For more than 20 years, Lions have celebrated their historical relationship with the United Nations (UN) with the annual Lions Day with the UN event held at UN headquarters in New York City.

The 29th Annual Lions Day with the UN program will be held on Friday, March 9, 2007. Attendance is limited to the first 750 paid registrants. Lions, Lionesses, Leos, and their guests can attend. 

For a Lions Day with the UN 2007 registration form, click here.

Highlights of the day include:

• presentations by UN speakers;
• a guest appearance by the Secretary-General of the UN (invited);
• awards ceremony for the grand prize winner of the Lions International Peace Poster Contest;
• a special luncheon with UN ambassadors;
• an optional tour of the UN building.

To read the Lions Day with the UN 2006 article as it appeared in THE LION Magazine (headquarters edition), click here.

Contact Lion John Charles at: john.charles@fsmail.net for information about Lions Day with the UN events in:

• Powis Hall at Bangor University, Wales, Sunday, March 11 
• Houses of Parliament, London, Tuesday, March 13  
• Scottish Parliament, Edinburgh, Wednesday, March 21
• Ireland.

To view Lions Peace Posters that have become UN postage stamps, click here.

To learn about the Lions/UNICEF School-in-a-Box banner patch award, click here.

History

The relationship between Lions Clubs International and the UN began after the end of World War II.

In San Francisco, California, USA, on October 24, 1945 (forever known as UN Day), U.S. President Harry Truman joined Britain's Prime Minister Winston Churchill and other world leaders in signing the UN charter.

In the same year, Lions founder Melvin Jones and Past International Presidents Fred W. Smith and D.A. Skeen were asked to help develop the non-governmental organization (NGO) charter for the new global organization. At the time, Lions Clubs International was already an established worldwide service organization.

During the ensuing years, the two organizations have cooperated on many humanitarian ventures. Lions have provided aid and manpower for UNICEF (United Nations Children's Fund), WHO (World Health Organization), and UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) projects.

From the beginning, the relationship between Lions Clubs International and the UN has been limited to humanitarian endeavors. In keeping with its stated Objects, Lions Clubs International has no involvement in the political or security affairs of the UN.

E-mail for more information about this program.

Slideshows:

• Photo tour
• Historic Highlights