About Us
more than 1,800 Lions and Leos of District 23C
leaders from all over Eastern Connecticut
leaders from all over Eastern Connecticut
DG Eileen Akers
District Governor
Ledyard Lions
Ledyard Lions
Lion Eileen joined the Ledyard Lions in January 1997. She served on the Board of Directors, chaired various club committees, and served as Vice President, Secretary, and twice as President. She has been President of the Lions Low Vision Center of Eastern Connecticut; served on and chaired District and Multiple District Committees, such as the Accessibility, IT, Youth Outreach, Eyeglass Extravaganza, and other committees. Lion Eileen shares her leadership with a myriad of other organizations, including the Connecticut Board of Education and Services for the Blind (BESB), American Council of Blind Lions, and others. In her goal of making more areas accessible for Blind patrons, Lion Eileen produced braille menus for many local restaurants. Her journey has included Zone Chair and Cabinet Secretary.
She is a graduate of the Regional Lions Leadership Institute and has successfully completed Governor Elect Training in St. Charles, Il.
Lion Eileen is a Progressive Melvin Jones Fellow, a Knight of the Blind, and an Ambassador of Sight. She has been recognized with an Excellence Award and other accolades.
Lion Eileen is believed to be the first teacher reliant on Braille to have been hired by a public school in the State of Connecticut. She retired from the Norwich School system after many years of counseling and tutoring. She resides in Norwich with her fifth guide dog Hannah.
1st VDG James Tripp
First Vice District Governor
Portland Lions
Portland Lions
VDG Jim became a Lion in 2018, serving as the Charter President of the Portland Lions Club. He served his club as President for two years and currently serves as a Director. Since 2020, he served District 23C as a member of the Hunger and Homeless Committee, then as Global Service Team Coordinator, and most recently as a District Zone Chair. He is a Melvin Jones Fellow and was awarded a District Team Excellence Medal.
Jim has been active in his community for over two decades. He has served as the long-time president of the Brownstone Quorum, a 501(c)(3) dedicated to the history and development of the Portland Quarries and Riverfront Park. And has served on town boards and commissions, including Parks and Rec, Board of Education, Board of Selectmen, and currently on Water and Sewer Commission.
Lion Jim graduated from University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth with a BS in Engineering in 1991 and from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute with a MS in Management in 1999. He resides in Portland with his wife, Lion Liz. They have two children, Lion Rebecca and Kaitlyn. Jim is an avid boater and he and his family can often be found relaxing on the Connecticut River.
2nd VDG Joanne Davis
Second Vice District Governor
Waterford Regional Lions
Waterford Regional Lions
A Waterford Regional Lion since 2020, SVDG Joanne was inducted into the Chicago Central Lions Club in August 1995 holding several Offices, including two terms as President.
In District 1A, she was appointed Zone and Region Chair. served on several District Convention Planning Committees, Public Relations Committee Co-Chair of the 90th International Convention in Chicago in 2007, and on Campaign Committees to elect 3 International Directors from District 1A.
She has received International President's Recognition, a Lions of Illinois Foundation Fellowship, and Progressive Melvin Jones Fellowship.
She remains an Associate Member of Chicago Central Lions.
A Registered Nurse by education, the majority of her professional career was in Nursing Administration.
SVDG Joanne resides in Waterford with Lucia Joy Davis, her 9-pound "peanut powerhouse" chihuahua.
PCC Frank Rowe
Ledyard Lions
Cabinet Secretary
CT Maryjane malavasi
East Haddam Community Lions
Cabinet Treasurer
IPDG Theresa Schlosser
Portland Lions
Immediate Past District Governor
PDG Mary Krogh
East Hampton Lions
Past District Governor
Lions Clubs International Foundation (LCIF) Group A - Area 1 Leader
District 23C Towns
