. He talked about how taxing it can be on someone to hold that title.
"It’s very demanding of your time because you get involved with everything that the Lions is doing," he said. "You’re the spokesperson for the entire group."
The Cranbury Lions are involved in a variety of activities and programs in town, including rewarding high school students who have displayed extraordinary academic achievement and selfless community service with scholarship money and activity sponsorship. The Lions Club is also responsible for the Cranbury Memorial Day Parade every year.
Next on Mr. Virgadamo Lions agenda, he plans to attend the Lions Club United States and Canada leadership forum in Portland, Ore. in September.

