The History of the International Association of Lions Clubs

Lions clubs international was founded in 1917 when an independent business circle located in Chicago, headed by Melvin Jones, allied itself with the Association of Lions Clubs. In 1925 Helen Keller challenged Lions to become “Knights of the Blind.” Since that time service to the blind and visually impaired has become one of the association’s most significant activities.

Below is the transcript of Helen Keller's speech. It is, in effect, the mission statement of every Lion's Club.

Lions — Knights of the Blind

The real spark that ignited Lionism occurred at the Ninth Annual Convention held at the Breakers Hotel in Cedar Point, Ohio, with Lion Benjamin F. Jones, First Vice President, presiding.

Miss Helen Keller addressed this convention and this is what she told the Lions in 1925.

Dear Lions and Ladies,

            I suppose you have heard the legend that represents opportunity as a capricious lady, who knocks at every door but once, and if the door isn’t opened quickly, she passes on, never to return. And this is as it should be. Lovely, desirable ladles won’t wait. You have to go out and grab ‘em.

            I am your opportunity. I am knocking at your door. I want to be adopted. The legend doesn’t say what you are to do when several beautiful opportunities present themselves at the same door. I guess you have to choose the one you love best. I hope you will adopt me. I am the youngest here, and what I offer you is full of splendid opportunities for service.

            The American Foundation for the Blind is only four years old, It grew out of the imperative needs of the blind, and was called Into existence by the sightless themselves. It is national and international in scope and in importance. It represents the best and most enlightened thought on our subject that has been reached so far. Its object is to make the lives of the blind more worthwhile everywhere by increasing their economic value and giving them the joy of normal activity.

            Try to imagine how you would feel if you were suddenly stricken blind today. Picture yourself stumbling and groping at noonday as in the night, your work, your Independence gone. In that dark world wouldn’t you be glad if a friend took you by the hand and said, “come with me and I will teach you how to do some of the things you used to do when you could see. That is just the kind of friend the American Foundation is going to be to all the blind in this country if seeing people will give it the support it must have.

            You have heard how through a little work dropped from the fingers of another, a ray of light from another soul touched the darkness of my mind and I found myself, found the world, found God. It is because my teacher learned about me and broke through the dark, silent imprisonment which held me that lam able to work for myself and for others. It is the caring we want more than money. The gift without the sympathy and interest of the giver is empty. If you care, if we can make the people of this great country care, the blind will indeed triumph over blindness.

            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?

I thank you.

The Lions gave Miss Keller a standing ovation and made her the “first lady Lion of the continent.”

Miss Keller responded “l am happy and proud to be a Lion.”  History has been written about Lions since that time.

COURTESY OF GENESEO, ILLINOIS LIONS CLUB

The International Association of Lions, after almost 88 years, is the largest and most active service organization in the world with over 1.4 million members belonging to more than 40,000 clubs in 180 countries. Although our main purpose is sight, some clubs have taken on other projects to help those with hearing and speech impediments.

Our own Auburn Host Lions Club was started in 1927. It represents over 80 years of a proud heritage of community service that currently features such successful fund-raising efforts as the annual Auburn Hosts Golf Tournament at The Ridge Golf Course, tutoring for the Boys and Girls Club, fundraising at the Auburn Air Fair, helping with Special Person's Day, and the annual White Cane day observance.

Our mission is simple and focused: we are a service organization whose top priority is to support programs for the blind and visually impaired and Lions International sight campaigns. Our focus has always remained local as a service organization: 100% of the funds raised go back into our own community

This club meets weekly at noon at the Tahoe Club and sponsors special club events like the Christmas Dinner meeting and the Installation Night dinner.

AUBURN HOST LIONS CLUB
CELEBRATES Eighty YEARS OF  
COMMUNITY SERVICE

 
NOTE...A substantial portion of the foIIowing club history was written in the late 1970”s by J. Richard Couzens, superior court judge of Placer County and past president of Auburn Host Lions.

THE AUBURN HOST LIONS CLUB, under the sponsorship of the Sacramento Lions Club, received its charter from Lions International in the winter of l927. On that evening, amidst the usual hoopla attendant to such occasions, JOHN ROBINSON assumed leadership over the neophyte club of twenty-two members. Fines were immediately levied by the newly installed Tail Twister, BOB DAHLBERG.  One of the speakers of the evening left the following admonition:

You are the fellow who has to decide

Whether you’ll do it or loss it aside;

You are the fellow who makes up your mind

Whether you’ll lead or linger behind.

Whether you’ll try for the goal that’s afar

Or be content to stay where you are.

Take it or leave it. There’s something to do!

Just think it over. It’s all up to YOU.

Early accounts of the formative years reveal no hesitation in either the growth or activities of the club. Very soon the club sponsored Newcastle, Grass Valley and Colfax Lions Clubs. The meetings were held in the “sample room” of the historic Freeman Hotel. Fellow Lion and owner of the hotel, “UNCLE JIM” WALL, gave special attention to the preparation of the luncheon meals… the original cost sixty-five cents.

Taken about 1931 in front of the Freeman Hotel

The depression years fostered a strong program of charitable and community service activities, many of which would survive to the 1970s. In 1930, club president BENSON WHETLEY was both club president and principal of the Auburn Grammar School. Seeing first hand the poverty of many children, the club and BEN personally provided shoes, glasses, and lunches for the need children.

In 1931, the club, in association with the Auburn Journal and Stale Theater, started a Christmas show for grammar school students. These shows would entertain thousands of children over the next forty years. The club sponsored the marking of the lake Tahoe- Auburn Emigrant Trail. The club began the continuing sponsorship of speakers for the Lions Student Speaker Contest. Under the strong leadership of EARL CRABBE, the club began a series of banquets to honor outstanding high school athletes. A speaker at one such banquet was then Governor Earl Warren.

Members were also active in the community…. BOB DAHLBERG was instrumental in the location of DeWitt hospital. WENDELL ROBIE helped establish the Auburn Ski Club and the Western States Trail Ride and JOHN ROBINSON, WENDELL ROBIE and VERN McCANN were among the founders of the venerable organization, E. Clampus Vitas. In the l940’s the club instituted the window painting contest and costume parade at Halloween. The window contest was the second of its kind in the State. In 1948, the club planted a grove of redwood trees on the Foresthill Divide....many of which are still living. Unquestionably, the activity having the most long-term consequence was helping to sponsor Sierra Junior College in Auburn in 1943. The effort was spearheaded by the club’s drive to obtain signatures on a petition of local support and supplemented by individual pressure on appropriate state officials and agencies. All was not so serious, however, as MAX STRASBERG found out. Jewish MAX was nevertheless served ham at almost every meal, regardless of what the club ate.

 The club came under strong leadership in he l950s including active member BOB ROBINSON. Reaching those beyond its membership, the club raised over $5,300 for contribution to the relief of victims of the Yuba City Flood and participated with other service clubs in raising over $120,000 for the Construction of the Auburn Recreation Pool.

The 1960’s produced the “never-a-dull-moment” leadership of such men as PETE Russ’s father) BALDO, and active members DAN HlGGINS and BUD BAKER which was followed through into the 1970s with the addition of the “Rent-A-Santa” project. DAN HIGGINS was elected as the club’s sole District Governor. At the height of this era, the Club’s membership swelled to over 100, and we deepened our involvement in the Youth Exchange Program with visitations from Japan, France and Australia.

Auburn Host Lions 50th, 1977

As the Club entered the eighties and nineties, we became the backbone of the community’s 4th of July Celebration and became known as the barbecue kings of Auburn, working with community activities such as the 4th of July celebration. Tevis Cup Ride, 100 Mile Run, Fiddlers Contest, and the Symphony on the Green. The club participated in and won several awards for our floats, which were entered in several of the Festival of Lights Parades.

In the early 90’s we were visited by Rush Limbaugh, who was then with KFBK in Sacramento and then by a fabulous belly dancer who interrupted our outstanding president, RALPH WILSON’s presentation of a serious accounting program.

 In the late 90’s and into the turn of the century the club’s fundraising focus shifted to an Annual Charity Golf Tournament chaired by the irrepressible PIP STOUTENBURG and a golf committee headed up by president BUD BEADLES and DAYTON KOCH. The event became a keystone for the club and a model for all service organizations in its design and function.

The late 90's also saw the first female Lions in club history. KAY FUKISHIMA, the International Lions Club President, presided over the 75th anniversary of the club at the Ridge Golf Course installation night dinner in 2002. 2002 also was witness to the establishment of the Auburn Host Lions web site.

Auburn Host Lions 75th, 2002. Incoming President Pat McKee and Lion Larry Klink survey the gallery of Past Presidents at the 75th Anniversary Installation Night.

The early part of the new century found the club forging a strong alliance with the Boys & Girls Club of Auburn, many club members serving as tutors to the youth of Auburn, and the club sponsoring fundraisers for the Boys & Girls. The club was awarded the District 4C5 Community Service award two years in a row for their efforts.

In 2004 the club presented its first Dan Higgins Award, a grant in the amount of one-third of the club's charitable fund or $10,000 (whichever was higher), given to an Auburn area non-profit to assist with its long-term goals.

We have a rich past in service to the community, wherever one looks…at the Air Fair, the LPGA, White Cane Day, Barbecue and Blues, and the Black and White Ball to name but a few. Let it serve only as a foundation upon which to build a better future. We will serve Auburn for another 78 years and more.

“Take it or leave it… there’s something to do! Just think it over. It’s all up to YOU”