OUR BEGINNING

Lions have been helping people since 1917. That year, Melvin Jones, a Chicago businessman, encouraged his club, the Chicago Business Circle, to go beyond promoting good business practices. He convinced the members that selfless service to others would create a better community – and a better world – for all.

Melvin Jones also saw that a network of clubs working together could do much more than individual clubs acting alone. He invited similar groups from around the United States to a meeting on June 7, 1917 in Chicago, Illinois, USA. There, the new group assumed the name of one of the invited clubs and the Association of Lions Clubs was born. Later that year, a convention was held in Dallas, Texas, USA to formally adopt a constitution, by-laws and a code of ethics. The fledgling group became the International Association of Lions Clubs just three years later when a new Lions club was formed in Windsor, Ontario, Canada.

In the nearly 100 years since its founding, the association – usually called Lions Clubs International – has spread to all corners of the globe. You will find Lions clubs in Rome, Italy and Rome, New York, USA.There are Lions in Beijing and Brussels, in Tokyo and Tanzania. In all these places and many more Lions are welcomed and respected for their vision, integrity and dedication to our official motto: “We Serve.”