Lions Clubs International...A 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 several groups around the United States, an organizational meeting was held on June 7, 1917 in Chicago. 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 October of that year. A constitution, by-laws, objects, and a 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 1960s.

In 1925, Helen Keller addressed the Lions International Convention 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 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 Clubs International launched its most aggressive sight preservation effort, Campaign SightFirst. The US $143.5 million program strives to rid the world of preventable and reversible blindness by supporting despirately-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 the Lions Clubs International Foundation, provides 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 geographical areas.