Lions International / LCIF-Lions Clubs International Foundation / Lions Quest / Info Lionism / Membership Categories / LIONS Magazine
ROCKIN’ THE VEST
Lions club members come together in this humorous hip hop video.
The lyrics focus on what wearing the yellow Lions club vest means to the community. Whenever a Lions club gets together, problems get smaller. And communities get better. That’s because we help where help is needed – in our own communities and around the world – with unmatched integrity and energy.
Our 46,000 clubs and 1.35 million members make us the world’s largest service club organization.
THEME SONG “WE SERVE”
Lions International President Dr. Aggarwal’S Theme Song ” We Serve “. Please click on following link:
HISTORY LIONS INTERNATIONAL
The International Association of Lions Clubs began as the dream of a Chicago insurance man Melvin Jones, who wondered why local business clubs – he an active member of one – could not expand their horizons from purely business concerns to the betterment of their communities and the world at large.
Jones’ idea struck a chord within his own group, the Business Circle of Chicago, and they authorized him to explore his concept with similar organizations from around the United States. His efforts resulted in an organizational meeting at a local hotel on June 7th, 1917.
The 12 men who gathered there overcame a natural sense of loyalty to their parent clubs, voted the “Association of Lions Clubs” into existence, and issue a call for a national convention to be held in Dallas, Texas, USA in October of the same year.
Thirty-six delegates representing 22 clubs from nine states heeded the call, approved the “Lions Clubs” designation, and elected Dr. William P. Woods of Indiana as their first president. Guiding force and founder Melvin Jones was named acting secretary. Thus began an association with Lionism that didn’t end until his death in 1961.
That first convention also began to define what Lionism was to become. A constitution and by-laws were adopted, the colors purple and gold approved and a start made on Lionism’s Objectives and Code of Ethics.
One of the objects was startling for an era that prided itself on mercenary individualism, and has remained one of the main tenets of Lionism ever since. “No Club”, it reads, “shall hold out the financial betterment of its members as its object.”
Community leaders soon began to organize clubs through the United States, and the association became “international” with the formation of the Windsor, Ontario, Canada Lions Club in 1920. Clubs were later organized in China, Mexico, and Cuba. By 1927, membership stood at 60,000 in 1183 clubs.
In 1935, Panama became home to the first Central American club, with the first South American club being organized in Columbia the following year. Lionism reached Australia in 1947 and Europe in 1948, as clubs were chartered in Sweden, Switzerland and France. In 1952 the first club was chartered in Japan.
The International Association of Lions Clubs is today the largest service organization in the world with over 1.35 million members in more than 45,000 clubs in 743 Districts covering 206 counties and geographic areas. Lions Clubs are not social clubs, although there are social benefits to membership. Lions Club members give their time, skills and resources to raise funds for charitable giving both in their communities and internationally.
The major focus of Lions fund raising activities is sight conservation, although other projects are pursed such as drug awareness programs in high schools, diabetes awareness programs and other programs that are specific to individual Clubs and Districts. Lions took up sight conservation as their major goal after a speech given by Helen Keller at the Lions International Convention held at Cedar Point, Ohio, in 1925. At that time, Helen Keller challenged the Lions to become the “Knights of the Blind”, a challenge that has become a rallying cry for Lions projects around the world.
Lions work in the area of sight conservation is carried out at many levels. Individual Clubs sponsor free eye screening programs using mobile eye clinics, in many countries. Clubs sponsor eye surgery camps where cataract surgeries are performed at no charge for those that can’t afford this medical care. Many clubs collect eye glasses for distribution to the needy in other countries.
The International Association of Lions Clubs is the largest non-governmental organization associated with the United Nations and was called upon by the United Nations and the World Health Organization to raise funds for an international program of sight conservation. It has been estimated that 40 million cases of curable and preventable blindness exist on this planet today. Without intervention, this is projected to become 80 million by the end of the decade.
The Lions International Headquarters is in Oak Brook, Illinois, USA. You can contact Lions Clubs International as follows:
Lions Clubs International
300 W. 22nd St.
Oak Brook, IL.
USA. 60523-8842
Telephone: (603) 571-5466
Fax: (603) 571-8890
E-mail: lions@lionsclub.org
Web: http://www.lionsclubs.org/EN/index.php
LCIF – LIONS CLUBS INTERNATIONAL FOUNDATION
The Lions Clubs International Foundation (LCIF) serves as the vehicle by which large and small contributions of many Lions, Lions Clubs and Districts may bring about humanitarian achievement.
The Lions Clubs International Foundation is a public, non-profit, tax-exempt corporation with headquarters in the United States. It’s purpose is to promote human welfare by careful application of funds contributed to it.
LCIF Objectives:
LCIF is Lions helping other Lions to serve humanity. It is concrete demonstration of the WE SERVE spirit and the motto of Lionism
The major objectives of the foundation are:
- Major disaster relief
- Vocational assistance
- Humanitarian services
For further information on LCIF or more details on their programs, please click on the following link:
http://www.lcif.org/EN/index.php
LIONS QUEST
In 1983 the International Association of Lions Clubs voted to form a unique partnership with Quest International to develop and promote life skills programs for schools. Lions-Quest Canada represents the Canadian partnership between Lions Clubs International and Quest International. Lions Clubs International the largest service organization in the world, has provided major funding through its Foundation for the development of the Skills programs. Quest International reaches more than three million children each year, all over the world, with programs and services to promote positive youth development.
Main Goals
To help young people develop positive social behaviours, such as self-discipline, responsibility, good judgement, and the ability to get along with others.
To help young people develop strong commitments to their families, schools, positive peers, and communities, including a commitment to lead healthy, drug-free lives.
What are the Lions-Quest Programs?
Lions-Quest programs teach young people to develop positive social behaviours such as:
- Self-discipline
- Responsibility
- Good judgment
- The ability to get along with others
Lions-Quest Canada offers two kinds of Lion-Quest programs, Core program and Conflict Management program.
The Core Lions-Quest programs promote personal and social skills and include –
- Skills for Growing for Kindergarten to Grade Five
- Skills for Adolescence for Grades Six to Eight
- Skills for Action for Grades Seven to Twelve
- The Conflict Management programs focus on teaching strategies for dealing with conflict and include –
- Working It Out for Kindergarten to Grade Six
- Working Toward Peace for Grades Six to Eight
- Promoting Peace and Preventing Violence for Grades Seven to Twelve
For further information on Lions Quest or more details on their programs, please go to our links page and click on Lions-Quest Canada.
INFO LIONISM
We are members of the largest service organization in the world.
Our motto, “We Serve”
What does Lions stand for?
Liberty, Intelligence, Our Nation’s Safety
What is Lionism?
Lionism is knowing, showing, sharing, caring, but most of all it is fellowship.
Who are Lions?
Everyday people doing extra ordinary things as members of a service club.
Who is a Lion?
He or she achieves success, who lives well, laughs often and loves much;
Who gains respect of intelligent men and women and the love of little children;
Who fills his or her niche, who accomplishes his or her task, who leaves the world better than they found it, whether by an improved poppy, a perfect poem or a reserved soul;
Who never lacks appreciation of earth’s beauty, or fails to express it;
Who always sees the best in others, and gives the best they have;
whose life is an inspiration;
Whose memory is a benediction.
THEY ARE A LION
What is a Lions Club?
A Lions Club is an International nonsectarian, nonpolitical service organization whose members are a group of service-minded men and women who are dedicated to working and raising funds to make their communities a better place to live in. These funds help support their work with the handicapped, the under privileged, the aged, the sick, the blind, the deaf and the youth of their community.
Who can become a Lion?
Any man or woman willing to work to help others, may be invited to join! They must be of legal majority and of good moral character; regardless of color, race, religion, language or political beliefs; and have a good reputation in their community.
Why become a member?
The main reason is to help others, with the help of all the members of their club, we can work and raise funds to allow Lions to offer their assistance where needed in their community.
Socially you will meet people interested in doing the same work as you in your club, the other clubs in the district, the country and internationally. Inter-club visits and annual cabinet meeting and conventions are an integral part of Lionism and help broaden your knowledge and appreciation of how Lionism serves needs throughout the world.
Lions Pledge
I pledge allegiance to my Country,
And to the cause of peace throughout the world.
I believe in the principles of Lionism as
Contained in the “Code of Ethics”.
I am proud to be a Lion,
dedicated to the service of others.
Lions Invocation
Where Lions meet, be present Lord,
To weld our hearts in one accord,
To do thy will Lord, make us strong,
To help the weak and right the wrong.
A person who achieves success, who lives well, laughs often and loves much.
Who gains the respect of intelligent people and the love of little children.
Who fills a niche and accomplishes his or her task.
Who leaves the world better than he or she found it whether by a brighter flower, a perfect poem, or a rescued soul.
Who always sees the best in others and gives the best he or she has.
Whose life is an inspiration, whose memory is a benediction.
That person is a LION.
Lions Song
Don’t you hear those Lions roar?
Don’t you hear those Lions roar?
You can hear them roaring ev’ry week.
As they feed and grown for more. (RAH! RAH! RAH!)
You should hear those Lions roar,
Their snarling, rumbling roar, so, Lions!
Bite’em! Bite’em! Bite’em!
Don’t you hear those Lions, hear those Lions,
Hear those Lions roar!
THE LIONS HYMN
We meet in love and fellowship,
We clasp each other’s hands
To help a brother on his way
The Lions firmly stand;
The motto of the Lions Club;
They give to every man,
That day by day in every way,
Do good where’er you can.
Be faithful, loyal, staunch and true,
That is the Lion’s Creed,
Be up and ready at all times,
To do goodly deed,
A light to guide us on our way,
The Book of Books shall be,
And just reward shall come to those,
Who serve in loyalty.
Tune
“We sing the Almighty Power of God”
In order to remain healthy and active, lions clubs need you, and others like you to prosper and achieve the goals of Lionism. We are constantly looking to increase our active membership. New members are always welcomed and vital to the success of any club. They provide the future leaders, they increase our potential for larger and more far-reaching community projects and projects around the world.
Are you interested?
Most people at one time or another have purchased tickets or supported one or another of the various Lions activities. Perhaps the best way to help would be to become a member of a very active service club and help to do your share to make your community a better place to live in and raise your children. Membership is by Invitation Only, but if you’re interested please contact any lions member. They would be more than happy to explain fully what Lionism is all about and answer any questions you may have.
It’s Great to be a Lion!
Lions do Make a Difference!
Lions Clubs Purpose
To Organize, charter and supervise service clubs to be known as Lions clubs.
To Coordinate the activities and standardize the administration of Lions clubs.
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.
Lions 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 my fellow men, 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 to another, but that true friendship demands nothing but accepts service in the spirit in which it is given.
Always to bear in mind y obligations as a citizen to my nation, my state and m community, and to give to them my unswerving loyalty in a word, act and deed. To give them freely of my time, labor and means.
To aid my fellow men by giving my sympathy to those in distress, my aid to the weak, and my substance to the needy.
To be careful with my criticisms and liberal with my praise; to build up and not destroy.
The Lions Toast
Never above you,
Never beneath you,
Always with you.
Lions Grace
O Lord, thy blessings now let fall,
Upon thy Lions as they call.
May all our ties of friendship be,
Forever strengthened Lord by thee.
Mission Statement
To serve our community while enjoying good fellowship and fostering Lionism
Vision Statement
To meet humanitarian need by providing voluntary service through community involvement and international co-operation
MEMBERSHIP CATEGORIES
To view or download information regarding Membership Categories please click the following link:
http://www.lionsclubs.org/resources/EN/pdfs/me105.pdf
LIONS MAGAZINE
To view or download a copy of the current LIONS Magazine or view previous issues please click on the following link:
http://www.lionsclubs.org/EN/news-and-events/lion-magazine/index.php
