The Lion’s Heart for Service
I have been thinking about what the Lions Club is and what the organization means and stands for in our community. Almost ten years ago, when I first joined the Inwood/Bunker Hill Lions Club, I did some research into the organization and found that service is why the Lions Club exists. Our mission statement declares that we are called to “create and foster a spirit of understanding among all people for humanitarian needs by providing voluntary services through community involvement and international cooperation.” Our founder Melvin Jones once commented, “You can’t get very far until you do something for someone else.” That statement told me that service not just what Lions do but who Lions are. Our motto, adopted in 1954 is simple and direct: “We Serve” was adopted. The Lions Club Rewards for Service Information Sheet on the website further clarifies our Heart for Service: “Lions club members do not serve others in order to receive financial rewards. … There is perhaps no greater reward for a Lion’s service than a simple “thank you,” sincerely expressed.”
It is a fact that to be a member of the Lions Club International, we must have a Heart for Service. I believe that human beings but especially Lions are created to serve. In the wild, lions are powerful and brave creatures. I remember watching the Wizard of Oz when I was a kid and watching the cowardly lion change when the Wizard gave him courage. And I also remember from the movie, The Lion King, lions have a courageous heart and lead the animal kingdom. These attributes of lions should be true of Lions Club members, too. It takes courage and determination to serve our community faithfully and effectively.
I believe the Lion’s Heart for Service involves five things:
H = Helping People in Need
E = Encouraging Personal and Community Improvement
A = Acquiring Leadership Skills (servant leadership)
R = Respecting One Another (friendship & our code of ethics)
T = Tackling Tough Problems (blindness, deafness, diabetes, drug abuse, disaster relief, community improvement, youth)
Our motto is true: We Serve. As I studied the Lions Club International web page those many years ago I found that, “For 85 years, whenever there is a need at home or around the world, Lions members are there to help—We Serve.” I was amazed to learn that there were over 1.4 million Lions members in 190 countries serving in their communities. Wow! I was impressed! Lions really do serve!
We in the Damascus Lions Club are an important part of this world-wide service organization. I have experienced our Heart for Service in our community of Damascus and in Montgomery County. May we continue to help those in need, encourage personal and community development, acquire skills for servant leadership, respect one another as friends with high ethical standards, and tackle tough problems. As we begin our Fall season of meetings and service opportunities, may we ever enlarge and strengthen our hearts for service.