The Lions Club International
One of the most basic facts of nature is that it is dynamic. The visual world continually undergoes change,
both from dynamic events in the world itself, such as the movement of trees in the wind, and from the visual
changes generated from our own activities, such as locomotion. In other, more basic words, everything
needs momentum, or movement, in order to progress, or grow. Move to grow. It’s a very basic concept,
which can be applied to most everything. Nothing that remains static grows.
It is this basic concept – move to grow – that I have chosen as my theme for 2009-2010, with the ginkgo
tree and leaf as its symbol.
Have you ever seen a ginkgo tree? The ginkgo has a long history, with ancestors extending back some
280 million years. It is one of very few plants living today that has such a clear lineage dating back into the
Paleozoic era. Fossil ginkgo leaves and petrified trunks can be found during the Tertiary period in North
America, Europe, and Asia. It is very resilient, with an average life span of 1,000 years, and unique in that
it has both a male and female variety in the same plant.
So why the ginkgo tree? The ginkgo is a symbol of hope and love, and a monument of peace and
environmental protection and even considered a vision aid. The ginkgo tree has in fact been declared the
“millennium” tree. When taking into consideration its other characteristics of esteemed heritage, longevity,
adaptability, utility, sustainability, and global abundance, it’s easy to see a correlation between the ginkgo
tree and Lions Clubs International.
Compared to the origins and lifespan of the ginkgo, Lions Clubs International is still in its infancy. As a
global organization dedicated to promoting international understanding, we must symbolically plant a ginkgo
at every opportunity. The sapling has to be planted and nurtured world-wide in an appropriate manner with
good soil, sunshine and water. Like a ginkgo tree, our programs must be a sustainable resource that will
stand the test of time. Always mindful of our motto, “We Serve,” we must continue to plant seeds of
understanding and enduring community service, and cultivate a clear and consistent message of purpose.
This involves effort, momentum, action and NEED TO MOVE.
I have learned a great deal through Lions and from Lions. I was entrusted to take on major challenges, and
I am extremely thankful for that chance. Now the time has come to give back.
Eberhard J. Wirfs
LIONS CLUBS INTERNATIONAL PRESIDENTIn 1917, Melvin Jones, a Chicago business leader, told members of his local business club they should reach beyond business issues and address the betterment of their communities and the world. Jones’ group, the Business Circle of Chicago, agreed. After contacting similar groups around the United States, an organizational meeting was held on June 7, 1917, in Chicago, Illinois, USA. The new group took the name of one of the invited groups, the "Association of Lions Clubs," and a national convention was held in Dallas, Texas, USA in October of that year. A constitution, by-laws, objects and a code of ethics were approved.
Beginning in 1917
In 1917, a Chicago business leader asked a simple and world-changing question – what if people put their talents to work improving their communities? Almost 100 years later, Lions Clubs International is the world’s largest service club organization, with 1.3 million members and countless stories of Lions acting on the same simple idea: let’s improve our communities. That business leader was Melvin Jones. He convened an organizational meeting of clubs that formed Lions Clubs International on June 7, 1917, in Chicago. Later that year, Lions held the first national convention in Dallas and created a constitution, by-laws, objects and a code of ethics.
1920: Going International
Just three years later, Lions went international when we established the first club in Canada. Mexico followed in 1927. In the 1950s and 1960s international growth accelerated, with new clubs in Europe, Asia and Africa.
1925: Helen Keller and the "Crusade Against Darkness"
One of our earliest and most influential causes has been eradicating blindness. That began in 1925, when Helen Keller addressed the Lions Clubs International Convention in Cedar Point, Ohio, USA. She challenged us to become "knights of the blind in the crusade against darkness." Since then, we have worked tirelessly to fulfill her charge to aid the blind and visually impaired.
1945: Uniting Nations
The ideal of an international organization is exemplified by our enduring relationship with the United Nations. We were one of the first nongovernmental organizations invited to assist in the drafting of the United Nations Charter and have supported the work of the UN ever since.
1957: Establishing Youth Programs
In the late 1950s, we created the Leo Program to provide the youth of the world an opportunity for personal development and contribution. There are now more than 5,500 Leo clubs in more than 130 countries, with more than 140,000 Leos worldwide.
1990: SightFirst
In 1990, we launched our most aggressive sight preservation effort, SightFirst. This US$215 million program aims to rid the world of preventable and reversible blindness by supporting desperately needed health care services. In 2008, Lions completed Campaign SightFirst II, which raised more than US$200 million to expand the program.
Today: Local and Global Service
Lions Clubs International grows stronger and extends our mission of service every day – in local communities, in all corners of the globe. In 2002, we were the first international service club to be granted permission to organize and operate clubs in mainland China. And in 2007, a Lions club was formed in Iraq. These clubs join an international network that has grown to include 45,000 clubs located in more than 200 countries across the globe. Within three years, Lions became an international organization. Since then, we’ve earned high marks for both integrity and transparency. We’re a well-run organization with a steady vision, a clear mission, and a long – and proud – history.
Lions Club International Foundation – D-45
Chair: Multiple District Coordinator
PID Tom Broughton (Middlebury) 758-2494
PO Box 53, Bridport, VT 05734
Co- Chair: PDG Edgar Maskell
(Swanton-Missisquoi) 868-2467
PO Box 186, Highgate Ctr., VT 05459
