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$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.
