Back in 1917, Melvin Jones was a Chicago insurance agent and a member of a local business group, The Business Circle of Chicago. As secretary of this organization he implored the other members of the group to think outside their own interests and work to improve their local commmunities. They invited members from other mens' groups to a meeting in Chicago to discuss forming a
larger group. In October of that year, a convention was held and they took on the name one of the visiting groups, the Association of Lions' clubs.
In 1920, The group Became Lions Clubs International after a club was formed in Canada, and another in Mexico in 1927. In 1925, Helen Keller was invited to speak at the International Convention in Cepar Point, Ohio. At that convention she gave a speech that was to change the focus of the Lions' forever.
"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 accepted her challenge and our work ever since has included sight programs aimed at preventable blindness.
This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.
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