Adding Professionalism to Lionism

It's true that we Lions (and Lionesses and Leos) are volunteers. But that doesn't mean we have to be amateurish in our efforts. We can all add a little professionalism to what we do, what we say, how we behave and even, what we wear! But then again, how many of us make efforts to be or are actually willing to learn to be more professional?

Let's start off with what I deem as 'less than professional.' Take the way a President conducts a meeting. Even with the most comprehensive and detailed agenda a Secretary can help prepare, the guy (or gal) chairing the meeting can foul up badly by not understanding his/her role as the Chairperson. I have seen bosses and directors of successful companies being very unprofessional (like shouting at a member or bulldozing their private agenda) when in the Chair which is suppose to be neutral at all times. Maybe they can perform well as entrepreneurs or business people or in their 'professions' but they certainly stink at being a good Presiding Officer! Yet, when confronted, these big bosses claim that they know everything (as proven by their successes) and they don't need kecikmayong busybodies to teach them how to suck eggs. In the end, there are disagreements with (or non support by) club members, failing to achieve even the simplest goal, and venting their anger through the wrong process and/or people, resulting in loss of membership or interest (see the number of failed IPPs?).

Then there are clubs that have no proper handing down of documentation and (proven successful) processes, resulting in the new officers blindly grabbing at whatever 'knowledge' or formats from the secular world and making do as the club's! There are many Lion leaders who allow themselves to be 'influenced' by, for example, the political parties or clan associations, and make the Lions club become a copy of that party or association. As such, they run the club like political leaders, handing out projects, favors and awards to their henchmen and bullying or starving the 'opponents', or like associations where the chief is the most powerful king and any utterance is a command to be obeyed or the member will be thrown out. And usually, such 'kings' wish to retain their 'power' for as long as possible, literally taking the same position year after year. And I don't refer to just the President or those who find difficulty in finding replacements - I mean those who refuse to give up their posts for fear of losing their 'power.'

The above are two examples of what we do that can be deemed as unprofessional. In worse cases, there are those that even seek revenge or carry out downright persecution to satisfy their personal vendetta when in disagreement with another member, unfortunately often in the guise of Lionism!! That's why it saddens me to see Lion fighting Lion over minor issues but in the name of 'face' (another word for 'pride' or 'ego'). As long as there are two persons, there will always be differences in opinion. Be more professional: accept that there will be differences and be tolerant of the other person.

Then there are times we become unprofessional by what we say and how we say it. I guess this is the hardest to correct. When we are angry, we say things we don't really mean and later regret saying it. Sometimes, in order to show off, we say the wrong things when we should have just shut-the-hell-up. All I can say is keep cool, be tolerant. I actually have a very bad temper so I keep telling myself this very often - and that's why I am seldom seen in anger. But if I do burst out, then it will certainly be a show-stopper! Now I have found a better way to blow steam: using this blog, haha!

On how we behave and what we wear, I always keep in mind that as a Lion, I hold the public's trust in me, all the time and not just when I put on the vest or lapel pin. Our code of ethics is very meaningful and practical but how many of us follow it? We see 'Lions' being dead drunk, using foul words, even treating women as sex objects, all in the public eye... what sort of Lionistic image are we portraying?? This is not even about professionalism - it's plain common decency! Did you hear the story of a prostitute asking her john how she can join him as a Lion too because she saw them having so much money and drunken fun?! In other scenarios, there are 'Lions' who use (or I should say 'misuse') the kind-hearted friendship of their fellows members to make political slaughterings, as stepping stones to awards and titles, for unfair financial and business gains etc. Pretty common, I dare say... so is that what being a Lion is about?

Hello Lions, Lionesses, Leos and Friends

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!).