OAK BROOK, Ill., July 5 /PRNewswire/ -- More than 13,000 members of Lions
Clubs International and their families will meet in Detroit, Michigan,
USA/Windsor, Ontario, Canada for the association's 87th Lions Clubs
International Convention from Monday, July 5, through Friday, July 9.
Convention events will be held at Cobo Conference and Exhibition Center and
Joe Louis Arena.
Presiding over the convention and welcoming the Lions will be 2003-2004
International President Tae-Sup Lee of Seoul, Korea, who has spent a year
leading the Lions organization and visiting Lions clubs around the world.
Throughout his term, President Lee has placed special emphasis on recruiting
women members and encouraging Lions clubs to become more innovative.
Highlights of the convention will include:
-- A spectacular Parade of Nations beginning at 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday,
July 6. An estimated 9,000 Lions from 100 countries, many in native
dress, will march down Brush Avenue from Adams to Jefferson Avenue
along with floats and 25 marching bands.
-- A keynote address by Coretta Scott King, widow of Reverend Dr. Martin
Luther King Jr., at approximately 9:15 a.m. on Thursday, July 8, in Joe
Louis Arena. A leading participant in the American Civil Rights
Movement, Coretta Scott King has traveled the world speaking out on
behalf of peace, nonviolence, human rights, the needs of the poor and
the rights of women and children. She has also been active in
developing programs of the Atlanta-based Martin Luther King Jr. Center
for Nonviolent Social Change.
-- Presentation of the 2004 Lions Humanitarian Award to Billy Jang Hwan
Kim of Seoul, Korea, president of the Baptist World Alliance, at
approximately 10 a.m. on Friday, July 9, in Joe Louis Arena. Kim is
being recognized for his work on behalf of human rights and religious
freedom. The award includes a grant of US$200,000 for continuing
humanitarian work.
-- Election of the new Lions Clubs International president Clement F.
Kusiak from Linthicum, Maryland, USA, on Friday, July 9.
Lions Clubs International is the world's largest service club organization
with nearly 1.4 million members in 46,000 clubs in 193 countries and
geographic areas. In addition to its efforts toward conquering blindness, the
organization has made a strong commitment to community service and helping
youth throughout the world. To learn more about Lions Clubs International
visit http://www.lionsclubs.org .
Media Credentials
Access to the above events will be granted to those with an official Lions
Clubs International Convention Media Pass, which can be obtained by contacting
Ellen Mahon at 773-802-2948 or visiting the Public Relations area of the
Headquarters Booth at Cobo Conference and Exhibition Center.
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