by Dr. Ashok Mehta
President
The International Association of Lions Clubs

We have entered the final two months of our year together in service and in the spirit of volunteerism. Have we reached the objectives that were established last July and, if not, what needs to be done if we are to fully demonstrate our Passion To Excel?

For example, every club president was challenged with a Plus One goal to achieve a positive net growth of one or more members in the club. Has your club realized this goal? Likewise, I asked that every district governor also adopt a Plus One objective by organizing a least one new Lions club in the district. How many governors have successfully answered this challenge? There are still two months remaining to demonstrate your Passion for Growth. Our International Program also recognizes the need to bring more women into Lions clubs worldwide. The goal, in fact, is to add at least 50,000 women.

Former Leos are also excellent candidates for Lions club membership because they have already been motivated to understand the importance of voluntary service. Has your club added more women and former Leos? These are two challenges not only for this year, but in the years to come, if we are to continually strengthen our association.

LCIF expands as one of the world’s leading sources for improving the human condition. Funding is, of course, crucial and with the launching of Campaign SightFirst II, Lions now have a greater opportunity to demonstrate their generosity in its support. Also, has your Lions clubs achieved 100 percent in Contributing Memberships or designated one or more members as Melvin Jones Fellows? For inspiration, one only needs to look at the results generous contributions have brought about: solid relief efforts on behalf of victims of the tsunami, Hurricane Katrina and other natural disasters; millions of people provided with the gift of sight after receiving cataract surgery through SightFirst; and millions more being saved from blindness because of our programs to eliminate trachoma and river blindness. LCIF also supports Lions Quest, provides vocational training for the disabled, constructs senior citizens centers and medical research institutions and enables Lions to render assistance in countless other ways. But these projects can only be expanded if Lions everywhere make it possible for funds to multiply.

This year, have members of your club or district participated in any of the exceptional leadership development opportunities offered by Lions Clubs International? Remember, proper training at all levels is necessary if Lions are to properly exercise their Passion to Lead.

Has your club studied current needs in your community and developed activities that are truly relevant to answer those needs? If a project no longer is relevant, it is best to discard it and adopt one or more that will unequivocally benefit your locale and its less fortunate citizens. Among the most important areas of involvement is to help young people, especially children at risk. Also, is your club involved in scouting or youth exchange? Do you sponsor a Leo club or have you enabled children to express their artistic talents through the Lions International Peace Poster Contest? All of these activities that answer pressing needs, in whatever form, are vital to ensuring a healthy community environment.

Still another objective this year is to put into effect a strong Passion to Promote. Whether it is through the printed media, radio, television or electronically, it is important for clubs to promote their accomplishments and goals. It is a proven way to both improve their public image and, consequently, garner increasing support in the community for Lions’ programs. Does your Lions club have a strong working relationship with the news media? If you find that public awareness for your projects is lacking, an immediate objective must be to begin passionately promoting your club.

I ask that you take the time to analyze how far you have traveled this year and determine what else needs to be initiated in the following two months if you are to give testimony to your Passion To Excel in the most successful manner possible.