Since 1917, Lions clubs have offered people the opportunity to give something back to their communities. From involving members in projects as local as cleaning up an area park or as far-reaching as bringing sight to the world's blind, Lions clubs have always embraced those committed to building a brighter future for their community.
Today with more than 49,000 clubs in more than 200 countries and geographical areas, Lions have expanded their focus to help meet the ever-increasing needs of our global community.
Our programs are continually changing to meet new needs and greater demands, but our mission has never wavered: "We Serve."
Mission Statement : TO EMPOWER volunteers to serve their communities, meet humanitarian needs, encourage peace and promote international understanding through Lions clubs.
Vision Statement: TO BE the global leader in community and humanitarian service.
The Motto
- The motto of every Lion is simply "We Serve". What better way to express the true mission of Lionism?
- The slogan of the association is "Liberty, Intelligence, Our Nations Safety (LIONS).
- The royal colors of purple and gold were selected as the official colors when the association was organized in 1917. Purple stands for loyalty to friends and to one's self, and for integrity of mind and heart. Gold symbolizes sincerity of purpose, liberality in judgment, purity of life and generosity in mind, heart and purpose toward humanity.
- 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 endeavours.
LIONS Clubs International Purpose
- To Organize, charter and supervise service clubs to be known as Lions clubs.
- To Coordinate the activities and standardize the administration of Lions clubs.
- 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.
- He achieves success who lives well, laughs often and loves much.
- Who gains the respect of intelligent men and love of little children;
- Who fills his niche, who accomplishes his task, who leaves the world better than he found it, whether by an improved poppy, a perfect poem, or a rescued soul;
- Who never lacks appreciation of the earth's beauty or fails to express it;
- Who always sees the best in others, and gives the best that he has;
- Whose life is an inspiration, whose memory is a benediction.
- To Show my faith in the worthiness of my vocation by industrious application to the end that I may merit a reputation of quality of service.
- To Seek success and 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 to 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, and 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.
The above code of ethics has stood the test of time. It was adopted by the Lions International Convention in 1918 and has had only minor changes since that time.