Bill Text: TX HR902 | 2017-2018 | 85th Legislature | Enrolled
Bill Title: Commemorating the 100th anniversary of Lions Clubs International.
Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Republican 1)
Status: (Passed) 2017-03-28 - Reported enrolled [HR902 Detail]
Download: Texas-2017-HR902-Enrolled.html
| H.R. No. 902 | ||
|
|
||
| WHEREAS, Proud members of Lions Clubs International are | ||
| celebrating their 100th anniversary in 2017, and this milestone | ||
| presents a welcome opportunity to reflect on the rich history of | ||
| this outstanding service organization; and | ||
| WHEREAS, Founded by Melvin Jones, the International | ||
| Association of Lions Clubs held its first convention in October | ||
| 1917 at the Adolphus Hotel in Dallas; of the original 23 clubs, 12 | ||
| were formed in the Lone Star State; and | ||
| WHEREAS, A watershed moment occurred in 1927 when Helen | ||
| Keller addressed the 10th convention of Lions Clubs International | ||
| and urged attendees to become "Knights of the Blind"; in the years | ||
| since, members have enthusiastically accepted her challenge, | ||
| providing assistance to millions of people who suffer from | ||
| blindness or limited vision through a wide variety of programs; the | ||
| Lions Clubs International Foundation was created in 1968, and its | ||
| Sight for Kids program has screened nearly 20 million children, | ||
| while the SightFirst effort has raised approximately $500,000 for | ||
| cataract operations; and | ||
| WHEREAS, In 1970, Lions Clubs International adopted the motto | ||
| "We Serve," and members have demonstrated their commitment to that | ||
| maxim through myriad service efforts of benefit to people around | ||
| the globe; the One Shot, One Life Lions Measles Initiative provided | ||
| vaccines to more than 150 million children in 2012, and through | ||
| fund-matching partnerships with the Bill and Melinda Gates | ||
| Foundation and other groups, the program has saved millions of | ||
| lives and raised tens of millions of dollars; in South Africa, fewer | ||
| than 50 clubs consisting of only 1,250 members feed 60,000 people | ||
| every day; moreover, Lions have collected over $1 billion in | ||
| donations since 1972; and | ||
| WHEREAS, The Lions Clubs of Texas have originated many of | ||
| their own service projects, including the Juvenile Diabetes | ||
| Program, the Journey for Sight fund-raising event, and the Texas | ||
| Lions Foundation, a disaster relief fund; the Midland Lions Clubs | ||
| pioneered the practice of sending recycled eyeglasses to people in | ||
| need overseas, and that program has been adopted by Lions groups | ||
| around the country; in Texas alone, Lions recycling centers assist | ||
| in the collection, cataloging, and distribution of 1.5 million | ||
| pairs of glasses each year; the organization has established five | ||
| eye banks across the state to help the medical community recover and | ||
| distribute eye tissue for transplants and research; in addition, | ||
| the Texas Lions Camp has given approximately 70,000 children with | ||
| diabetes or disabilities the chance to spend a week camping, | ||
| horseback riding, and swimming, at no cost to their families; a | ||
| successful antidrug program was created through the efforts of the | ||
| Texas Lions, especially those of retired U.S. Air Force brigadier | ||
| general and Vietnam War POW Robbie Risner; and | ||
| WHEREAS, Texas Lions are especially proud of the two living | ||
| past international presidents who hail from the Lone Star State, | ||
| Jimmy Ross of Quitaque and Everett J. Grindstaff of Ballinger; | ||
| Lions Clubs International has further benefited from the skilled | ||
| guidance of such exemplary leaders as its present director, Sam | ||
| Lindsey, and past international directors Don Buckalew, Ray | ||
| Hughston, Mike Butler, Marshall Cooper, Connie De La Garza, Beverly | ||
| Stebbins, and Joe Al Picone; and | ||
| WHEREAS, Over the years, the Lions organization has been | ||
| honored by a number of luminaries, including Lion and former | ||
| President Jimmy Carter, who nominated the club for the Nobel Peace | ||
| Prize in 2008; the group has also won praise from President Ronald | ||
| Reagan, who was an honorary Lion, as well as President Anwar Sadat | ||
| of Egypt, Prime Minister Menachem Begin of Israel, and Pope John | ||
| Paul II, among many others; and | ||
| WHEREAS, Today, Lions Clubs International is one of the | ||
| largest, most respected, and most effective service organizations | ||
| in the world, with 1.4 million members in 209 locations, and it is a | ||
| privilege to join in recognizing its century of service to those in | ||
| need; now, therefore, be it | ||
| RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 85th Texas | ||
| Legislature hereby commemorate the 100th anniversary of Lions Clubs | ||
| International and extend to its members sincere best wishes for | ||
| continued success with their important work; and, be it further | ||
| RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be | ||
| prepared for Lions Clubs International as an expression of high | ||
| regard by the Texas House of Representatives. | ||
| Darby | ||
| ______________________________ | ||
| Speaker of the House | ||
| I certify that H.R. No. 902 was adopted by the House on March | ||
| 23, 2017, by a non-record vote. | ||
| ______________________________ | ||
| Chief Clerk of the House | ||
