The Lions Club of Sydney Chinese Inc. has recently become a proud winner of the 2005-6 Year-Round Membership Growth Program of Lions Clubs International.  Amongst 45,000 clubs worldwide, Sydney Chinese has the honour of becoming one of the 21 clubs which receives this distinction.  The Club has added the greatest number of new members and exhibits positive net growth during the 2005-6 Lions Year.

All the Lions clubs the world over are grouped under seven constitutional areas.  Sydney Chinese Lions belongs to onstitutional area VII which includes all the clubs in Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Indonesia and the Islands of the South Pacific Ocean.  In each constitutional area, there are 3 clubs categories for the Year-Round Membership Growth award -
- Clubs with 21 or fewer members
- Clubs with 22 to 40 members
- Clubs with 41 or more members

In the 2005-6 Lions Year, Sydney Chinese has become the Top Club in the Clubs category with 41 or more members.  A Lions Club International Flag Set was recently delivered to the Club as a token of the award and all its members are thrilled. 

In his Congratulatory Message to the Club, Immediate Past International President Ashok Mehta writes, "Please accept the enclosed Lions Clubs International Flag Set with my hearty congratulations!  Your club was the top club of its size in your constitutional area for the 2005-2006 Year-Round Growth program.  This is a high honor, as only 21 clubs worldwide receive this distinction each year...Your club's dedication to inviting new members is commendable...you have made the commitment to the "Passion to Excel"initiative for you local and world communities.  I hope this honor will motivate your club to continue its extraordinary efforts...Best wishes as you continue making a difference in the lives of others."

After receiving the flag set, the Board Members of the Club met and patted each other on the back.  They even held a memorable ceremony in which all those present took part in placing the 200 flags onto the base of the flag set.  President Dr. Anthony Cheung was amongst those who couldn't hide their excitement, "This is for the third year running that I have the privilege of serving as President.  Throughout, all our members are mindful of membership growth and retention.  We are fully aware of the strength in numbers.  The more members we have, the more resources and support that we'll have to carry out our ideals in serving those who are in need.  The Board strives to run a good club for our members while our members strive to support our Club.  This award is a fitting encouragement for our efforts and from here on we'll certainly endeavour to go from strength to strength in our humanitarian work."

More details of Sydney Chinese Lions are available on their website www.sydchineselions.org.au .