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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 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.
To view
a multimedia presentation on The History of Lions Clubs International,
learn about the history of the association name and symbol, visit the Lions Learning Center
by clicking HERE.
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