2017 -- H 6290

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2017

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H O U S E   R E S O L U T I O N

RECOGNIZING AND CELEBRATING THE 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE LIONS

CLUBS INTERNATIONAL AND DESIGNATING THE PERIOD FROM JUNE 7, 2017,

THROUGH JUNE 7, 2018, AS "THE YEAR OF LIONS CLUBS INTERNATIONAL"

     

     Introduced By: Representatives Phillips, Kazarian, Quattrocchi, Corvese, and Casey

     Date Introduced: June 07, 2017

     Referred To: House read and passed

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     WHEREAS, The Lions Clubs International (LCI) is an international service organization

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headquartered in Oak Brook, Illinois. It is comprised of more than 46,000 local clubs and has

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more than 1.4 million members representing more than 200 countries; and

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     WHEREAS, The Lions Clubs International was founded on June 7, 1917, by Chicago

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Businessman Melvin Jones. Mr. Jones thought that if he and his colleagues, all of whom were

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highly driven, intelligent and successful, put their talents and ambition to work towards

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improving their local communities, through community service, much could be accomplished

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towards making the world and our local communities better places to live in; and

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     WHEREAS, The stated purpose of the Lions Clubs International is to organize by

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chartering and supervising their service clubs, to coordinate the activities of these clubs, to create

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a spirit of understanding and cooperation amongst the peoples of the world, to promote the

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principles of good government and good citizenship, to take an active interest in civic, cultural

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and social affairs, to unite the clubs in the bonds of friendship and fellowship, to provide a forum

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for the open discussion of all matters of public interest, and to encourage civic-minded people to

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serve their communities; and

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     WHEREAS, The Motto of the Lions is "We Serve." Lions Clubs plan and participate in a

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wide variety of service projects including donations to hospices, youth outreach, international

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relations, environmental issues, and health issues related to sight, speech and hearing as well as

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cancer screening. The Lions Clubs also raise significant amounts of money to assist those

 

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afflicted by natural disasters, such as earthquakes, hurricanes, tornados and typhoons; and

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     WHEREAS, Ever since Helen Keller addressed the Lions Clubs International Convention

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in 1925 and beseeched the Lions to be "Knights of the Blind", the Lions have become famous

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world-wide for their tireless support of the blind and vision-impaired population. Lions Clubs

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have raised many millions of dollars and public awareness on this issue through their numerous

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"SightFirst" programs including the Childhood Blindness Project, the Lions Eye Health Program,

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SightFirst China Action, the River Blindness/Trachoma program and their Sight for Kids

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program. Most eye banks in the world are sponsored by the Lions and in 2001 they partnered with

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the Special Olympics to create the Opening Eyes program, which screened the vision of Special

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Olympics athletes; and

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     WHEREAS, Throughout the Lions one-hundred years of history, they have made a

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positive impact and played a prominent role in public and world affairs. The Lions assisted in the

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drafting of the United Nations Charter in 1945 and Mother Teresa accepted the Lions

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Humanitarian Award in 1986. Since 1968 and the creation of the Lions Club International

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Foundation, they have given $826 million to humanitarian causes; now, therefore be it

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     RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island and

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Providence Plantations hereby recognizes and celebrates the 100th Anniversary of the Lions

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Clubs International; and be it further

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     RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island and

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Providence Plantations hereby proclaims the period from June 7, 2017, through June 7, 2018, to

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be "The Year of Lions Clubs International" in the State of Rhode Island; and be it further

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     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to

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transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to Chancellor Bob Corlew, Lions Clubs

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International President.

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