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.
Motto
The official motto of the association is simply "We Serve." What better way to explain our mission?
Slogan
The slogan is "Liberty, Intelligence, Our Nation's Safety."
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 for integrity of mind and heart. Gold symbolizes sincerity of purpose, liberality in judgment, purity in life, and generosity in mind, heart and purse to those in need.
Emblem
The current Lion emblem was adopted in 1919 and today, Lions throughout the world are recognized by it. It consists of a gold letter "L" on a circular purple (or blue) field. Bordering this is a circular gold area with two Lion profiles facing away from the center. The word "Lions" appears at the top, and "International" at the bottom. The Lions face both past and future - showing pride of heritage and confidence in the future.
Lions Club Objectives
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.
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 of 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 to 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, and 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.
To Be Careful with my criticism and liberal with my praise; to build up and not destroy.
Melvin Jones
Founder of Lions Clubs International
Melvin Jones was born on January 13, 1879 in Fort Thomas, Arizona, the son of a United States Army captain who commanded a troop of scouts. Later, his father was transferred and the family moved east. As a young man, Melvin Jones made his home in Chicago, Illinois, became associated with an insurance firm and in 1913 formed his own agency.
He soon joined the Business Circle, a businessmen's luncheon group, and was shortly elected secretary. This group was one of many at that time devoted solely to promoting the financial interests of their membership. Because of their limited appeal, they were destined to disappear. Melvin Jones, however, had other plans.
"What if these men," he asked, "who are successful because of their drive, intelligence and ambition, were to put their talents to work improving their communities?" Thus, at his invitation, delegates from men's clubs met in Chicago to lay the groundwork for such an organization and on June 7, 1917, Lions Clubs International was born.
Melvin Jones eventually abandoned his insurance agency to devote himself full time to Lions at International Headquarters in Chicago. It was under his dynamic leadership that Lions clubs earned the prestige necessary to attract civic-minded members.
The association's founder was also recognized as a leader by those outside the association. One of his greatest honors was in 1945 when he represented Lions Clubs International as a consultant in San Francisco, California, at the organization of the United Nations.
Melvin Jones, the man whose personal code – "You can't get very far until you start doing something for somebody else" – became a guiding principle for public-spirited people the world over, died June 1, 1961 at 82 years of age.
Helen Keller Bio
Born in Tuscumbia, Alabama, USA, in 1880, Helen Keller developed a fever at 18 months of age that left her blind and deaf.
With the help of an exceptional teacher, Anne Mansfield Sullivan of the Perkins School for the Blind, Keller learned sign language and braille. A few years later, she learned to speak. As an adult she became a tireless advocate for people with disabilities. And in 1925, Keller attended the Lions Clubs International Convention and challenged Lions to become "knights of the blind in the crusade against darkness."
The Lions accepted Keller's challenge and our work ever since has included sight programs aimed at preventable blindness.
Helen Keller Day
In 1971, the Board of Directors of Lions Clubs International declared that June 1 would be remembered as Helen Keller Day. Lions around the world implement sight-related service projects on Helen Keller Day.
Helen Keller's Speech
Lions International Convention
Cedar Point, Ohio, USA
June 30, 1925
Dear Lions and Ladies:
I suppose you have heard the legend that represents opportunity as a capricious lady, who knocks at every door but once, and if the door isn't opened quickly, she passes on, never to return. And that is as it should be. Lovely, desirable ladies won't wait. You have to go out and grab 'em.
I am your opportunity. I am knocking at your door. I want to be adopted. The legend doesn't say what you are to do when several beautiful opportunities present themselves at the same door. I guess you have to choose the one you love best. I hope you will adopt me. I am the youngest here, and what I offer you is full of splendid opportunities for service.
The American Foundation for the Blind is only four years old. It grew out of the imperative needs of the blind, and was called into existence by the sightless themselves. It is national and international in scope and in importance. It represents the best and most enlightened thought on our subject that has been reached so far. Its object is to make the lives of the blind more worthwhile everywhere by increasing their economic value and giving them the joy of normal activity.
Try to imagine how you would feel if you were suddenly stricken blind today. Picture yourself stumbling and groping at noonday as in the night; your work, your independence, gone. In that dark world wouldn't you be glad if a friend took you by the hand and said, "Come with me and I will teach you how to do some of the things you used to do when you could see?" That is just the kind of friend the American Foundation is going to be to all the blind in this country if seeing people will give it the support it must have.
You have heard how through a little word dropped from the fingers of another, a ray of light from another soul touched the darkness of my mind and I found myself, found the world, found God. It is because my teacher learned about me and broke through the dark, silent imprisonment which held me that I am able to work for myself and for others. It is the caring we want more than money. The gift without the sympathy and interest of the giver is empty. If you care, if we can make the people of this great country care, the blind will indeed triumph over blindness.
The opportunity I bring to you, Lions, is this: To foster and sponsor the work of the American Foundation for the Blind. Will you not help me hasten the day when there shall be no preventable blindness; no little deaf, blind child untaught; no blind man or woman unaided? I appeal to you Lions, you who have your sight, your hearing, you who are strong and brave and kind. Will you not constitute yourselves Knights of the Blind in this crusade against darkness?
I thank you.
Helen Keller
Beginning in 1917
Chicago business leader Melvin Jones 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 more than 1.4 million members in more than 45,000 clubs and countless stories of Lions acting on the same simple idea: let's improve our communities.
1920: Going International
Just three years after our founding, Lions became 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: Eradicating Blindness
Helen Keller addressed the Lions Clubs International Convention in Cedar Point , Ohio , USA , and challenged Lions to become "knights of the blind in the crusade against darkness." Since then, we have worked tirelessly 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.
1968: Establishing Our Foundation
Lions Clubs International Foundation assists Lions with global and large-scale local humanitarian projects. Through our Foundation, Lions meet the needs of their local and global communities.
1990: Launching SightFirst
Through SightFirst, Lions are restoring sight and preventing blindness on a global scale. Launched in 1990, Lions have raised more than $346 million for this initiative. SightFirst targets the major causes of blindness: cataract, trachoma, river blindness, childhood blindness, diabetic retinopathy and glaucoma.
Today: Extending Our Reach
Lions Clubs International extends our mission of service every day – in local communities, in all corners of the globe. The needs are great and our services broad, including Sight, Health, Education, Youth, Elderly, the Environment and Disaster relief. Our international network has grown to include more than 209 countries and geographic areas
Lionism in
Bangladesh
Lions Clubs International, Bangladesh was started in Bangladesh first from Chittagong in 1958 under the initiative of MR Siddiqui who first organised the Lion's Club of Chittagong. At the same time, another Club of the Lion's International was organized at Dhaka called Lion's Club of Dhaka, which was chartered as Lion's Club International on 19 February 1958 and the Chittagong Lions Clubs Chartered on 2 April 1958. At that time, these two Lion's clubs were under Lion's' District 305 (Pakistan).
In the Year 1962-1963, District 305 was turned into a Multiple District with sub-district 305 W (West Pakistan) and 305 E (East Pakisan). Ln MR Siddiqi was the first provisional District Governor for District 305 E for a consecutive year 1962-1963 and 1963-1964. He was also the Chairman of Multiple District 305 in 1963-1964.
After liberation, Ln MR Siddiqi again took the initiative to establish Lion's movement in Bangladesh and accordingly he was appointed Provisional District Governor for the year 1972-1973 and 1973-1974 by the Lion's Clubs International and in 1974-1975 fiscal year, Bangladesh Lion's Clubs were upgraded as a full fledged District 315 with constituent 37 Clubs and 1250 members. M. Khaled was elected the District Governor for the year 1974-1975. With gradual increase in membership, Lions activities got momentum in Bangladesh and in view of its fast growth, the single District 315 was bifurcated into 2 sub-districts 315A and 315B in 1987-1988. The first District Governor of District 315A was Ln Moslem Ali Khan and that of District 315B was Ln Shafiur Rahman.
In view of the further growth of linism in Bangladesh, at present there are 6 Six Sub-District under Multiple District 315, like Lions District 315A1, Lion District 315A2, Lions District 315B1, 315B2, 315B3, 315B2,315B4, Under this one Multiple District 315 with more then 20,286 Lions Members of 736 clubs, all around the country are actively involved in materializing the vision of Lions movement. The clubs collect millions of Taka from their members and the Lion's mother body by way of donations, which are spent in implementing various projects especially in removing illiteracy and blindness. Lionism in Bangladesh is getting momentum day by day through their numerous humanitarian services.
In 1978, Leo Clubs were organized as a part of Youth Pogrammes of Lion's Clubs.' As of 30th April 2019 we’ve 3380 LEO’s and 169 LEO Club’s under Multiple District 315,Banlgadesh
Major Service Projects and Activities :
► Bangladesh Lions Foundation (BLF), Lions Eye Hospital & Institiute,Dhaka
► Chittagong Lions Foundation (CLF), Lion Eye Hospital & Institute,Chittagong
► Kapatakha Lions Eye and Hospital, Jessore
► Lions High School and College,Syedur
► Lions Progressive Eye Hospital, Narshingdi
► Lions Nazrul Islam College, Tangail
► Lions Ferozur Rahman Residential Academy, Brahmanbaria.'
► Khulna Lions High School, Khulna
► District Eye Hospital, Dinajur
► Lions Shishu Niketan Orphanage,Rangpur
