Leo District 412: LDP Welcome Message

Wednesday, August 6, 2008

LDP Welcome Message

LEO DISTRICT PRESIDENT'S WELCOME MESSAGE

It is my privilege and honour to be your Leo District President for 2008-9. Thank you fellow Leos for your vote of confidence. I would like to welcome you all to this exciting year that lies ahead of us, as we continue to serve in the spirit of Leoism. To the newly inducted and prospective Leos, congratulations to you for joining the largest service organisation in the World. May this year be one of great experiences and abundant opportunities to make a difference in your communities.

My theme for this year is TEAMWORK AND FELLOWSHIP FOR MIRACULOUS SERVICE. In order for our clubs to run effectively we need to work as a TEAM. Let us strengthen our good relations with our fellow club members, as well as with our Sponsoring Lions. Make an effort to attend Lions meetings and participate in their projects. At the same time invite them to your meetings and activities. It is vital for us to attend Regional and District Meetings. Through FELLOWSHIP we '...unite our clubs in the bonds of friendship...' (Leo Objects). We are given the opportunity to create new ties and strengthen old ones. It is also at these meetings that we share ideas and solve problems that may be hindering us from progressing. May I urge you to open your minds to new ideas, do not be quick to shoot down a fellow members' idea because it is 'not the way you have always done things'. Make MIRACLES happen as we continue to serve within our communities. In the words of Mark Twain 'Sail away from the safe harbour, catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.

No comments:

Post a Comment

Who are Leos

In 1957, Coach Jim Graver started the Leo ball rolling. Chances are, that ball was a baseball. Graver was the coach of the Abington High School, Pennsylvania, USA, baseball team. Graver was also an active member of the Glenside, Pennsylvania, Lions Club. With fellow Lion, William Ernst, Graver talked about starting a service club for high school boys. So they asked their fellow Lions for support. Without hesitation, the Glenside Lions agreed that a Lions youth group was a good idea. Graver and Ernst set to work. On December 5, 1957, the Glenside Lions presented a charter to the Abington High School Leo Club whose members were mostly made up of the high school's baseball team.As the world's first Leo club, the group created the Leo acronym - Leadership, Equality, Opportunity (Equality was later changed to Experience.) And, the group chose maroon and gold - their school colors - to serve as the Leo club colors.
Leo Club's Objective and Motto
In October 1967, the board of directors of Lions Clubs International adopted the Leo Club Program as an official program of the association. Open to males and females, the objective of the Leo Club Program was (and still is):"...to provide the youth of the world (with) an opportunity for development and contribution, individually and collectively, as responsible members of the local, national and international community."
The Leo club motto is:
Leadership - Leos develop skills as organizers, time managers and motivators of their peers.
Experience - Leos learn the importance of cooperation through community service.
Opportunity - Membership provides young people with a chance to excel, to develop positive charatcer traits, and to receive recognition for their contributions to the community.

District 412 covers 4 countries namely Botswana,Malawi,Mozambique and Zimbabwe. The Leo programme started in the District with the chartering of the Gwelo Omega Leo Club sponsered by the Lions club of Gweru.
Since then the Lions have continued to sponser new Leo Clubs and to date they are over 50 clubs in the district