The Hewitt Lion’s Club served food at the Bertha-Hewitt School open house as one of their first events after the clubs combined.
The Hewitt Lion’s Club served food at the Bertha-Hewitt School open house as one of their first events after the clubs combined.
Lionesses continue to serve as Lions
By: Trinity Gruenberg
Two organizations became one in July.
The Hewitt Lionesses and Lions were both chartered in 1978, but the Lionesses are no more, and have joined the ranks of the Hewitt Lions.
Lions Club International no longer recognizes the years of service for Lionesses. Hewitt was the last holdout club in the upper Midwest region.
“The United States was the only county in the world that had Lioness clubs. They didn’t want the U.S. to keep their Lioness club. You couldn’t get vests, pins and stuff for awards anymore,” said Barb Finn, Melvin Jones winner and former Lioness.
Although they combined in July, it’s been in the works for about six months. New officers were elected on July 1 because that coincides with the start of their new year.
The Lioness members were given several options: to disband, continue without recognition from LCI or join the Lions. A vote determined their path.
“We did things with the guys 90 percent of the time anyway, so it just made sense to be one group,” said Maria Greenwaldt, former Lioness president.