Where There's a NEED, There's a LION

Whenever a Lions club gets together, problems get smaller. And communities get better. That's because we help where help is needed – in our own communities and around the world – with unmatched integrity and energy.

The World's Largest Service Club Organization

Our 46,000 clubs and 1.4+ million members make us the world's largest service club organization. Tennessee alone is home to more than 200 Lions Clubs and over 4,000 members. We're also one of the most effective. Our members do whatever is needed to help their local communities. Everywhere we work, we make friends. With children who need eyeglasses, with seniors who don’t have enough to eat ,and with people we may never meet.

Tennessee Lions History

The Lions of Tennessee are a division of Lions Clubs International, and were founded in 1917 with the charter of the first Tennessee Lions Club in Memphis. We were the 12th state to associate with the association, and therefore known as Multiple District 12.

Tennesseans with International Service

Leaders from our state have been active on the international stage since Cliford D. Pierce of Memphis served as International President in 1946 and 1947.

Edward M. Lindsay of Lawrenceburg led the association in 1966 and 1967. Past President Lindsay led a world wide Peace Essay contest celebrating the association’s Golden Anniversary. He was recognized for this project by heads of state in many countries including the United States, and by the United Nations.

It would be over 20 years before another Tennessean, Austin P. Jennings of Woodbury, would serve as International President. Upon his election in 1988, Past President Jennings organized a Sight Symposium attended by world leaders in ophthalmology. From that meeting in Singapore came the program known today as SightFirst.

Most recently, Chancellor Robert E. Corlew of Milton served as the association's 100th International President.