Simply said, I got hooked. Blogs, being the popular source of information today, are blossoming everywhere! And since it is a kind of virtual diary that anyone who is interested can look at, why not start one regarding what is close to my heart (and yours I hope): Lionism!
And since this is my first attempt at blogging, nuts... how to do what and which buttons to press? Seems fairly simple though using this Blogger site... pretty much works like an email composer.
Anyway, this blog is about issues affecting our great organization, 90 years old this year. For one, I don't think the father of Lionism, dear old dead Melvin Jones, or the original group of Lions ever expected this huge an association, covering more than 200 countries and with such diversity! Their plan was simple: create a club where leading members of a local community can provide service to the less fortunate under a common banner. Today, members need not be leaders of their community and we do more than serving the needs of the less fortunate. Ordinary folks of all walks of life can be members. I have met or known of a firetruck driver in Australia, a cook in Germany, a cowboy in USA and locally we have farmers, clerks, etc... all forms of occupations. Why not? As long as the person is of good character and genuine in his desire to help others, why not? Today, members need not be from a certain community. We have Lions that meet online, staying hours away from each other in the same club, serving communities across borders. Why not? As long as deserving people benefit, why not? And today, we not only serve the less fortunate, the Lions movement is into research (e.g. eye institutes), treatment (e.g. river blindness), fellowship (excuse for merriment for some people), leadership membership development (to ensure our numbers are growing??).
So Lionism has grown international and myriad, and with it, many, many ways to do the things Lionistic. At the annual international convention members of one country will stare in horror or awe at the antics of the members from another country. Even how we wear our vest (or material thereof) may be a hotly debated issue between clubs of different countries. While one club includes singing as part of their regular meeting agenda, another would shamelessly include 'refreshments' of the spiritual kind!
Yet with all this diversity, the ideals of Lionism for the better part has survived almost intact for 90 years. The Object (now titled Purpose, also shortened to Mission Statement) of Lionism remains unchanged. As for reports, all LCI wants now is just the name and number, a statistic for compilation. Remember the days of the thick Membership & Activities Report in five copies to be posted by snailmail (no email then!) every month?
Much of the administrative work at LCI are done by professionals, no longer volunteers coming into Melvin Jones' office after work to sort out the mail and reports. As the world's largest service club organization (that we proudly tell everyone), I don't see why our District administration shouldn't also go professional (hmmm... title of my next blog, so do come back and visit again!).
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5 comments:
....It's time to add "Pro" to lionism! Huray!
I second to that
Bravo!!!
There are two new articles for your reading pleasure!
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