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Lions International Stamp Club

Lions can join the Lions International Stamp Club (LISC). The group formed during the 34th Lions International Convention in Atlantic City, New Jersey, USA,  in 1951. Melvin Jones was an avid stamp collector and a charter member of LISC.

The purpose of LISC is to foster and develop the avocation of stamp collecting among Lions, Leos, Lionesses and their families and to increase international goodwill among Lions.

It is an affiliate organization of Lions Clubs International and holds an annual meeting during the Lions international convention.

Lions Stamp Collection and Liontopical Collection

More than 100 countries have issued Lions logo postage stamps in recognition of Lions club activities. The first Lions stamp was issued by Cuba during the 24th Lions Clubs International Convention in Havana in 1940.

Lions Stamp Collection Criteria

A Lions collection consists of stamps and souvenir sheets which:

• show the emblem/logo of Lions Clubs International or mention Lions Clubs International
• include perforated, imperforated and gutter pairs
• are issued by countries that have an official Postal Authority, are members of the Universal Postal Union, and are issued for postal use
• are from countries in which there is a Lions Clubs International presence
• are given numbers in the four main official stamp catalogs

Other versions such as color proofs, errors and deluxe sheets can be collected but should not be printed in the pages of a Lions Stamp Album.

Liontopical Collection Criteria

A Liontopical collection should include stamps and souvenir sheets (including perforated and imperforated) that are issued honoring persons living or dead, who are or were active honorary Lions. The two classes following are 'Lions Clubs' stamps:

• Raoul Follereau
• Helen Keller

Lions and Liontopical Covers

First day and special Lions event covers bearing the above stamps, Lions covers with cancellations showing the emblem or mentioning Lions Clubs International or Lions Clubs Covers with cachets mentioning Lions Clubs International, Lions clubs, or a Lions activity are acceptable.

Other Subjects

Besides collecting other stamps and philatelic values, Lions stamp collectors may collect stamps showing activities associated with Lions clubs such as:

• sight preservation
• white Cane
• seeing eye dogs
• hearing preservation
• youth
• activities connected with a Lions event but not having the Lions emblem, logo or mention of Lions Clubs International

Activities and Service Projects

Members can participate in activities such as stamp exchanges and used stamp collection programs for charitable and community service.

Some of the current service projects are:

• Deaf and Blind Children's School (Australia)
• Lions school projects in South Africa, Australia, Canada, and Netherlands
• Eye camp sponsorship and Special Olympics sponsorship (U.K. Lions)
• Catholic Mission at Burkina Faso (Lions of Italy)

The Philatelist

There are more than 400 members of LISC worldwide and each member receives "The Philatelist," a quarterly newsletter that includes articles on Lions stamps and covers together with many offers to members.

Local chapters

Local chapters of LISC exist in: Asia, Australia, Italy, New Zealand, The Netherlands, the United Kingdom and Ireland, and the United States of America. These chapters are actively involved in charitable and community service projects as well as the hobby of stamp collecting.

For more information about LISC, contact:

Secretary LISC
Lion Micha Gelber
Oostmaaslaan 3063
DE Rotterdam
The Netherlands

E-mail: mgelber@hetnet.nl

OR surf to our Web site www.lisc.nl