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HISTORY OF LIONISM
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, 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.
In 1990, Lions launched its most aggressive sight preservation
effort, SightFirst. The US$202 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 1.3 million men
and women in approximately 45,000 clubs located in 202 countries and
geographic areas.
View a multimedia presentation on The History of Lions Clubs
International, learn about the history of the association name and symbol or
visit the Lions Learning Center to view more presentations
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