LEO CLUBS ORIGINATION AND THE PRESENT

                       Back in 1957, Graver was the coach of the Abington High school, Pennsylvania, USA, basketball team. Graver was also an active member of the Glenside, Pennsylvania, Lions Club. With fellow Lion, William Ernest, Graver talked about starting a service Club for high School boys. "The kiwanians had their key Clubs and the Rotarians had their wheel club (since changed to interact clubs)," Ernest is quoted as saying in October 7, 1976 newspaper article in "The evening Bulletin".

                          So they asked their fellow Lions for support. Without hesitation, the Glenside Lions agreed that a Lions youth group idea. Graver and Ernest set a work. "We needed a nucleus, a group of kids to start with," stated Ernest. "So we got Jim's son to come to the first meeting with his whole baseball team." Nine sophomore, juniors and seniors boys joined the group of 26 baseball players. Together, the 35 teens formed a club. On December 5, 1957, the Glenside Lions presented a charter to the Abington High school Leo Club. As the world's first Leo club, the group created the Leo acronym-leadership, Equality, opportunity (Equality was later changed to Experience.)And, the group chose maroon and gold-their school colors-to serve as the Leo club colors.

                           The Abington Leos were a singular entity until 1963. In that year, a Leo club was formed at the Tamaqua Area High School in Pennsylvania. Shortly thereafter, a former Philadelphia Lion formed a Leo club in New York. By 1964, there were 27 Leo clubs in Pennsylvania and one in New York.

                                The circle of junior service clubs was expanding. In October 1967, the board of directors of Lions Clubs International adopted the Leo Club Program as an official program of the association. Open to males and females, the objective of the Leo Club Program was (and still is):

                                "…to provide the youth of the world (with) an opportunity for development and contribution, individually and collectively, as responsible members of the local, national and international community."

                                In 1968, newly formed Leo clubs began sending their requests for club certification to International Headquarters. On October 17, 1969, forms requesting certification for the Abington High School Leo Club reached headquarter. On the date, the world's original Leo club was formally recognized as a part of the international Leo Program. Leo John Hebert of Calderwood, Pennsylvania, served as president of the Abington High School Leo Club.

                                Today, the Leo Club Program is Stronger than ever. Community service remains the cornerstone of the program. Like their Lion counterparts, Leo club members enjoy serving their neighbors and watching positive results unfold.

                                Leo clubs are sponsored by Lions Clubs only. It is their Youth Project and they have the official right to sponsor or cancel a Leo club. They also have the responsibility of paying the dues of their Leo club and involving them in any social activity such that they are future of Lions.

                                In Nepal, the Lions Club namely Lions Club of Biratnagar was established in the year 1971 whereas the first Leo Club was sponsored in 1971 and named as the Leo Club of Kathmandu, sponsored by the Lion Club of Kathmandu. However this Club does not exist today!

                                Nepal has been divided into four Lionstic areas as District 325 A1, District 325A2, District 325 B1 and District 325 B2. It is governed by a Multiple District 325.

                                The Governor is the head of a District and Multiple Council Chairperson of the Multiple District.

                                Until June 2013, District 325 B2 has around 35 Leo Clubs with Leo District President Sandeep Kasaudhan at the helm of affairs, while Leo Dibesh Amataya for 325 A1 Leo Suraj Kumar Shrestha for District 325 A2, and Leo Prem Kumar Shrestha for District 325 B1.

                                The first President of District President 325 B2, Leo Rajedra Shrestha and Leo Kailash Shrestha is the Multiple District President and is responsible for Governing the entire Leos under Multiple District 325. Today's there are around 800 Leos in our district, all active boys and girls following the international motto "WE SERVE". And we continue to serve the less marginalized with out any conditions, today, tomorrow and forever !!