About Our District/History and More

District 11A1 covers all of Wayne and Monroe counties in S/E Michigan. This area includes the City of Detroit. Our eastern boundary is the entire length of the Detroit River. The district is made up of four regions and eight zones. We have 46 clubs and over 1350 Lions. We also have Three Leo clubs that support youth activities.

Our district has served the community for eighty-three years of progressive Lionism. Back in the early 1900's, there was a businessmen's club in Downtown Detroit. They were looking for a project. A reason to meet other than fellowship. At that same time a Chicago businessman, Melvin Jones, a member of a local business club there was thinking that his club should expand their horizons from purely professional concerns to the betterment of their communities and the world at large. On June 17, 1917, he held an organizational meeting of similar business groups from around the nation, including the Detroit club. From that meeting the Association of Lions Clubs was formed. A constitiution, bylaws, objects, and a code of ethics were approved. One object approved at that meeting read "No club shall hold out the financial betterment of it's members as it's object." This call for unselfish service to others remains one of the associations main tenets.

This district was instrumental in the Association of Lions Clubs becoming an International organization. During the era of prohibition, local Lions would hold their meeting cross the river in Windsor, Ontario so they could have a drink with lunch. It was there that they met and enlisted Canadians to join Lionism. Thus from these friendships we have Lions Clubs International.

In 1925, Helen Keller addressed the Lions Clubs International convention in Cedar Point, Ohio. She challenged Lions to become "knights of the blind in the crusade against darkness". Since then Lions around the world have been actively involved in service to the blind and visually impaired.

In 1992, one of this districts greatest Lions was nominated and elected as an International Director. Wm."Larry" Young held office until 1994 and remains to be a guiding light for our district. His expertise and experiences continue to help us in our quest to be the best district possible. It was through his direct involvement that we were awarded the International convention that will be held in Detroit/Windsor during the summer of 2004.

From these simple beginnings based on one man's vision, Lions Clubs International has grown to 1.4 millions members in 190 countries and geographic areas. Lions tackle tough problems like blindness, hearing loss, Drug Prevention, and Diabetes Awareness and District 11A1 continues to help fight that battle with the motto, WE SERVE!