Page 3 - Lion Oct Nov 2016

www.lionsclubs.co October/November 2016
PRESIDENT’S
MESSAGE
The Meaning of Lions —
Same Today as Before
The pages of LION Magazine during the early years of Lions were filled with stories such as “The Purpose of Lions,” “The Meaning of Lionism” and “The Value of Lions.” A businessman’s club dedicated to service was still a novel concept, and it was as if Lions had to convince themselves that they were on the right track. The uncertainty led Lions to question whether Lions Clubs would even survive. “During my lifetime I have seen organizations formed with the highest ideals flourish for a time, then drop into comparative unimportance. Will that be the fate of Lionism? I hope not,” wrote District Governor A. Baker of Cheyenne, Wyoming, in January 1922.
But Lions stayed the course. They stuck with service. Fellowship was part of membership. But service was paramount. “Activities Make the Club” was the headline for a column in 1927 by International President Irving Camp of Johnstown, Pennsylvania. “Show me a club that simply meets and eats, and I will show you a club that has failed to respond to the call of service as invited in the very principles of our great, unselfish organization,” he wrote.
Rapidly approaching our Centennial in 2017, we now know that our forebears were right. Service is what makes a Lion. It’s what we do. It’s who we are. That has never been more evident than over the past couple of years. We set a goal to serve 100 million people by June 30, 2018, through the Centennial Service Challenge. We asked Lions to host youth, vision, hunger and environmental projects.
We wondered whether we’d reach the goal because clubs reported serving 8 million people annually to Lions Clubs International (but we knew the true figure was higher). I’m
elated to tell you that we recently reached our goal of serving 100 million people. Take pride in being part of an association that lives up to its amazing ideals and that sets goals and exceeds them.
We have so much more we can achieve. There are more people who need us, more opportunities to make a difference and new mountains to climb. Together we can reach new heights in service. So keep serving!
Chancellor Bob Corlew
Lions Clubs International President
MISSION STATEMENT OF LIONS CLUBS INTERNATIONAL:
“To empower volunteers to Serve
their communities, meet humanitarian needs, encourage peace and promote international understanding through Lions Clubs.”
WE SERVE
WE SERVE
ON THE WEB:
Multiple District 105: www.lionsclubs.co e-mail: mdhq@lionsclubs.co
Lions Clubs International: www.lionsclubs.org/
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