[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 20 (Tuesday, February 24, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E192]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      HONORING THE SACRAMENTO LIONS CLUB ON THEIR 50TH ANNIVERSARY

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. ROBERT T. MATSUI

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 24, 2004

  Mr. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor an organization with a 
distinguished history of community service to the Capital Region. The 
Sacramento Senator Lions Club will be celebrating their 50th 
Anniversary Celebration on March 6, 2004. As the members and friends of 
the Sacramento Senator Lions Club gather to celebrate this momentous 
occasion, I ask all my colleagues to join me in saluting one of 
Sacramento's most important and respected civic groups.
  The Sacramento Senator Lions Club was chartered on April 4, 1954 to 
become a part of the Lions Club, the world's largest service 
organization. Lions Clubs are non-political, non-sectarian service 
clubs composed of the community's leading business and professional 
people. The purpose of a Lions Club is more than good fellowship and 
club social life. The purpose is to recognize community needs and 
develop means of meeting them, either through its own effort or in 
cooperation with other agencies. Lionism is an active and effective 
medium for national and world service, exerting tremendous influence 
for national welfare, international amity and human progress socially, 
culturally and economically. For the past 50 years, the Sacramento 
Senators Lions Club embodies all of the best qualities that Lionism 
represents.
  The Sacramento Senator Lions Club was the first all Americans of 
Japanese ancestry in the United States. The Sacramento Senator Lions 
Club was founded upon the principle that the club should strive to 
provide its members with the opportunities to collectively serve the 
community through efforts of fund-raising and hands-on-service 
projects. Today, the Sacramento Senator Lions Club is a vital service 
organization that is composed of civic-minded persons of both sexes and 
many diverse ethnic backgrounds.
  The Sacramento Senator Lions Club has a history of community service 
that stretches beyond Sacramento and across international borders. The 
Sacramento Senator Lions Club reached a twinning agreement with the 
Osaka Tezukayama Lions Club of Japan during the International Lions 
Club in New Orleans in 1977. In recent years, mutual donations have 
been made to projects in Osaka, Japan. Donations to the Sacramento 
Senator Lions Club have played a great role in developing the fragrance 
garden for the visually handicapped and the Japanese garden for 
children at the Fairytale Town. In addition, the Sacramento Senator 
Lions Club is also actively involved in helping many other local 
organizations; Canine Companion for the Blind, City of Hope, My 
Sister's House for Abused Women, just to name a few. The Sacramento 
Senator Lions Club commitment to improve the quality of life for people 
from all different walks of life is truly commendable and admirable.
  The Sacramento Senator Lions Club is internationally renowned as one 
of the most successful and respected Lions Club chapters in the world. 
The lofty status of the Sacramento Senator Lions Club was confirmed 
when their member, Kay K. Fukushima, was elected to be the 86th 
President of the International Association of Lions Club for the year 
2002-2003.
  Mr. Speaker, as the friends and family of the Sacramento Senator 
Lions Club gather to celebrate their 50 years of great service to the 
people of Sacramento, I am honored to pay tribute to one of the Capital 
Region's most active service organizations. I ask all my colleagues to 
join me in wishing the Sacramento Senator Lions Club continued success 
in all its future endeavors.

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