2017 -- S 0939

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LC002805

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2017

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S E N A T 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: Senator Dennis L. Algiere

     Date Introduced: June 07, 2017

     Referred To: Placed on the Senate Consent Calendar

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

serve their communities; and

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Olympics athletes; and

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

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

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

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

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

     RESOLVED, That this Senate of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations

hereby recognizes and celebrates the 100th Anniversary of the Lions Clubs International; and be

it further

     RESOLVED, That this Senate of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations

hereby proclaims the period from June 7, 2017, through June 7, 2018, to be "The Year of Lions

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

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

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

International President.

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