ABOUT LIONISM
 

Who are Lions? | The Beginning |  Indiana  Connection | Continued Growth | The Emblem | Colors | Mission
Who are Lions?
Lions are volunteer members of clubs who use their free time to help make their communities a better place to live and who reach out to those in need in the country and the world.

Lions belong to the largest service organization in the world, The International Association of Lions Clubs or simply Lions Clubs International.  There are nearly 1,400,000 members belonging to 40,000 Lions Clubs in 192 countries around the world.

The Beginning:
Lionism began in the United States.  Melvin Jones, an independent insurance agent from Chicago, had a vision of a national organization that would help other people in need without regard to politics, religion, or race.  Melvin Jones' own club, the Business Circle of Chicago, and other clubs held a convention in October at Dallas, Texas.  Thirty six delegates from twenty two clubs in nine states were in attendance. 

The Indiana Connection:
Among those clubs invited was the Association of Lions Clubs that was headquartered in Evansville, IN and led by Dr. W. P. Woods.  Several Lions clubs had been organized since 1916.  At the convention in Dallas, Texas the "Lions Clubs" designation was approved.  Dr. Woods was elected as the first president.
 
Continued Growth:
1920 - Became "international" with the formation of a club in Windsor, Ontario, Canada

1927 - Became 60,000 members strong with 1,183 clubs organized

1935 - Formed first Central American club in Panama

1936 - Formed first South American club in Columbia

1948 - Formed clubs in Sweden and France

1952 - Formed clubs in Japan

1989 - Formed clubs in Hungry, Poland, and Estonia of the "Eastern Bloc"

1990 - Chartered a club in Moscow

The Emblem:
Gold letter "L" on a circular blue or purple field. Bordered by a circular gold area with two Lions profiles facing away from the center.  "Lions" appears at the top and "International" appears at the bottom. 

Lions who face the past and the future.  Lions who are proud of the past and embrace the future.

The Colors - Purple and Gold
Purple - for loyalty to friends and country, for integrity of mind and heart

Gold - for sincerity of purpose, liberality in judgment, purity in life, generosity in mind, heart, and purse to those in need

Mission Statement of Lions Clubs International:
"To create and foster a spirit of understanding among all people for humanitarian needs by providing voluntary services through community involvement and international cooperation."

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