Melvin Jones

Founder of Lions Clubs International

Melvin Jones was born on January 13, 1879 in Fort Thomas, Arizona, the son of a United States Army captain who commanded a troop of scouts. Later, his father was transferred and the family moved east. As a young man, Melvin Jones made his home in Chicago, Illinois, became associated with an insurance firm and in 1913 formed his own agency.

He soon joined the Business Circle, a businessmen's luncheon group, and was shortly elected secretary. This group was one of many at that time devoted solely to promoting the financial interests of their membership. Because of their limited appeal, they were destined to disappear. Melvin Jones, then a 38-year-old Chicago business leader, had other plans.

"What if these men," Melvin Jones asked, "who are successful because of their drive, intelligence and ambition, were to put their talents to work improving their communities?" Thus, at his invitation, delegates from men's clubs met in Chicago to lay the groundwork for such an organization and on June 7, 1917, Lions Clubs International was born.

Melvin Jones eventually abandoned his insurance agency to devote himself full time to Lions at International Headquarters in Chicago. It was under his dynamic leadership that Lions clubs earned the prestige necessary to attract civic-minded members.

The association's founder was also recognized as a leader by those outside the association. One of his greatest honors was in 1945 when he represented Lions Clubs International as a consultant in San Francisco, California, at the organization of the United Nations.

Melvin Jones, the man whose personal code – "You can't get very far until you start doing something for somebody else" – became a guiding principle for public-spirited people the world over, died June 1, 1961 at 82 years of age.

Lions Clubs International Purposes

• TO ORGANIZE, charter and supervise service clubs to be known as Lions clubs.
• TO COORDINATE the activities and standardize the administration of Lions clubs.
• TO CREATE and foster a spirit of understanding among the peoples of the world.
• TO PROMOTE the principles of good government and good citizenship.
• TO TAKE an active interest in the civic, cultural, social and moral welfare of the community.
• TO UNITE the clubs in the bonds of friendship, good fellowship and mutual understanding.
• TO PROVIDE a forum for the open discussion of all matters of public interest; provided, however, that partisan politics and sectarian religion shall not be debated by club members.
• TO ENCOURAGE service-minded people to serve their community without personal financial reward, and to encourage efficiency and promote high ethical standards in commerce, industry, professions, public works and private endeavors

Lions Clubs International Code of Ethics

• TO SHOW my faith in the worthiness of my vocation by industrious application to the end that I may merit a reputation for quality of service.
• TO SEEK success and to demand all fair remuneration or profit as my just due, but to accept no profit or success at the price of my own self-respect lost because of unfair advantage taken or because of questionable acts on my part.
• TO REMEMBER that in building up my business it is not necessary to tear down another’s; to be loyal to my clients or customers and true to myself.
• WHENEVER a doubt arises as to the right or ethics of my position or action towards others, to resolve such doubt against myself.
• TO HOLD friendship as an end not a means. To hold that true friendship exists not on account of the service performed by one to another, but that true friendship demands nothing but accepts service in the spirit in which it is given.
• ALWAYS to bear in mind my obligations as a citizen to my nation, my state and my community, and to give them unswerving loyalty in word, act and deed. To give them freely of my time, labor, and means.
• TO AID others by giving my sympathy to those in distress, my aid to the weak, and my substance to
• the needy.
• TO BE CAREFUL with my criticism and liberal with my praise; to build up and not to destroy.