HISTORIAN'S CORNER

MARIETTA NOON LIONS CLUB

The International Association of Lions Clubs began in the mind of Melvin Jones, a Chicago insurance man, who wondered why local business clubs, of which he was a member of one, could not expand their horizons from purely business concerns to the betterment of their communities and even the world.  Jones' organization, the Business Circle of Chicago, authorized him to explore his concept with other similar organizations in the United States.  Through his efforts, 12 men met in Chicago on June 17, 1917.  They voted to form the Association of Lions Clubs and called for a national convention in Dallas, Texas in October of that year.

Thirty-six delegates representing twenty-two clubs from nine states approved the Lions Club designation.  They elected Dr. William P. Woods, from Indiana, as their first president and founder.  Melvin Jones was named acting secretary.  Jones was active in Lionism until his death in 1981.  A constitution and by-laws were adopted, the official colors of purple and gold were approved and work begun on the objectives and a code of ethics for this new, enthusiastic and dynamic organization. 

 Soon clubs were being formed throughout the U.S. And the association became “international” when a Lions Club was established in Windsor, Ontario, Canada in 1920.  Other clubs were later formed in China, Mexico and Cuba.  By 1927 there were 1,183 Clubs with membership totalling approximately 60,000.  A club was later formed in Panama in 1935 and in 1948 clubs were chartered in Sweden, Switzerland and France.  The first club in Japan was established in 1952.

The International Association of Lions Clubs, or Lions International, is the largest service organization in the world with about 1.3 million members in more than 44,914 clubs in 757 districts covering 200 countries and geographic areas.

The Marietta Noon Lions Club was founded in 1924 and now has 105 members. The charter members were:

R. C. Britton
Geroge S. Chapin
J. Frank Coffman
Herman Cooper
E. J. Decker
L. G. Detrick
Martin M. Henry
Dr. Edgar Hill, Sr.
Gilbert E. Lauer
Dr. T. C. McCurdy
Verner E. Metcalf
G. F. Morgenstern
L. B. Ogle
Philip L. Rea
C. F. Remley
W. F. Schwall
N. M. Scott
F. C. Sells
H. W. Spung
M. Sylte
W. E. Wainwright
Charles P. Weaver
Dr. J. F. Weber
A. W. Windom

The emblem of Lions International consists of a gold letter “L” on a circular field of purple.  The edge of this purple field is surrounded by a gold edge with a lion in profile on each side facing away from the center.  The word “Lions” appears at the top and “International” at the bottom.  Symbolically, the lions face both the past and the future. 

The Lions' Motto is:  “WE SERVE”
The Lions' Slogan is:  Liberty, Intelligence, Our Nation's Safety

Lions are noted for their work in sight conservation.  Lions International took up sight conservation as their major goal after a speech given by Helen Keller at their convention in Cedar Point, Ohio in 1925.  At that convention Helen Keller challenged the Lions to become “Knights of the Blind”, a challenge that has been pursued ever since.  Lions sponsor free eye screening programs using mobile eye clinic and eye surgey camps where cataract surgeries are performed at no charge to those who can't afford this type of care.  In India alone, over 300,000 cataract surgeries have been performed.  Lions have raised over $148,600,000 all over the world to help cure or prevent 40,000,000 cases of blindness.

In addition to helping with the above, The Marietta Noon Lions Club is most noted for it big yellow food trailer seen at many local events such as the Bob Annasenz Track and Field Invitational, Father's Day Car Show, Riverfront Roar, Sternwheel Festival, and the Washington County Fair.   The Marietta Noon Lions Club raises approximately $22,000 through its many fundraisers, and a very large part of the funds raised go back into our very own community through donations and sight saving efforts.