The Gloucester City Lions Club reached another historic milestone on Aug. 6, as the first woman to join the organization eight years ago is now the Queen Lion.
Linda Baile was installed as the first woman club president during a celebratory meeting at Vitale’s Restaurant.
“Everyone accepted me with open arms as the first woman member. I never felt uncomfortable,” said Baile, who is excited to continue the club’s charitable activities during her one-year term as Queen Lion, including free eye exams for all Gloucester City students.
“I am so proud of her becoming the Queen Lion. She is an inspiration to me and this is a very special occasion,” said her daughter, Samantha Baile, one of the some 40 attendees present for her mom’s installation.
Her husband, Mayor Dayl Baile, was also very proud of his trailblazing wife. A longtime Lion, he said people thought there would never be a woman in the club, let alone a Queen Lion, and would say, “Not in Gloucester City. It is an all men’s club.”
Past Council Chairman Albert Olizi, a member of the Audubon Lions Club, administered the oath of office to Linda Baile – which was followed by a loud round of applause.
For the past five years Baile has been the club’s sight chairperson and helps set up the annual eye exams for students at Cold Spring Elementary School and Gloucester City Middle School.
“If a child needs glasses and the family can’t afford them, we give them a voucher and send them to America’s Best,” said Baile, adding that the voucher covers two pairs of eyeglasses and a free eye exam.
“The volunteers are wonderful. We couldn’t do it without them,” said Baile, pointing out that it takes up to five Lions to set up the initial exams at the schools.
For 15 years Baile has also volunteered, along with Lions John and Dawn Dennery, to help struggling families through the Gloucester City Helping Hands Food Pantry.
She is now the vice president on the pantry, which distributes free, nutritious food every Friday from 10 to 11 a.m. to Gloucester City and Brooklawn residents at the Ascension Church, 110 S. Sussex St., Gloucester City.
The Lions Club also helps out with the Post Office Food Drive and gives financial assistance to charitable organizations, including the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation, Baile said.
One of her goals as Queen Lion is to increase membership, and welcomes anyone wishing to join to attend one of the meetings the first and third Tuesday of every month at 6:30 p.m. in Vitale’s Restaurant.
Since Baile become the first woman to join the Gloucester City Lions Club, three other women have joined. She hopes more will join. “I am looking forward to my term as Queen Lion. We are a wonderful club and do a lot to help the community,” she said.
