Dear Lion JOEY,  

This is my last monthly message to you as international president and I wish to thank you for all you have done to make this year so memorable and satisfying.

Throughout our shared leadership year I have asked you to let your light shine; to shine as a beacon of hope to all who need our help. You have done all this and more. Through the four Global Service Action Campaigns alone, you have helped Lions Clubs International reach new heights of service.  These worldwide initiatives spotlighted the needs and potential of young people, blindness prevention, worldwide hunger, and protecting the environment.  More importantly, these campaigns resulted in direct service to more than 11.6 million people -- people whose lives have been touched by Lions and who will not forget what we have done for them.

First Vice President Wing-Kun Tam shares our belief that service is paramount in the International Association of Lions Clubs and I am pleased to tell you that the Global Service Action Campaigns we have inaugurated this year will continue under his leadership.  In fact, he will be expanding the Protecting our Environment Campaign to challenge Lions to plant one million trees during his year as president. I hope these campaigns will become a yearly tradition shining a light on our association's most important service commitments.

Thank you again for all you have done to serve your communities and for participating in this year of extraordinary achievement.

Best wishes,

Sid L. Scruggs III
International President

Global Service Action Campaigns

Lions from around the world have taken up the challenge to organize service activities specifically focused on engaging youth, sharing vision, relieving hunger, and protecting our environment. Clubs from all seven LCI constitutional areas participated in the campaigns, and have dedicated nearly 1.62 million service hours to projects that have benefited over 11.6 million people worldwide. 

Each campaign provided clubs with a unique opportunity to serve their community while helping to address some of the most pressing humanitarian challenges facing our world today.     

The 2010-11 global service action campaigns were an important reminder of the strength of our global network and how Lions' compassion to be of service can make a difference in the lives of others.  Whether it meant providing food to impoverished families, holding vision screenings for underprivileged school children, restoring a degraded forest that offers a source of livelihood for their community, or building wells to ensure access to safe water for the rural poor, Lions were there to serve as beacons of hope.  

View examples of how Lions and Leos from around the world have worked together to serve their communities:
 

Beacon of Hope Highlights

You have shown the way for your neighbors.  During the past 11 months Lions light has shone as a beacon for people seeking effective ways to serve their communities and the world Lions Clubs International membership has increased by 24,131 over last year. More than 1,400 new Lions Clubs have been chartered in 92 countries. I see this as a clear indication that, when people know who Lions are and have the opportunity to see what we do, they will wish to join us. Important and successful service projects bring new and effective members to our clubs and districts. More members and more clubs in more places mean more and better service to our communities and the world.  We must do all we can to keep this cycle turning and the momentum moving forward! With more Lions in more clubs in more communities, Lions Clubs International will be able to change the lives of more people in more places than ever before.

Set Your Sights High

Begin making plans now for your club and district's participation in next year's Global Service Action Campaigns.  They will begin in August with the Engaging Our Youth campaign to be followed by Sharing the Vision, Relieving the Hunger and Protecting Our Environment.