A few days ago, I decided to check out the Lions International website because I hadn’t been there for awhile. What I found there really impressed me. I thought I would share it with you, even though you might have read it, too.
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. We’re also one of the most effective. Our members do whatever is needed to help their local communities. Everywhere we work, we make friends. With children who need eyeglasses, with seniors who don’t have enough to eat and with people we may never meet.
As I thought about what the two paragraphs said about us as individuals and a group, I realized we are problem solvers and our intention is to help our community be better. We have engaged in service activities that were a lot of work, but were fun, too!
Our challenge, as individuals and a club, is to continue working in our community with unmatched integrity and energy. We all have things other than Lions club stuff to do. And we are not the only service organization in our area. But the words written and ideas expressed on the Lions website gave me a new perspective on our service. We don’t just serve people, we make friends! We make friends with children, adults and even people we may never meet!
Our lives are often very busy and complicated. But as Lions, we really do serve with energy and integrity. We sometimes put aside things we need and want to do for the sake of others through our projects. There are many people who need our help. And our community can always be better.
So I commend us as people who have served. And I challenge us as Lions to continue to serve whenever needed.