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The Lions Clubs International is the greatest
service organisation in the world with 1.4 million associates in beyond
44,500 clubs in approximately 185 countries and geographic areas. The
Lions are men and women who dedicate themselves to serve people in the
communities where they live, and in every part of the world. Cutting
across all national, racial and cultural boundaries, activities have
included sight conservation and work with the visually impaired, youth
programs including drug education and prevention and volunteer programs,
diabetes detection and research and work for international co-operation
and understanding.
The Lions Club was born in the United States in 1917 when a group of
clubs, everyone independent from the other, taken the idea of Chicago
young businessman, an associate of one of the Clubs. This is Melvin
Jones, who strongly thought that the "Business Clubs" have to extend
their activities and interests beyond those purely professional. Also
he proposed that the Associations had to increase their horizons working
in order to improve their communities and also the world at large.
This concept determined the radical change of direction. The pure amusement
scope of the Clubs was abandoned during the years, creating the sense
of the loyal responsibility towards the thirds. The first organisational
reunion had place in a hotel in Chicago the 7th June 1917. This date
made the birth of the new organisation. The new group assumed the denomination
of one of the present groups "Association of Lions Clubs". The national
convention had place in Dallas in October of the same year. A Constitution,
Objects and Code of Ethics were approved.
Just three years after its formation, the organisation became international
when the first club in Ontario (Canada) was established in 1920. From
that moment the Association's expansion in the world begins, particularly
throughout Europe, Asia and Africa during the 1950s and 60s.
The event that probably has had the greater impact on the Association's
service commitment occurred in 1925 when Helen Keller addressed her
appeal to the Lions during the international convention in Cedar Point,
Ohio, USA. In this occasion Miss. Keller challenged the Lions to become
"Knights of the blind the crusade against darkness". The Lions accepted
the invite and they are now best known for their sight-related programs,
including SightFirst the world's largest blindness prevention program.
The objective of my research is to describe the principle and the roles
defined by the International Lions Club and the implications of these
in a context as London. I want also to describe what's happened during
a social meeting of the Lions Club and the manifestation of the Lions
believe and behaviour. The scope is not only a pure analysis of the
Lions the Clubs' rules and behaviours but it is also to understand what
characterise a Club in London.
The methodologies that I have used in order to collect my data were:
- The use of Internet for having a general acquaintance of the principles
and the rules of the Lions Club. Moreover Internet was very profitable
in order to find the data of the Lions' Districts in London;
- Personal Interviews: I had individual talks with the president of
the Lions Club West London, Mr Jagdish R. Patel and with some members.
In particular I had the possibility to speak with the secretary, Mr
George Matthew, and the treasurer, Mr Laurie Garratt. Finally, I did
generals questions during the meeting.
- Informal Interview with a member of the Multi-distrectual Commission
for the Problem about Internet. He is also the President of the Lions
Club Pompei Villa dei Misteri District 108 Y-A, Naples, Italy, Mr
Arturo O. M. Cesarano. This was very helpful to understand the role
of Constitution and of Ethic Code, the meaning of the Lions Club's
motto and the Lions' role in the society.
- Meeting observation: I assisted to social meeting of the Lions a
Club West London in the social centre "The Lille Langtry", Fulham,
London.
Before this search my acquaintance of the Lions
Club was limited to what some Italian friends members told me. I knew
that it is an international club whose scope was the collection of deep
to devolve to humanitarian causes and to the aid of the less fortunate.
Moreover I knew that the only way to become member is to be invited.
Finally I appreciated that to be a member is an important qualification
that have to be wear with dignity and respect.
I used a precise plan to collect my data about a Lions Club in London.
The first step was to find the address and the general information about
this subject. To find this, I used the Internet. I had some problems,
because during my research I found only District web site without information
about the Lions Club International. Fortunately, after some hours of
work I found the Lions Club International web site. This was very helpful
for my research because I could find:
- The general rules;
- The address, the contact person and the telephone number of Lions
Club in London;
- The LCI Organisational Charts and the Cubs Organisational Chart;
- The international Mission.
The second point was to choose the Clubs to investigate.
There are a lot of Clubs in London and to find good arguments to do
the selections is not easy. I thought that I would have a lot of contacts
with the association so I decided to choose the Clubs for the geographic
dislocation. I live in Earl's Court and the nearest is the Lions Club
West London, which have the meeting place in Fulham.
The third step was to contact the president, Mr. Jagdish R. Patel. In
Internet I found his telephone number and immediately I called him,
but when I tried for some times I found just his telephone secretary.
Unfortunately there were not indicated a postal address or an e-mail
address. An evening after some days I could speak with the president.
I introduced myself and I explained to him my tasks. He was very kind
with me, he invited me immediately to the next meeting and he gave me
an appointment for an interview about the Lions Club International,
his club, his role and about his personal point of view of the international
rules. The appointment was for the next day and the meeting place was
his job place. Mr. Patel is the manager of the Indian Brent Association
in Alperton, a London place in zone 4.
The final instrument that I used to collect my data about the Lions
Club London West was to assist to a Club meeting. There are two types
of meeting, one social, open to the public and guest, and one for the
business discussion. I could not assist to a Business meeting because
the next is too late for may research, it will be on January, and also
because it is close to foreign people. There is also a lake in my data
about the observation: in the meeting that I assisted there was not
the president. He was absent for job reasons. The treasurer, Mr. Laurie
Garratt did the main part of his duty, but I did not the possibility
to analyse the president report.
To collect my data about the Lions Club International and its believe
I did some question to the President and to the other members. I had
also the chance to have an informal interview with Mr Arturo O. M. Cesarano
during his business journey in London. The place was the Bar of his
hotel in Park Lane, London. We discussed about the Lions Club's motto,
Constitution, Objective and Code of Ethics. Also he explained me the
membership and the Lions' role in the society.
The Lions Club International is the largest and best social organisation
in the world. The headquarter is based in Oak Brook, Illinois, USA and
it monitors all the clubs trough their government and district government
(the Clubs' Presidents). The top man of the Lions Club International
is the International President that now is Dr. Jean Behar.
Around the world the Lions Club International is divided in Multiplied
Districts that generally coincide with nations. The British Isles and
Ireland Multiplied District is the number 105. This is also articulated
in eleven Districts. The London's one is the number 105 A. The District
is also separated in clubs and the Club that I have observed is the
Lions Club London West. (Table n.1). It is born in 1978 and it is based
in "The Lille Langtry", Fulham, London.
Table
1: The Lions Club International's Structure
The Lions Club International defines a particular
Organisational Charter that all Clubs have to follow (Table n.2). In
the case of Lions Club London West the members are just 11 so it is
impossible to cover all positions. The roles assigned are:
- President: Mr Jagdish R. Patel;
- Secretary: Mr George Matthew;
- Treasurer: Mr Laurie Garratt.
Table
n.2: The Club Organisational Chart
Mr J. Patel has become president this year in
July, but he had the same role some years ago. The members of the Club
elect the President by nomination. During the Club, meeting the secretary
invites the presents to make the nominations. These come to the secretary
and if there is only a name this is elected. If there are more names
there is an election with the principle of majority.
The role of President is "To listen". He takes idea about the wrong
and right thing from the opinion of all the members and than he can
make the decision. This is an important point because the president
is only the final part of the process of decision making. This process
starts with a member's proposal, than there is the discussion during
a Club meeting when the other members say their opinion. At this point
there is the main part of the President's task: he has to listen comments
and opinions and than takes the right decision based on these.
The Lions are men and women convinced that working together and not
individually, can realise objective more ambitious. They start from
the presupposed that all problems can be solved if every single Lions
do his part. The men and the women have to accept the principle that
in the Lions' environment there is always "The Armony of the Diversity".
This is the association's pillar and vital sap in tuning with the globalisation's
process.
London is a multicultural and multinational city and the London West
Club reflect this characteristic. There are members that come from all
the parts of the world, for instance India, Greece, England and Africa.
Also the members have different believe but this is not important for
the membership.
The Club is also opened to men and to women. The sex is not considered
like the other individual characteristics. This is another evidence
that in the association all members are equal to the other. Unfortunately
I could not meet any women member, because the main roles of the London
West Club are given to men and also because there was not women during
the Club Meeting that I have observed.
The persons of legal majority with optimal moral conduct and good reputation
could be elect associates of the Lions Clubs. When a person is invited
to become a Lions it has to observe three clubs meetings and then to
take the decision. If he or she has decided to accept, there is the
"Indication Start", where he/she accepts the Objective and The Code
of Ethics and takes an oath fidelity to the Club.
The Code of Ethics and the Constitution do not represent for a true
Lions rigid norms and rules to not transgress. They represent a deontology
in which the associates must recognise themselves before becoming such.
"The Regulations must be a part of the member's way to be, to conceive
the life and of the way to relationship "not solum" with the human but
"sed etiam" with all the created. The elective affinity with the world
where everyone lives is not a thing that we can learn. It exists ingrained
in the essence of individuals, like their peculiar characteristics.
It can be cultivated, cured, perfected, sharpened. Every Lions can become
"adult plant" starting from a "bud" and can give "fruits" that satisfy
and satiate the hunger and silks of the others less fortunate. The Lions
can improve itself with tenacity and force. Finally he or she can become
"gardener" that favouring the growth of the other "buds", with the help
of God. This is the start of a positive circuit in order to improve
the quality of the life and of the world around us". (A.O.M. Cesarano)
Therefore "written" and "recited" Codes, regulations, norms and ethics
are not mere elements of itself testimony and of the way to conceive
emotions, feelings and the universe. In the Lions Club International
web club I found this definition of Lions: "…They are templar of solidarity,
in constant search of lost dignity".
I found another definitions of Lions, given by A.O.M. Cesarano:
"…They are torch-bearer of the inextinguishable and vital flame that
is represented by the friendship and by the fraternity, in the respect
of the harmony and of the diversity".
The friendship's evidence that connect all Lions around the world I
had during my observation of the Club meeting. When I arrived all members
introduce themselves before that I had the possibility to explain my
presence in the Club Meeting Place. Immediately one of these gave me
a chair and another one a glass of beer. This is not an exception for
me, but it is the regularity. The same thing was done when the second
host of the evening arrived. He is a member of the Lions Club Nordire
Land, Norway, District 104 K. Also this one was very nice to me and
he rendered himself available in order to answer to my eventual questions,
when he knew the reason of my presence.
The friendship around the Club is also showed to the habit of the guests
to offer some presents of the country from where they come and to the
exchange of the badges of each clubs to testimony the visit.
Sometimes there is a relation between the membership of a parent and
this one of the daughter or son. This is a good thing if they firmly
believe in the same above beliefs. It is easy for a daughter or a son
to follow the same principles in where she/he was born.
A particular point that I have analysed in my observation is why to
accept the invitation. In opinion of Mr J. Patel there are three motivations
to become a Lions. One of these is to show an important title in particular
occasions. Another one is due to personal aspiration. There are people
that accept the invitation because they want to become president or
Regent Chairman and so on. The final and the most important motivation
to become a member of the Lions Club is to devote time to the less fortunate
people or that need help.
The association's motto is "We Serve". This becomes the association's
slogan at the International Convention in New York City in 1954.
"The essence of "We Serve" is to put the talent, the capacity, the inclination
that every human has from the birth at the disposal of the others. As
we have gratuity received these characteristics, as we have to give
with love and helpfulness the results to who needs." (A.O.M. Casarano)
The association's motto in easy words means that if a member has 10
pound in its pocket and there is another person without a penny, its
duty is to buy something for the other.
In all activities is present the motto "We serve". A particular example
could be my research. I asked to the President to help me with the recruitment
of the data for my task.To him this meant to give me all things that
I need. This included finding time for my interview, to give me the
possibility to observe a club meeting and to give me all brochures and
books available about the Lions Club International and more particularly
about his Clubs.
Since the foundation in 1917 the association has been dedicated to help
the less fortunate people. The Lions Club International defines the
general activities that all clubs have to follow, without considering
national, racial and cultural boundaries. These are:
- Sight conservation and work with the visually
impaired;
- Hearing conservation and work with the hearing impaired;
- Citizenship, educational, health and social services;
- Youth programs including drug education and prevention, community
outreach and volunteer programs;
- Diabetes detection and research;
- Work for international cooperation and understanding, including
international youth camps, youth exchange programs and Lions International
Peace Poster Contest.
Each Club can elaborate particular activities
to develop in its community. The project that the Lions Club London
West have developed are:
- To help elderly and disabled people. An example
could be when the members organise excursions. They do all things
without external help, as to drive a bus;
- To help mentally handicap people;
- To organise the Christmas Party. This is a moment in which all members
meet together and also a moment to pick up money for the other projects;
- The sponsorship of the youngster Football Club.
The meeting Place of the association is the "The Lille Langtry" Pub.
More particularly the Club uses the second floor of this, reserved for
private party. The environment was very simple; all furniture was made
in wood. In the second floor there was just a quite ruined table with
a little number of stool. So the Treasure gave to the guest some excuses
for the environment condition, but he explained that this does not depend
from the club. Before to attend a club meeting I thought that all people
are dressed elegant but it is not so. Two members wore a jacket and
only one of these had the tie. The other and the guest were more casual,
but all of these carried the Lions Club International brooch.
Determinate steps compose a Lions Club London West's Social Meeting.
The following are the point defined by the Lions London West Agenda:
1. Loyal Toast: all members present stood up and toasted to the
Queen. This a particularity of the UK Clubs because the others toast
to other things, for instance to the Govern of their nations;
2. Welcome visitor: at this point the other guest and me were
introduced to all presents. We had also to sign the Guest Book, where
there were indicated all visitors during the Social Meeting;
3. Apologise for the absence: just the president had advised
to his miss. The members present were only three comprised the secretary
and the treasurer. I think that not all members consider important the
meeting and have understood completely the rules of the Lions Club;
4. Minutes of previous meeting: at this point there was the reading
of the previous meeting report. In this was indicated all London West
Agenda's points discussed in the meeting before.
5. Secretary's report/any correspondence: during this point the
secretary informed the other members about the mailing from the other
Clubs and the activities of the other associations. This means that
the Lions Clubs interact between them but also with the other associations
of the same community. Then, the Secretary showed the Program for the
District Connection of the next February in Oxford and he taken the
booking for this day. Finally he advised the other member of the International
President's visiting and the program of the day.
6. President report: I could not assist to this point due to
the absence of the President;
7. Treasures report: Mr Garratt told the situation of the Club's
pocket. I can not report any information about this point because these
are private and reserved to the members;
8. Fund raising: the secretary gave to the treasures last donations
made by some association's supporters. A letter of carried out thanks
for the activity accompanies all cheques. These donations show that
the necessary money for the Club's activities come from different part.
These sources are: the Association's Quota, the party's proceeds and
the supporters' donations.
9. Community service: the members decided the Christmas party's
program. It will be the next 12th December.
10. Social activities: at this point the members had to decide
the place for the Christmas Party. The secretary purpose a Spanish or
a Chinese restaurant and the Treasures showed some menu. The decision
was not taken because they were in a little number, more member were
necessary. At this point they invited me to participate to the Christmas
Party if I needed more data or simply for amusement. I was very honoured
to receive this invited but I had to refuse because I will have an exam
that day. Then they started to discuss about the Next Year Lunch;
11. Visitor to speak: this was the turn of the guests. We were
only two and the Norwegian Lions started first to speak. He had taken
with him two typical products of Norway: an elk sausage and the clabber
marmalade. Then there was the exchange of the badges with the explanation
of these. The one of the Lions Club London West is composed by a shake
to testimony the friendship, by a wheelchair to indicate the social
activities and by a written "Help the needy" to remember the Lions Club's
functions. After this there was my turn to speak. I introduced myself,
my studies in London and my research. I had also the possibility to
make some questions to all members. More particularly my attention was
for their opinion about the Lions Club's rules and membership;
12. Any other business: no other things had been discussed and
the meeting finish with the toast to the Lions Club International.
At the end of the meeting we went all together to drink a beer downstairs
like a group of friends. This is another testimony of the friendship
that exists between the members of the club and towards the others.
Assisting to a Social Meeting is like to be a part of a friend's group.
The Lions Club's beliefs and rules are showed in all members' behaviours.
They had accepted all part of the Lions Club membership and then they
tri to apply these Regulations in all part of their life.
I understand that to be a member does not mean only to have an important
qualification to show in particular occasions. To be a member means
to possess within yourself determined laws before to become an associate
of the group, as the devotion towards the others and the ability to
renounce to a part of yourself for the improvement of the others, more
particularly of the less fortunate. To be member means also to be in
a position to observe the own community in order to understood which
are the weaknesses and to improvement this with the aid of the Club.
The motto of the club "We serves" is not a simply slogan to say to who
asks news from the group. It has to be the principle owned inside the
associates, the principle that moves every member everyday.
I will not finish to have contacts with the Lions Club after this research.
I will always look for news of its activities and promotions. If I have
the possibility, I will give my personal help to causes.
If I received an invited of a Lions Club I can not answer yes or not.
If I have to make my decision based only to the international principles
my answer it will be sure affirmative. I am an Italian girl and I am
staying in London for a short period, so I can not be a member of a
Lions Club in London. I will recommence this search with having like
subject the nearest Club of my residence in Italy, to estimate the atmosphere
and the particular activities of the Italian Lions Club. If my final
impression will be like the one that I had in London, I will be honoured
to become a Lions.
If I decide to become a member of the Lions Club I have also to consider
that my future tasks are also to be present to all club meetings and
if I can not my duty is to advice the other members and explain my absence.
That happened during the London West Club Meeting has take my attention.
All members are important in an association and if someone is absent
the other have to do his or her duty.
If in the future I have to do another time this research I will do different
the observation of the Club meeting. During my attending my role was
a guest but I have loses some part of the meeting. I did not have a
global vision but a restricted vision from my post around the table.
This means that in my data there is an important lake because I observed
with only one point of view. I had not the possibility to walk around
the room and saw the group of people with a different perspective. The
next time I would observe externally without having a part in the meeting.
There is another point that I would like to change. I would have the
possibility to assist to a business meeting to have a more particular
vision of the rules in the Club. During the Social Meeting I had observed
the friendship between the Lions and the helpfulness towards guests.
Unfortunately, in a social meeting the role are not very important.
I think that in the Business Meeting the process of decisions making
are more important and so the role of the president and the treasurer
are crucial. The President is significant because he has to make the
final decision and the other because the members are speaking about
money and budget. I know that to have access to this type of encounter
is not easy. If I have a lot of time I could ask the permission to the
President of the District responsible for the Club with a formal letter.
In this I could ensure that the date collected are only confidential
and that they will not published, and explained that I would only observe
the role without consider the financial data.
Bibliography
Book:
- Multiple District 105 British Isles and Ireland, Officers
Organisation and Directory of Clubs 2000/01, Confidential
Web Site :
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