THE INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF LIONS CLUBS began in June 1917 when 20 delegates from 30 business clubs met at Chicago.  Melvin Jones, the founder of ‘Lions’, thought that local business clubs could expand their horizons from purely business concerns to the betterment of their communities and the world at large.  The consensus favoured the formation of an Association and when the meeting adjourned, Lionism was born. The Objects and Ethics were drafted later in the year and so the first International Service Organisation was set to work.

THE LIONS EMBLEM with it’s famous ‘L’ is now well known and respected throughout the world and the lion’s head on each side represents the past and the future.

THE ASSOCIATION expanded rapidly and the first club to be formed outside North America was in China in 1926, the first club in Europe was in 1948 when a club was formed in Stockholm, Sweden.  The UK’s first club was the London (Host) Club in 1950.  Lions Clubs International is the world’s largest volunteer service club organisation. Figures at 31st October 2009 show that there were 1,327,473 members active in 45,696 Clubs  in 205 countries and geographical areas, all dedicated to selfless effective community service.

IN THE UK since Lions was introduced over 60 years ago the organisation has grown to a membership of nearly 20,000 Lions in almost 1,000 clubs.


        FANTASTIC FACTS . . . . in The British Isles and Ireland

MISSION STATEMENT OF
LIONS CLUBS INTERNATIONAL

“To empower volunteers to Serve their
communities, meet humanitarian needs,
encourage peace and promote international
understanding through Lions Clubs.”