History of Lions Club International

“You can’t get very far in life if you don’t start doing something for someone else first.”

The Lions Club International

It was at the end of the First World War, in 1917, that Melvin Jones (1879-1961), a Chicago businessman, brought together the members of 27 American business clubs in order to respond to the economic and social problems that cross the country and come to the aid of vulnerable people. This event marks the beginning of the Lions movement! In the 1920s, establishing itself in Canada and Mexico, the association of Lions clubs became international. In 1948, the first European clubs were created, first in Sweden and Switzerland, then in France. Melvin Jones is involved in the Universal Human Rights Drafting and is in Paris for his signature. More and more volunteers around the world are joining Lions with a shared desire to serve and promote a humanistic vision. A century after the birth of Lions, the will is intact, and the commitment to the service of others, ever greater. Lions Clubs International today unites 1.4 million men and women in 47,000 clubs across 200 countries. Lions Clubs International is today the largest Service Club in the world. It is recognized as an NGO by major international institutions (UN, UNESCO, UNICEF, WHO and Council of Europe), where it has an advisory seat in these institutions. The Motto “WE SERVE” Of American origin, our motto is translated as: “We Serve.” Motto, philosophy, inspiration, lifestyle, what better way to explain the mission of Lions? This motto was chosen in 1953 from over 6,000 proposals. Fruit of thought and ethics and not of an ideology, Lionism is a force of proposals and leads in all the Clubs to activities of service, adapted to the real needs of the company.

What are Lions Clubs?

Lions Clubs International is the world’s largest service association. Present in more than 200 countries, Lions Clubs International has 1,350,000 members, women and men, active in 45,000 Clubs.

Its motto is “we serve”.

It constitutes a recognized force of international solidarity and is represented in major international organizations: Council of Europe, WHO, UN, UNESCO, UNICEF.

Among the goals of Lions clubs is the development of friendship between people.

The aim of the program is to provide young people around the world “with prospects for development and contribution, individually and collectively, as responsible members of the local, national and international community.” Hence the acronym “Leadership, Experience, Opportunity” translates the commitment to the club, allowing members to take responsibility, live experiences and create opportunities.

The Lions Club International has six international Youth Programs. In Chicago, the Lions Club International has youth programs in seven countries – Spain, India, Mexico, South Africa, Philippines, Uganda and Thailand. In addition, Lions Club International also provides opportunities for people who are interested in expanding their networks through the club’s international volunteer programs.

The following Lions Clubs participate in this action:

▪ LC Basel St. Alban (CH)

▪ LC Solothurn-Leimental (CH)

▪ LC Basel-Wenkenhof (CH)

▪ LC Basel (CH)

▪ LC Basel Spalen

▪ LC Lörrach (D)

▪ LC Müllheim-Neuenburg (D)

▪ LC Bad Säckingen

▪ LC Schliengen im Markgräflerland (D)

▪ LC Weil am Rhein (D)

▪ LC Altkirch-Sundgau (F)

▪ LC Mulhouse Europe (F)

▪ LC Saint-Louis (F)

The Lions Clubs of the Region guarantee that all donations will go to benefit their goal.

History of Good Deeds

The History of Lions Club has helped many blind persons find jobs and provided assistance to those with disabilities to help them get back to work and earn a living. They have helped train hundreds of thousands of poor visually impaired workers, who till date continue to use manual labour to earn a livelihood. In their effort to be a non-judgmental and equal-opportunity organization, Lions Club International, Inc. always strives to maintain a policy of fairness and equal employment opportunity irrespective of age, race, gender, religion or political opinion. The club does not discriminate in any way and welcomes both men and women who are born blind or visually impaired.

The Lions Club later became a membership club for handicapped, aged, or retired persons in all fifty states of the United States. Today, as an international club, the Lions Club proudly serves the vision needs of its members and future retirees. Over the years, the Lions Club has changed its name many times, been through three owner changes and faced many difficulties. Still, they always remained an American organization dedicated to serving handicapped individuals.

Conclusion

Lions Club International is an international non-profit organization dedicated to improving people’s lives in over 200 countries. Established in 1917, Lions Club International is a non-profit agency providing a platform for people to express themselves, promote their ideas and participate in the development of other people’s lives. It strives to build a world where one does not depend on others for love, money or power. It strives to build a world where each individual has the freedom to choose what they want to do with their life and has the strength and knowledge to implement that choice.