Women In Lions Committee

PCC Liz Crooke

Lion Elizabeth “Liz” Crooke, from Salinas, California, was elected to serve as MD-4 Council Chair in 2012, having served as District Governor of District 4-C6 the previous year. As she worked to develop her own leadership skills, Liz became a Certified Faculty Development Instructor for Lions International in 2011 and a Certified Lions International Presenter in 2018. Liz has served on the faculty of 11 International Leadership Institutes. She has become known and respected by International Officers and staff, leading to her designation as a DGE Group Leader
Instructor for 2021-2022. Lion Liz has also presented at USA/Canada Lions Leadership Forum and LCICon and is serving on the Seminars Team for USA/Canada Forum in 2023. While District Governor, Liz instituted the 4-C6 LEO Leadership Institute. Liz is also currently serving as a mentor on the GAT Area 1-G leadership team.

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2nd VDGE Jama Wahl

Lion Jama Wahl has served as club president twice. The club earned Club Excellence Awards both times. She is currently club secretary. She has served as the 1BK Global Leadership Team Chair, the MD1 Global Leadership Team Chair and as an Area GLT, serving Illinois, Indiana, Michigan and Kentucky. She is LCIP certified and has taught all LCI leadership Institutes from RLLI to LCIP. She was a member of the original LCIP faculty. Most recently, she served as the General Chair for the USA Canada Lions Leadership Forum in Reno 2023. She is now serving as the US Advisor. She will be the Second Vice District Governor for 1BK for 2024-25.

PCC Jodi Burmester

Past Council Chair Jodi Burmester, from MD27 Wisconsin USA, has been a Lion for over 30 years. Her service is wide-ranging and includes being a co-founder of Lions Virtual.org, presenter/facilitator @ numerous Forums/Conventions/Workshops, growing Lions as new club consultant, connecting Lions as a Global Lions Forum administrator & so much more. 
Burmester’s passions include helping Lions & Clubs reach their full potential, leadership training, public relations & marketing, and helping to utilize technology to strengthen our Association.

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In her professional life, she has spent more than 30 years in marketing  communications/business consulting. 
In recognition for her service to the Association, Burmester has been awarded the Ambassador of Goodwill, four International President Awards, three International President’s Leadership Awards and 15 International President’s Certificates of Appreciation. 

Lion Lynda Durand

Lynda Durand is an  ardent Early Childhood;  Advocate, Educator, Administrator, Professor and Volunteer.  With a Masters in Education, her greatest passion has been working  for more than 35 years serving and leading early education programs in Orange County and Riverside County that target underserved and vulnerable children and families. 

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Along with her public service she is a volunteer in the community through the Garden Grove Host Lions Club. As President, Lynda leads Lions in serving our GG residents by heading up projects such as the Welcome Back to School and Pancakes with Principals at Gilbert Elementary School as well as toy donations to underserved children through the Buena Clinton Center. Recently the club honored the service of our own GGPD where Lynda experienced her first time in the jail cell! 

Lynda also holds positions at the Lions District level of Global Leadership Team Leader and Student Speaker Contest Chair. She has been honored with Lions recognitions including the International Presidents medal and the Melvin Jones Fellow award.  She is passionate about training Lions with a focus on building leadership in the association.                                                                                                              Lynda also enjoys serving, golfing and fishing with her husband Lion Craig and spending time with their four children and precious granddaughter.

PDG Wendy Cain

I started tagging along with my Dad to Lions events as a youngster, and have been a Lion for over 30 years.  I am in the Oak Ridge, Tennessee Lions Club.  I served as District Governor (12-N) in 2006-2007, and General Chair of the 2021 USA/Canada Lions Leadership Forum in Des Moines, Iowa. 

I am thankful for the many service, leadership, and friendship opportunities that we have through Lionism.  I am on an journey to improve my own leadership skills while lifting others up along the way!

PDG Debbie Mansell

Debbie Mansell has been a Lion for 17 years. She is a member of the Peninsula Lions Club, in MD19, in Southwest Washington State. Debbie has been focusing on developing her leadership skills. In 2019, she completed the Doctorate degree from Lions University and 2021 she
became a Lion Certified Instructor (LCIP). In 2022-2023 Debbie served as the District Governorfor 19G.
 

Lion Debbie has been on the faculty of multiple Regional Lions Leadership Institutes (RLLI) and was on the faculty of the final Advanced Lions Leadership Institute (ALLI). Debbie was invited to serve as a District Governor Elect Group Leader for the 2024-2025 year.

Debbie will be the 19N LCIF Co-Coordinator again this year. She is looking forward to visiting clubs, meeting new Lions, and raising funds for our Lions foundation. Debbie and her husband, Lions Mark are enjoying retirement and living at the beach.

Lion Shasta Yamada

Shasta has been a Lion for 3 years and served as the first female and youngest President for Koko Heads Lions in it's 75 year history. She chaired two District Conventions (2022 & 2023). She is currently serving on the Hawaii Lions Foundation as a Trustee-At-Large. in 2023 she received the International President's Award. In May 2024 he completed the FDI Institute. She is often found at events dressed in a Lion mascot at festivals, outreaches, marching and dancing in parades!

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In 2023, Shasta has started a Young Professional Lions Program. The goal of Young Professional Lions Program is to recruit new potential Lions between the ages of 18-39 years of age, develop future leaders, and to create an intergenerational network of Young Lions and Mentors on a global level.

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Aside from serving her community she also enjoys meeting Lions from around the world, if you find yourself on Oahu be sure to reach out.

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