HISTORY

     The International Lions Club was formed in 1917 by Melvin Jones for the purpose of community service and improvement.  In 1925, Helen Keller delivered a speech to the organization which challenged and inspired its members to  become, "knights of the blind in the crusade against darkness."  Since that time, the International Lions Clubs have become known worldwide for their efforts to preserve and restore sight.  They have also become active in hearing services and in awareness and prevention programs for diseases that contribute to the loss of sight and hearing.  Lions have also developed world wide programs for youth exchange and youth outreach and development.

     You'll find Lions throughout your community engaged in service projects or in fund raising projects to support sight and hearing preservation programs, education, and local charities.  Each year, many people receive eye exams, eye glasses, hearing aids, seeing-eye dogs, or even eye surgery that they could not otherwise afford through the efforts of our Lions Clubs. 

     The Kanawha City Lions Club was formed in 1954 and has grown to be one of the largest clubs in West Virginia. Perhaps best known for the annual Capital City Art & Craft Show.  The show is held at the Charleston Civic Center the weekend before Thanksgiving.  Through this fund raising project, the Kanawha City Lions Club has raised in excess of one million dollars over the past thirty years.  All these funds have been returned to the community through annual donations, service projects and charitable contributions.
    

       CONTRIBUTIONS
        2008 - 2009

*  WV Lions Sight Foundation
*  Eye exams and glasses
*  Ronald McDonald House
*  Meals on Wheels
*  WV Lions Ski Program
*  Diabetes Program
*  Lions Youth Exchange
*  Alzheimer's Disease Association
*  Kanawha City schools ( $1,500 to each of four schools)
*  Keep a Child in School
*  Habitat for Humanity
*  Secret Santa, Daily Mail Needy Fund
*  Capital City Little League
*  Kanawha City Colts Football
*  American Legion Boys State Program
*  CAMC Womens & Childrens Pediatric Toys Program.
*  Highland Hospital
*  Pilot Dogs Inc.
*  Leader Dogs for the Blind
*  Project Graduation for 3 area schools
*  Union Mission
*  YWCA Sojourner's Shelter
*  YMCA Camp Fund

SERVICE PROJECTS

Being a Lion is about more than fund raising.  It means active involvement in the community through service projects such as:

*  Qualifying people for eye exams and glasses support.
*  Habitat for Humanity home construction
*  MS Walk - volunteers
*  Ronald McDonald House volunteers
*  Hugh O'Brien Youth Leadership Conference Support
*  Mobile Eye Screening Unit
*  Recycling used eye glasses
*  Adopt-a-Highway
*  Elementary School Flag Day Contest
*  International Peace Poster Contest

       We Want You!


MEMBERSHIP

Membership in the Lions Club is by invitation.  An invitation may be attained by attending a meeting, getting to know current club members and expressing your interest in becoming a Lion.  Clubs meet twice a month and elect officers annually.  The association is governed by an international board of directors, elected by Lions from around the world during an annual International Convention.  

Through membership, Lions not only help people in need, but have opportunities to develop personal friendships and gain valuable leadership skills. 

Meetings:

The Kanawha City LIons Club meets at 6:15pm on the first and third Tuesdays of each month at the Charleston Civic Center.  Generally meetings are held in the Civic Center Lounge but occasionally meetings are moved to other rooms in the facility.  Check the message board in the Civic Center lobby on meeting night for the meeting location.

Meetings are lively and feature guest speakers who discuss the organizations we support and other topics of community interest.  


Dues:

One Time Initiation Fee..........$35.00
( includes pin, new member kit, etc.)

Quarterly Dues.........................$50.00
( includes meals at most meetings )

Note:  

Member's dues pay for their meals and administrative expenses of the club.  Club fund raising projects donate 100% of the funds raised to community organizations and charities.