The world's largest service organization Lions Clubs International (LCI) will commence in Nashville February 19th to kick off a tour to determine the most critical needs for volunteers to address in the 21st century. Bob Corlew from Milton, TN will embark on a nine-state endeavor to gain insight from hundreds of volunteers as part of an international assessment focusing on how service should advance into the next century. A retired chancellor for the state of Tennessee, Corlew was just elected first vice president of LCI.

The 26-stop tour gives Vice President Corlew opportunities for face-to-face meetings with community leaders who will discuss the current state of Lions clubs and their direction for future service initiatives. Vice President Corlew will also participate in local service projects, visit Lions eye clinics, charter a new club at a school for the deaf and blind, and much more.

WGNS' Robert Rickman has more on Corlew...

"After 100 years of successful volunteering in communities around the world, Lions Clubs International is undertaking a global service assessment to determine how volunteer organizations can best meet the needs of the 21st century," says LCI First Vice President, Chancellor Bob Corlew, who has been a Lion since 1978 and is heading up this tour with more to follow in other areas of the U.S. "We are grateful to gain this critical insight from volunteers throughout the southern U.S so we can look at how volunteering can meet the needs of the future.

"Founded in Chicago in 1917, Lions Clubs International is the world's largest service club organization with 1.4 million members in more than 200 countries and geographic areas.

The Lions Centennial Bus will visit some of the most impactful Lions service efforts throughout the southern United States from February 19 to 27. During the tour, Corlew will meet with Lions club members and other community leaders in Tennessee, Kentucky, Illinois, Missouri, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina.

This Lions Centennial Bus Tour is also generating excitement for Lions Clubs International's upcoming centennial celebration, which will officially kick off at the association's international convention this June in Fukuoka, Japan and will continue through the following summer when Lions will "come home" to celebrate at the international convention in Chicago.

Often known for their focus on eye health and helping those with visual impairments, over the past decades, Lions have expanded their areas of service to include protecting the environment, mentoring youth, developing anti-bullying curriculum for schools, disaster relief, educating children and adults and feeding the hunger. These services are expected to continue with the service assessment helping to define a specific area(s) of interest where Lions would like to see the association focus as we drive forward into a new century of service. For more information on Lions volunteer efforts, visit www.lionsclubs.org.