May 9, a group of 30 Lioness congregated in Big Lake for a leadership forum and group meeting. Lioness Clubs represented came from Anoka, Big Lake, Clear Lake, Coon Rapids, Montrose, North Branch and St. Francis.

 

Guest speaker from Lions Club International, District Governor Elect Tom Fiecke, awarded pins to past and present Lioness Club presidents and secretaries. He spoke to the group about Lions International and their goals and benefits.

 

Lioness Associate Judie Zaske led her pride of Lioness of District 5M7 on an exciting safari through the many goals, offices, responsibilities and problems that our many clubs encounter and embrace.

 

The first Lioness Club was organized in North Carolina in December of 1975, and by the year 2000, there were nearly 6,000 clubs with over 150,000 members. Today admission of both men and women is allowed into Lions and Lioness clubs. 

 

The Lioness Club program indicates it meets the needs of women who wish to unite with other women in humanitarian service. The relationship of the Lioness Club to a sponsoring Lions Club is one of mutual support in a variety of service activities in addition to planning and implementing projects of their own in their communities. 

 

Lions and Lioness Clubs perform services in manuy areas such as diabetes, sight and hearing venues and more recently drug abuse/awareness programs. Critical of the club’s vitality is the Lioness practive of assessing local needs in areas of health, education and social welfare. 

 

Contributions are given to local food shelves, while support and scholarships are awarded to community graduates. Visits to nursing homes and assisted living facilities often include games of Bingo with gift bags or cake for residents. Clubs sponsor community blood drives in association with the  American Red Cross; hold various projects that support our children, seniors and those in need in our communities. 

 

Lions and Lioness alike contribute time and dollars to True Friends, Camp Friendship and Camp Courage, in Annandale which offers a true camping experience for the handicapped from our communities and around the country.

 

Lioness goals are community betterment, aid to the sick and handicapped, care for the elderly and less fortunate, and support to our schools and the leaders of tommorow. We combine good times and fellowship with respect and etiquette, and enjoy a spirit of comradeship as we attend to pleasant tasks of humitarian services.

 

Through community volunteer work, problems get smaller, communities get better. Lioness invite into their membership any community-minded person they feel would be an asset to their clubs. Lioness Clubs work!