A Brief History of Lions Clubs International
In 1917, Melvin Jones, a 38-year-old Chicago business leader, told members of his local business club they should reach beyond business issues and address the betterment of their communities and the world. Jones' group, the Business Circle of Chicago, agreed.
Then after contacting similar groups around the United States, an organizational meeting was held on June 7, 1917, in Chicago, Illinois, USA. The new group took the name of one of the invited groups, the "Association of Lions Clubs," and a national convention was held in Dallas, Texas, USA in October of that year. A constitution, by-laws, objectives and a code of ethics were approved. And the rest is history.
As we approach our 100th anniversary in 2017, let us look back on our long and proud tradition of service and the numerous achievements of our association and Lions around the world.
Then after contacting similar groups around the United States, an organizational meeting was held on June 7, 1917, in Chicago, Illinois, USA. The new group took the name of one of the invited groups, the "Association of Lions Clubs," and a national convention was held in Dallas, Texas, USA in October of that year. A constitution, by-laws, objectives and a code of ethics were approved. And the rest is history.
As we approach our 100th anniversary in 2017, let us look back on our long and proud tradition of service and the numerous achievements of our association and Lions around the world.
Video: The Founding of Lions Club International
Photo Gallery: The Lions Club International -- A History in Pictures
Timeline: Lions Club International Historical Highlights
As we approach our 100th anniversary in 2017, it's moment to look back on our long and proud tradition of service and the numerous achievements of our association and Lions around the world.
The philanthropic focus of the Lions Club has an interesting
back-story. In 1925, Helen Keller stood before a room full of men at the
Lions Club International Convention in Cedar Point, Ohio, asking them
to imagine what it's like to stumble around in the dark.
In a plea to raise money for the newly formed American Foundation of the Blind, she recounted her own experience with blindness and pleaded with them to join the cause to help more people see the light. "I appeal to you, Lions -- you who have your sight, your hearing, you who are strong and brave and kind -- will you not constitute yourselves Knights of the Blind in my crusade against darkness?" [source: American Foundation of the Blind]. Since that day, fighting blindness has been the primary focus of Lions Clubs International, which at this time still sponsors free eye screening programs through mobile clinics, pays for cataract surgeries for the poor and collects eye glasses for those in need. [Helen Keller Transcript] |
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