Leadership

“A plan is just a dream with a date” What’s your dream?

Lion Roger Mahaffey
District Governor 

Lion Roger is a Nebraska native who has spent most of his life in California. He attended school in Westminster, California, and college in Long Beach. Professionally, he served as a manager and supervisor in manufacturing, working in the aerospace, military, and instrumentation fields. Roger also operated his family’s machine shop business in Huntington Beach for seven years and continues to thrive in the machine shop environment.

Lion Roger joined the Buena Park Noon Lions Club in 2015 and immediately began finding ways to support the club’s mission. Soon after becoming a member, he joined the Board of Directors and volunteered for service projects, the club’s signature event Silverado Days, and virtually every other club program and activity.

Over the years, Lion Roger has served on multiple committees and held numerous event chairmanships within his home club. In 2023–2024, he served as Second Vice District Governor of District 4-L4 and currently serves as First Vice District Governor.

Lion Roger has also been recognized by the City of Buena Park for his volunteer service with local youth. As a nine-year volunteer in the city’s youth theater program, he has built strong relationships with city leaders and staff. Deeply devoted to both his home city and his Lions family, Roger enjoys serving alongside his wife, Lion Linda.

Lion Marianne Allen
1st Vice District Governor

Lion Marianne Allen was born in Santa Ana California.
Yes she is a Southern California girl!

Marianne received her Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from National University and her Masters in Counseling from Loyola Marymount University. 

Marianne Allen is a founding member of the Harbor Mesa Lions Club and an associate member of the Garden Grove Host Lions Club.  She is a second generation legacy lion with over 32 years of experience in serving communities throughout Orange County.  Lion Marianne has demonstrated her leadership skills in the Lions District for over the past 3 decades serving in many leadership roles including: Club President 2 times, Club Secretary and treasurer many times, Zone and Region Chair, Cabinet Secretary and Treasurer multiple times and many times have chaired committees (District Student Speakers Chair, Peace Poster Chair, Pediatric Cancer Chair, Nominations Chair, Public Relations Chair and have worked on the District Convention Committee).

Lion Marianne Allen will be leading District 4-L4 in 2026-2027
year starting July 1, 2026

Lion Marianne has attended training courses on membership growth, intense 1^st Vice District Governor’s training and currently sits on the MD4 Committee, Cal Refresh.  She has worked with District 4L4’s Zone chairpersons in many capacities supporting their service projects and supporting new ideas

She has attended many District, MD4, and International Conventions along with the USA/Canada Forum and recently attended the Faculty Development Institute. She has also attended both the Regional and Emerging Lions Institute training.

Her motto for her District Governor Year is
“Inspire Change through Community Service”

On a more personal note, she has been married to her husband Mike for over 25 years and has one son, James, and two beautiful granddaughters, Sarah and Olivia. She also has one other child, Moomoo (pet).  She has worked in the Community College sector for over 40 years in many different capacities. Currently she is working part time as a Counselor at Long Beach City College. Lion Marianne will be retiring in June of 2026.

Lion Kurt Bensworth
2nd Vice District Governor 

 

Kurt Bensworth is a native Californian—born and raised. Other than the two years he lived in Hawaii, where his first child was born, has lived exclusively in the Los Angeles/Orange County areas. 

Kurt holds two degrees: a B.A. degree in Political Science from UCLA, and a B.S. degree in Accounting from Chapman University, Orange, CA. He paid for both degrees by working odd jobs and gambling. Yes, he meant gambling, though he prefers the term "calculated risk."

After college, he worked in the tax and accounting industry while doubling up on a second job umpiring professional tennis. He worked both fields simultaneously for eighteen years. Having good fortune during the real estate boom and other successful investments, he was able to retire early at the age of forty-five.

Kurt’s emergence into the Tustin Host Lions Club began in 2019. He has served as Club President for two years, Club Treasurer for three years, and a Club Board Member for five years. During his tenure with Tustin, he has served as Chair/Co-Chair/ Committee member on numerous committees including Student Speaker Contest, Gene Thomas Scholarship, Vision Screening, First Responders Luncheon, Tustin Tiller Days, Chilli Cook-Off and Melvin Jones Fellowship Award. He was instrumental in forming the Irvine Lions Branch Club.

District involvement includes District Zone Chairman 2022/23, District Global Membership Team Coordinator 2023/24, District Global Extension Team Coordinator 2024/25 and is the current Second Vice District Governor 4-L4 2025/26. During his Second Vice District Governor year he brought forth two major projects: securing the funding for two Fundus Cameras and the making of Star Cards for our Veterans and all First Responders.  

Lion Kurt and Lion Sandra have been married for 37 years and have two adult children.  His volunteerism goes beyond this hometown of Tustin and the Lions.  He is also a Santa Ana Elks Lodge member for 11 years, Paper Football Commissioner for 10 years, twice named a Superhero in the City of Tustin, Commander and Treasurer for the Sons of the American Legion, Squadron 227 for 9 years, and served on the Tustin Historical Society Board for 7 years (6 years as the Treasurer.)  He is known as the “Stat Guy” coach for three different varsity high school football teams covering 18 years winning for CIF titles and two State Championship rings.  He is a published author and loves watching the Japanese Sport of Sumo.  Eclectic is one way to describe him but with a focus on achieving success in whatever endeavors he participates.