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07/24/2007: "07/16/2007: "Lion's Club International Historical Report #2""

The first Convention:

On June 19th, 1917, Melvin Jones wrote a letter to J.T. Coleman, Secretary of the Ardmore Oklahoma, Lions Club......

The first Convention:

On June 19th, 1917, Melvin Jones wrote a letter to J.T. Coleman, Secretary of the Ardmore Oklahoma, Lions Club. Jones said: “Dr. W.P. Woods, your International President, has extended to our organization an invitation to accept a charter and the name of the Lions Club. We have about decided to do so….., Before making a final decision, we would like you to tell us about your organization in Ardmore. How many members have you? How often do you meet and any other information you care to write to help in our decision….”

After a response from J.T. Coleman, Melvin Jones and the Chicago Business Club accepted membership in the Lions Club and got its charter on August 2nd, 1917.

On October 8th,9th & 10th, of 1917, the Lions Club held its first Convention in Dallas, Texas. 22 Lions Clubs were represented at that Dallas Convention. 6 Lions Clubs did not attend. Today, there are still 23 Founder Clubs of Lions. Dr. Woods was chosen as President and Melvin Jones was elected Secretary-Treasurer.

At this 1st convention the Group took several actions:

• They voted to open membership to women. This was rescinded the next year.

• They chose purple (for Loyalty and integrity) and gold (for sincerity, liberality, purity, and generosity) as the Lions’ colors.

• They authorized Melvin Jones to open a headquarters in Chicago.

• They voted to support the war effort and the Liberty Loan.

• They drafted the Lions Objective and the Code of Ethics. These objectives have never changed, even though there have been several attempts to amend them.

• They voted on a motion, 24 to 6, to keep the name Lions.

• They voted to retain the Lions’ emblem. It was later written, “Our name was not selected at random….., the lion has been the symbol of all that was good, and because of the symbolism that name was chosen. Four outstanding qualities – Courage, Strength, Activity and Fidelity- had largely to do with the adoption of the name. Activity and Fidelity have a deep and peculiar significance for all Lions. The Lion symbol has been a symbol of Fidelity through the ages and among all nations, ancient and modern. It stands for loyalty to a friend, loyalty to a principle, loyalty to a duty, loyalty to a trust.”



At the end of the convention the Association had $72.05 in the bank. However, Dr. Woods had spent $446.80 for which he had not been reimbursed. To most Lions, this is a familiar pattern.