Who are Lions?
Lions meet the needs of our local communities and the world. We are an international network of 1.3 million men and women in more than 200 countries and geographic areas who work together to answer the needs that challenge communities around the world. Known for working to end preventable blindness, Lions participate in a vast variety of projects important to their communities. These projects range from cleaning up local parks to providing supplies to victims of natural disasters.
Beginning in 1917, the association of Lions clubs has provided millions of people with the opportunity to give something back to their communities. View LQ (Lions Quarterly Video Magazine) on the Lions News Network to see how Lions continue to make a difference everyday and everywhere.
For more information go to: http://www.lionsclubs.org/EN/content/lions_organization.shtml
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.
Potomac Lions Club has supported SightFirst Program that restored sight through cataract surgeries, prevented serious vision loss and improved eye care services for thousands of adults and children. To continue and expand this effort, Potomac Lions Club is supporting SightFirst II
Lions Code of Ethic
A. 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.
B. 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.
C. 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.
D. Whenever a doubt arises as to the right or ethics of my position or action toward others, to resolve such doubt against myself.
E. 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.
F. 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.
G. To aid others by giving my sympathy to those in distress, my aid to the weak, and my substance to the needy.
H. To Be Careful with my criticism and liberal with my praise; to build up and not destroy.
Lions Clubs International Foundation (LCIF)
The 1.3 million Lions members in 200 countries and geographic areas answer the needs that challenge the communities of the world. Lions tackle tough problems like blindness, drug abuse prevention and diabetes awareness.
Global neighbors - Lions members—men and women—provide immediate and sustained relief in time of disaster and offer long-term assistance to those in need. Lions collect and recycle eyeglasses for distribution in developing countries and treat millions of people to prevent river blindness.
Community Leaders - Lions improve the quality of life in their local communities by building parks, supporting hospitals and establishing water treatment programs. For nearly 90 years, whenever there is a need at home or around the world, Lions members are there to help— We Serve to those in need. Lions collect and recycle eyeglasses for distribution in developing countries and treat millions of people to prevent river blindness.
LCIF General Services
Youth Programs
The mission of Lions Opportunities for Youth is:
To provide the young people of the world with opportunities for achievement, learning, contribution and service, individually and collectively, through sponsorship of activities identified as best practices in the field of youth development.
Lions Opportunities for Youth Committees are organized at the club, district and multiple district levels. The committee includes chairpersons from all Lions youth programs.
Leo Club Program
Lions International Peace Poster Contest
Lions International Youth Camp Program
Lions International Youth Exchange Program
Click to access the following information:
Multiple District Lions Opportunities for Youth chairperson guidelines.
District Lions Opportunities for Youth chairperson guidelines.
Multiple district/district Lions Opportunities for Youth chairpersons should be familiar with the following information:
Policy Statement on Youth Activities
United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child
Youth projects
Scouts and Lions
Partnerships with other youth organizations
Awards for young volunteers
News from Lions international headquarters
For information on Lions-Quest, click here.
Vision Programs
Lions are recognized worldwide for their service to the blind and visually impaired. This service began when Helen Keller challenged the Lions to become "knights of the blind in the crusade against darkness" during the association's 1925 international convention. Click here to read her inspiring speech.
Today, in addition to their international SightFirst program, Lions extend their commitment to sight conservation through countless local efforts.
Lions are also involved in a variety of other activities to improve their communities and help people in need, such as assisting the hearing impaired, providing diabetes awareness and education materials, working on environmental projects and developing youth programs
Hearing Services
In 1925, Lions accepted the challenge posed by Helen Keller ( who became blind and deaf in childhood) to help persons who are deaf as well as those who are blind. Click here to view her inspiring speech.
Services provided by Lions clubs for persons who are deaf or hard of hearing include:
hearing awareness
hearing screenings
communications aids for persons who are deaf or hard of hearing
recreational camps for persons who are deaf or hard of hearing
support for the Deaf or hard of hearing community
In 2002-03, Lions donated more than US$4.3 million and volunteered more than 292,000 hours to hearing-related service projects. Lions are invited to share news of their successful service projects for persons who are deaf or hard of hearing.
For general information about hearing, access Understanding hearing impairments (IAD-8) or Technological devices for people who are hearing impaired (IAD-9) in the Resources section.
For additional hearing information, log onto: www.nidcd.nih.gov or contact the Program Development Department at Lions Clubs International Headquarters: programs@lionsclubs.org.
Potomac Lions Club is part of LCIF and have been setup with the following goals in mind:
PLC Organizational Goal
- 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.
- To foster and promote the spirit of good citizenship in the community.
- To promote charitable and fund raising activities to help those in need in the local community, and support of Lion Club International with their worldwide charitable projects.
