| 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 men and women 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 endeavours |
| TO SHOW | my faith in the worthiness of my vocation by industrious application to the end that I may merit 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 my fellow men, 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 | bear in mind my obligations as a citizen to my nation, my state and my community, and to give them my unserving loyalty in word, act and deed. To give them freely of my time, labor and means |
| TO AID | my fellow men 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 |
LIONS CLUBS plan and conduct a variety of community and humanitarian projects. These services are part of the broadly-based Ten Major Activities of Lionism. Clubs can choose any one, or more, specific projects from among these comprehensive categories. Briefly, the Major Activities are: |
SIGHT CONSERVATION AND WORK FOR THE BLIND |
Lions clubs have established glaucoma screening clinics, eye banks and rehabilitation institutes. They support workshops and help pay scholarships for deserving blind students. The familiar "white canes" were introduced by the Lions, and clubs provide guide dogs and other mobility needs. |
CITIZENSHIP SERVICES |
Among the most popular activites are the Leo clubs - Lions-sponsored groups for teenaged boys and girls. Lions work with veterans organizations and hold special programs of a patriotic nature in their communities. They also sponsor numerous youth groups such as Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Guides and others. |
PUBLIC SERVICES |
Included in this comprehensive category is the distribution of information concerning the latest methods of food production and protection. Clubs, urban and rural, conduct a variety of programs relative to their areas programs that emphasize traffic, home, farm, school and recreational safety. |
RECREATIONAL SERVICES |
Lions build playgrounds and contribute equipment. They also build community centers, swimming pools, garden and town squares. Lions sponsor baseball, football, basketball, hockey, soccer and other sports teams for youngsters. Clubs plan and conduct carnivals, picnics and various celebrations. |
HEALTH SERVICES |
Lions provide extensive medical relief to under-developed areas and organize a wide range of detection and prevention programs. Medical research institutions have also been the recipients of generous contributions from Lions clubs and districts. Lions are also active in helping to curb drug abuse by conducting Drug Education programs. |
EDUCATIONAL SERVICES |
Lions award hundreds of scholarships every year. Clubs also sponsor career nights at high schools and invite locally prominent people to help graduates plan their future. Literacy programs and vocational training in under-privileged areas are also high on the programs agendas for many Lions clubs. |
ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES |
Clubs have chosen to initiate community programs aimed at eliminating air, water and land pollution. Lions also vigorously support legislation designed to improve the environment, Clubs organize local cleanup campaigns and have developed public education programs describing how citizens can help save their environment. |
HEARING CONSERVATION AND WORK FOR THE DEAF |
pAuditory equipment is furnished to schools with hearing-impaired students and scholarships are issued to youngsters with this handicap. Lions conduct screening programs for children and adults, support a variety of rehabilitation services and provide and repair hearing aids for the needy. |
| INTERNATIONAL UNDERSTANDING AND COOPERATION AND YOUTH EXCHANGE |
Lions have established many international friendship contacts and participate in worldwide assistance programs. Lions support the humanitarian aims of the United Nations and are closely associated with CARE. Increasingly more young people are annually participating in the international Youth Exchange program. |
SOCIAL SERVICES |
Lions sponsor many programs for the physically and mentally handicapped, the aged and the under provileged. Clubs and districts have also constructed homes for orphans and the elderly as well as rehabilitation institutes for the handicapped. Many clubs supply food baskets for the poor on a regular basis. Lions are always there to serve whenever there is a community need. |