LIONS CLUBS in the 21st CENTURY
by
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FOREWORD
Mahendra Amarasuriya
International President – 2007-2008
The year 1917 was, indeed, one of historic significance. The “Great War” was unleashing its terrible carnage. The Russian czar was overthrown, eventually leading to the Bolshiviks coming to power. Science and technology continued their inexorable rise to redefine how we live and communicate. In
A new organization was being given structure and direction, and it would grow into the largest, most active, service club association in the world. This is the story of The International Association of Lions Clubs, a story of commitment and selfless dedication on the part of millions of men and women who, since 1917, would proudly call themselves Lions. The authors, both Lions, have shown how Lions clubs have for more than nine decades now given personal testimony to the ideals proclaimed by the association’s motto, “We Serve.”
This commitment is demonstrated in the manner in which Lions have answered the call to assist people in greatest need, partner with young people to give them hope and confidence for a fulfilling future, rally to the aid of communities struck by natural disasters, provide funding and hands-on involvement in cases whenever and wherever the situation warrants, and, of course, the focal point of Lions Clubs International, to promote sight preservation and restoration.
Only a few of the countless projects of Lions clubs and districts could be accommodated in this book; space permitting there could be thousands of pages more. All have established and reinforced the foundation and vision of the association from the second decade of the 20th Century into the new millennium.
It is a story of growth, of accepting challenges to adapt to new courses of involvement when change was required, and of giving service-minded individuals opportunities to experience the priceless joy and satisfaction of making lives better, healthier and happier for others. Through it all, the family of Lions Clubs International has achieved remarkable success in enhancing global peace, harmony and understanding.
This is the history of the Lions clubs. For our membership, it will fill them with greater pride in knowing what Lions worldwide have accomplished and are presently doing on behalf of human needs. For others, it will demonstrate all that groups of men, women and young people can make possible when motivated to be of voluntary service.
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About the Book
This is the story of a special type of men and women, those who seek to return to society a portion of the good fortune they have earned and received in their own lives.
They are called Lions and, since 1917, have actively engaged in constructing an organization that has evolved into one of the world’s most powerful forces for humanitarian progress: The International Association of Lions Clubs. It is today comprised of nearly 1.3 million members in over 45,000 Lions clubs active in 202 lands spanning the globe.
They speak scores of languages and represent diversified cultures. In spirit, however, they speak a common language, the language of voluntary service, responding to an inner drive to answer human needs and to improve living conditions in their own communities and the world community.
This book expands upon the history of Lions Clubs International, published in 1991 as “We Serve: The History of the Lions Clubs.” It chronicles the development of the association from its birth in 1917 at
Readers will be impressed with the accomplishments of the membership and Lions will be moved to take greater pride in wearing the lapel pin of the association. Non-Lions will come to understand fully the ideals and determination of those to whom voluntary service has become a way of life.
About the Author
Paul Martin, author of the 1991 publication, is a member of the
Robert Kleinfelder is the retired senior editor of THE LION Magazine and was a member of the magazine’s staff for 37 years. He is a member of the Downers Grove Evening,