Most of us are females aged 18 to infinity who have joined
together in friendship and enjoy each others
Company.
We pride ourselves on playing an active part in the local
community, helping those less fortunate than ourselves,
as well as enjoying a social life with like-minded individuals who come from all
walks of life.
Lioness Clubs are part of Lions Clubs International, the
largest service organisation in the world. With over 1.4
million members in 44,000 communities around the globe, we take a ‘hands on
role’ in improving the quality of life in the local community and the wider
world.
Lioness Clubs began in America as a result of the success
of the auxiliary clubs which were started for the wives of the all-male Lions
Clubs. The Lioness emblem and name were approved in 1975 and
membership was open to any lady over the age of 18, whether or not she was
married to a Lion. The first Club to be formed was the Mount Pleasant
Club, North Carolina on 24 December 1975.
The first Lioness Club in the British Isles and Ireland
was formed in Pontefract, West Yorkshire in 1977 and since then we have spread
throughout the country as well as travelling across the water to
Southern Ireland. At present there are 25 Clubs in the
British Isles and Ireland, but there are many more, in countries
all around the world.
Lionesses are not just a group who get together over a cup
of coffee. We are a ‘professional’ organisation
who hold regular business meetings not only as individual Clubs but also at
area, national and even international level.
Nationally we are governed by a Committee of
representatives from all areas in the British Isles and Ireland.
This Committee is known as the Advisory Body and has a Chairman,
Secretary, Treasurer and a Lion co-ordinator linking the organisation to Lions
Club International Council of Governors for the same area .
Lioness Clubs are sponsored by their local Lions Club who support the activities of the Lioness Club.
Individual Clubs decide on their own way of working, providing they remain within the guidelines set down in the ‘Document of Understanding’ (the national guide book for Lionesses). Clubs organise their own events as well as deciding how best to spend the money to help their local community and we are proud to say that as an organisation every penny raised from the public goes directly to charity.
International President Lion Jimmy Ross, with the Multiple
District Mascot,
and Lionesses from Pontefract and Northallerton