President’s MessageThe Secret of ServiceDear Lions,For my first message to you in LION Magazine, I want to talk about the small things. When Lions Clubs International was started more than 100 years ago, it was founded on the idea that those who can help, should. It was that simple.I grew up with those same values. I was raised in Brooklyn, where most families worked hard and came home tired at the end of the day. But they saw the value in supporting one another. They knew they were stronger together. And they knew that as tired as they were, or as steep as their own struggle seemed, they still had something to give. So, they did.It’s so easy to make a difference. That’s the secret that so many Lions already understand and what I wish more people knew. You don’t have to end all suffering for humankind—not on your own. But you can ease one person’s struggle. You can pick up their bag and carry it for a while. And when you think of service in little moments like this, it becomes easier to see just how many ways there are to give back. And it gets even easier when each one of us invites a new member to join our club. That gives us more helping hands. And more service from the heart.I know we are all busy, and we all have heavy loads—these days especially. But remember that the small things you do as Lions are as important as the big things. The way you serve may look different than how I serve or how your buddy down the street serves. And that’s a good thing. That give us balance and diversity. That makes us Lions.I am honored to embark on the next year as your International President and look forward to serving from the heart with you.Sincerely, Douglas X. AlexanderInternational President, Lions Clubs International Showing UpGreetings Lions, The two years that I have had the great honor of serving as your international president have been some of the most memorable and meaningful of my life. It’s inevitable that one goes into this role with a set of expectations about how it will be, but I can surely say that my tenure in this role was nothing like I expected and far exceeded all my expectations. While I never anticipated I would serve two full terms as your international president, the past sixteen months have been different than we all imagined. This year has changed me.…more...Lessons from the PandemicGreetings Lions, Out of all the diverse talents Lions possess, one in particular seems to be consistent across clubs and constitutional areas: the ability to turn difficult situations into opportunities. Now that we are well into 2021, more than a year since the first lockdowns began, many clubs have adjusted to a new normal. The rules of the pandemic no longer seem strange, they are simply a part of our life. While we know it won’t be this way forever, some of the adaptations clubs have made in the past year have been truly innovative. And it’s worth looking at…more...Be the RiverGreetings Lions, How does a stream become a river? It begins as a trickle of snow melt at the top of a mountain and flows downward, picking up more water as it runs, joining other streams. It wears away rock and soil as it flows, carving a path and shaping the landscape until one day it’s a roaring river. Lions, this is how change happens. Slowly. Over time. And by joining together. Like most of you, I have long been trying to lessen my impact on our planet. I recycle, I reuse items before replacing them, and I try to…more...Feel the EnergyGreetings Lions, In Busan, March is the time of year when everything starts to warm up a little. Animals come out of their dens, birds venture further from their nests, and people begin strolling around the streets, enjoying the reprieve from a long winter. There is an energy in the air as everything begins to come back to life, even in these challenging times. It was, and still is, a time when I feel a renewed sense of purpose as a Lion. While there are plenty of constitutional areas that are not entering Spring, there is still much to get…more...Service Is LoveGreetings, Lions. Over the years I have had the great honor and blessing of a loving family. But I’ve also found love in unexpected places. I’ve seen it in the eyes of an orphan as he played sports on a sunny afternoon. I’ve felt it in the warm hands of an elderly woman thanking me for helping her to see again. And I’ve known it in the faces of my fellow Lions. The men and women I serve with show love in everything they do. You, Lions, show love through clothing drives, food pantries, eyeglass donations, beach cleanups, and the…more...We Can OvercomeGreetings, Lions. The past year has been one marked by struggle. The struggle to stay healthy; the struggle to serve those in need; the struggle to maintain some sense of who we are in the face of such unprecedented circumstances. But a new year lies ahead. And with that, a renewed sense of purpose and meaning. When I think of all we have faced I am reminded of the words of Helen Keller, who praised struggle as one of our greatest blessings. It teaches us patience and sensitivity, she said. It teaches us that although the world is full of…more...We Make the ConstellationsGreetings Lions, People are natural storytellers. Consider the constellations. Nearly every culture in recorded history has made a story out of the stars. These stories enabled our ancestors to use the night sky to navigate, pass on oral histories, and to make sense of their world. This is still how we use stories today. Lions have the greatest stories on earth. Our service transforms people’s lives. Lions give their time, energy, and funds to worthy causes because they know that a better life for others will make a better world for us all. And telling these stories is one way…more...You Make The DifferenceGreetings, Lions. We often talk about the power of Lions working together in service. As an association of more than 48,000 clubs and 1.4 million members, Lions have the opportunity to make a big impact in the world. In Lion year 2019-2020, our clubs performed more than 820,000 service projects, helping 319 million people. And we did this by working together. However, today I want to talk about the power of the individual. In trying times like the world faces today, it is easy to feel insignificant – to think the world’s problems are too large for one person to…more...See the PossibilitiesGreetings Lions, Creating a successful club is similar to growing any business. You begin by outlining a mission, creating a plan, and putting that plan into action. It takes hard work, but when you succeed, you can step back and see the beauty in what you built. When Lions ask me what is the key to building a successful club, I ask them to close their eyes and try to envision what they want from their club. Because in order to do something, you first need to be able to see it. And what more perfect time to reflect on…more...Service Is Still JoyGreetings Lions, In my role as your International President I have been very busy trying to be the best representation of you that I can possibly be. In the day-to-day I am often absorbed with the details of my schedule – who I’m talking to, what we are discussing, how our efforts can strengthen Lions. It is work. And every day, as I read your stories and speak to you (through virtual meetings these days), I am reminded of the amount of sustained effort that goes into being a successful club. Coordinating email addresses to ensure everyone gets invited to…more...