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Lion's Clubs began as a dream of a Chicago Business Insurance salesman, Melvin Jones in 1917. Jones felt that business men's clubs should be working toward the betterment of their communities.
He persuaded 12 of his friends in business to meet on June 17th, 1917 and the Association of Lions Clubs was formed.
The first national convention was held in Dallas, Texas at the Adolphus Hotel, October 8th, 9th, & 10th, 1917. In attendance were representatives from 22 clubs from 9 states.
In 1920 the Association became International when it spread to Windsor, Ontario. Later to China, Mexico and Cuba truly becoming International.
1927, 6000 members in 1183 clubs
1935 Panama 1936 Columbia 1947 Australia
1948 Sweden, Switzerland and France
1952 to Japan
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In 1925, a blind lady named Helen Keller, challenged Lions to become "Knights of The Blind". This challenge has become the rallying point for Lions projects around the world.
In 1987 Women were invited to become Lions. Recently it was estimated that there were 40 million cases if curable, preventable blindness around the world. This was expected to increase by 80 million by the end of the decade if there was not some intervention. |
LIONS INTERNATIONAL PRESIDENT . 2004-2005 CLEMENT F. KUSIAK, LINTHICUM MARYLAND UNITED STATES International Statistics:
As CURRENT UPDATE, FROM LIONS INTERNATIONAL.
MEMBERS: 1,410,523
CLUBS: 46.000 COUNTRIES:193 DISTRICTS: 740
( INTERESTING FACT. LIONS INTERNATIONAL IS REPRESENTED IN MORE COUNTRIES IN THE WORLD THAN EVEN THE UNITED NATIONS MAKING THIS TRULY THE WORLDS LARGEST SERVICE ORGANIZATION. ) ANOTHER INTERESTING FACT LIONS INTERNATIONAL IS THE ONLY SERVICE ORGANIZATION IN THE WORLD WHO IS WORKING OUT OF THE (REPUBLIC OF CHINA) . LIONS INTERNATIONAL IS NOW WORKING OUT OF THE ( VADICAN CITY ) ALSO |
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We the Lions through Campaign Sight First set out to raise 140 Million Dollars to help eradicate curable preventable blindness.
THANKS TO THE WORK OF OUR FOUNDING FATHER, TODAY LIONS INTERNATIONAL IS THE WORLD'S LARGEST SERVICE ORGANIZATION, AND HAVE MET THE NEEDS OF THOSE IN TIMES OF TROUBLE, SUCH AS 911, SEPTEMBER 11, 2001, LIONS WERE THERE. LIONS HAVE WORKED PROJECTS WITH PEOPLE SUCH AS FORMER PRESIDENT JIMMY CARTER. |
IN MEMORY OF OUR FOUNDING FATHER OF LIONS INTERNATIONAL: MELVIN JONES, 1879 - 1961, BORN FORT THOMAS, ARIZONA. THE GUIDING LIGHT OF ALL LIONS. HIS FAVORITE QUOTATION: YOU CAN'T GET VERY FAR UNTIL YOU START DOING SOMETHING FOR SOMEONE ELSE! |
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THE MELVIN JONES FELLOWSHIP
CREATED IN 1975, THE MELVIN JONES FELLOWSHIP IS RECOGNITION OF A COMMITMENT TO HUMANITARIAN WORK.
THE FELLOWSHIP IS AN HONOR GIVEN TO INDIVIDUALS WHO CONTRIBUTE THE EQUIVALENT OF .00 US TO LCIF, AND PERSONS FOR WHOM SUCH DONATIONS ARE MADE BY OTHERS. THE FELLOWSHIP IS THE FOUNDATIONS HIGHEST HONOR AND REPRESENTS HUMANITARIAN QUALITIES SUCH AS GENEROSITY, COMPASSION AND CONCERN FOR THE LESS FORTUNATE. WE ARE VERY PROUD AND HONORED TO HAVE A MEMBER IN OUR OWN CLUB, ST. GEORGE-FUNDY BAY LIONS, WHO HAS RECEIVED THIS HONOR, LION CAROL A. LEAVITT. |
IN MEMORY OF HELEN KELLER, BORN IN TUSCUMBIA, ALABAMA, 1881 - 1968. SHE WAS RECONIZED AS AMERICA'S FIRST LADY OF COURAGE. ONE OF HER FAVORITE QUOTATIONS: SELF PITY IS OUR WORST ENEMY, AND IF WE YEILD TO IT, WE CAN NEVER DO ANYTHING GOOD IN THE WORLD! |
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