RESILIENCE AND RENEWAL: The Story of Lions International and the Crisis of COVID-19

Resilience and Renewal features stories of service and how Lions International navigated a global crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The impact of the pandemic challenged organizational activity at every level, forcing Lions to cancel meetings, service projects, training seminars, and fundraising activities. Long-range planning was interrupted, with travel ceasing and members struggling to adjust.

Robert S. Littlefield, Ph.D., who has been actively involved in Lions International for over forty years, interviewed more than fifty of the association’s leaders in writing this book.

He reveals how they responded to the crisis with collective decision-making, frequent communication with internal and external stakeholders, and a willingness to be creative and adaptive to innovative problem-solving strategies.

Their collective response and willingness to embrace social media and technology bridged the gap between the organization and its global membership. Perhaps most important, as an association, Lions International reaffirmed the value of remaining true to its mission of service to those in need.

The lessons learned by this global service organization will inspire anyone who views community service as a noble endeavor and offer a blueprint for how organizations can overcome crises.

Robert S. Littlefield, Ph.D., is a professor of communication at the University of Central Florida in Orlando and was the founding director of the Nicholson School of Communication and Media at UCF. An expert in risk and crisis communication, he has authored or co-authored several books and over 100 scholarly publications and papers. His service as a Fargo Lion in North Dakota began in 1984, and he has held leadership positions at the club, district, multiple district, and international levels. As a Lions Ambassador of Good Will, he is a member of the Oviedo Winter Springs Lions Club in Florida.