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The
International Association of Lions Clubs
began as the dream of Chicago businessman
Melvin Jones. He believed that local
business clubs should expand their horizons
from purely professional concerns to the
betterment of their communities and the
world at large.
Jones' group,
the Business Circle of Chicago, agreed.
After contacting similar groups around the
United States, an organizational meeting was
held on June 7, 1917 in Chicago, Illinois,
USA. The new group took the name of one of
the invited groups, the "Association of
Lions Clubs," and a national convention was
held in Dallas, Texas, USA in October of
that year. A constitution, by-laws, objects
and code of ethics were approved.
Among the
objects adopted in those early years was one
that read, "No club shall hold out the
financial betterment of its members as its
object." This call for unselfish service to
others remains one of the association's main
tenets.
Just three years
after its formation, the association became
international when the first club in Canada
was established in 1920. Major international
expansion continued as clubs were
established, particularly throughout Europe,
Asia and Africa during the 1950s and '60s.
In 1925, Helen
Keller addressed the Lions international
convention in Cedar Point, Ohio, USA. She
challenged Lions to become "knights of the
blind in the crusade against darkness." From
this time, Lions clubs have been actively
involved in service to the blind and
visually impaired.
Broadening its
international role, Lions Clubs
International helped the United Nations form
the Non-Governmental Organizations sections
in 1945 and continues to hold consultative
status with the U.N.
In 1990, Lions
launched its most aggressive sight
preservation effort, SightFirst. The
US$143.5 million program strives to rid the
world of preventable and reversible
blindness by supporting desperately needed
health care services.
In addition to
sight programs, Lions Clubs International is
committed to providing services for youth.
Lions clubs also work to improve the
environment, build homes for the disabled,
support diabetes education, conduct hearing
programs and, through their foundation,
provide disaster relief around the world.
Lions Clubs
International has grown to include 1.3
million men and women in 45,000 clubs
located in 202 countries and geographic
areas.
सहारनपुर में
लॉयंस क्लब इंटरनेशनल के चार क्लब
सक्रिय हैं जो लॉयंस क्लब
District 321 C1 के घटक हैं। इनके
नाम निम्न प्रकार से हैं -
Lions Club
Saharanpur
Lions Club
Saharanpur Central
Lions Club
Saharanpur Greater
Lions Club Saharanpur Mayur
Lions Club Saharanpur Mayur is one of the most
energetic clubs in Saharanpur - engaged in a lot of activities for
the betterment of its members and the general public. |
