SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 4
	WHEREAS, Lions Clubs International is celebrating the
	100th anniversary of its founding in 2017, and this occasion
	provides an ideal opportunity to honor the Lions of Texas for
	their good works; and
	WHEREAS, Established in 1917 by Melvin Jones as the
	Association of Lions Clubs, the community service organization
	held its first national convention that year in Dallas, with 12
	of the 23 participating clubs hailing from Texas; the Lions
	adopted a prime mission a decade later when Helen Keller urged
	them to become "Knights of the Blind"; through the years, the
	organization has undertaken numerous initiatives benefiting the
	visually impaired while also carrying out many other
	humanitarian efforts; and
	WHEREAS, The Lions of Texas have dedicated themselves to
	supporting such national programs as Sight for Kids, which has
	provided nearly 20 million screenings, and SightFirst, which
	raises funds for cataract operations and for programs to fight
	the other major causes of blindness; in addition, Texas Lions
	have introduced a number of effective initiatives, among them
	Journey for Sight and the Juvenile Diabetes Program; the Midland
	Lions became the first regional recycling center for collecting
	glasses to send abroad to those in need, and the Lions of Texas
	have formed five eye banks to assist in the collection and
	distribution of corneas for transplantation and medical
	research; and
	WHEREAS, Since 1949, the Texas Lions Camp has welcomed
	approximately70,000childrenwithphysicaldisabilitiesand
	diabetes, providing horseback riding, swimming, campouts, and
	other outdoor activities; the Lions of Texas also support disaster
	relief, anti-drug campaigns, and vaccination programs; and
	WHEREAS, Many Texas Lions have served in key leadership
	roles with the parent organization, which today has 1.4 million
	members in over 200 locations around the world; Lions Clubs
	International was named the top nongovernmental agency in the
	world by the United Nations in 2012; and
	WHEREAS, Embodying the motto "We Serve," which has guided
	Lions Clubs International for more than four decades, the members
	of the Lions of Texas have made a lasting, positive impact across
	the state and beyond, and they are truly deserving of special
	recognition in this centennial year; now, therefore, be it
	RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 85th
	Legislature, hereby honor the Lions of Texas on the occasion of
	the 100th anniversary of the founding of Lions Clubs International
	and extend to the members sincere best wishes for continued
	success in their important endeavors; and, be it further
	RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for the
	Lions of Texas as an expression of high regard from the Texas Senate.
	Burton
		________________________________
		President of the Senate
		I hereby certify that the
		above Resolution was adopted by
		the Senate on February 1, 2017.
		________________________________
		Secretary of the Senate
		________________________________
		Member, Texas Senate