Unknown IssuePast IssuesIf You Build It, They Will ComeThe quaint seaside town of Seal Beach in Orange County, California, got its beginnings as a shipping port called Anaheim Landing, where growers found it a convenient distribution point for the wine they nurtured in their Southern California vineyards. Everyone in Seal Beach looks forward to the vibrant and eclectic Annual Arts and Crafts Faire hosted by Seal Beach Lions. But when the railroad arrived in 1875, it took over as the main method of…more...Keeping it PoppinIt's a deceptively modest fundraiser, but for one Lions Club, it’s the kernel of all their programs. Every Saturday, the Lions Club of Marshalltown, Iowa brings a popcorn machine to a local store and sells popcorn for US$2 a bag. The ingredients are modest, too: Iowa-sourced raw corn, salt, butter, and oil. What makes this fundraiser remarkable, though, is that the Marshalltown Lions have been holding it for 47 years. Since 1975, the Marshalltown Evening…more...Gold RushMore than 100 years ago, Mother Earth supplied so much iron ore in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula that Ishpeming, Michigan was a boom town. The population was over 13,000, mines employed many, and the economy was robust. They even had an opera house. But over the years, the industry changed, employment and population figures dropped, and houses were left empty and tattered as miners moved on. Now Mother Earth supports the struggling town’s rebirth, gifting them…more...The Greatest CatchIt’s not the sun, surf, and swaying palm trees that Lion Bill Smith remembers most about attending his first Lions International Convention in Miami Beach in 1973, it’s the trading pins. If you’ve ever been to a Lions event, you’ve probably seen one, two, or two hundred of them—tiny, colorful metal brooches sporting designs ranging from patriotic to whimsical, and all centered around Lions. For decades Lions have used the pins as a kind of…more...Pining For a Bit of FunHave you ever been inspired to throw a pinecone? If you have, and if you’ve gotten any distance with your throw, you may want to consider heading to France to compete, where Lions have made it their mission to bring not only the sport, but the world championships, to their hometown of Biscarrosse. After a three-year break due to a storm in 2019 and COVID in 2020 and 2021, the World Pinecone Throwing Championships were…more...United in KindnessWhen the war in Ukraine started in March 2022, thousands of Ukrainians fled and crossed the border into Poland and other countries for safety and security. “The days leading up to the Russian invasion, everyone was on their nerves,” recalls Yaroslav Jasznik, a Ukrainian citizen. “Everyone was expecting something bad, but actually no one had ever expected that it would be that disastrous and that full scale.” Jasznik, 29, lived in Kyiv, Ukraine, his entire…more...Gotta Love a LocomotiveWhen the conductor called “All Aboard!” on the Fourth of July, even Colorado’s Loveland Lions were surprised. More than 880 riders of all ages set a record with tickets to board their replica train in the park that day. The Buckhorn Northern Railroad in Loveland’s North Lake Park is an authentic replica of a steam train that once served the area. It takes passengers on a quarter mile, seven-minute ride for US$1. The train was…more...Little Ambassador Takes Leos Around the WorldHe’s little. He’s legendary. And he’s a Leo. Well, sort of. Since 2018 Dustin Dumbledore has traveled to Lion and Leo events in at least four countries, received pins from International President Brian Sheehan and Past International President Brian Alexander, joined the Lions International Pin Trading Club in Calgary, ridden front and center in the International Convention parade, and spent countless hours in airports. All without uttering one complaint. Perhaps that’s because he can’t technically…more...Lions are Coming for the City on the HillWhether it’s history, sports, or great food that interests you, you’ll find it all in Boston. And this summer you’ll also find a heck of a lot of Lions. July 7 through 11, 2023, Lions will descend upon one of the oldest cities in the United States for five days of camaraderie, shop talk, and service. Registration for the 105th Lions International Convention is open. If you’ve ever been to a Lions International Convention, then…more...The Power of SustainabilityEnel North America embarked on a new environmental partnership with Lions Clubs International Foundation (LCIF) to help make communities healthy and sustainable and protect our planet. As a leading developer and long-term owner and operator of renewable energy projects in North America, Enel and its more than 1,500 employees are dedicated to helping protect and restore communities. In the spring of 2022, LCIF and Enel, the world’s largest private renewable energy operator, started an ambitious…more...A Smile for SightSight is one of our most valuable senses. It allows us to connect with the moments in life and with each other. After a premature birth, twins Kaya and Alime were both diagnosed with an eye disease called retinopathy of prematurity, and they needed treatment to protect their sight and prevent blindness. Their parents, Ibrahim and Nilufer, traveled more than an hour and half from their home to the city of Izmir, Turkey, to find…more...