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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
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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, 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 association 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 convention
in Cedar Point, Ohio, USA. 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 International helped the United Nations form
the Non-Governmental Organizations sections in 1945
and continues to hold consultative status with the
U.N.
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most aggressive sight preservation 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. |
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Lions Clubs International
has grown to include 1.4 million men and women in
44,600 clubs located in 190 countries and geographic
areas.
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