Our predecessors built a strong image of quality that has grown to be appreciated worldwide. Certainly we are happy and proud to be Lions, but we must be aware that Lions Clubs International is currently in a paradoxical situation. Our services have never been so well known, and our image never so appreciated, but at the same time we must recognize that we have lost some of our attractiveness, especially for the younger and most active men and women of our communities. We are experiencing some difficulties in our membership. Even if our losses are small relative to our worldwide membership, we know that in some areas they are more significant.
Members are our lifeblood, the singular strength of our clubs.
A loss of membership is a very serious occurrence, because it represents a loss of effectiveness. It is obvious that the more we are, the more we can do. We no longer live in the same type of society that we had previously. We are experiencing a weakening of the old values on which our social life depended and our contemporaries are seeking new values. These changes demand appropriate responses, responses that take into account current circumstances and employ modern approaches to answer crucial needs.