Lions Club International
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.
Havana Lions Club - Florida
District 35-F
The Havana
Lions Club celebrated their Charter Night on Thursday, February 28th, 2008
with 40 area residents sworn in as charter members. This new club was
sponsored by the Quincy Lions Club. Installed as charter officers in the
meeting were President Larry Clayton, Vice President Johnny Wilford, Secretary
Barbara Whigham-Eutsay, Treasurer Trish Yahn, Tail Twister Charlene Shuler,
and Lion Tamer Paul Jacobs. The charter board of directors include
Kenneth Jones, Hardie Rogers and Juan Key. The Havana Lions Club meets
at the Havana Community Center on 7th Avenue at 6:30 p.m. the first and third
Mondays of the month.
Click Here to view pictures
from Havana Lions Club Charter Night
Click Here to view pictures
from the Generator Raffle!
