International Leo Day

Today is 55th International Leo Day. For over 50 years, Leos have served their communities, while developing leadership skills and establishing life-long friendships.

What are Leo Clubs?
Leo clubs are an official activity of Lions Clubs International that encourages young men and women to serve others in their community and around the world. Leo clubs are sponsored by local lions clubs and may be either school-affiliated or community based. Leo club activities include regular meetings, service projects and social functions.

Leo Club History
Coach Jim Graver started the Leo ball rolling in 1957 and chances are that ball was a baseball. Graver was the baseball coach of the Abington High School in Pennsylvania, USA and an active member of the Glenside Lions Club. With help from his fellow Lion, William Ernst, the first Leo club was charted on December 5, 1957. As the world's first Leo club, the Abington High School Leo Club created the Leo acronym – Leadership, Equality, Opportunity – and they chose their school colors maroon and gold to serve as the Leo club colors. Later, Equality was changed to Experience. Open to males and females, the objective of the Leo Club Program was (and still is): "...to provide the youth of the world (with) an opportunity for development and contribution, individually and collectively, as responsible members of the local, national and international community."

In October 1967, the board of directors of Lions Clubs International adopted the Leo Club Program as an official program of the association. Today, the Leo Club Program is stronger than ever. Day by day the number of Leo clubs increased to 6,106 (2,581 Alpha Leo Clubs and 3,525 Omega Leo Clubs) Leo Clubs in 142 countries and more than 150,000 young people in around the world proud to serve their local communities and to call own self as Leo.

Who Can Be a Leo?
Leo club membership is open to young men and women between the ages of 12 and 30. Membership is divided into two groups, the school based Leos are generally between the ages of 12 and 17 whereas the community based clubs have members ages 18-30.

Young people of high moral standards who wish to serve others are eligible to become Leos. School administrators, Lions, friends of Lions and community leaders can provide names of potential members. Candidates may also be recruited through public announcements.

What Leos are doing now?
Leos around the world and have been building ties of friendship in good times and bad and have always been working together to help the less fortunate and each other. Membership in a Leo Club is on invitation and does not depend on race, religion, cast or creed - what is required is an open mind, a sense of discipline and a willingness to serve. Members of Leo clubs always try to serve the less fortunate as well as build leadership skills in Leo Club members.

The services of Leos range from campaigns to prevent alcohol and drug abuse to environmental awareness campaigns, educational programs for the needy and underprivileged children, health programs, skill development programs as well as many other community services projects specifically aimed at deserving children, young adults & elders.

 For its own members development programs such as leadership camps and seminars, self development programs are organized in addition to maintaining job banks, training in speech and project organizational skills as well as improving people skills by learning to work with diverse cross section people. The Leo movement is the youth arm of the Lions movement and the Lions Club supervises and guides their respective Leo Clubs in all its activities.

 Who I am? At first when I hear Leo I couldn't understand the word what is leo. Then attend to some club meeting. Read some hand book and finally attend in a School eye sight test program. I have started my leoism in 2003 that time I was alpha Leo. Today I am now Omega leo and leoism become my part of life.

I have learned lots of think from Leo club. I was an introvert boy day by day I have recovered it by help of leoism experience. My leadership skill continues growing. In 9 year get more experience today I am leo district 315B4 secretary. This year I have traveled two country Nepal and Sri Lanka. It was my opportunity of leoism.