Festive News 2017 by Hereford Lions Club | Page 11

ONE MAN’S VISION STARTED GLOBAL ORGANISATION FESTIVE NEWS • DECEMBER 2015 • PAGE 11 HEREFORD GAS SERVICES Heating & Gasfitting Engineers G Central Heating Installations LPG Servicing System Updates Breakdown Repairs Fire Surrounds Boilers G 46,000 CLUBS G G G FIRE AND FIREPLACE SHOWROOM G The instinct of one man created an organisation today recognised as the most important humanitarian group of volunteers in the world. Melvin Jones was a 38 year old insurance salesman in Chicago and a member of a businessmen’s luncheon club when he had the vision of what they could do to improve their communities. He sent invitations to all the men’s clubs in Chicago and on June 7, 1917 Lions Club International was established. Just a handful of men. Now, as the organisation prepares to celebrate its centenary in 2017 – just a year away – it is timely to reflect on what Melvin Jones achieved and the legacy he left behind when he died in June 1961. G UNIT 4, MORTIMER TRADING CENTRE 01432 272 329 The seeds he planted in the minds of those young businessmen he persuaded to join his crusade has multiplied to 1.35 million members in 46,000 clubs across 208 countries. A virtual United Nations in its role as a global humanitarian organisation. In the UK and Ireland there are 900 Lions Clubs with 17,000 members now including women. Hereford Lions Club, founded in 1960 is proud to be one of the family of Lions and to serve the community here in Hereford. Why did Melvin, son of an US army officer chose to call his new organisation ‘Lions? He believed the mighty Lion epitomised the strength, courage and fidelity his fellow members would need to become leaders of a Melvin Jones new worldwide community action group. Every penny raised by Lions goes direct to charity projects with members covering costs for administration out of their own club subscriptions. Readers of Lions Festive News, delivered free to 30,000 homes in and around Hereford will get an insight to what members of a Lions Club entails – lots of community effort and an equal amount of fun. Fancy being a Lion? Simon Swancott, club secretary has been one for close on 40 years. Ring him for a chat (01432 275301). HEREFORD BUTCHERS Locally sourced, high quality meat Specialist in Boiler Servicing, Breakdown & Replacement Gas, Oil, LPG Tel/Fax PET FOOD SUPPLIES & ACCESSORIES 01432 264477 BARRS COURT ROAD, HEREFORD HR1 1EG 3 St Martins Street HEREFORD HR2 7RE www.herefordheating.co.uk [email protected] Graham Rowe – Lee Rowe – Paul Rowe Tel: Hereford [phone] GAS Registered Installer By Appointment to Her Majesty the Queen Suppliers of Electrical Products Edmundson Electrical Ltd Knutsford TM REGISTER generaldogsbodyhereford.co.uk G G G G G Christmas meat orders no