Lions Clubs International began in 1917 as the dream of an insurance man from Chicago named Melvin Jones. He believed that local business clubs should expand their horizons from purely professional concerns to the betterment of their communities and the world at large.
Jones' own group, the Business Circle of Chicago, agreed. After contacting similar groups around the country, an organizational meeting was held on June 7, 1917 at the LaSallle Hotel in Chicago, Illinois, USA. The new group took the name of one of the groups invited, the "Association of Lions Clubs," and a national convention was held in Dallas, Texas, USA, in October of that year. Thirty-six delegates representing 22 clubs from nine states were in attendance. The convention began to define what the association was to become. A constitution, by-laws, objectives, and code of ethics were approved.
Since that humble beginning, Lions Club members have volunteered their time and talents to meet the needs wherever they exist. Lions are especially dedicated to serving the blind and visually impaired, a commitment made after Helen Keller challenged our members to become her 'knights for the blind in the crusade against darkness" during the 1925 convention in Cedar Point, Ohio, USA. Our motto, "We Serve," perfectly exemplifies the dedication to helping those in need felt by Lions!
Our Mount Washington Lions Club was founded in 1948. From the very beginning, our founders believed that service to our community was a natural extension of everyday life. These men who chartered our Club laid the foundation that we still follow today. The Club was instrumental in the installation of street lights and street signs around our city. They even paid the electric bill for the lights until the city government could assume the expense. Early on they organized the old Lions Club Park and helped maintain it for years for the community to enjoy. They gave generously of their time and money to improve life in Mount Washington and beyond. They traveled the state helping to raise awareness of service and helping other Club and communities along the way.
They gave generously to the Lions Eye Foundation, Lions Clubs International and many civic endeavors here at home. Their sponsorship of youth groups and schools were nonstop. They held fish fry fundraisers to provide the needed funds to give to others.
In 1988 the club assumed the sponsorship of our own Mount Washington Spring Festival. They worked with others to provide a safe and family friendly event for the community to enjoy every year.
Today we still serve our community. From our monthly Dare to Care food distribution, our sponsorship of the Spring Festival, to our countless fish fry fundraisers we strive to help others. The members that serve today have never forgotten the simple lessons from our founders so many years ago. Being kind and generous to others will always have a home here.
"We Serve"
History of Lions Club International
Founding of the Mount Washington Lions Club
Lions Club celebrates 50 years of service
By Carl Curtsinger, Staff Writer, Frontier News, August 17, 1998
They go about their work very quietly, but their results speak volumes. For the last 50 years, the Mount Washington Lions Club has lived by two simple words that sums up everything that they do: We Serve.
The group was formed June 23, 1948, with 27 members. Clubs from Bloomfield, Shepherdsville and Jefferson East (no Fern Creek) sponsored the club.
Under the guidance of R. Lee McAfee, the club's first president, the Lions Club quickly went to work. These dedicated men helped provide the first street lights in the city and even paid the electric bill. They help purchase one of the first fire trucks for the Mount Washington Fire Department and helped incorporate the city. When house numbers were needed for the post office and emergency services, the Lions Club took on that project as well. When I went through all of the records, I was really surprised by all of the things that the Lions Club has accomplished for the city," said current president John Proffitt, a member of the group since 1994.
Of course the main focus of the group is provide for the needs of the community, including eye care needs. Over the last 50 years, the Mount Washington Lions Club has helped hundreds of families with eye exams, eye glasses, surgery and other services through the Lions Eye Foundation. While exact figures were not kept over the years, it is estimated that the group has spent well over $250,000 on those services.
Money from every fish fry, candy day, spring festival or other event sponsored by the club over the years has gone back to the community. "Whenever there was a need, the Lions were there," Proffitt said.
The group currently has 68 members, including fathers and sons, mayors, bankers and men from all walks of life. The Mount Washington Lions Club has two active charter members, Tom Jasper and William Porter.
Proffitt is the 51st president of the club, which has had several district and zone officers over the years. Lion Bill Breeden and Lion George Neighbors served as District Governor, Lion Bob Harlow and Lion Don Morgan served as Zone Chairman. Several members have served as trustees of the Lions Eye Foundation. Lion Vernon Mothershead, a charter member who passed away earlier this year, was a Melvin Jones Award recipient, one of the most distinguished Lions Club awards.
The Mount Washington Lions will take a look back at their 50 years of service to the community on Saturday, Aug. 22, at Old Mill Elementary School. Thomas Matney, a past international director of the Lions Club, will be the guest speaker. "We will have a dinner and program reflecting on the club's involvement in the community," he said.
Even though there are many Lions that have more years than Proffitt, he shares the same respect and honor for the work that has been done by the group and for the men who started the club 50 years ago. "It makes me proud to stand in front of all of them as president and preside over the meetings. It's very rewarding being a member and getting the first hand experience of helping people," he said.
We Serve...live on.
By David Strange
Through the coming year, the Mt. Washington, Kentucky Lions Club is celebrating 75 years of volunteer community service. Indeed, the International Lions Club motto is simply, "We Serve", and this local club sure makes that true.
The Mt. Washington club was chartered 6/23/1948 and started fast, working to help the community. Very soon, the club sponsored some of the first street signs and street lights in the city. More recent activities, among many, include placing a flag pole in the Mt. Washington Cemetery, paying for an "In Memoriam" military plaque at the county courthouse that lists all Bullitt Countians who died while in military service, helping pay for history markers in Mt. Washington; and sponsoring a Safe Haven Baby Rescue Box.
Ongoing volunteer activities (everything is volunteer; there are no paid workers) include used eyeglass recycling (about 1200 per year), the annual Mt. Washington Spring Festival and Parade; setting flags out around the city each holiday; and hosting a monthly Dare to Care food aid program at the clubhouse.
The Mt. Washington Lions Club raises money to serve the community through its famous 2nd-Friday Fish Fries every month. The Lioness Club sponsors its annual Chili Cookoff and Auction. The very active Mt. Washington Lions Club has been recognized for the past two years as one of the top Lions Clubs in Kentucky.
Mt. Washington Lions Club Marks 75 Years of Community Service
