“To empower volunteers to serve their communities, meet humanitarian needs, encourage peace and promote international understanding through Lions clubs.”
Melvin Jones founded Lions Club International in Chicago, Illinois in 1917. In 1925the Lions organization was challenged by Helen Keller to become “Knights of the Blind” in the crusade against darkness. Although the youngest major service club organization, Lions clubs International has grown to the world’s largest. There are more than 1.35 million men and women belonging to almost 44,000 clubs in 199 countries and territories.
The first Lions Club in Montrose was chartered in 1921. Our club, the Montrose Lions club, had it first organizational meeting May 20, 1937. The following week the club held it’s first meeting with 25 charter members and Frank C. Hale as the first president. We are now one of the most active clubs on the western slope.
What Do Lions Do?
Lions are men and women who volunteer their time to humanitarian causes for their local and world communities. We fulfill the Lion’s motto “We Serve!” by participating in service activities emphasizing community welfare, youth, education & research and international understanding. By conducting service projects and raising funds, Lions strive to help those in need, wherever needs exist. Service to the blind and visually impaired has become one of the association’s most significant activities. In addition, Lions work with diabetes awareness, the physically and mentally impaired and environmental issues.
Bimonthly informational programs help keep our meetings interesting and worthwhile. In the summer we invite family and friends to our Summer Picnic. Other special events are the Christmas Party, Valentines Sweetheart Banquet and Awards nights.
Do You Want New Experiences, Opportunities and Fulfillment?
Our members use their time and talents to provide hands-on assistance to enhance their communities. Through these experiences, they have the opportunity to work on projects that interest them, acquire new skills, cultivate lasting friendships, enrich lives, and meet challenges head-on while learning a lot about themselves.
If you are interested in doing community work and enjoy being a part of a group that helps others in need, we invite you to attend our meetings. Be Our Guest. Share dessert with us and meet new and old friends who are dedicated towards helping others.
Cost Of Membership
There is a $35 initiation fee per family for new member and Club dues are $90 per year.
Will being a lion take me away from my family too much?
On the contrary, being a lion enriches your family life. Perhaps your spouse would be interested in joining the club with you. There are several couples in our club. By volunteering, you are setting a wonderful example for your children about the value of contributing you time to better your community. Your children are welcome to special club events and activities, and sharing the volunteering experience first-hand with your child will foster a lifelong dedication to helping those in need.
Meetings:
Second and Fourth Wednesdays
6:30 p.m.
Lions Clubhouse, 602 N Nevada, Montrose Co 81401
Montrose Lions Clubs projects and Services
“Kidsight” Program: our volunteers screen children, too young for conventional exams, for up to six different eye abnormalities with a specialized digital “Vision Screener”. The machine identifies serious problems, such as amblyopia (lazy eye), which needs early correction.
Other Services:
· Camperships for Colorado Lions Camp in Woodland Park, Colorado. A week long camp experience for physical, mental, hearing and sigh-impaired people, ages eight and above.
· Rocky Mountain Lions Eye Institute
· Rocky Mountain Lions Eye Bank
· Collecting used Eye Glasses
· Eye care for the indigent
· Recording for the Blind and Dyslexic
· Leader Dogs for the Blind
· International Hearing Dogs
· Students of the Month
· Student Scholarships
· Boys and Girls Club
· Annual Easter Egg hunt
· Lions Clubs International Foundation
· West Four County Partners
· Salvation Army
· Montrose Health Fair
· Hospice of the Uncompahgre Valley
· Adopt a Highway (Why 50 East)
· MHS Stadium Project
· Dolphin House
