9 Sept 2025
The Lions Club New Member Orientation program is designed to
welcome, engage, and empower new Lions as they begin their journey in community
service and leadership. This program introduces participants to the history,
values, structure, and mission of Lions Clubs International, while also
highlighting the unique role of their local club within the global network.It was conducted by Dr. Richard Ng via Google Meet and broadcasted live on Titktok with the participation of 25 Lion Members and 1,200 Tiktok Viewers.
The following is the Notes transcribed by Gemini AI for reference.
Abstract:
Dr. Richard Ng, a long-serving Lion member, introduced himself and provided a comprehensive overview of Lionism, covering its history, the Lions Club's slogan, and its global expansion, emphasizing the importance of recruiting younger members and women. Dr. Richard Ng, Wendy Kan, and Patrick Wong reviewed the Lions Club's Code of Ethics, stressing integrity, loyalty, and service, while also outlining the organizational structure, membership types, and key leaders, along with Mission 1.5's goal of 1.5 million members by June 30, 2027. The session concluded with Richard Ng detailing various community projects, including hunger relief, youth development, and disaster relief, highlighting the emotional impact of such work and offering a QR code for evaluation and certificate issuance.
Dr. Richard Ng
highlighted that Google Meet's Gemini AI would transcribe and summarize meeting
content, making it easier for attendees to refer to notes rather than reviewing
long video recordings.
Google Meet Gemini Notes:
Introduction
and Background of Dr. Richard Ng
Dr. Richard Ng
introduced himself as a Lion member since 2006, having served in various
positions including marketing director, service chairperson, membership
chairperson, and president from 2020 to 2024. He also mentioned his current
roles as Zone 14 and Region 5 Chairperson. He emphasized his initiative to
train members, especially new inductees, due to the lack of new member
orientation in the past.
Historical
Highlights of Lionism
Dr. Richard Ng
provided historical context for the Lions Club International, noting it was
started by Melvin Jones, who believed in helping those in need. He explained
that the organization became an international service entity in 1920,
registered in Canada.
Dr. Richard Ng
also referenced Helen Keller's famous quote, "Alone you can do so little. Together,
we can do so much," emphasizing the power of collective action.
Lions Club
Slogan
Dr. Richard Ng
explained that the Lions Club slogan "we serve" originated in 1954
and continues to guide members, reflecting their commitment to serving the
community out of love rather than obligation. He shared his 20 years of
experience as a Lion, acknowledging the personal sacrifices involved, and
stressed the importance of serving with sincerity and without high expectations
for gratitude.
Lions Club
Membership Demographics and Expansion
Dr. Richard Ng
noted that the average age of Lions Club members is 67, highlighting the need
to recruit younger individuals and more female participants to lower this
average. He mentioned the establishment of LEO clubs for those over 12 years
old as part of the effort to bring in younger members.
Lions Club
International Foundation (LCIF) and Melvin Jones Fellow (MJF)
Dr. Richard Ng
explained that the Lions Club International Foundation (LCIF) was established
to raise funds for global service projects, such as disaster relief and grants
for community projects. He detailed the Melvin Jones Fellow (MJF) recognition
for those who contribute $1,000 USD to LCIF, emphasizing that contributions can
be accumulated over time.
Lions Club in
Malaysia
Dr. Richard Ng
informed the attendees that the first Lions Club in Malaysia was formed in
Kuala Lumpur on February 18, 1959, known as the Lions Club of Kuala Lumpor
host. He explained that the "host" designation indicates the first
club established in a particular state or region.
Lions Club
International Milestones and Growth
Dr. Richard Ng
stated that in 1973, Lions Club International reached 1 million members, and
their current target is 1.5 million members by June 30, 2027. He also mentioned
the abandonment of women's clubs in 2022 since launched in 1987 to promote
gender equality within the organization.
Core Projects
and Initiatives
Dr. Richard Ng
outlined eight core projects that Lions Clubs focus on, including childhood
cancer awareness, diabetes prevention, disaster relief, environmental
protection, humanitarian aid, hunger relief, vision care, and youth
development. He emphasized that humanitarian projects are broad and can include
diverse activities like community gardening.
Peace Poster
Contest and Partnerships
Dr. Richard Ng
highlighted the Peace Poster Contest, started in 1988, as a way to cultivate
peace among young people, citing the first winner from Lebanon. He also noted
LCIF's partnership with the Carter Center in 1999 to combat river blindness in
Africa and Latin America.
Membership
Criteria and Engagement
Dr. Richard Ng
clarified that anyone with compassion and enthusiasm can join the Lions Club,
regardless of their professional status or financial background, as long as
they do not have a criminal record or are not bankrupt. He stressed the
importance of engaging members and appreciating their contributions to ensure
retention, noting that lack of appreciation can lead to members leaving.
Lions Club
Organizational Structure and Values
Dr. Richard Ng
explained the acronym L.I.O.N.S. as "Liberty, Intelligence, Our Nation's
Safety," which guides the organization's mission to foster understanding,
promote good governance, and encourage civic engagement. He clarified the
distinction between "Lions International" and "Lions Clubs
International" and the symbolic meaning of the Lions Club logo.
Code of Ethics
Dr. Richard Ng
reviewed the Lions Club's Code of Ethics, emphasizing the importance of
integrity, loyalty, and service without personal financial reward. Wendy Kan
and Pat Wong helped read sections of the code, which underscored values such as
industriousness, earning a good reputation, and avoiding unfair advantage.
Lion's Code of
Ethics Dr. Richard Ng emphasized the importance of adhering to the Lion's Code
of Ethics, highlighting that members must prioritize friendship, community
obligation, and empathy. They also stressed the importance of constructive
criticism and liberal praise, suggesting that criticism should be private while
praise should be public.
Lions Club
Structure and Member Importance
Dr. Richard Ng
detailed the organizational structure of the Lions Club, including members,
clubs, zones, regions, districts, multiple districts, and international levels.
They underscored that members are the most crucial asset, as without them, a
club cannot thrive or function effectively.
Membership
Types and Financials
Dr. Richard Ng
clarified that most attendees are active members, though other types like
associate and honorary members exist for significant contributors. They also
mentioned that district dues are now $50 USD and that local clubs have autonomy
over their membership fees, as long as international and district dues are
paid.
District and
International Leadership
Dr. Richard Ng
identified District 308 B2 as encompassing Kedah, Perak, Selangor, and Cameron
Highlands, and highlighted key leaders such as immediate past district governor
Lion Don Hoe and current district governor Tan Say Cheong. He also introduced
the international president, AP Singh, and three international vice presidents:
Mark Leon, Dr. Manosha, and Tony Benhow.
Mission 1.5 and
Global Initiatives
Dr. Richard Ng
discussed Mission 1.5, which aims to achieve 1.5 million members by June 30,
2027, encouraging clubs to recruit at least two new members for positive
growth. They also outlined the eight global causes and emphasized specific
projects like mental health awareness (October 4-12), hunger relief (January
3-11), and environment projects (April 18-26), urging clubs to engage in
preventive actions.
Community
Projects and Aid
Dr. Richard Ng
showcased various projects undertaken by Lions Clubs, including hunger relief,
environmental initiatives, vision testing, health checks, and childhood cancer
support. He shared a particularly touching example of supporting children with
cancer and their families at a center, noting the emotional impact of such
work.
Youth
Development and Disaster Relief
Dr. Richard Ng
highlighted a youth development project where their club donated paint to a
school, helping to cheer up students and encourage attendance. They also
discussed a joint disaster relief project appealing for non-cash contributions
like drinking water and hygiene kits, specifying ideal item sizes for efficient
distribution.
Training and
Recognition
Dr. Richard Ng
concluded the session by announcing that Loyal Academy sponsored the Google
Meet and certificates for the training, emphasizing the academy's slogan:
"We always begin with your expectation and end with your
achievement".