We Serve
We Serve – Nearly 1.35 million Lions members in 197 countries and
geographical areas answer the needs that challenge the communities of the world.
Lions tackle tough problems like blindness, drug abuse prevention and diabetes
awareness.
Global Neighbors – Lions members – men and women – provide immediate and
sustained relief in times of disaster and offer long-term assistance to those in
need. Lions collect and recycle eyeglasses for distribution in developing
countries and treat millions of people to prevent river blindness.
Community Leaders – Lions improve the quality of life in their local communities
by building parks, supporting hospitals and establishing water treatment
programs.
For nearly 90 years, whenever there is a need at home or around the world, Lions
members are there to help – We Serve.
History...and the Idea
The Lions began as a group of 25 independent business clubs responded to an
idea presented to them by Chicago insurance agent, Melvin Jones. He
believed that local business clubs should expand their horizons from purely
professional concerns to the betterment of their communities and the world at
large.
Just three years after its formation, the association became international
when the first club in Canada was established in 1920. Major international
expansion continued as clubs were established, particularly throughout Europe,
Asia and Africa during the 1950s and '60s.
Lions Clubs International has grown to include nearly 1.35 million men and
women, in approximately 45,000 clubs, located in 197 countries and geographic
areas.
Broadening its international role, Lions Clubs International helped the United
Nations form the Non-Governmental Organizations sections in 1945 and continues
to hold consultative status with the U.N.
Knights of the Blind
In 1925, Helen Keller addressed the Lions international convention in Cedar
Point, Ohio.
She challenged Lions to become "knights of the blind in the crusade against
darkness."
From this time, Lions clubs have been actively involved in service to the blind
and visually impaired.
In 1990, Lions launched its most aggressive sight preservation effort,
SightFirst. The US$143.5 million program strives to rid the world of preventable
and reversible blindness by supporting desperately needed health care service
Mission Statement
| L |
Liberty |
| I |
Intelligence |
| O |
Our |
| N |
Nations |
| S |
Safety |
To create and foster a spirit of understanding among all people for
humanitarian needs by providing voluntary services through community involvement
and international cooperation.
International Purpose
- To Create and foster a spirit of understanding among the peoples
of the world.
- To Promote the principles of good government and good
citizenship.
- To Take an active interest in the civic, cultural, social and
moral welfare of the community.
- To Unite the clubs in the bonds of friendship, good fellowship
and mutual understanding.
- To Provide a forum for the open discussion of all matters of
public interest; provided, however, that partisan politics and sectarian
religion shall not be debated by club members.
- To Encourage service-minded people to serve their community
without personal financial reward, and to encourage efficiency and promote
high ethical standards in commerce, industry, professions, public works and
private endeavors.
Code of Ethics
- To Show my faith in the worthiness of my vocation by industrious
application to the end that I may merit a reputation for quality of service.
- To Seek success and to demand all fair remuneration or profit as
my just due, but to accept no profit or success at the price of my own
self-respect lost because of unfair advantage taken or because of
questionable acts on my part.
- To Remember that in building up my business it is not necessary
to tear down another's; to be loyal to my clients or customers and true to
myself.
Whenever a doubt arises as to the right or ethics of my position or action
towards others, to resolve such doubt against myself.
- To Hold friendship as an end and not a means. To hold that true
friendship exists not on account of the service performed by one another,
but that true friendship demands nothing but accepts service in the spirit
in which it is given.
- Always to bear in mind my obligations as a citizen to my nation,
my state, and my community, as to give them my unswerving loyalty in word,
act, and deed. To give them freely of my time, labor and means.
- To Aid others by giving my sympathy to those in distress, my aid
to the weak, and my substance to the needy.
- To Be Careful with my criticism and liberal with my praise; to
build up and not destroy.
The Emblem
 The
lion profile represents both the past and the future, symbolizing our
Associations proud past and confidence in the future.
Purple represents loyalty to country,
friends, to one’s self and to the integrity of mind and heart. It is the color
of strength, courage and tireless dedication to a cause.
Gold symbolizes sincerity of purpose,
liberality of judgment, purity of life and generosity of heart and purse toward
mankind.
Lions Club International Foundation
Lions Clubs International Foundation (LCIF) is the grant-making arm of Lions
Clubs International. LCIF is Lions helping Lions serve others. It's the only
Lions' foundation that serves the entire world and the nearly 1.35 million
Lions.
Working with Lions, LCIF prevents blindness. It provides food and clothing to
victims of natural disasters. It also gives youth the tools to succeed through
Lions-Quest, empowers the disabled through vocational training, and promotes
health by equipping clinics and hospitals.
LCIF is an efficient and effective charity. Administrative costs were 12.4
percent in 2004-2005, a very good ratio. Every dollar donated to LCIF goes to a
grant. LCIF receives no club dues.
LCIF has awarded US$375 million in grants since it began in 1968.
Awards
Perfect Attendance – maintain perfect attendance for a specified period and
you will be eligible.
Chevron Award – “Service Stripes” that may be attached to the Lion lapel pin.
These are for members who have maintained continuous membership for 10 years.
Then granted in 5 year increments.
Ambassador of Sight – highest award at the District level. Contribution is made
to Lions Low Vision Centers.
Knight of the Blind – highest award at the State level. Contribution is made to
CLEFR.
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