The Lioness Club Program evolved naturally from the work of the women supporting the activities and goals of their local Lions Club.
Contributed photo
2009 Caribou Lioness President Angel Cyr, lights a ceremonial candle as Lioness Vicki Dube LaBrie watches from a distance.
The first Caribou Lioness Club was organized under Lions Club International on December 24, 1977. Lioness Clubs are not chartered, but rather certified. We currently are a project to the Lions Club of Caribou. They have acquired a conditional license so that we may use the Lioness emblem.
The Caribou Lions Club held a “Ladies Night” at the King Henry’s Restaurant for the wives of the Lions in 1976. At this special night, the members of the Caribou Lions Club discussed the goals and future of their club. A poll was taken to see how many women would be interested in a Lioness program, should the Lions Club wish to sponsor such a project.
Naturally, the ladies present expressed great interest in organizing a ladies organization to serve those less fortunate than us. That night, those ladies present became the charter members of the Caribou Lioness Club.
Caribou Lioness Club goals:
To unite individuals who have helped Lions with community service.
To offer opportunity to participate in community service with other civic-minded individuals.
To provide the opportunity to help others through structured and productive service projects.
To establish new friendships and pursue common goals with others who share a similar commitment.
Lioness Commitment
We the members of the Caribou Lioness Club commit ourselves to join forces and serve those who are less fortunate than we are. We try to focus on the needs of our community to do this. Some of the projects and activities and programs our club has supported include: visiting the nursing home once a month and playing bingo with residents; offering financial aid to the community on a drug program; supporting (DARE) a drug awareness program; scholarships; Christmas baskets; Ronald McDonald House; Lifeline support for clients; Diabetes camp; Maine Sight; community needs for children; United Way; Aroostook Teen Leadership Camp; Project Graduation; women’s health conferences; DECA, HOSA, VICA and much more.
The Caribou Lioness are also sponsors of the following events: Annual Barrel of Plenty; Miss Caribou Pageant; Miss Caribou Queens Tea; Ladies Night Out on the Town; published four editions of a Caribou Lioness Cookbook; bottle drives; benefit dances and/or suppers; and Work with the Lions on a community telephone directory.
A Lioness of the Year is chosen annually. Past recipients include: 1979 Marjorie Murchison; 1980 Vicki Umphrey; 1981 Vivian Willey; 1982 Lauretta Blackstone; 1983 Shirley Griffeth; 1984 Shirley Dumas; 1985 Marjorie Bell; 1986 Hazel Townsend; 1987 Pamela Scheppele; 1988 Connie Brown; 1989 Susan Thibodeau; 1990 Shirley Dumas; 1991 Vicki Umphrey; 1992 Petie Noble; 1993 Kathy Lancaster; 1994 Joan Dube; 1995 Jane Brown; 1996 Judy Corey; 1997 Janice Wright; 1998 Pam Scheppele; 1999 Kim Morrell; 2000 Sheila Green; 2001 Jola Hebert; 2002 Bobbi Jo Thornton; 2003 Michelle Hanson; 2004 Trisha Kinney; 2005 Mable Whitmore; 2006 Robyn Holdsworth; 2007 Jill Westin; and 2008 Imelda Mayo.
Past District Lioness of the Year: 1991 Connie Brown.
Past presidents include: 1977 Vivian Willey; 1977-78 Theresa Arey; 1978-79 Lauretta Blackstone; 1979-80 Shirley Dumas; 1980-81 Vicki Umphrey; 1981-82 Marjorie Murchison; 1982-83 Theresa Skonieczny; 1983-84 Marjorie Bell; 1984-85 Shirley Griffeth; 1985-86 Lee Niles; 1986-87 Betty Ennis; 1987-88 Vicki Umphrey 1988-89 Shirley Dumas; 1989-90 Pamela Scheppele; 1990-91 Tracy McCrossin;1991-92 Sheila Elliott; 1992-93 Connie Brown; 1993-94 Susan Thibodeau; 1994-95 Kathy Lancaster; 1995-96 Joan Dube; 1996-97 Petie Noble; 1997-98 Jane Brown; 1998-99 Micheline Patane; 1999-2000 Judy Corey; 2000-01 De’Angela Cyr; 2001-02 Kim Morrell; 2002-03 Robyn Holdsworth; 2003-04 Bobbi Jo Thornton; 2004-05 Shirley M. Dumas; 2005-06 Vicki Dube; 2006-07 Jan Tompkins; 2007-08 Joan Dube; 2008-09 Jill Westin; 2009-10 De’Angela Cyr.
Past District 41-0 presidents:1983-84 Vicki Umphrey;1985-86 Shirley Dumas;1989-90. Marjorie Bell
Lioness Mascot
Lioness Lula was designed and created by a past Lioness member Lauretta Blackstone.
