Rededicate Yourself to Lions
by Sid L. Scruggs III
President, The International Association of Lions Clubs
I know how life-changing Lions can be for the people we serve. But
being a Lion also can change your life. One of my Lions friends is a
retired medical doctor. Before he became a Lion, we took him to a Lions
project involving children with emotional and physical challenges. For
that day he was like a kindly grandfather, holding, feeding and caring
for them. He was very emotional when he told me what a powerful
experience it was to help the children. All his adult life he had
attended to people’s physical needs as a surgeon. He now knew the joy of
meeting people’s emotional needs.
This year I am asking Lions to rededicate themselves to hands on
service as a Lion. Deepen your involvement. Take a greater interest in
humanitarian service. Assume a new responsibility. Sponsor a new member.
Be the best Lion you can be. Don’t settle for just being one of the
group.
To boost our Lions’ involvement, I am urging Lions everywhere to
participate in our four Global Service Action Campaigns. Assist youth in
August by planning an initiative in conjunction with the United Nations
International Youth Day. In October, support World Sight Day by
involving your club in sight-related project (an eye screening event,
collecting used eye glasses, or aiding a visually impaired or blind
person). Around the holidays, fight hunger through a food collection
drive or a food distribution project. Next April, support World Earth
Day with an environmental project.
