| |
| |
|
|
R E S O L U T I O N
|
| |
|
|
WHEREAS, Proud members of Lions Clubs International are |
|
|
celebrating their 100th anniversary in 2017, and this milestone |
|
|
presents a welcome opportunity to reflect on the rich history of |
|
|
this outstanding service organization; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Founded by Melvin Jones, the International |
|
|
Association of Lions Clubs held its first convention in October |
|
|
1917 at the Adolphus Hotel in Dallas; of the original 23 clubs, 12 |
|
|
were formed in the Lone Star State; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, A watershed moment occurred in 1927 when Helen |
|
|
Keller addressed the 10th convention of Lions Clubs International |
|
|
and urged attendees to become "Knights of the Blind"; in the years |
|
|
since, members have enthusiastically accepted her challenge, |
|
|
providing assistance to millions of people who suffer from |
|
|
blindness or limited vision through a wide variety of programs; the |
|
|
Lions Clubs International Foundation was created in 1968, and its |
|
|
Sight for Kids program has screened nearly 20 million children, |
|
|
while the SightFirst effort has raised approximately $500,000 for |
|
|
cataract operations; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, In 1970, Lions Clubs International adopted the motto |
|
|
"We Serve," and members have demonstrated their commitment to that |
|
|
maxim through myriad service efforts of benefit to people around |
|
|
the globe; the One Shot, One Life Lions Measles Initiative provided |
|
|
vaccines to more than 150 million children in 2012, and through |
|
|
fund-matching partnerships with the Bill and Melinda Gates |
|
|
Foundation and other groups, the program has saved millions of |
|
|
lives and raised tens of millions of dollars; in South Africa, fewer |
|
|
than 50 clubs consisting of only 1,250 members feed 60,000 people |
|
|
every day; moreover, Lions have collected over $1 billion in |
|
|
donations since 1972; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, The Lions Clubs of Texas have originated many of |
|
|
their own service projects, including the Juvenile Diabetes |
|
|
Program, the Journey for Sight fund-raising event, and the Texas |
|
|
Lions Foundation, a disaster relief fund; the Midland Lions Clubs |
|
|
pioneered the practice of sending recycled eyeglasses to people in |
|
|
need overseas, and that program has been adopted by Lions groups |
|
|
around the country; in Texas alone, Lions recycling centers assist |
|
|
in the collection, cataloging, and distribution of 1.5 million |
|
|
pairs of glasses each year; the organization has established five |
|
|
eye banks across the state to help the medical community recover and |
|
|
distribute eye tissue for transplants and research; in addition, |
|
|
the Texas Lions Camp has given approximately 70,000 children with |
|
|
diabetes or disabilities the chance to spend a week camping, |
|
|
horseback riding, and swimming, at no cost to their families; a |
|
|
successful antidrug program was created through the efforts of the |
|
|
Texas Lions, especially those of retired U.S. Air Force brigadier |
|
|
general and Vietnam War POW Robbie Risner; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Texas Lions are especially proud of the two living |
|
|
past international presidents who hail from the Lone Star State, |
|
|
Jimmy Ross of Quitaque and Everett J. Grindstaff of Ballinger; |
|
|
Lions Clubs International has further benefited from the skilled |
|
|
guidance of such exemplary leaders as its present director, Sam |
|
|
Lindsey, and past international directors Don Buckalew, Ray |
|
|
Hughston, Mike Butler, Marshall Cooper, Connie De La Garza, Beverly |
|
|
Stebbins, and Joe Al Picone; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Over the years, the Lions organization has been |
|
|
honored by a number of luminaries, including Lion and former |
|
|
President Jimmy Carter, who nominated the club for the Nobel Peace |
|
|
Prize in 2008; the group has also won praise from President Ronald |
|
|
Reagan, who was an honorary Lion, as well as President Anwar Sadat |
|
|
of Egypt, Prime Minister Menachem Begin of Israel, and Pope John |
|
|
Paul II, among many others; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Today, Lions Clubs International is one of the |
|
|
largest, most respected, and most effective service organizations |
|
|
in the world, with 1.4 million members in 209 locations, and it is a |
|
|
privilege to join in recognizing its century of service to those in |
|
|
need; now, therefore, be it |
|
|
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 85th Texas |
|
|
Legislature hereby commemorate the 100th anniversary of Lions Clubs |
|
|
International and extend to its members sincere best wishes for |
|
|
continued success with their important work; and, be it further |
|
|
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
|
|
prepared for Lions Clubs International as an expression of high |
|
|
regard by the Texas House of Representatives. |
| |
|
|
Darby |
|
|
|
|
|
______________________________ |
|
|
Speaker of the House |
| |
|
|
I certify that H.R. No. 902 was adopted by the House on March |
|
|
23, 2017, by a non-record vote. |
|
|
|
|
|
______________________________ |
|
|
Chief Clerk of the House |
| |