Lions Clubs International History
The International Association of Lions clubs began as
the dream of Chicago businessman Melvin Jones. He
believed that local business clubs should expand their
horizons from purely professional concerns to the
betterment of their communities and the world at large.
Jones' group, the Business Circle of Chicago, agreed.
After contacting similar groups around the United
States, an organizational meeting was held on June 7,
1917 in Chicago, Illinois. 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 in Oct
of that year. A constitution, by-laws, objects and code of
ethics were approved.
Among the objects adopted in those early years was one that
read, "No club shall hold out the financial betterment of
its members as its object." This call for unselfish service
to others remains one of the association's main tenets.
Just three years after its formation, the assocation became
international when the first club in Canada was established
in 1920. Major international expansion continued as clubs
were established, particularly throughout Europe. Asia and
Africa during the 1950s and '60s.
In 1925, Helen Keller addressed the Lions international con-
vention in Cedar Point, Ohio. She challenged Lions to become
"knights of the blind in the crusade against darkness."
From this time, Lions clubs have been actively involved in
service to the blind and visually impaired.
Broadening its international role, Lions Clubs Internation-
al helped the United Nations form the Non-Governmental
Organizations sections in 1945 and continues to hold con-
sultative status with the U.N.
In 1990, Lions launched its most aggressive sight preserva-
tion effort, SightFirst. The US $143.5 million program
strives to rid the world of preventable and reversible
blindness by supporting desperately needed health care
services.
In addition to sight programs, Lions Clubs international is
committed to providing services for youth. Lions clubs
also work to improve the environment, build homes for the
disabled, support diabetes education, conduct hearing
programs and, through their foundation, provide disaster
relief around the world.
Lions Clubs international has grown to include 1.4 million
men and women in 46,000 clubs located in 193 countries and
geographic areas
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