2009 - 2010 Lions Clubs International Theme: Move to Grow

Focus on Personal Growth and Membership Growth:

During 2009-2010, we will be encouraged to take action to grow in humanitarian service, leader development, club membership, international social understanding, Leo clubs, Lions Quest, cultural activities and LCIF support. We should do the following:

Achieve growth in social understanding – through the promotion of Lions exchange programs. We will encourage Lions from various districts to travel in groups to other districts to enhance their understanding and appreciation of our diversity and to promote global brotherhood.
Make an effort to meet the needs of our Association by empowering our members. We should promote leadership development in all areas to ensure Lions provide high quality service, to support membership growth efforts, and to meet the needs of members seeking personal development opportunities.
Identify potential leaders in our districts and move to encourage them to actively participate in LCI’s e-learning programs and Lions Leadership Institutes. And most importantly, we must enable them to accept leadership responsibilities and to make use of their enhanced skills. Remember leadership is not only a position, leadership is action and movement.
Move to grow membership. Membership is the key to our success – members are our most valuable asset and resource. We will be asked to encourage the induction of qualified members – individuals who have been successful in their professions, have a desire for global networking and a strong interest in having an impact on the community through service. Also, a membership initiative will be launched to recruit spouses and family members.
Continue inducting women and young adults into our clubs – welcoming their fresh ideas and new energy. LCI will support your efforts through the restructured Global Membership Team, extension representatives in the field, and a flow of information to arm us with the knowledge necessary to develop and execute an effective membership growth plan.
Take advantage of the Public Relations Grant Program to support the development of effective district websites. And of course, all Lions will be encouraged to “live the brand” – to support and communicate the revitalized LCI brand both inside and outside of our Association.
Share our best practices around the world. Each of will be encouraged to share our ideas, challenges and successes with fellow Lions. By bringing the benefits of successful initiatives from one part of the world to another, we can all grow. An example of this is the position of 2nd vice district governor, which has been successful in several areas of the world, and is now being implemented worldwide. This expanded leadership team will facilitate delegation and will prepare the vice district governors for their term as governor.
Maintain our momentum in providing service. We must move to make the Lions Quest program available to more children around the world. We should encourage the involvement of young people by promoting Leo clubs.
Continue to promote blindness prevention programs worldwide. Helen Keller called upon Lions to be “the knights of the blind”. We should maintain our momentum – we must move to grow in Lions service.
Promote the development of LCIF with a long-term view so that our Foundation can continue its rich heritage of bringing healing and hope to people worldwide.
Participate in a worldwide Lions in Sight program, a celebration of achievements and service. Share our message of global humanitarian goodwill with others, and conduct an activity to increase public awareness and understanding of who we are and what we do in Lions clubs.
Provide a new award entitled President’s Gingko. This special award will be given to recognize achievements in various fields of outstanding results.
Provide Excellence Awards for district governor team, region and zone chairpersons, and club presidents.
Enhance communications by establishing a special e-hotline for the district governor team to communicate with the International President, and a special chat section on the LCI website where executive officers will communicate with Lions clubs members.

As this Lionistic year progresses our leadership team will be working with all of us, not only providing assistance where it is needed but to also promote goodwill and understanding to everyone Lions and non-Lions alike. Keep your eyes open and listen to your club leaders as they bring the news to you that will come down to us through cabinet meetings, zone meetings and club visitations.

District Governor C. David Lloyd

1st Vice District Governor John Carbaugh

2nd Vice District Governor Glen Smith

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