The Red Oak Texas Lions Club History
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.
Membership
Lions Clubs International is the world's largest service club organization
with 1.3 million members in approximately 45,000 clubs in 200 countries
and geographical areas.
Lions are men and women who volunteer their time to humanitarian causes.
Founded in 1917, the volunteer organization's motto is "We Serve."
Service to Others
Worldwide, Lions clubs are recognized for their service to the blind and
visually impaired. This service began when Helen Keller challenged Lions
to become "knights of the blind in the crusade against darkness"
during the 1925 Lions Clubs International Convention.
Today, Lions extend their commitment to sight conservation through countless
local efforts, as well as through their international SightFirst Program
and Lions World Sight Day, a global partnership of United Nations agencies,
eye care and philanthropic organizations and health professionals, held
the second Thursday of each October to increase awareness of the need to
eradicate blindness. Lions also collect and recycle eyeglasses for distribution
in developing countries year-round and especially during May, which is Lions
Recycle for Sight Month.
In addition, Lions make a strong commitment to young people through youth
outreach programs. Lions also work to improve the environment, build homes
for the disabled, support diabetes education, conduct hearing programs and,
through their foundation, provide disaster relief around the world
Based on a recent report of Lions clubs worldwide, it is estimated that
each Lions clubs donates US$9,900 to charitable causes, totaling US$449
million. Each year Lions club members volunteer approximately 76 million
hours, which is equivalent to 36,500 people working full time for a year.
Sight Programs
In 1990, Lions established SightFirst, raising US$143 million to fight the major causes of preventable and reversible blindness. The unprecedented program joins Lions volunteers with blindness prevention experts and organizations and governments. SightFirst has:
Provided more than 7.1 million cataract surgerieBuilt or expanded 213 eye hospitalsSupported more than 80 million treatments to prevent river blindnessImproved eye care in 90 counries around the world.
In 2005, Lions launched Campaign SightFirst II with a goal of raising at least US$150 million to continue and expand the extraordinary work of SightFirst.
Lions clubs support other sight-related activities. Lions clubs and members:
Provide 600,000 free professional glaucoma screenings and make 25,000 corneal transplants possible each yearEstablish and support a majority of the world's eye banks, hundreds of clinics, hospitals and eye research centers worldwideCollect more than 30 million pairs of used eyeglasses annually for free distribution to those in need in developing countriesOffer screenings, eyeglasses and sports goggles to athletes through the Special Olympics-Lions Clubs International Opening Eyes ProgramProvide free quality eye care, eyeglasses, Braille-writers, large print texts, white canes and guide dogs for thousands of people each year.
Lions International Purposes
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 or 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 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, as 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.