HISTORY OF LIONS CLUBS 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' own group, the Business Circle of Chicago, agreed. After contacting similar groups around the country, an organizational meeting was held on June 7, 1917 at the LaSalle Hotel in Chicago.  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 official objects adopted in those early years was one that read, "No club shall hold out the financial betterment of the members as its object".  This call for unselfish service to others remains one of the association's main tenets.
• Just three years after the 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 1950's and 60's.
• Perhaps the single event having the greatest impact on the association's service commitment occurred in 1925 when Helen Keller addressed the Lions at their International Convention in Cedar Point, Ohio, USA. It was there that 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.
• In 1990, Lions launched its most agressive sight preservation effort to date, SightFirst.  The US$143.5 million program strives to rid the world of preventable and reversible blindness by closing the gap between  existing health care services and those that remain desperately needed.
• Broadening its role in international understanding, Lions Clubs International helped the United Nations form the Non-Governmental Organizations sections in 1945 and continues to hold consultative status today.  Each year, during The Lions Day With the United Nations ceremonies, an award is presented to the grand prize winner of the Lions International Peace Poster Contest.
• 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, provided disaster relief around the world.
• Lions Clubs International has grown to include nearly 1.4 million men and women in approximately 45,000 clubs located in 200 countries and geographic areas.

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                LIONS CODE OF ETHICS

  1. 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.
  2. TO SEEK SUCCESS and to demand all fair remuneration or profit of my just due, but to accept no profit or success at the price of my own self respect lost because of unfair advantage taken out because of questionable acts on my part.
  3. 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.
  4. WHENEVER A DOUBT ARISES as to the right of ethics of my position or action towards my fellow men, to resolve such doubt against myself.
  5. TO HOLD FRIENDSHIP as an end and 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.
  6. ALWAYS TO BEAR IN MIND my obligations as a citizen to my nation, my start and my community, and to give them my unswerving loyalty in word, act and deed.  To give them freely of my time, labor and means.
  7. TO AID my fellow men by giving my sympathy to those in distress, my aid to the weak, and my substance to the needy.
  8. TO BE CAREFUL with my criticism and liberal with my praise, to build up and not destroy.

   

  DESCRIPTION OF VARIOUS LION CHARITIES

    CLARA BARTON (non Lion) - Camp for families and girls with diabetes in North Oxford, MA.  Summer camp (2-week sessions @ $1200) plus various weekends throughout the year for parents, grandparents, siblings, friends.  Donations are used towards camperships to help each girl attend.  Separate donations accepted for operating expenses/special construction projects.  Always need help for spring and fall cleanups plus various construction  projects.  Field Day for Lions in July - all are welcome.  Contact Shelley Yeager Doucette at 508-987-2057.

    NEADS (non Lion) - National Educational Assistant Dog Services - Training center in Princeton, MA for assistant dogs for hearing and physically challenged purposes.  Donations are used for the running/construction of the facilities and dog training.  Always looking for puppy training.  A new program sponsored by NEADS is Canines for Combat Veterans.

    LCIF - Lions Club International Fund - Donations support international projects for natural disaster, blindness, clinics, etc.  In 1997-98, Massachusetts received a grant for Clara Barton Diabetes Center and NEADS.  Previous grant was for our Sightmobile.  A donation of $1,000 over a maximum 5-year period will purchase a Melvin Jones Award to recognize a Lion or someone in the community for humanitarian and service activities.  Highest award for individual in Lions International.

    SIGHT AND HEARING FUND (District 33-A) - District Fund to assist clubs and district with funds to sponsor eye and hearing related needs that are beyond a club's ability to support.  Typically for computers, hearing aids, special operations, school equipment, equipment for Worcester Free Eye Clinic.  A donation of $500 will purchase a Joseph J. Camarda Award to recognize a Lion or someone in the community for service activities.  Also, sell tickets to Pawtucket Red Sox for an additional fundraiser.

    SIGHTMOBILE (District 33-A) - District Fund to support the operation of our Sightmobile. Sightmobile can be scheduled for city/town wide screening or school screening.  Necessary equipment is in the Sightmobile.  Also, a device to take pictures of the eye and get results from the Joslin Clinic to determine if someone has diabetes/eye disorder or has the likelihood of diabetes is available.  Run a driver's clinic once a year.

    MASSACHUSETTS LIONS EYE RESEARCH (Multiple District 33) - Fund to support various eye research facilities in Boston and UMass, Worcester.  Other fundraising activities include memorials, trusts and Journey for Sight activities (swim-a-thon, walk-a-thon).

  LAZARUS FUND - A Massachusetts Lions Program to promote the need for organ donation.  Each year, the Lions of Massachusetts raise funds for the sole purpose of providing organ donor information to the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles by providing organ donor cards.

• DESCRIPTIVE VIDEO (Non-Lion) - Fund to assist making videos and television programs for the sight impaired.  Special narration describes the actions and the scenes.  Videos can be purchased.  Movie theaters show these customized movies at special events.

  FIDELCO (Non Lion) - Seeing eye dog center in Connecticut.  Donations are used for the running/construction of the facilities and dog training.  Always looking for puppy trainers.

  VOSH (Non-Lion) - Volunteer Optometry Students at New England School of Optometry who go to Third World countries to give eye exams and distribute glasses that have been donated.

  SPEECH CONTEST (Multiple District 33) - Speech contest for high school students.  Contest includes various levels: high school, zone, region, district and multiple (state).  A different topic is selected for the students to base their speech on.

  PEACE POSTER CONTEST (Lions Clubs International) - Poster drawing contest for middle school students (ages 10-13).  Contest includes various levels: school, club, district, multiple (state) and international.  A theme is selected each year. 

  MASSACHUSETTS ALL-STATE BAND (Multiple District 33) - Program to recognize band students.  Selected high school students attend a training camp for 3 days in May culminating with a Friday night and Saturday concert at the Lions State Convention.  Occasionally, have played at the International Lions Convention.

   

  LIONS MISSION STATEMENT

  To create and foster a spirit of understanding among all people for humanitarian needs by providing voluntary services through community involvement and international cooperation.

   

       LIONS CLUBS OBJECTIVES

  • To create and foster a spirit of understanding among the people 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.

   

  *** If you are interested in becoming a Lion and would like further information, please check out the Lions Clubs International website at http://www.lionsclubs.org