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LION CODE OF ETHICS
TO SHOW my faith in the worthiness of my vocation by industrious application to the end that I may merit a reputation for quality of service.
TO SEEK success and to demand all fair remuneration or profit as my just due, but to accept no profit or success at the price of my own self-respect lost because of unfair advantage taken or because of questionable acts on my part.
TO REMEMBER that in building up my business it is not necessary to tear down another s; to be loyal to my clients or customers and true to myself.
WHENEVER a doubt arises as to the right or ethics of my position or action towards others, to resolve such doubt against myself.
TO HOLD friendship as an end and not a means. To hold that true friendship exists not on account of the service performed by one to another, but that true friendship demands nothing but accepts service in the spirit in which it is given.
ALWAYS to bear in mind my obligations as a citizen to my nation, my state and my community, and to give them my unswerving loyalty in word, act and deed. To give them freely of my time, labour, and means.
TO AID others by giving my sympathy to those in distress, my aid to the weak, and my substance to the needy.
TO BE CAREFUL with my criticism and liberal with my praise; to build up and not destroy.
LION CLUBS INTERNATIONAL PURPOSES
TO ORGANISE, charter and supervise service clubs to be known as Lions Clubs.
TO COORDINATE the activities and standardize the administration of Lions Clubs.
TO CREATE and foster a spirit of understanding among the peoples of the world.
TO PROMOTE the principles of good government and good citizenship.
TO TAKE an active interest in the civic, cultural, social and moral welfare of the community.
TO UNITE the clubs in the bonds of friendship, good fellowship and mutual understanding.
TO PROVIDE a forum for the open discussion of all matters of public interest; provided, however, that partisan politics and sectarian religion shall not be debated by club members.
TO ENCOURAGE service-minded people to serve their community without personal financial reward, and to encourage efficiency and promote high ethical standards in commerce, industry, professions, public works and private endeavours.
HISTORY
Formed in 1917 by an American by the name of Melvin Jones the Lions Clubs organisation is today the largest Service Organisation in the World, with over 1.5 million members bin 42,500 Lions Clubs in over 178 countries .
England 's first Lions Club was formed in London shortly after the war, and there are now almost 1,000 Clubs in England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and Eire comprising around 21,000 members, collectively known as Multiple District 105 (MD105)
The late Queen Mother was the catalyst for the introduction of Lions Clubs into this country, when in the war many Canadian servicemen visiting London were appalled by the way the children of the Blitz lived, with poor food, few clothes, frequent danger, Some of these Canadians were members of Lions Clubs and wanted to help. Funds were raised in Canada and at first it was thought that the money would be distributed by British Lions Clubs, but there weren't any! The Queen (later the Queen Mother) was at the time the patron of the Church of England's Children's Society and arranged for the Society to distribute the funds on behalf of the Canadian Lions. After the War the Queen sent Lord Leconfield to Canada to thank the Lions for their help. He asked if there was anything he could do in return, and he was invited to visit the Chicago Headquarters of Lions Clubs International to see what Lionism meant. He was so impressed that shortly after his return a group of professional and business men got together and formed the first Lions Club known as the 'Host Club' in London. Their aim was to help those in need and to spread Lionism throughout the British Isles. Although the needs of the community have changed since the Blitz, the Motto 'WE SERVE' holds as true today as it did then.
2000/2001 was the 50th anniversary of Lions Clubs in the United Kingdom and, although it took over 50 years, we now have a Royal Patron in the person of the Countess of Wessex.
