LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION commending District Governor D. George Allen and
Partner in Service Delva upon the occasion of their designation for
special recognition by Lions Club International District 20-K1 on June
7, 2015

WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to recognize that the
quality and character of life in the communities across New York State
are reflective of the concerned and dedicated efforts of those organiza-
tions and individuals who would devote themselves to the welfare of the
community and its citizenry; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-
standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to commend
District Governor D. George Allen and Partner in Service Delva upon the
occasion of their designation for special recognition by Lions Club
international District 20-K1, to be celebrated on Sunday, June 7, 2015,
at Russo's On The Bay, Howard Beach, New York; and
WHEREAS, Lions Club International is one of the largest service organ-
izations in the World, comprised of 1.35 million members throughout
45,000 clubs in 206 countries and geographic areas; the inherent mission
of this vital organization is to empower volunteers to serve their
communities, meet humanitarian needs, encourage peace and promote inter-
national understanding; and
WHEREAS, Founded in 1917, and best known for its goal of eradicating
blindness, Lions Club International members are also integrally involved
in projects geared to preserving the environment, feeding the hungry,
and aiding those in need throughout its communities; and
WHEREAS, As part of its focus on sight saving or restoring projects,
Lions Club International helps conduct vision screenings and distribute
much needed medicines; in addition, they collect and recycle old eye
glasses for reuse, and raise awareness of disease prevention and treat-
ment, and help equip medical facilities with the tools they need to
promote visual health; and
WHEREAS, Lions are recognized worldwide for their service to the blind
and visually-impaired; this service began when Helen Keller challenged
the Lions to become her "knights of the blind in the crusade against
darkness" during the Lions' 1925 International Convention; and
WHEREAS, The Lions Club International District 20-K1 have been instru-
mental in enabling the Lions Eye Bank to fulfill its central mission of
providing safe, high quality tissue for transplantation; this vital
organization was established in 1986, as a not-for-profit organization
dedicated to fighting corneal blindness; and
WHEREAS, As part of the North Shore-LIJ Health System, the Lions Eye
Bank coordinates all of the activities necessary to recover, process,
medically screen, and distribute donated eye tissue for transplantation,
research, education, and the advancement of medical technique; and
WHEREAS, To date, the Lions Eye Bank has provided over 13,000 corneas
for sight restoring or sight preserving transplants both on Long Island
and in the entire New York City metropolitan area, as well as individ-
uals living in areas throughout the globe; and
WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that when organiza-
tions and individuals of such noble aims and accomplishments are brought
to our attention, they should be celebrated and recognized by all the
citizens of this great Empire State; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commend District Governor D. George Allen and Partner in Service Delva
upon the occasion of their designation for special recognition by Lions
Club International District 20-K1; and be it further

RESOLVED, That copies of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Lions Club International District 20-K1 D. George Allen,
Governor, and its Partner in Service, Delva.