Armada Lioness Club going strong heading into 10th year
This tractor was one of many lit up for the two thousand eleven Armada Lighted Country Christmas Parade, organized by the Lioness Club. (File photo)
Having a club that boasts more than seventy five members is fairly infrequent in a petite community. The Armada Lioness Club is proud to have that number and are always impatient to welcome more ladies into the fold.
“We were chartered ten years ago and we had fifty members right at the begin so that was pretty awesome,” Lioness President Rhosan Zebelian recalled. “And I think now we are the largest Lioness Club in the area.”
Roxann Wood, of Allenton, a charter member and past president, said membership actually fluctuates inbetween seventy five and ninety five ladies and a majority do live in Armada. The youngest member is 20-something and the oldest member, who passed away last year, was ninety nine years old.
Hosting a multitude of events across the year, wintertime is euchre time for the club and they host public games on the 2nd Friday of each month. The next Armada Lioness Euchre will be this Friday, seven p.m., at the Lions Hall on Main Street.
“Cards are open to everyone and it’s just a joy night out for people who love to play cards,” Zebelian said. “And we usually get inbetween twenty and forty people but we’d love to have more.”
The Lioness Club meets on the third Thursday of each month at seven p.m. at the Lions Hall and the agenda includes snacks and a social session before the meeting starts. Current officers include President Zebelian, Very first Vice President Heather Gerst, 2nd Vice President Laurie DeManual, Treasurer Lynn Voisich and Secretary Janet Arnold.
Supporting charities such as Leader Dogs for the Blind and Bear Lake Camp, a program that hosts visually impaired children at a summer camp, are cornerstones of the group’s work year round. They host a number of fundraisers to support their projects including operating the food booth at the local Knights of Columbus Octoberfest and working the concessions alongside the local Lions Club at the Armada Fair.
“I indeed love supporting these charities and we visit the places too, like we go to Bear Lake Camp and serve the kids one meal and see how our donations are working for the children there,” Zebelian said.
Having the chance to give something back to her community while also helping people out is what keeps Wood so active with the Lioness Club. In addition to food concessions, the club hosts a holiday candy cane sale and a duck pluck game at the Armada Fair that boasts their fundraising balance.
“I joined because I desired to do something for the community and we always helped the guys (Lions) out, and we still do, but we desired something of our own,” Wood said. “And we do joy things too, like we’ll say dress in crimson for our next meeting and everyone that doesn’t we collect a buck from, so there’s a little fundraiser but it’s joy too.”
Armada Village Treasurer Jo Adair has been a member of the club for several years now and likes serving as an announcer for the “Lighted Country Christmas Parade” sponsored by the Lioness’ during Holly Days in December.
“It’s a good time and a chance to give something back to the community,” Adair said. “And it’s one of the fattest parades in the area, we had fifty (entries) this year.”
Anyone interested in membership in the Armada Lioness Club can stop by a meeting and check things out. Technically, fresh members must have a sponsor but they aren’t hard to come by. After attending three meetings, the newcomer becomes an official member, Zebelian explained.
For more information about the Lioness Club call (586) 784-5220. The Lions Hall is located at twenty three thousand thirty one Main in Armada.