Do You Believe?

by Wing-Kun Tam
President, The International Association of Lions Clubs

First of all, in this season of belief, let me offer best wishes to all my fellow Lions, their loved ones, friends and families.
We have come a long way in five months. My belief in the power of what every Lion can do to change the world and help those in need is as strong as ever.

The early success of our campaign to plant 1 million trees makes me both proud and also so humble. Whether it’s planting trees in lands scarred by the tsunami in Japan or tornadoes in the United States, or planting trees to restore our planet’s critical forests in Africa or South Asia, we have succeeded in unifying Lions all over the world. These acts of service are fun and rewarding to do. They bring clubs together and bring smiles to ourselves and to people in the communities we serve.  Through October, together we planted more than 3.7 MILLION trees in more than 60 countries. Isn’t that amazing?

Some Lions ask me if I will set another target.  I politely say “no” because I believe the target lies in each of our hearts. It is the Lions who determine how far we go and how many trees we plant. Every tree counts, even if you can plant only one. Every member matters, too.
You see, the act of planting trees is certainly good for the environment and directly addresses the critical global issue of lost trees and forests. But to me, it’s also a strong symbol of our association’s commitment to the future and a reason to invite friends, families and others to join us in making it happen.

I’m also proud and humbled by Lions’ response to this year’s “My Club, My Family” initiative. We have had strong membership growth this year, exceeding a 10,000 net gain through October. But inviting new members is easy; treating them as if they were family and involving them in meaningful service will ensure they stay.

So my fellow Lions, with all we have done in five months, I am now happy to say that “I Believe” has clearly transformed into “We Believe.”  It’s because of you and your belief in what we can do. Your belief, and more importantly, your actions, have given me the greatest gift of all as your international president.

Consider this special issue a holiday gift to all Lions. The story’s message is that Lions are indeed a precious gift to our communities.  May the warm glow of family be part of your regular household and your Lions club as you believe in our great service mission.