Summary
Leo clubs are a youth organization of Lions Clubs International.[1] Leo clubs encourage youth to develop leadership qualities by participating in service activities, focusing on three core values: Leadership, Experience, and Opportunity. Every Leo club requires a Lions club to sponsor and initiate it, however the clubs themselves are youth-led. Leo club members are addressed as "Leos", however Leos between 18 and 30 can be addressed as Leo-Lions.
 | |
| Formation | 1957 |
|---|---|
| Purpose | Youth secular service club social work |
| Headquarters | Oak Brook, Illinois |
Membership | 200,000 in 140 countries |
Parent organization | Lions Clubs International |
History edit
The first Leo club was founded in 1957 by Jim Graver, the coach of the Abington High School, Pennsylvania baseball team. He was an active member of the Glenside Lions Club. The club was founded with the help of William Ernst, another Lion. It adopted the high school's colors of maroon and gold. The club also created the acronym Leadership, Experience, Opportunity for the word Leo. The word equality was later changed to experience.
In 1964 the Leo Club Program became a sponsored program of the Lions Clubs International. It grew beyond Pennsylvania and the United States of America. By 1967 the program had grown to over 200 clubs in 18 countries and become an official youth program of Lions Clubs International. In the following year, the Leo Club Program spread rapidly, resulting in 918 clubs in 48 countries by the end of 1968.[2]
Purpose edit
Leos clubs around the world conduct various projects in seven key areas: the environment, health, hunger, disaster relief, vision, and supporting youth. Leos can raise funds by conducting fundraising projects, and can also collaborate with other Leo clubs, sponsoring Lions clubs, or with outside organizations. As Leos clubs are sponsored by Lions International, many service events give youth and adults chances to work together and help serve the community.
Clubs edit
Leos Clubs can be created anywhere as long as there are at least 10 youth together and they have reached out to a local Lions Club to sponsor them. The majority of Leos Clubs are founded in schools, but many are also community-organized.[3]
There are two tracks of the Leo Club Program. Alpha Leo clubs are those that consist of members between 12 and 18 years of age. Omega Leo clubs are those that consist of members between 18 and 30 years of age. These can also be known as Leo-Lion clubs.
The Leo Club Program's maximum age of membership is 30 years of age, though it is at the discretion of the Lion's district to enforce younger upper-age limits for Omega clubs. There are no major differences in the operations or logistics of Alpha and Omega Leo Clubs.[4]
Leos in the 21st Century edit
Leos worldwide now number 191, 788 members, in over 150 countries across the world. They also have representation at all constitutional area levels with a body called the Leo Advisory Panel, which serves as a mirror of the International Board of Directors. This panel is composed of at least four representatives from each constitutional area working towards coordinating Leo Club activities in their jurisdictions.
References edit
- ^ http://members.lionsclubs.org/EN/leos/index.php
- ^ "Leo Clubs – Bring New Energy to your Lions Club". The International Association of Lions Clubs. Retrieved 2010-03-20.
- ^ "Start a Leo Club | Lions Clubs International". www.lionsclubs.org. Retrieved 2024-04-15.
- ^ "Common Questions about the Leo Club Program" (PDF). The International Association of Lions Clubs. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-03-03. Retrieved 2010-03-20.
External links edit
- Official website