Winter 2023Past Issues Innovate—and Evolve. It’s in Our Roots.Hello, Lions! In 1917 a group of independent social clubs gathered at the LaSalle Hotel in downtown Chicago. They asked themselves if they might join forces to help their communities. At the time, it was incredibly innovative. International service organizations had yet to become a driving force for good in the world. But with the birth of the International Association of Lions Clubs, a whole new era began. Looking back, it seems so obvious. Of…more...If 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...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...Building the Future We Want to SeeHello, Lions! Do you have big dreams for your club? Do you want to grow your membership, get young people more involved, or expand the kinds of service projects you do? When you dream big—and I know Lions like to dream big—it can feel overwhelming and hard to know where to start. But here’s the big secret of Lions—you don’t have to do it alone. The Global Action Team can help energize your efforts. We…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...Fun is FundamentalHello, Lions! Well, I don’t know about you, but there’s nothing like a new year to fill me with a renewed sense of purpose, and I feel more eager than ever to do the important work that Lions do. Every year I like to take this time to pause and assess how we’re doing as a club. What have we done well so far and where have we stumbled? How can we build on our…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...