| |
| |
|
|
R E S O L U T I O N
|
|
|
WHEREAS, Lions Clubs International is celebrating the 100th |
|
|
anniversary of its founding in 2017, and this occasion provides an |
|
|
ideal opportunity to honor the Pasadena Lions Club for its good |
|
|
works; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Established in 1917 by Melvin Jones as the |
|
|
Association of Lions Clubs, the community service organization held |
|
|
its first national convention that year in Dallas, with 12 of the 23 |
|
|
participating clubs hailing from Texas; the Lions adopted a prime |
|
|
mission a decade later when Helen Keller urged them to become |
|
|
"Knights of the Blind"; through the years, the organization has |
|
|
undertaken numerous initiatives benefiting the visually impaired |
|
|
while also carrying out many other humanitarian efforts; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, The Lions of Texas have dedicated themselves to |
|
|
supporting such national programs as Sight for Kids, which has |
|
|
provided nearly 20 million screenings, and SightFirst, which raises |
|
|
funds for cataract operations and for programs to fight the other |
|
|
major causes of blindness; in addition, Texas Lions have introduced |
|
|
a number of effective initiatives, among them Journey for Sight and |
|
|
the Juvenile Diabetes Program; the Midland Lions became the first |
|
|
regional recycling center for collecting glasses to send abroad to |
|
|
those in need, and the Lions of Texas have formed five eye banks to |
|
|
assist in the collection and distribution of corneas for |
|
|
transplantation and medical research; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Since 1949, the Texas Lions Camp has welcomed |
|
|
approximately 70,000 children with physical disabilities and |
|
|
diabetes, providing horseback riding, swimming, campouts, and |
|
|
other outdoor activities; the Lions of Texas also support disaster |
|
|
relief, antidrug campaigns, and vaccination programs; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Many Texas Lions have served in key leadership roles |
|
|
with the parent organization, which today has 1.4 million members |
|
|
in over 200 locations around the world; Lions Clubs International |
|
|
was named the top nongovernmental agency in the world by the United |
|
|
Nations in 2012; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Embodying the motto "We Serve," which has guided |
|
|
Lions Clubs International for more than four decades, the members |
|
|
of the Pasadena Lions Club have made a lasting, positive impact in |
|
|
their community and beyond, and they are truly deserving of special |
|
|
recognition in this centennial year; now, therefore, be it |
|
|
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 85th Texas |
|
|
Legislature hereby honor the Pasadena Lions Club on the occasion of |
|
|
the 100th anniversary of the founding of Lions Clubs International |
|
|
and extend to its members sincere best wishes for continued success |
|
|
in their important endeavors; and, be it further |
|
|
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
|
|
prepared for the Pasadena Lions Club as an expression of high regard |
|
|
by the Texas House of Representatives. |