OVERVIEW Continued -Extension. Lions who assist in the organization of a new club are eligible for an Extension Award. -Perfect Attendance. If you maintain perfect attendance for a specified period, you will be eligible for special awards. Many clubs give an award for each year’s perfect attendance. ++ACTIVITIES — Are Diverse As Our Members. YOUR LIONS CLUB is involved in service activities that benefit your community directly, or perhaps a larger community such as a major city, state, province, or country. -The association also fosters service activities internationally, One of our major international service commitments established in 1990 is Sight First: Lions Conquering Blindness. It is an aggressive global blindness prevention initiative. -The program joins leading blindness prevention experts, blindness prevention organizations, governments and Lion volunteers in an effort to establish long-term solutions in eliminating preventable and reversible blindness. Worldwide, Sight First projects, funded by Lions Clubs International Foundation (LCIF), are developed to fill the gaps between what is being done and what needs to be done by targeting the leading causes of blindness affecting large regional populations. Since its inception, over $136 million dollars in grants has been approved. The program has provided assistance in over 78 countries on six continents. ++Another continuing major international activity of the association is LIONS OPPORTUNITY FOR YOUTH. The program provides 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 include: - Lions International Peace Poster Contest - Lions International Youth Camp Program - Lions International Youth Exchange Program - Lions Youth Outreach Program - Leo Club Program -Committees are organized at the club, district, and multiple district levels. The committees include chairpersons from all Lions youth programs. -Other major service activities of Lions Clubs International include: - Hearing and speech action and work with the deaf - Environmental services - International relations - And a variety of activities unique to local communities around the world. -Materials on many of these programs are available from the International Services Activities Division at international headquarters. ++YOUR EMBLEM. THE LEGAL NAME of your association is “The International Association of Lions Club.” It’s entirely proper, however, to use the shorter form of “Lions Clubs International.” -The current Lions emblem, one of the most widely recognized and respected in the world, was adopted at the 1919 convention. It consists of a gold letter “L” on a circular purple (or blue) field. Bordering this is a circular gold area with two Lion profiles facing away from the center, symbolizing our glorious past and a promising future. The word “Lions” appears at the top, and “International” at the bottom. Always wear your Lions emblem pin proudly. And, since it’s a registered trademark in most countries, remember it may never be used for commercial or fundraising purposes without prior consent from the Legal Division at International Headquarters. Downloadable emblems are available on the official web site, www.lionsclubs.org. -The royal colors of purple and gold were selected as the official colors when the association was organized in 1917. Purple stands for loyalty, and for integrity of mind and heart. Gold symbolizes sincerity of purpose, liberality in judgment, purity in life, and generosity in mind, heart and purse to those in need. *These pages adapted from International Lions Club new member packet-03/12/06.