[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 163 (2017), Part 4]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 4843]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                 IN HONOR OF LIONS CLUBS INTERNATIONAL

                                  _____
                                 

                            HON. KEVIN BRADY

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, March 24, 2017

  Mr. BRADY of Texas. Mr. Speaker, while the world was at war in 1917, 
Melvin Jones, a Midwest businessman, told the members of his local 
business club, the Business Circle of Chicago, that there was more to 
life than monetary success. Melvin Jones used his resources to better 
the lives in his local community and around the world. His vision for 
the world was ordinary people using their talents to improve their 
local communities.
  Melvin Jones should be proud that the organization he founded 
celebrates its 100th year of service. Today, Lions Clubs International 
is the world's largest service club organization--with over one million 
members in more than forty-six thousand clubs. Lions continue their 
mission of improving communities, creating better places to live, work, 
and raise families. Melvin's idea of a civic organization has spread 
from the Midwest into countries in every corner of the world. There are 
twenty-five amazing Lions Clubs in the Eighth District of Texas.
  A common desire to serve unites Lions Club members from around the 
world as they provide humanitarian assistance, encourage peace, and 
promote international understanding. The Lions are known worldwide for 
their integrity and resourcefulness as they encourage their volunteers 
and empower them to serve in their local communities.
  Since their founding, the Lions have had a steady vision and a clear 
mission: to become true ``knights of the blind in the crusade against 
darkness.'' Their tireless efforts to aid the world's visually impaired 
have set a high standard. For nearly half a century, the Lions Clubs 
International Foundation has made smaller, local and large-scale 
international humanitarian projects possible. In its twenty-seven year 
existence, SightFirst has been restoring sight and preventing blindness 
on a global scale by targeting and countering the major causes of 
blindness.
  Additionally, the Lions' Leo Program has helped give young people 
worldwide the opportunity to learn servant leadership. Today, there are 
approximately 144,000 Leos and 5,700 Leo clubs in more than 140 
countries.
  I am proud to congratulate all members of Lions Clubs International 
for their dedication to servant leadership and undying quest to better 
their communities by bringing millions out of darkness.

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