Our local club, in concert with the Chautauqua Lake Leos, recently commissioned an historic picture of Helen Keller visiting the Chautauqua Institution as a young girl with Alexander Graham Bell and Annie Sullivan, her teacher, in the summer of 1894. Keller and Bell are the guiding spirits of Lions International, after being asked by Helen Keller to become her knights of the blind, in 1925. The Limited edition Collectible is being offered for sale at the present time, with the funds all going to local sight and hearing needs. In 1925, Helen Keller challenged Lions to become "knights of the blind in the crusade against darkness" during the association's international convention. Today, Lions are recognized worldwide for their service to the blind and visually impaired. Lions demonstrate their commitment to sight conservation through eyeglass recycling, sight partnerships and countless other sight services. The Lions ambitious SightFirst Program has restored sight through cataract surgeries, prevented serious vision loss and improved eye care services for hundreds of millions of adults and children. To continue and expand this effort, Lions have launched Campaign SightFirst II, with a goal of raising at least US$150 million.

Lions are an international network of 1.3 million men and women in 205 countries and geographic areas who work together to answer the needs that challenge communities around the world.