Not Above You, Not Beneath You, But With You!
““Not above you, not beneath you, but with you!”
Lions Toast
We say these words, together, at the beginning of each meeting. These words are the essence of what it means to be a Lion. It succinctly condenses our Code of Ethics (highlighted in the sidebar below) into 9 simple words. It is what makes Lions Clubs a great organization world-wide. Lions encourage others, building upon the best each has to offer.
This is not to say that everything will go perfectly and our efforts will never go awry. On the contrary, like any good family, we’ll argue, we’ll disagree, and we’ll make mistakes. We are all human. We each have our own way of attacking a problem. We strive to do our best and to do the “right” thing.
In the past two weeks, I found myself mulling over decisions I made months ago, working to put right for what went wrong. One such decision concerned an auction item. It seemed a remedy for the item was found, but that was not the case. Despite my best efforts, the donor was not happy with the auction results. After talking with fellow Lions, I reached out to the donor, apologized for what transpired and believe we found an agreeable resolution.
In another situation, I dropped the ball with the Easton Garden Club. Last summer the Garden Club planted over $1,000 in flowers and shrubs at the Yardley Wood Rink. To reconcile my error, I thanked them in my Auction opening remarks and offered to have a Garden Club sign at the Rink to recognize them throughout the coming summer. I also thank the champion Lion who kindly pointed me in the right direction.
As President, I appreciate all the valuable insights you’ve all shared. I’ve been humbled by the value of taking a step back. As Lions, we listen, we reflect, we learn. And at the end of the day we come together and get the job done! Hopefully making our communities a better place for all.
Cheers,
Matthew Cioffi
Lions Clubs Code of Ethics
To Show my faith in the worthiness of my vocation by industrious application to the end that I may merit a reputation for quality of service.
To Seek success and to demand all fair remuneration or profit as my just due, but to accept no profit or success at the price of my own self-respect lost because of unfair advantage taken or because of questionable acts on my part.
To Remember that in building up my business it is not necessary to tear down another’s; to be loyal to my clients or customers and true to myself.
Whenever a doubt arises as to the right or ethics of my position or action towards others, to resolve such doubt against myself.
To Hold friendship as an end and not a means. To hold that true friendship exists not on account of the service performed by one to another, but that true friendship demands nothing but accepts service in the spirit in which it is given.
Always to bear in mind my obligations as a citizen to my nation, my state, and my community, and to give them my unswerving loyalty in word, act, and deed. To give them freely of my time, labor and means.
To Aid others by giving my sympathy to those in distress, my aid to the weak, and my substance to the needy.
To Be Careful with my criticism and liberal with my praise; to build up and not destroy.
