Bucking Old Assumptions
April 2021 - Lions Magazine
“Lionism” is not static.
Several clubs submitted candidates for Awards presented at the 36-O Convention. Thank you. Governors need feedback to know what Clubs and Lions are doing as continued or break through service and leadership.
A club which sight screens 300 students a year should know our MD screens 180,000. That provides a sound bite or poster statement to convey publically the impact of that club and what Lions collectively accomplish. Oregon Lions Sight and Hearing Foundation (OLSHF) provides those statistics. But also (for example) many clubs provide food to 20-200 people. Unless it’s reported to LCI, we can’t tell people we fed 20,000 or 200,000 that year. Please report.
Through award submissions, I learned of outstanding members and clubs meeting current challenges, and also of Oregon Lions who changed the path of International Lionism.
ID Jose Marrero wrote to me after our convention that he had spoken with PID Weber who was on the International Lions Board in 1987 when the amendment was made to accept women as Lions. PID Weber said, “It was a shame [Lions accepted …women’s Lion membership] due to litigation and not for the correct reason – that it was the right thing to do.” In 2008 PID Weber was also instrumental in changing the treatment of “companions” so the International Board accepted that a designated (unmarried) partner would be eligible for spousal benefits.
Keeping any organization relevant requires ongoing reassessment of social needs and realities.
So, I mark past leadership struggles our 36-O Awards recognized: In 1981 Lloyd Lions, in particular Joe Weston (real estate agent) saw declining membership AND women in business and government positions formerly held by men. Joe argued there was no reason Lions should not recruit leaders just because of female genes. By October, three women were members: Helen Honse (then Greenough) a community manager for Port of Portland, Mary Mulflur, Menashe Realtors agent, and Nancy Hopper, an EEO for the Bureau of Land Management. Norma Paulus, Oregon’s Secretary of State, accepted honorary membership. That same October, the International Association of Lions Clubs (IALC) canceled Lloyd Club’s 21-year-old charter.
The Club created a legal defense fund for contributions and in June 1982, Lloyd Lions and the three regular women members filed suit against the IALC in Multnomah County’s Circuit Court on grounds that the IALC violated Oregon’s Public Accommodations Act, breached its contract with the Club and interfered with the plaintiffs business relationships. Neither party backed down for 4 years.
In 1986 the judge ruled in favor of the Club, awarding $4500 in damages plus attorneys’ fees. The IALC appealed the decision, but in 1987 the IALC amended their constitution, deleting the word “male” from the requirement for membership, and Oregon’s Supreme Court dismissed their petition. Lloyd Lions donated all damage awards to OLSHF.
Thank you Helen Honse (Trail Blazer Award recipient), Joe Weston (International Director’s Award recipient), and all Lions committed to making our Lions meet current needs - even when it means bucking old assumptions.