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Lions Clubs International &
Multiple District 37 History
How It Began
In order to understand any nation,
cause, or movement we need to know the history that has
motivated it or that has driven it to greatness.
Our history, a proud one, had its beginnings in a remote
army post in the Southwest United States. That army post
was Fort Thomas constructed in the middle 1800s in what
was then called the Indian Territory and what later
became the State of Arizona.
At that Fort on January 13, 1879, a boy was born to
Lydia Jones and her husband Captain Calvin Jones. They
named their son Melvin and it is very unlikely they had
any idea that one day their son would form a
humanitarian organization that would help change the
world.
Melvin Jones had an uneventful childhood. After a number
of moves his family settled in Quincy, Illinois where he
attended university.
In the early 1900s Melvin moved to Chicago where he
entered the insurance business and enjoyed considerable
success. In 1909 he married Rose Amanda, a professional
golfer. By 1913 he was the sole owner of the Melvin
Jones Insurance Agency.
About that time he was invited by a business aquaintance
to have lunch with “some of the boys”. The “boys” were
members of the Business Circle of Chicago. Many such
luncheon clubs existed in the country. Most served as an
avenue through which members got to know one another and
for doing business with each other. These clubs didn’t
perform any community service. Their purpose, plain and
simple, was to help their businesses succeed and make
the owners more financially secure.
Melvin Jones
Founder of "The Association Of Lions Clubs"
Melvin quickly rose through the ranks to
become the Business Circle of Chicago’s Secretary in
1916. Although he enjoyed the fellowship of the club
members and the benefits to his business he began to
think that these two hundred members with their combined
talents should direct those talents and energies to
improving their communities. He believed that a new
concept - one of community service without expectation
of personal financial reward - had national promise. He
discussed the matter with the leaders of the Business
Circle and received their endorsement and encouragement
to explore the concept with similar organizations in
various parts of the United States.
On June 17, 1917 twenty delegates from nine different
organizations met at the Lasalle Hotel in Chicago.
Although the interests of the various clubs were diverse
a consensus was reached to form a national association.
What was the name to be? Melvin’s favorite was “Lions”
with an image of a noble beast with the qualities of
courage, strength, fidelity and vital action. A secret
vote was taken and the name “The Association of Lions
Clubs” was selected. Lionism was born! One club, the
Optimists, did not agree with the name and declined to
join the other clubs in this new association.
This newly formed “The Association of Lions Clubs”
decided that a national convention would be held October
8, 9 & 10, 1917 in Dallas, Texas.
Lionism is born
June
17, 1917 in Chicago, Illinois U.S.A.
This first convention attracted
thirty-six delegates from twenty-two clubs in nine
states. The delegates approved the name, selected Dr.
William P. Woods as the first President and acclaimed
Melvin Jones as Secretary Treasurer. At this first
convention the Constitution and Bylaws were also
adopted. The Objects (now Purposes) and the Code of
Ethics, which both remain almost as originally written,
were drafted.
A recommendation was accepted that a club meeting should
last no more than one hour and fifteen minutes and that
each meeting was to begin and end on time! Other
recommendations included emphasizing and publicizing
club service plus the creation of a national magazine.
Active membership was to consist of one member from each
business or profession and monthly dues were to take
care of club administration costs. The delegates agreed
to open membership to women as well as men. The head of
a lion was selected as the emblem, purple and gold were
adopted as Lions colors, and authorization was given to
open a headquarters in Chicago. At this Convention
President Woods reported that the Association had $72.05
in the bank. However, he had spent $444.80 of his own
money for which he had not been reimbursed!
During the remainder of 1917 and into the following year
Lions clubs concentrated on service projects in support
of World War I causes. The number of clubs continued to
grow.
We Become
“The
International Association of Lions Clubs”
|
Year |
Numb
of
Members |
Nations |
|
1920 |
6,451 |
2 |
|
1930 |
79,414 |
4 |
|
1940 |
120,251 |
8 |
|
1950 |
402,841 |
28 |
|
1960 |
613,376 |
91 |
|
1970 |
906,579 |
126 |
|
1980 |
1,288,398 |
146 |
|
1990 |
1,368,991 |
166 |
|
2008
|
1,301,550 |
202 |
The table shown on the lower
left illustrates that growth. |
On October 19-21, 1918 the
Convention was held in St. Louis, Missouri and
had seventy-nine delegates from twenty-four
cities in attendance. In 1918 there was still
some debate over the name “Lions”. It was at
this convention that a young Lion named Halsted
Ritter
put an end to that debate when
he said said... “Lions not only spells the king
of beasts but its combination of letters stands
for the true meaning of citizenship...Liberty,
Intelligence...Our Nation’s Safety”.
At this 1918 Convention an amendment to the
Constitution was passed eliminating women from
membership. Also, Melvin Jones reported a bank
balance of $488.20, and membership dues were
raised 100% from $1 per member to $2 per member.
The first issue of “The Lion” appeared in
November of 1918.
In 1920 Lions became international with the
forming of the Border City Lions of Ontario
later re-named the Windsor Lions. Lions clubs
were soon formed in Toronto and Hamilton,
Ontario, Canada and our membership continued to
grow. |
At the
1920 Convention Melvin Jones was elected
Secretary-Treasurer and named editor of “The
Lion”. At this Convention the delegates
established a home office in Chicago, limited
the size of a town in which a Lions club could
be organized, and increased the number of board
members from three to nine. The powers of the
board were broadened and an executive committee
of five members was given authority to act on
behalf of the board between its scheduled
meetings. Financial problems had disappeared and
the Association was growing.
In 1920 a club (whose members were all wives of
Lions) called the Lioness Club of Quincy,
Illinois was
LIONS...“Liberty, Intelligence, Our Nation’s
Safety”
adopted as our slogan
formed. This was the beginning of the Lioness
movement whose members have for years provided
humanitarian services in all parts of the world.
At the 1925 Convention held in Cedar
Point, Ohio, Helen Keller challenged the Lions
to become “Knights of the Blind”. She and her
teacher/friend Annie Sullivan-Macy were made
Honorary Lions at that convention and to this
day Lions clubs throughout the world are known
for their work with blind or sight impaired
persons.
By 1938 memberhip had passed 100,000
and statistics showed that Lions Clubs
International was on its way to becoming the
world’s largest service organization. By the
time of the Association’s 30th anniversary in
1947 we had reached that milestone. We were
growing by leaps and bounds!
It soon became obvious to
the International Board that a larger
administrative space was needed. In 1951 a
six-floor building in downtown Chicago was
purchased. In 1971 our headquarters was moved to
where it is today...Oak Brook, Illinois.
Those two little words became the Association’s
official motto at the International Convention
in 1954.
WE
SERVE More than 6000 suggestions
had been submitted. The winning motto was
created by Lion D.A. Stevenson of Font Hill,
Ontario, Canada.
On June 1, 1961 Melvin Jones died at the age of
82 years. We had lost a man who for the better
part of his life had dedicated that life in
service to people in need. His memory lives on
through the Melvin Jones Fellowship. The money
raised from the purchase of Melvin Jones
Fellowships goes to support the Lions Clubs
International Foundation. LCIF, as it is more
commonly known, provides humanitarian aid,
vocational assistance, and disaster relief
around the world.
Through the sixties and seventies Lionism
continued to grow. We expanded our service
programs stretching the capabilities of all
members and clubs to provide service to their
local communities and to the world. In 1966, the
20,000th Lions club was organized.
In 1967, our Golden Anniversary, Lionism had
expanded to over 800,000 members and LEO clubs
were officially adopted as an activity of Lions.
In 1986 an amendment to the LCI Constitution
passed and opened the door for females to be
invited to become Lions.
In the 21st Century Lions have challenges to
meet in order to grow.
Lions
will meet those challenges! |
Past, Present and Future
In 1917 at the first annual Convention
of the Association it was decided to establish areas of
leadership. The United States was divided into nine
districts. Although Montana had no Lions clubs in 1917
it was placed in District 3. This districting remained
in place until 1921. Over the next four years Lions
clubs expanded into areas that had no districts. At the
1921 Convention the United States was re-numbered into
Districts one to seventeen. Illinois, the birthplace of
Lions, was named District 1. This 1921 Convention also
determined that as future districts were formed, whether
from new territory or from areas separated from growing
districts, they were to be given the lowest numbers
remaining unassigned.
Between 1921 and 1926 Lionism grew rapidly in Montana.
At the 1926 International Convention it was recommended
that Montana be separated from Wyoming and be designated
as the 37th District of Lions International. In 1929
Lionism rode across the border into Alberta and on
January 30, 1929 the Calgary Lions Club was formed
followed by the Edmonton Lions Club on June 14, 1929.
In 1930 Julius Wuerther was elected to the International
Board of Directors, the first Director from District 37.
During his first year on the Board he recommended that
Alberta become a permanent part of District 37 and his
recommendation was accepted by the Board. On July 1,
1931, at the annual District 37 Convention, Alberta was
added to Montana and became part of District 37.
As more clubs were chartered it became difficult for one
District Governor to cover all of District 37. The
delegates at the 1942 District 37 Convention decided to
elect two District Governors. This was the beginning of
Multiple District 37.
In 1946, three District Governors were elected and the
Districts were named Districts A, B, and C. In 1948 a
further division was approved and Multiple District 37
was divided into Districts A, B, C, and D.
In 1959 we redistricted into Districts A, B, C, D, and
E. Lionism was now expanding into the
Northwest Territories and Northeastern British Columbia
and, as a result of that growth, at the 1965 MD 37
Convention the subject of redistricting came up.
District F was added to be effective at the close of
Lions year 1966-67.
By 1976 Multiple District 37 had eight districts due to
the addition of Districts G and H.
In 1987-88 MD 37 was redistricted into Districts A, B,
C, D, E, F and G.
In 2004-2005 MD 37 redistricted once again into
Districts L, I, O, N, and S.
“Lionism in Multiple District 37
has a proud and distinquished history. The coming years
will see yet more contributions to the betterment of
communities, areas, and the world through the dedicated
efforts of its members.”
Past International President Judge Brian Stevenson
Each District has a District Governor
who serves in that position for one year. District
Governors, aided by the Vice District Governors and
other members of the Districts’ Cabinets administer the
affairs of the District during the year.
The MD 37 District Governors, MD 37 Council Chairperson,
and MD 37 Finance Chairperson are the voting members of
the Multiple District 37 Council of Governors. The MD 37
Secretary Treasurer, retained as an independent
contractor, is a non-voting member of the Council. Past
Council Chairperson John Witherspoon of Lethbridge,
Alberta currently holds that position.
The Multiple District 37 Council of Governors’ meetings
are held four times each Lions year in various locales
throughout the MD.
Multiple District 37 holds an annual Convention in the
month of May. This Convention is held in order to
conduct the official business of the Multiple District.
That business may include voting on changes to the MD 37
Constitution and/or Bylaws, inducting nominees into the
MD 37 Hall of Fame, and endorsing Lions to serve above
the Multiple District level as Lions Clubs International
Directors. These are only a few of the events that take
place Visiting with Lions friends from all parts of
Multiple District 37
and other places is an integral part of the
Convention.
Multiple District 37 is one part of The International
Association of Lions Clubs or, as it is more commonly
referred, Lions Clubs International.
Multiple District 37 has a long and
proud history of offering our most talented members to
serve internationally. Since 1930 a number of Lions
from MD 37 have served on the International Board of
Directors. One of our most dedicated Lions, Judge Brian
Stevenson of Calgary, served as Lions Clubs
International President in 1987-88.
All Lions, Lioness, and Leos in Multiple District 37
have served and
continue to
serve our Association with distinction and to show their
pride in Multiple
District 37.
Who we are, why we are needed and what we believe...
Until we, the members of Lions Clubs
International, know something of our history and the
work performed and dedication given by those who came
before us, we can never truly appreciate our
organization.
When Melvin Jones envisioned an association of clubs to
provide service to the community it is quite likely he
was thinking towards the future. Visionaries see things
as they might be not as they are. Visionaries with a
social conscience are invaluable assets to the world
community. It’s entirely possible Melvin Jones was that
kind of individual. He started something every Lion must
ensure never dies. Melvin Jones was eulogized at the
44th International Convention in 1961. The President at
that time, Finis Davis said: “Once in every generation
or era a man appears and in his fleeting hour on the
stage leaves an indelible imprint on the lives of his
fellow men and upon generations to come. Such a man was
Melvin Jones. All over the world he is the symbol of
man’s concern for his fellow man, the guiding spirit of
a great movement of human welfare, the eternal
inspiration for men of good will who find unselfish
rewards in human service.”
Men of good will who find unselfish rewards in human
service...what a marvelous description of the members of
the family of Lionism!
Each member of our Lionism family is a vital part of
what we proudly say is the world’s largest service
organization...Lions Clubs International. We all must
endeavor to uphold that honored status.
We are asked to live our Lions Code of Ethics, our
Purposes and our “We Serve” motto. There will always be
a need for the many services provided by our Lions
family not only in Multiple District 37 but throughout
the world.
In spite of our strong initiatives to eradicate
preventable and curable blindness there are still blind
persons in this world who need our assistance.
There will always be a need for us to provide assistance
to people with other challenges who, with our help,
might have more comfortable and productive lives. There
continues to be a need for Lions Quest in our schools to
give guidance to our youth. We need to increase our
financial support to our Lions Clubs International
Foundation so that the Foundation can continue to
provide world-wide humanitarian aid, vocational
assistance, and disaster relief where it is most needed.
Support from members of the Lions family will be needed
for years to come.
We must Serve.
“I pledge allegiance to my
country and to the cause of peace throughout the world.
I believe in the principles of Lionism as contained in
the Lions Code of Ethics. I am proud to be a Lion
dedicated to the service of others.”
The Lions Pledge
Lion Clubs International
Purposes
To organize, charter and
supervise service clubs to be known as Lions clubs
To coordinate the activities and standardize the
administration of Lions clubs
To create and foster a spirit of
understanding among the peoples 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
Lions Code of Ethics
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
To seek success and to demand all fair
remuneration or profit as my just due, but to accept no
profit or success at the price of my own self respect
lost because of unfair advantage taken or because of
questionable acts on my part
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
Whenever a doubt arises as to the right or ethics
of my position or action towards others to resolve such
doubt against myself
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
Always to bear in mind my obligations as a
citizen to my nation, my state 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
To aid others by giving my sympathy to those in
distress, my aid to the weak, and my substance to the
needy
To be careful with my criticism and liberal with
my praise; to build up and not destroy
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