48-574: Lions Clubs International , is an international service organization , currently headquartered in Oak Brook, Illinois . As of January 2020, it had over 46,000 local clubs and more than 1.4 million members (including the youth wing Leo ) in more than 200 countries and geographic areas around the world. The Association of Lions Clubs was established in 1917 in Chicago , Illinois , by Melvin Jones ,
96-760: A charter and constituent treaty , its rules and obligations are binding on all members and supersede those of other treaties. During the Second World War , the Allies — formally known as the United Nations —agreed to establish a new postwar international organization . Pursuant to this goal, the UN Charter was discussed, prepared, and drafted during the San Francisco Conference that began 25 April 1945, which involved most of
144-565: A Chicago business leader and a Freemason . The Association went international in 1920 when Border Cities Lions Clubs in Windsor, Canada, was established. The name of Lions Clubs International has been used since then. It subsequently evolved as an international service organization under the guidance and supervision of its secretary, Melvin Jones. In 1917, Jones was a 38-year-old Chicago business leader who told members of his local business club they should reach beyond business issues and address
192-735: A Constitution, By-Laws, Code of Ethics and an Emblem; (2) established as a main tenet "unselfish service to others", (3) unanimously elected Woods as its first president, effectively securing his leadership for the first two years of the existence of the International Association of Lions, and (4) selected Jones to serve as the organization's secretary-treasurer. The Lions motto is "We Serve". Local Lions Club programs include sight conservation, hearing and speech conservation, diabetes awareness, youth outreach, international relations, environmental issues, and many other programs. The discussion of partisan politics and sectarian religion
240-421: Is "Lions helping Lions serve the world". Donations provide funding in the form of grants to financially assist Lions districts with large-scale humanitarian projects that are too expensive and costly for Lions to finance on their own. The Foundation aids Lions in making a greater impact in their local communities, as well as around the world. Major initiatives of the foundation include the following: Upon endorsing
288-492: Is also raised for international purposes. Some of this is donated in reaction to events such as the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and the 2013 Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda). Other money is used to support international campaigns, coordinated by the Lions Clubs International Foundation (LCIF), such as Sight First and Lions World Sight Day, which was launched in 1998 to draw world media attention to
336-411: Is forbidden. The LIONS acronym also stands for Liberty, Intelligence, Our Nations' Safety. Lions Clubs plan and participate in a variety of service projects. Examples include donations to hospices , or community campaigns such as Message in a Bottle, a United Kingdom and Ireland initiative which places a plastic bottle with critical medical information inside the refrigerators of vulnerable people. Money
384-498: Is not a member of the Security Council or any state which is not a Member of the United Nations, if it is a party to a dispute under consideration by the Security Council, shall be invited to participate, without vote, in the discussion relating to the dispute. The Security Council shall lay down such conditions as it deems just for the participation of a state which is not a Member of the United Nations. Chapter VII includes
432-412: Is still subject to the approval of the majority of the club's board of directors. A Lions Club chooses its members diligently as it requires time and financial commitments. Prospective applicants must be a person of good moral character in his or her community. Attendance at meetings is encouraged on a monthly or fortnightly basis. Due to the hierarchical nature of Lions Clubs International, members have
480-525: The Atlantic Charter . It set out (1) that these countries do not seek aggrandizement, (2) that no territorial changes be made against the wishes of the people, (2) the right to self-determination for all peoples , (3) restoration of self-government to those deprived of it, (4) furtherance of access for all states to trade and raw materials "needed for their economic prosperity", (5) global cooperation to secure better economic and social conditions for
528-535: The Government of China for the same cause. Membership in the Lions Club is by "invitation only" as mandated by its constitution and by-laws. All member applicants need a sponsor who is an active member and of good standing in the club they intend to join. While sponsorship may be obtained by an applicant in order to become a legitimate member, sponsorship is no guarantee of membership. Acceptance of membership
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#1732801340878576-804: The Soviet Union , the United Kingdom , and the United States —and a majority of the other signatories; this is considered the official starting date of the United Nations, with the first session of the General Assembly, representing all 51 initial members, opening in London the following January. The General Assembly formally recognized 24 October as United Nations Day in 1947, and declared it an official international holiday in 1971. With 193 parties, most countries have now ratified
624-1124: The UN system , including its six principal organs : the Secretariat , the General Assembly , the Security Council , the Economic and Social Council , the International Court of Justice , and the Trusteeship Council . The UN Charter mandates the UN and its member states to maintain international peace and security, uphold international law, achieve "higher standards of living" for their citizens, address "economic, social, health, and related problems", and promote "universal respect for, and observance of, human rights and fundamental freedoms for all without distinction as to race , sex , language , or religion ". As
672-692: The Axis powers—led by the "Big Four" powers of China, the Soviet Union, the U.K., and the U.S.—signed the Declaration by United Nations , which formalized the anti-Axis alliance and reaffirmed the purposes and principles of the Atlantic Charter. The following day, representatives of twenty-two other nations added their signatures. The term "United Nations" became synonymous with the Allies for
720-514: The Charter and it is the first international document regarding human rights. The following chapters deal with the enforcement powers of UN bodies: The principles and conceptual framework of the United Nations were formulated incrementally through a series of conferences by the Allied nations during the Second World War . The Declaration of St James's Palace , issued in London on 12 June 1941,
768-435: The Charter by a vote of 89–2 on 28 July 1945. By 24 October 1945, enough nations had ratified the Charter to officially bring the United Nations into existence. The Preamble to the treaty reads as follows: WE THE PEOPLES OF THE UNITED NATIONS DETERMINED AND FOR THESE ENDS HAVE RESOLVED TO COMBINE OUR EFFORTS TO ACCOMPLISH THESE AIMS. Accordingly, our respective Governments, through representatives assembled in
816-419: The Charter. The Charter consists of a preamble and 111 articles grouped into 19 chapters. The preamble consists of two principal parts. The first part contains a general call for the maintenance of peace and international security and respect for human rights. The second part of the preamble is a declaration in a contractual style that the governments of the peoples of the United Nations have agreed to
864-616: The Lions Ear and Hearing Institute established September 9, 2001, a center of excellence in the diagnosis, management, and research of ear and hearing disorders . In Perth, Lions have also assisted in the establishment of the Lions Eye Institute . In Brisbane , Queensland, the Lions Medical Research Foundation provides funding to a number of researchers. Ian Frazer 's initial work, leading to
912-628: The Military Staff Committee referred to in Article 47, plans to be submitted to the Members of the United Nations for the establishment of a system for the regulation of armaments. VOTING Article 27 PROCEDURE Article 28 Article 29 The Security Council may establish as such subsidiary organs as it deems necessary for the performance of its functions. Article 30 The Security Council shall adopt its own rules of
960-624: The U.S., U.K., and Soviet Union resolved the lingering debate regarding the voting structure of the proposed Security Council, calling for a "Conference of United Nations" in San Francisco on 25 April 1945 to "prepare the charter of such an organization, along the lines proposed in the formal conversations of Dumbarton Oaks." The San Francisco Conference , formally the United Nations Conference on International Organization (UNCIO), began as scheduled on 25 April 1945 with
1008-399: The United Nations agree to accept and carry out the decisions of the Security Council in accordance with the present Charter. Article 26 In order to promote the establishment and maintenance of international peace and security with the least diversion for armaments of the world's human and economic resources, the Security Council shall be responsible for formulating, with the assistance of
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#17328013408781056-685: The betterment of their communities and the world. Jones' group, the Business Circle of Chicago, agreed. After contacting similar groups around the United States, an organizational meeting was held on June 7, 1917, in Chicago. The Business Circle subsequently joined one of the invited groups, the "International Association of Lions Clubs" and at a national convention held in Dallas, Texas, later that year, those who were assembled: (1) adopted
1104-601: The biggest ever collaborative disease eradication program called the London Declaration on Neglected Tropical Diseases launched on 30 January 2012 in London, the organization has implemented SightFirst program by which it aims to eradicate blindness due to trachoma , one of the neglected tropical diseases . It has allocated over US$ 11 million in 10 countries for eye surgeries, medical training, distribution of Zithromax and tetracycline , and sanitary services . It has also announced US$ 6.9 million funding to support
1152-484: The city of San Francisco, who have exhibited their full powers found to be in good and due form, have agreed to the present Charter of the United Nations and do hereby establish an international organization to be known as the United Nations. Although the Preamble is an integral part of the Charter, it does not set out any of the rights or obligations of member states; its purpose is to serve as an interpretative guide for
1200-539: The club expanded to San Juan in Puerto Rico. Currently Lions Clubs operate in more than 200 countries and have over 1.4 million members. Saudi Arabia was one of the last countries without a Lions Club. The first Chartered Club in Saudi was founded by a Filipino group from Batangas in the year 2019. The Club was named Batangas-Saudi 101 Lions Club . An international convention is held annually in cities across
1248-762: The club. Among the famous and noteworthy members of Lions International are former U.S. President Jimmy Carter , Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh , a member of the Wokingham Lions Club and Royal Patron of the Lions Clubs of the British Isles, and Sir Edmund Hillary , a member of the Remuera Lions Club in New Zealand. The organization expanded internationally on 12 March 1920, when a club opened in Windsor, Ontario, Canada. In 1937
1296-838: The convention had to be relocated to Boston . The latest convention was held in Melbourne from 21st to 25th June, 2024. Service organization A service club or service organization is a voluntary nonprofit organization where members meet regularly to perform charitable works either by direct hands-on efforts or by raising money for other organizations. A service club is defined firstly by its service mission and secondly by its membership benefits, such as social occasions, networking, and personal growth opportunities that encourage involvement. Service organizations are not necessarily exclusive of ideological motives, although organizations with such defined motives are more likely to identify themselves through their association. Much like
1344-669: The development of a HPV vaccine for the human papillomavirus which could lead to cervical cancer , was funded by the Lions Medical Research Foundation. Lions Clubs International has supported the work of the United Nations since that organization's inception in 1945, when it was one of the non-governmental organizations invited to assist in the drafting of the United Nations Charter in San Francisco, California . Lions Clubs International Foundation
1392-481: The drafting process, with over 400 meetings convened in the subsequent weeks. Following multiple reviews, debates, and revisions, a final full meeting was held on 25 June 1945 with the final proposed draft posed to attendees. Following unanimous approval, the Charter was signed by delegates the following day in Veterans' Memorial Hall . The United States Senate , as part of the 79th United States Congress , ratified
1440-558: The duration of the war, and was considered the formal name under which they were fighting. The Declaration by United Nations formed the basis of the United Nations Charter; virtually all nations that acceded to it would be invited to take part in the 1945 San Francisco Conference to discuss and prepare the Charter. On 30 October 1943, the Declaration of the Four Nations , one of the four Moscow Declarations ,
1488-601: The establishment of other "organs" of the organization, such as the General Assembly, International Court of Justice, and Secretariat. The conference was led by the Big Four , with delegates from other nation participating in the consideration and formulation of these principles. At the Paris peace conference in 1919, it was Prime Minister Jan Smuts of South Africa and Lord Cecil of the United Kingdom who came up with
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1536-603: The globe for members to meet other Lions, elect the coming year's officers, and partake in the many activities planned.At the convention, Lions can participate in elections and parades, display and discuss fundraisers and service projects, and trade pins and other souvenirs. The first convention was held in 1917, the first year of the club's existence, in Dallas, Texas . The 2006 convention was due to be held in New Orleans , but damage sustained during Hurricane Katrina meant that
1584-648: The goal of drafting a charter that would create a new international organization. The Big Four, which sponsored the event, invited all forty-six signatories to the Declaration by United Nations. Conference delegates invited four more nations: the Belorussian Soviet Socialist Republic, the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic, Argentina and recently liberated Denmark. The conference was perhaps
1632-562: The historical religious organizations that formed the basis for many societal institutions, such as hospitals , service organizations perform many essential services for their community and other worthy causes. In the United States, some of these clubs usually also have a component club organization that is a tax exempt 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization . Many of today's service clubs started as social clubs for business networking , but quickly evolved into organizations devoted more to service than to networking, although networking may still be
1680-499: The largest international gathering up to that point, with 850 delegates, along with advisers and organizers, for a total of 3,500 participants. An additional 2,500 representatives from media and various civil society groups were also in attendance. Plenary meetings involving all delegates were chaired on a rotational basis by the lead delegates of the Big Four. Several committees were formed to facilitate and address different aspects of
1728-594: The moribund League of Nations . Pursuant to the Moscow Declarations, from 21 August 1944 to 7 October 1944, the U.S. hosted the Dumbarton Oaks Conference to develop a blueprint for what would become the United Nations. Many of the rules, principles, and provisions of the UN Charter were proposed during the conference, including the structure of the UN system; the creation of a "Security Council" to prevent future war and conflict; and
1776-468: The opportunity to advance from a local club to an office at the zone, district, multiple district, and international levels. In 1987 the constitution of Lions Clubs International was amended to allow for women to become members. Since then many clubs have admitted women, but some all-male clubs still exist. In 2003, 8 out of 17 members at the Lions Club in Worcester , England, resigned when a woman joined
1824-506: The plight of sight loss in the developing world. Lions focus on work for the blind and visually impaired began when Helen Keller addressed the international convention at Cedar Point , Ohio , on 30 June 1925 and charged Lions to be Knights of the Blind . Lions also conduct community hearing- and cancer -screening projects. In Perth , Western Australia, they have conducted hearing screening for over 30 years and provided seed funding for
1872-463: The primary reason many members decided to join. Historically, most service clubs consist of community-based groups with the same name, goals, membership requirements, and meeting structure. Many of these clubs meet weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly on a recurring established day and time, commonly at mealtime. Most of these clubs started with a single club in a single city but then replicated themselves by organizing similar clubs in other communities. Many of
1920-405: The procedure, including the method of selecting its president. Article 31 Any Member of the United Nations which is not a member of the Security Council may participate, without vote, in the discussion of any question brought before the Security Council whenever the latter considers that the interests of that Member are specially affected. Article 32 Any Member of the United Nations which
1968-561: The provisions of the Charter through the highlighting of some of the core motives of the founders of the organization. The Purposes of the United Nations are The Organization and its Members, in pursuit of the Purposes stated in Article 1, shall act in accordance with the following Principles: Chapter II of the United Nations Charter deals with membership of the United Nations organization COMPOSITION Article 23 FUNCTIONS and POWERS Article 24 Article 25 The Members of
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2016-759: The right to self-defence . The General Assembly has the power to amend the UN Charter. Amendments adopted by a vote of two-thirds of the members of the Assembly need to be ratified by two-thirds of the Member-States, including all the Permanent Members of the Security Council. Provided that the Charter would enter into force once ratified by the Permanent Five members of the United Nations Security Council and
2064-400: The service club organizations have become worldwide movements, and have obtained official recognition by the United Nations and various governments as non-governmental organizations (NGO). United Nations Charter The Charter of the United Nations ( UN ) is the foundational treaty of the United Nations . It establishes the purposes, governing structure, and overall framework of
2112-561: The structure of the League of Nations with the League being divided into a League Assembly consisting of all the member states and a League Council consisting of the great powers. The same design that Smuts and Cecil had devised for the League of Nations was copied for the United Nations with a Security Council made up of the great powers and a General Assembly of the UN member states. The subsequent Yalta Conference in February 1945 between
2160-434: The world's sovereign nations. Following two-thirds approval of each part, the final text was unanimously adopted by delegates and opened for signature on 26 June 1945; it was signed in San Francisco, United States , by 50 of the 51 original member countries. The Charter entered into force on 24 October 1945, following ratification by the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council — China , France ,
2208-514: The world, (5) the "destruction of the Nazi tyranny" and freedom from fear and want, (7) freedom of the seas , and (8) "abandonment of the use of force" by disarming nations of "aggression" and establishing a wider Anglo-American world "security system" under mutual disarmament after the war. Many of these principles would inspire or form part of the UN Charter. The following year, on 1 January 1942, representatives of thirty nations formally at war with
2256-432: Was signed by the foreign ministers of the Big Four, calling for the establishment of a "general international organization, based on the principle of the sovereign equality of all peace-loving states, and open to membership by all such states, large and small, for the maintenance of international peace and security." This was the first formal announcement that a new international organization was being contemplated to replace
2304-407: Was the first joint statement of the declared goals and principles of the Allies, and the first to express a vision for a postwar world order. The Declaration called for the "willing cooperation of free peoples" so that "all may enjoy economic and social security". Roughly two months later, the United States and the United Kingdom issued a joint, eight-point statement elaborating such goals, known as
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