The Byron Lions Club continued its long tradition of community involvement and service to other during the 2009 holiday season.  After its participation in the Byron Christmas Parade on December 5 and lighting of the Lovelight Tree on December 6, the club distributed poinsettias to Byron residents who are confined to their homes.

                On December 14, the club provided refreshments for Boy Scout Troop 620, for their Court of Honor.  The Byron Lions Club sponsors Troop 629.  Scout Leader Doug Cameron presented merit badges to scouts who had completed requirements since the last Court of Honor.   Particularly notable was the award of five merit badges to Billy Jones, who at 62 is Troop 620’s oldest scout.

                “Some of us to go our jobs every day , and so does Billy” Doug said. “Billy full-time job is scouting.”

                On December 19, the club held its Christmas dinner, a pot luck dinner at the home of its president, Lee Brown.   All the Lions brought new unwrapped toys for donation to Kids Yule Love. Dough and Lottie Cameron were our special guests at the dinner. We Lions are looking forward to 2010, which will be highlighted by a horse show at Southeastern Arena in Unadilla during the month of April.  This is a first time experience for the club, but with the expertise we have in the club the dedicated Lions who will assist, it promises to be a huge success. If you have any questions, or if you would like to be a part of it all, please call President Lee Brown at 956-4327 or Membership Chair Fran Washko at 396-0131.

                Contributed by Gaylene Geyman, co-publicity chair.

 

 

   Mission: to create and foster a spirit of understanding among all people for humanitarian needs by providing voluntary service through community involvement and international cooperation.

 

 

            The International Association of Lions Clubs began as the dream of Chicago business leader Melvin Jones.  He believed that local business clubs should expand their horizons from purely professional concerns to the betterment of their communities and the world at large.

            Jones' group, the Business Circle of Chicago, agreed. After contacting similar groups around the United Sates, an organizational meeting was held on June 7, 1917 in Chicago, Illinois.  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 code of ethics were approved.

Among the objects adopted in those early years was one that read, “No club shall hold out the financial betterment of its members as its object.” This call for unselfish service to others remains one of the association’s main tenets.

            Just three years after its formation, the association became international when the first club in Canada was established in 1920. Major international expansion continued as the clubs were established, particularly throughout Europe, Asia and Africa during the 1950s and ‘60s.

In 1925, Helen Keller addressed the Lions international convention in Cedar Point, Ohio, USA. She challenged Lions to become “knights of the blind in the crusade against darkness>” From this time, Lions clubs have been actively involved in service to the blind and virtually impaired.

Broadening its international role, Lions Clubs International helped the United Nations form the Non-Governmental Organizations sections in 1945 and continues to hold consultative status with the U.N.

In 1990, Lions launched its most aggressive sight preservation effort, SightFirst. The US$143.5 million program strives to rid the world of preventable and reversible blindness by supporting desperately needed health care services.

In addition to sight programs, Lions Clubs International is committed to providing services for youth. Lions clubs also work to improve the environment, build homes for the disabled, support diabetes education, conduct hearting programs and, through their foundation, provide disaster relief around the world.

Lions Clubs International has grown to include nearly 1.35 million men and women in 46,000 clubs located in 194 countries and geographic areas.

Founded: 1917

 

Motto: "We Serve"

 

Clubs: 46,000 clubs in 194 countries and geographic areas

 

Oak Brook, Illinois, USA