Lions MD 39 E Home District Governor Newsletter Directory Goals & Mission Statement Vice District Governor Clubs Links Calendar Message Boards History Orientation Guestbook ORIENTATION TO LIONISM Who are the Lions?      The Lions are the 1,405,294 men and women members of 44,787 clubs in 741 districts, in 185 countries and geographical areas worldwide who are dedicated to serving those in need, whether in their own community or half-way around the world. TOP OF PAGE          ORIENTATION HOME PAGE How did Lionism begin?      It all started with an idea of a man named Melvin Jones who belonged to a social business club who yearned to do more for the local community. Melvin Jones, an Insurance Agent and member of the Business Circle of Chicago had an idea that "Business clubs should expand their horizons from purely professional matters to the betterment of their communities and the world! ". He brought this idea to his business club, the Business Circle of Chicago. The Business Circle of Chicago liked and approved his idea and asked Melvin Jones to explore the possibilities with other like-minded business clubs throughout the United States.      Melvin Jones was very convincing to other like-minded social business groups. A group of 12 men met at a Chicago hotel on June 7, 1917 and voted into existence the "Association of Lions Clubs".      Above is the founding members of the “Association of Lions Clubs” around the famed lion in front of the Chicago Art Institute. The creation of Lions Clubs spread like wildfire across the United States. At the first national convention in Dallas, Texas in October 1917 there were 22 clubs in 9 states. From the convention, Dr. William P. Woods of Indiana became the first Lions Club President with Melvin Jones as his secretary.      From the beginning, the Lions Club has prided itself on its selfless service to their local and national communities and also on one of its main code of beliefs for Lionism is in that "No Club shall hold out the financial betterment of its members as its objective."      In 1925, at Cedar Point, Ohio, Helen Keller gave a speech to the Lions Club International Convention. She concluded her speech with the following: "The opportunity I bring to you, Lions, is this: To foster and sponsor the work of the American Foundation for the Blind. Will you not help me hasten the day when there shall be no preventable blindness; no little deaf blind child untaught; no blind man or woman unaided? I appeal to you Lions, you who have your sight, your hearing, you who are strong and brave and kind. Will you not constitute yourselves Knights of the Blind in this crusade against darkness?"      The Lions Club took Helen Keller's challenge and started sight and hearing conservation as one of its main service goals and objectives. Today, the Lions Club does this through many activities such as sight and hearing screenings, eyeglass recycling, diabetes and glaucoma awareness and screenings, providing guide dogs for the blind through the Leader Dogs program and many more activities. TOP OF PAGE          ORIENTATION HOME PAGE History of Lions in Idaho      About 1920, District 28 was formed to include Lions clubs in Utah and Oregon. In 1923, the first Lions Club in Idaho was chartered at Malad City, and made part of District 28. By 1933, ten Lions clubs were organized and active in Idaho - all part of District 28. At the 1933 Convention, the Idaho clubs were made a Sub-District of District 28, known as District 28-I.      By 1940, Idaho had 23 active Lions Clubs in District 28-I. At the District 28 Convention held in May, 1940, a resolution was approved giving the Idaho clubs their own District. A Lions Club in Nyssa, Oregon, asked to be part of the new Idaho District. The International Board of Directors approved the creation of an Idaho-Eastern Oregon District 39.      By 1946, due to rapid growth of clubs and members in District 39, it was apparent the District needed to be divided. With approval of the International Board of Directors, District 39 became Multiple District 39 and Sub- District 39-E and Sub-District 39-W were established, effective July 1, 1946. By fall 1997, District 39-E became a “Transitional District” because membership in the District had fallen below the required 1,250 members. TOP OF PAGE          ORIENTATION HOME PAGE