About Lions

In 1917, Melvin Jones, a Chicago business leader, told members of his local business club they should reach beyond issues and address the betterment of their communities and the world. Jones' group, the Business Circle of Chicago, agreed. Later that year an organizational meeting was held, bringing together similar groups around the United States into The Association of Lions Clubs. It became an international club in 1920 when clubs were formed in Canada. In the 1950’s and 1960’s, Lions International (LCI) membership expanded in Europe and Asia.

Lions may be best known for fighting blindness. Helen Keller, in addressing the 1925 Lions Convention, challenged Lions to be "Knights of the Blind in the crusade against darkness". However, Lions also volunteer for many different kinds of community projects, including supporting and volunteering with programs and services related to diabetes, hearing loss and vision; environmental concerns; feeding the hungry; youth; and aiding seniors and the disabled.

LCI is one of the first organizations to be on site for disaster and terrorism attacks, providing assistance in many ways, often through the efforts of local Lions Clubs. LCI usually stays on the scene in these areas for extended periods to assist residents in regaining normalcy. Lions Club International has been rated the number one non-profit humanitarian organization.

About Minneapolis Ambassadors Lions Club

Minneapolis Ambassadors Lions Club is a University of Minnesota-based Lions Club chartered by Lions International June 30, 2004, under the sponsorship of the Brooklyn Center Lions Club. Guiding Lions for the new club were PDG Frank Loreno and PDG Robert Nemeth. A club charter luncheon was held October 29, 2004 with 29 charter members. 

Today's club has more than 90 members, including current and former faculty and staff of University of Minnesota's Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Neurosciences, and Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, the University of Minnesota Foundation, and friends.  

Minneapolis Ambassadors Lions Club members share the core Lions value -- to serve their community.

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http://www.facebook.com/MinneapolisAmbassadorsLionsClub

Lions Clubs International is the world's largest service club organization with more than 1.4 million members in approximately 46,000 clubs in more than 200 countries and geographical areas around the world.