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| 3 | 4 | | |
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| 4 | 5 | | R E S O L U T I O N |
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| 5 | 6 | | WHEREAS, Lions Clubs International is celebrating the 100th |
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| 6 | 7 | | anniversary of its founding in 2017, and this occasion provides an |
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| 7 | 8 | | ideal opportunity to honor the Lions of Texas for their good works; |
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| 8 | 9 | | and |
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| 9 | 10 | | WHEREAS, Established in 1917 by Melvin Jones as the |
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| 10 | 11 | | Association of Lions Clubs, the community service organization held |
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| 11 | 12 | | its first national convention that year in Dallas, with 12 of the 23 |
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| 12 | 13 | | participating clubs hailing from Texas; the Lions adopted a prime |
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| 13 | 14 | | mission a decade later when Helen Keller urged them to become |
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| 14 | 15 | | "Knights of the Blind"; through the years, the organization has |
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| 15 | 16 | | undertaken numerous initiatives benefiting the visually impaired |
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| 16 | 17 | | while also carrying out many other humanitarian efforts; and |
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| 17 | 18 | | WHEREAS, The Lions of Texas have dedicated themselves to |
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| 18 | 19 | | supporting such national programs as Sight for Kids, which has |
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| 19 | 20 | | provided nearly 20 million screenings, and SightFirst, which raises |
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| 20 | 21 | | funds for cataract operations and for programs to fight the other |
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| 21 | 22 | | major causes of blindness; in addition, Texas Lions have introduced |
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| 22 | 23 | | a number of effective initiatives, among them Journey for Sight and |
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| 23 | 24 | | the Juvenile Diabetes Program; the Midland Lions became the first |
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| 24 | 25 | | regional recycling center for collecting glasses to send abroad to |
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| 25 | 26 | | those in need, and the Lions of Texas have formed five eye banks to |
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| 26 | 27 | | assist in the collection and distribution of corneas for |
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| 27 | 28 | | transplantation and medical research; and |
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| 28 | 29 | | WHEREAS, Since 1949, the Texas Lions Camp has welcomed |
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| 29 | 30 | | approximately 70,000 children with physical disabilities and |
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| 30 | 31 | | diabetes, providing horseback riding, swimming, campouts, and |
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| 31 | 32 | | other outdoor activities; the Lions of Texas also support disaster |
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| 32 | 33 | | relief, anti-drug campaigns, and vaccination programs; and |
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| 33 | 34 | | WHEREAS, Many Texas Lions have served in key leadership roles |
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| 34 | 35 | | with the parent organization, which today has 1.4 million members |
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| 35 | 36 | | in over 200 locations around the world; Lions Clubs International |
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| 36 | 37 | | was named the top nongovernmental agency in the world by the United |
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| 37 | 38 | | Nations in 2012; and |
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| 38 | 39 | | WHEREAS, Embodying the motto "We Serve," which has guided |
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| 39 | 40 | | Lions Clubs International for more than four decades, the members |
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| 40 | 41 | | of the Lions of Texas have made a lasting, positive impact across |
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| 41 | 42 | | the state and beyond, and they are truly deserving of special |
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| 42 | 43 | | recognition in this centennial year; now, therefore, be it |
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| 43 | 44 | | RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 85th Texas |
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| 44 | 45 | | Legislature hereby honor the Lions of Texas on the occasion of the |
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| 45 | 46 | | 100th anniversary of the founding of Lions Clubs International and |
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| 46 | 47 | | extend to its members sincere best wishes for continued success in |
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| 47 | 48 | | their important endeavors; and, be it further |
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| 48 | 49 | | RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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| 49 | 50 | | prepared for the Lions of Texas as an expression of high regard by |
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| 50 | 51 | | the Texas House of Representatives. |
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