New leader of the pride for Lions

Rotorua'S Sheryl Jensen has no problem being the leader of a group dominated by blokes.

"I don't have any trouble working with men or relating to them.

"I was one of six children with four brothers and they are all very strong characters."

The 53-year-old has been elected council chairman of Lions New Zealand. She is only the second woman in New Zealand to hold the post since the organisation was formed 51 years ago.

And while she's a female she is a lion, not a lioness.

Lionesses were an offshoot group of the service organisation set up for women when they were not able to become a Lion.

However, since 1992 the Lions Club has opened up to women and now about a third of the 12,500 New Zealand members are women.

Mrs Jensen said it was an honour to be selected for one of the top jobs of a club she joined 12 years ago - a club she has loved being a part of.

"I have a passion for Lions, in what they do in the community and for individuals in the way of personal development and the wonderful friendships you make. It is like being part of a wonderful big family with members all around the world."

For the past year she has also been district governor overseeing the clubs in the greater Bay of Plenty region.

One of her first jobs as chairman of the council will be taking a delegation of Lions members to Boston in the US next week for the international convention.

In her role she will also travel to Wellington for meetings and organise the national convention in Invercargill early next year, as well as still trying to get along to her local Lions club in Rotorua.

She will have to fit in the Lions role with her part-time job as an educator for Arthritis New Zealand.

Mrs Jensen said she was lucky to have a lot of support from her husband Kevin - who is not a Lion but a dedicated partner - in the background helping her.

"He was the one telling me to put my name forward [for council chairman]. He was the one telling me I could do the job long before I thought I could."

Mrs Jensen hopes that while she is in the top job she will raise the profile of the organisation. "We will be highlighting the opportunities people who become members have in increasing their leadership skills and personal growth and development."