Founded in 1940, the Wesson Lions Club is part of the world's largest service club organization. Chicago businessman Melvin Jones founded Lions Clubs International in 1917. Today it has 1.35 million members and 45,000 clubs in 206 countries and geographical areas. Responding to Helen Keller's challenge to become "Knights of the blind in the crusade against darkness" at its 1925 convention, Lions C
lubs International focuses on sight and hearing conservation as its primary mission. Globally, Lions Clubs have also made strong commitments to diabetes prevention, disaster relief, and to young people through youth outreach programs. The Wesson club supports the Lions All State Band, a youth baseball program, diabetes and drug abuse prevention, hospice ministries, college scholarships, Scouting programs (Boy/Girl/Cub), Wesson Cemetery, Wesson Library, and youth camps. The local organization meets on the second and fourth Thursday nights of each month from 6:30 p.m. to 7:45 p.m. in the meeting room in the building which houses the student cafeteria at Copiah-Lincoln Community College.
