The Lions Blog

During April, we encourage Lions to participate in this month’s Global Service Action campaign, Protecting Our Environment. By planning environmental service projects, you can get your entire community involved in hands-on volunteer work that keeps your environment safe and beautiful.

Project ideas include:

• Plant trees or flowers
• Help build a safe drinking water system
• Organize a community-wide bike to work/school day
• Conduct community clean-up projects
• Sponsor a nature camp to teach youth about the environment
• Volunteer at a recycling center
• Raise awareness about the benefits of “going green”

What projects is your Lions club planning to protect the environment?

Lions Clubs International Headquarters is excited to announce that we will be hosting the Reading and Literacy Summit in Oak Brook, Illinois, USA, on May 1, 2013. During the summit, 25 to 30 organizations, from development agencies to for-profit companies, will discuss topics such as global literacy, promoting early reading, considerations for people with visual impairments, and the role of technology in literacy.

Join in on the discussion online!

We will be live-Tweeting during the event, as well as posting photos through Facebook and Instagram. Share your thoughts on global literacy, as well as your Reading Action Program success stories.

The organizations attending the Reading and Literacy Summit include:

• US Agency for International Development (USAID)
• United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF)
• United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
• Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation
• World Vision
• CARE
• Aga Khan Development Network
• World Education
• Reading Is Fundamental
• Reach Out and Read
• Scholastic International
• Perkins School for the Blind
• Hadley School for the Blind
• American Foundation for the Blind
• Benetech Initiative (Bookshare)
• Special Olympics
• Johnson & Johnson Vision Care
• Microsoft
• Nokia

Learn more about the Reading and Literacy Summit.

During the month of April, we encourage Lions to promote the Leo Club Program for Leo Club Awareness Month. Sponsoring a Leo club brings new energy to Lions clubs, and provides young people with youth volunteer opportunities that will help them develop strong leadership skills and friendships that will last a lifetime.

Existing Leo clubs and their sponsoring Lions clubs can show that the Leo Program is worth joining by actively promoting successful Leo projects through Facebook and e-LeoClubhouse. Or, share the above “Leading for Life” video on your Facebook page to show how Leos are making a global impact.

How is your Lions club helping today’s youth become leaders for life?

In January, bushfires swept through Coonabarabran’s farmlands and Warrumbungles National Park in Australia, destroying more than 50 homes. The Dorrigo community, farmers and the Dorrigo Lions Club responded immediately. Community members organized a fodder drop, which was delivered to affected farmers and their livestock during the weeks following the fire.

The Dorrigo Lions Club donated funds to support relief efforts, and sent a large load of hay bales directly to some of the cattle producers devastated by the bushfires.

When natural events such as tornadoes, hurricanes, floods and fires occur, Lions are always there to provide disaster relief wherever needed.

How does your Lions club respond when disaster strikes?

The Youth Programs Department is excited to launch MyLCI for Leos! Leo club officers, sponsoring Lions club officers and Leo club advisors now have the ability to report Leo members, Leo officers and service activities for Leo clubs.

Key features include:

• A custom home page with snapshots of information tailored to your responsibilities
• A task list to improve organization and productivity
• A single site for Leos and Lions, providing Lions with access to Leo reports for the first time

MyLCI helps streamline administrative operations of Leo clubs, districts and multiple districts – allowing you to spend more time serving your communities through youth volunteer opportunities.

If you have any questions, please contact the Youth Programs Department: leo@lionsclubs.org.