Lions are an international network of 1.3 million men and women in 200 countries and geographic areas who work together to answer the needs that challenge communities around the world. Beginning in 1917 , the association of Lions clubs has provided millions of people with the opportunity to give something back to their communities.Known for working to end preventable blindness , Lions participate in a vast variety of projects important to their communities. These projects range from cleaning up local parks to providing supplies to victims of natural disasters .
Slogan :
We Serve
Mission Statement :
To create and foster a spirit of understanding among all people for humanitarian needs by providing voluntary services through community involvement and international cooperation.
The Official Colors :
The royal colors of purple and gold were selected as the official colors when the association was organized in 1917. Purple stands for loyalty to friends and to one's self, and for integrity of mind and heart. Gold symbolizes sincerity of purpose, liberality in judgment, purity in life and generosity in mind, heart and purpose toward humanity.
The Lions Emblem :
The emblem consists of a gold letter "L" on a circular purple field. Bordering this is a circular gold area with two lion profiles facing away from the center. The lion profiles are meant to face both a proud past and confident future. The words "Lions" and "International" appear at the top and bottom. The official Lions colors are gold and purple, as seen on the emblem, purple for loyalty and integrity; gold for sincerity, liberality, purity, and generosity. The Lions Club motto "We Serve" is often displayed along with the Lions emblem. The current Lions emblem was adopted at the 1919 convention.
Lions Motto :
Liberty Intelligence Our Nation's Safety
Lions International Purposes :
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.
To Be Careful with my criticism and liberal with my praise; to build up and not destroy.
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 others, 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 another, but that true friendship demands nothing but accepts service in the spirit in which it is given.
Always to bear in mind my obligations as a citizen to my nation, my state, and my community, as to give them my unswerving loyalty in word, act, and deed. To give them freely of my time, labor and means.
To Aid others by giving my sympathy to those in distress, my aid to the weak, and my substance to the needy.
LCIF Ranked Best NGO Worldwide
In a special report released Thursday, July 5, 2007 , Lions Clubs International Foundation (LCIF) ranked best among non-governmental organizations (NGOs) worldwide. From 34 global organizations, LCIF came in first for its execution of programs, demonstrated accountability, communications internally and externally, program adaptability to the surrounding community, and understanding the goals of its corporate supporters.
LCIF beat out Rotary International, Habitat for Humanity, UNESCO and UNICEF, to name a few on the list.
The ratings were compiled by the Financial Times in association with the Dalberg Global Development Advisers and the United Nations Global Compact. The assessment was published in the Financial Times' Corporate Citizenship and Philanthropy special report and highlights companies' growing interest in long-term partnerships to tackle an expanding range of social issues. The full story can be at http://www.ft.com/cms/s/e230ea0e-294c-11dc-a530-000b5df10621.html and story about the list can be viewed at www.FT.com/cms/s/64b86094-2a90-11dc-9208-000b5df10621.html . The list was also reproduced in the Chronicle of Philanthropy. The full list can be viewed at http://media.ft.com/cms/e462102e-2b03-11dc-85f9-000b5df10621,dwp_uuid=c1927432-1f9e-11dc-ac86-000b5df10621.pdf .
The list was released at a meeting of executives of NGOs and the UN in Geneva , Switzerland .
Lions Clubs International Foundation is Lions helping Lions serve the world. Donations provide funding in the form of grants to financially assist Lions districts with large-scale humanitarian projects that are too extensive for Lions to finance on their own. The Foundation aids Lions in making a greater impact in their local communities, as well as around the world. Through LCIF, Lions ease pain and suffering and bring healing and hope to people worldwide. For more information, visit www.lcif.org .
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