The History of The Lions Club - Lancaster Historic Lions Club

It starts in 1917, a pivotal year

in history, a time of profound social and political change. World War II was raging throughout most of Europe, and the U.S. entered that war that year. The development of the assembly line and cheap labor led to rapid industrial expansion, which in turn brought many social problems, child labor, crowded, tenement districts, high mortality rates, and rapidly spreading diseases.

Chicago Illinois was a center of transportation, architecture, manufacturing, and commerce. It was a magnet for immigrants seeking work reformers in Chicago, including Jane Adams, the founder of hall. Called for improved social conditions in their communities and the country among those looking for ways to help others was Melvin Jones, a successful insurance man.

He was secretary of the business circle of Chicago. Oh, lunch club established in part to help its members grow their businesses. However, Jones had a different goal in mind. I am finding out. That you do not get very far until you start doing things for others. And I'm beginning to believe that I can help some of the clubs like the circle to have feelings in their hearts.

Jones's words struck a cord with. And the circle game Joan's permission to invite similar groups across the country, to a meeting, to discuss forming a new kind of club. We are now seeking to make our organization international and right to require if you would affiliate with us. And at some future date, we can adopt bylaws and a name that will be suited to all.

June 7th, 1917. The first meeting was held at the hotel LaSalle in Chicago, the Chicago business circle, and several other groups attended Dr. William Woods led a delegation called lions clubs to the meeting. This group had been registered in Indiana since 1916 and had clubs in a number of other states.

Melvin opened the meeting and shared his vision for the new club. The attendees were receptive. Dr. Woods suggested the groups adopt the name wines and pay dues of $1 per member. Semi-annually Melvin and the others seize the opportunity to merge the existing. Into a new, bigger, stronger organization. And the lion was the perfect symbol immediately.

Melvin began a letter writing campaign to attract additional clubs into this new organization. More focused on serving others in August, Melvin and the members of the Chicago business circle formed the lions club of Chicago. Now the Chicago central lions. October 8th, 1917. The first convention of the international association of lions clubs opened in Dallas, Texas in the Adolphus hotel delegates from 22 lions clubs in nine.

Voted to keep the name lions and adopted the logo of a lion holding in its mouth, a club inscribed international. They also approved a principle that has guided lions clubs ever since no club shall hold out as one of its own. The financial gain of its members. Dr. William Woods was elected president.

Melvin Jones was named secretary treasurer and authorized to establish a headquarters in Chicago. At the end of the Dallas convention, the new international association of lions clubs had 800 members and $72 in the bank. November, 1918. The first edition of the lion's club magazine was published. It contained a copy of a lion's code of F.

Which required a lion to aid my fellow man, by giving my sympathy to those in distress, my aid to the weak and my substance to the needy. It also contained news from the clubs about lions projects for improving waterways, medical clinics and public library. Lions. We're also active with many youth projects, including fundraisers for children's hospitals and boy Scouts, having fun while helping others was part of lions from the beginning, a clothing drive for veterans led to an unusual sight of lions for riding down the street of their town.

By 1919, lions had grown to 42 clubs across the. With more than 2300 members. Some of the early clubs had women members, but soon the constitution and bylaws limited membership to men, it would be almost 70 years until 1987 before women were again welcomed as.

In 1920 YNS clubs were established. Many women served alongside family members who were Alliance also in 1920 in Ontario, Canada lions established the border cities lion's club now called the Windsor lion's club. It was then that lions clubs became international.