The Melvin Jones Story
Melvin Jones was a dreamer, a doer and a pragmatist. He was an energetic, extroverted salesman who in private hours would reread Shakespeare. What better man to found the world’s largest association of service clubs?
The Lions International Board of Directors officially designated Jones as the founder of Lions Clubs in 1958—more than four decades after Lions Clubs held its first meeting. But, no matter what his official title, Jones’ impact on the Lions has been far-reaching. He provided the leadership, the organizational ability, the tenacity and the muscle necessary to establish the foundation for Lions Clubs International to become what it is today.
Jones was born on Jan. 13, 1879, at Fort Thomas, Arizona, a remote U.S. Army cavalry post where his father was a scout for the Army. At age 7, Jones’ family moved east and settled in Illinois. Gifted with a fine tenor voice, he considered making his career in music. Instead, he became an insurance salesman.
By 1913, Jones had formed his own insurance agency in Chicago. When he joined a networking luncheon club for businessmen in Chicago called the Business Circle, he quickly took the lead in recruiting new members and persuading backsliders to rejoin. But something about the club’s business-only focus didn’t square with Jones’ different, larger vision.
"What if these men who are successful because of their drive, intelligence and ambition, were to put their talents to work improving their communities?" Jones asked. He saw a new kind of club with the desire to help others.
As Business Club secretary, Jones, with help from his wife—the championship golfer Rose Amanda Freeman—wrote scores of letters to clubs nationwide inviting them to take up his idea for a service-centered organization. Businessman interested in membership convened in Chicago, Illinois, and on June 7, 1917, Lions Clubs International was born.
Later that year, at Lions’ inaugural convention in Dallas, Texas, Jones was elected secretary-treasurer, a title he would hold for many years. Eventually, the board bestowed upon Jones the title of secretary general for life.
Jones was a prolific writer who could be clear and forceful on some occasions, and sentimental the next. His hand can be seen in founding documents like the Lions Clubs Objects and Code of Ethics. His columns in LION Magazine, which are still quoted today, helped articulate the organization’s principles and values.
He also loved aphorisms. Never one to sugarcoat the truth, Jones had one favorite saying neatly framed in his office: “Truth and roses have thorns about them.”
Jones gave up the insurance business in 1926 to become Lions’ de facto CEO and global goodwill ambassador. He played both roles brilliantly—building and managing an expanding headquarters operation and travelling constantly for club visits and speaking engagements. The pace never stopped.
Code Of Ethics
- To Show my faith in the worthiness of my vocation by industrious application to the end that I may merit a reputation for quality of service.
- To Seek success and to demand all fair remuneration or profit as my just due, but to accept no profit or success at the price of my own self-respect lost because of unfair advantage taken or because of questionable acts on my part.
- To Remember that in building up my business it is not necessary to tear down another's; to be loyal to my clients or customers and true to myself.
- Whenever a doubt arises as to the right or ethics of my position or action towards others, to resolve such doubt against myself.
- To Hold friendship as an end and not a means. To hold that true friendship exists not on account of the service performed by one to another, but that true friendship demands nothing but accepts service in the spirit in which it is given.
- Always to bear in mind my obligations as a citizen to my nation, my state, and my community, and to give them my unswerving loyalty in word, act, and deed. To give them freely of my time, labor and means.
- To Aid others by giving my sympathy to those in distress, my aid to the weak, and my substance to the needy.
- To Be Careful with my criticism and liberal with my praise; to build up and not destroy.
International Objects
TO CREATE and foster a spirit of understanding among the peoples of the world.
TO PROMOTE the principles of good government and good citizenship.
TO TAKE an active interest in the civic, cultural, social and moral welfare of the community.
TO UNITE the Clubs in the bonds of friendship, good fellowship and mutual understanding.
TO PROVIDE a forum for the open discussion of all matters of public interest; provided, however, that partisan politics and sectarian religion shall not be debated by Club members.
TO ENCOURAGE service-minded men and women to serve their community without personal financial reward, and to encourage efficiency and promote high ethical standards in commerce, industry, professions, public works and private endeavors.
Lions International – Vision
Vision statement of Lions Clubs International
“To be the global leader in community and humanitarian service”
Lions International – Mission
Mission statement of Lions Clubs International “To empower volunteers to serve their communities, meet humanitarian needs, encourage peace and promote international understanding through Lions Clubs.”
Purpose
To Organize, charter and supervise service clubs to be known as Lions clubs.
To Coordinate the activities and standardize the administration of Lions clubs.
To Create and foster a spirit of understanding among the peoples of the world.
To Promote the principles of good government and good citizenship.
To Take an active interest in the civic, cultural, social and moral welfare of the community.
To Unite the clubs in the bonds of friendship, good fellowship and mutual understanding.
To Provide a forum for the open discussion of all matters of public interest; provided, however, that partisan politics and sectarian religion shall not be debated by club members.
To Encourage service-minded people to serve their community without personal financial reward, and to encourage efficiency and promote high ethical standards in commerce, industry, professions, public works and private endeavors.
Lions Quest
QUALITY MATTERS
Lions Quest delivers superior K-12 curriculum and teacher training in positive youth development. Programs for youth have the greatest chance of success when combined with comprehensive, program-specific instructor training. To ensure the integrity and quality of our programs, teachers must be certified as Lions Quest instructors before adopting curricula for the school or classroom. Researched and evidence-based, Lions Quest programs and professional development workshops have been given high marks by numerous organizations.
LEADERSHIP COUNTS
Lions Quest has been the global forerunner in positive youth development for more than 20 years. A major service project of Lions Clubs International Foundation, Lions Quest programs have touched the lives of more than 4 million young people around the world.
Best Practices — Comprehensive and culturally relevant K-12 curricula that addresses five key areas: character education, positive prevention, social and emotional learning, life skills and service-learning.
Professional Development — More than 400,000 teachers have been certified-trained worldwide through Lions Quest workshops.
Funding — More than 50 grants for a cumulative total exceeding $8 million have been granted to expand or establish Lions Quest programs worldwide.
Family-School-Community Partnerships—More than 13,000
Lions Club organizations support Lions Quest programs through funding, teacher training, and service projects.
LION QUEST WORKS!
Lions Quest Skills for Growing, Skills for Adolescence, and Skills for Action programs and training produce significant and recognized results. Students, educators, schools, families, and communities all benefit in countless ways.
Students gain personal character and civic values, the ability to make positive and healthy decisions, communication and problem - solving skills, and the aptitude to set and achieve goals.
Educators create positive environments, see less risky student behavior, and produce greater academic success.
Schools advance through a shared vision among staff, developmentally appropriate curricula across grade levels, and parental and community partnership in student education.
Communities thrive as a result of improved local schools, unity, and declines in substance abuse and violence among youth.
Types Of Membership
There are seven kinds of membership, Active, Member at Large, Honorary, Privileged, Life Member, Associate and Affiliate Member.
ACTIVE
A member entitled to all rights and privileges and subject to all obligations which membership in a Lions Club confers or implies without limiting such rights shall include eligibility to seek, if otherwise qualified, any office in the Club, District or Association and the right to vote on all matters requiring a vote of the membership, and such obligations shall include regular attendance prompt payment of dues, participation in Club Activities and conduct reflecting a favourable image of the Lions Club in the Community. All Active Members shall pay such dues as the local Club may charge which shall include District and International dues.
MEMBER-AT-LARGE
A member of the Club who has moved from the Community or, because of health or other legitimate reason, is unable to attend Club meetings regularly and desires to retain membership in the Club, and upon whom the Board of Directors of the Club desires to confer this status. This status shall be reviewed every six months by the Board of Directors of the Club.
A Member at Large shall not be eligible to hold office or to vote in District or International Meetings or Conventions, but shall pay such dues as the local Club may charge, which dues shall include District and International dues.
HONORARY
I An individual not a member of the conferring Lions Club, having performed outstanding service for the Community of the Lions Club, upon whom the Club desires to confer this special distinction. The Club shall pay Entrance Fees and International and District dues of such a member, who may attend meetings, but shall not be entitled to any privileges of Active Membership.
PRIVILEGED
A member of the Club who has been a Lion fifteen or more years, because of illness, infirmities, advanced age or other legitimate reasons as: determined by the Board of Directors of the Club, must relinquish his Active’ status. A Privileged Member shall pay such International dues. The member shall have the right to vote and be entitled to all other privileges of the membership except the right to hold office at Club, District or International level.
LIFE MEMBERS
Any member of the Club who has maintained continuous Active Membership as a Lion for 25 or more years and rendered outstanding service to the Club, Community or the Association, or any member of the Club who has maintained such continuous Active Membership for 15 or more years and is at least 70 years of age or any member of a Club who has maintained such continuous Active Membership for 20 years or more and has served an office of the Association may be granted.
ASSOCIATE MEMBER
Any member can also be a member of another Club or the member of another District. An Associate member should not be eligible to hold office or vote in the Club. District or International Meetings or Conventions. The Club should pay Entrance Fees, International, Multiple and District dues of such a member.
AFFILIATE MEMBER
A quality individual of the Community who currently is not able to fully participate as an Active Member of the Club but desire to support the Club and its Community Service initiatives and be affiliated with the Club. An Affiliate Member may be eligible to vote on Club matters at meetings where he/she is present in person, but may not represent the Club as a delegate at District (Single, Sub, Transitional/Provisional, and / or Multiple) or International Conventions. He / she shall not be eligible to hold Club, District or International office, nor District, Multiple District or International Committee assignment. An Affiliate Member shall be required to pay District, International and such dues as the local Club may charge
