President’s MessageThe Beauty of Life Can Be Felt In the HeartDear Lions,It’s been a while since I’ve walked the halls of the Boys’ High School in Brooklyn, New York, where I went to school, and a lot has changed since I graduated. In the seventies it became the Boys’ and Girls’ High School and relocated to a bigger campus on Fulton and Utica. But the original building at 832 Marcy Ave, the one I remember so well, is known for its Romanesque Revival architecture, was listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and is considered one of Brooklyn’s finest buildings. It was a memorable place to spend my formative years as a young man in Bedford–Stuyvesant. A place like that leaves quite an impression.So when I went back years ago to participate in the Principal for a Day program, what surprised me was how nostalgic it felt, even though the high school I stepped into that day was no longer just for boys and, in fact, was in an entirely different location.Yet, the moment I stepped into the building I was transported back in time. I was suddenly immersed in memories of my days walking the halls, laughing with my friends, and studying hard. The smell of sharpened pencils in the air, the squeak of shoes on the polished floors, the coolness of the lockers when you lean against them – these sensations were just as alive in this new place as they were in my memories. I realized it wasn’t the beauty and historical significance of the original building that made the biggest impression on me, it was what I felt when I walked through the doors. And those kinds of memories are made through the people, the values, and the soul of a place. Those are the things that have made a place in my heart.Of course, the beauty of sight is a blessing. But there is so much more.We are Lions and we are dedicated to helping end preventable blindness and to making life better for those with vision impairment. But I feel it’s important to note what many without sight have told me over and over again – yes, life is more challenging without sight. But it is still rich with beauty and color of a different kind.So, this October, which is Vision Awareness Month, I’d like to celebrate the beauty of life beyond what we can see. Helen Keller said it best: “The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched - they must be felt with the heart.”Yours in service, Douglas X. AlexanderInternational President, Lions Clubs International Give the Gift of BelongingDear Lions, We often talk about the power of working together. We know we are stronger as a club than as individuals. When I became a Lion, I knew I was joining something bigger than myself. I felt honored and excited. I felt like it was the natural extension of my life’s work. It gave me purpose and direction for all the good I knew I wanted to do. And do you know what else it gave me? A new kind of family. I come from a big family and a close-knit community, so I was no stranger to the…more...The Secret of ServiceDear Lions, For my first message to you in LION Magazine, I want to talk about the small things. When Lions Clubs International was started more than 100 years ago, it was founded on the idea that those who can help, should. It was that simple. I grew up with those same values. I was raised in Brooklyn, where most families worked hard and came home tired at the end of the day. But they saw the value in supporting one another. They knew they were stronger together. And they knew that as tired as they were, or as steep…more...Showing UpGreetings Lions, The two years that I have had the great honor of serving as your international president have been some of the most memorable and meaningful of my life. It’s inevitable that one goes into this role with a set of expectations about how it will be, but I can surely say that my tenure in this role was nothing like I expected and far exceeded all my expectations. While I never anticipated I would serve two full terms as your international president, the past sixteen months have been different than we all imagined. This year has changed me.…more...Lessons from the PandemicGreetings Lions, Out of all the diverse talents Lions possess, one in particular seems to be consistent across clubs and constitutional areas: the ability to turn difficult situations into opportunities. Now that we are well into 2021, more than a year since the first lockdowns began, many clubs have adjusted to a new normal. The rules of the pandemic no longer seem strange, they are simply a part of our life. While we know it won’t be this way forever, some of the adaptations clubs have made in the past year have been truly innovative. And it’s worth looking at…more...Be the RiverGreetings Lions, How does a stream become a river? It begins as a trickle of snow melt at the top of a mountain and flows downward, picking up more water as it runs, joining other streams. It wears away rock and soil as it flows, carving a path and shaping the landscape until one day it’s a roaring river. Lions, this is how change happens. Slowly. Over time. And by joining together. Like most of you, I have long been trying to lessen my impact on our planet. I recycle, I reuse items before replacing them, and I try to…more...Feel the EnergyGreetings Lions, In Busan, March is the time of year when everything starts to warm up a little. Animals come out of their dens, birds venture further from their nests, and people begin strolling around the streets, enjoying the reprieve from a long winter. There is an energy in the air as everything begins to come back to life, even in these challenging times. It was, and still is, a time when I feel a renewed sense of purpose as a Lion. While there are plenty of constitutional areas that are not entering Spring, there is still much to get…more...Service Is LoveGreetings, Lions. Over the years I have had the great honor and blessing of a loving family. But I’ve also found love in unexpected places. I’ve seen it in the eyes of an orphan as he played sports on a sunny afternoon. I’ve felt it in the warm hands of an elderly woman thanking me for helping her to see again. And I’ve known it in the faces of my fellow Lions. The men and women I serve with show love in everything they do. You, Lions, show love through clothing drives, food pantries, eyeglass donations, beach cleanups, and the…more...We Can OvercomeGreetings, Lions. The past year has been one marked by struggle. The struggle to stay healthy; the struggle to serve those in need; the struggle to maintain some sense of who we are in the face of such unprecedented circumstances. But a new year lies ahead. And with that, a renewed sense of purpose and meaning. When I think of all we have faced I am reminded of the words of Helen Keller, who praised struggle as one of our greatest blessings. It teaches us patience and sensitivity, she said. It teaches us that although the world is full of…more...We Make the ConstellationsGreetings Lions, People are natural storytellers. Consider the constellations. Nearly every culture in recorded history has made a story out of the stars. These stories enabled our ancestors to use the night sky to navigate, pass on oral histories, and to make sense of their world. This is still how we use stories today. Lions have the greatest stories on earth. Our service transforms people’s lives. Lions give their time, energy, and funds to worthy causes because they know that a better life for others will make a better world for us all. And telling these stories is one way…more...You Make The DifferenceGreetings, Lions. We often talk about the power of Lions working together in service. As an association of more than 48,000 clubs and 1.4 million members, Lions have the opportunity to make a big impact in the world. In Lion year 2019-2020, our clubs performed more than 820,000 service projects, helping 319 million people. And we did this by working together. However, today I want to talk about the power of the individual. In trying times like the world faces today, it is easy to feel insignificant – to think the world’s problems are too large for one person to…more...