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Background
Lions Clubs International Convention – In late June or early July of each year, 15,000-20,000 Lions club members and their families from more than 100 countries gather for the Lions Clubs International Convention. For five days, Lions conduct association business, share fellowship and enjoy the sights of an international city. The Lions Clubs International Convention is one of the largest annual conventions of its kind in the world.
Lions Clubs International – Lions Clubs International is the world’s largest service club organization, with 1.3 million members in 45,000 clubs in 205 countries and geographic areas. In addition to its efforts toward conquering blindness, the organization has made a strong commitment to community service and helping youth throughout the world. To learn more about Lions Clubs International, visit www.lionsclubs.org.
Headquartered in Oak Brook, Illinois, USA, Lions Clubs International staff members handle arrangements for convention events, housing, outside suppliers and exhibitors. More than 100 headquarters staff work at the convention.
Lions Around the World – Lions are men and women who volunteer their time to humanitarian causes. Lions clubs evaluate community needs and choose service projects to meet those needs. Lions collect and recycle used eyeglasses and support eye screenings and cataract surgeries. They sponsor programs for young people, including youth groups called Leo clubs, and provide scholarships and recreational opportunities. Lions also work to improve the environment, support diabetes education, provide hearing screenings, assist the aged, build or maintain community parks and provide relief in time of emergency or disaster.
Convention to be Held for the Second Time in Minneapolis – Lions Clubs International held the 1993 convention in Minneapolis/St. Paul/Bloomington, MN.
The Lions Clubs International Board of Directors selects convention sites from around the world five years in advance following an extensive bidding process. During the evaluation, tourist authorities present options for accommodating the convention and the large number of attendees and explain why their cities are attractive destinations.
Lions Clubs International looks for areas with a strong tradition of Lions volunteerism. Local Lions club members demonstrate their commitment by forming a Lions Host Committee.
Lions Clubs in Minnesota – There are more than 580 clubs with nearly 21,000 Lions members in Minnesota. In a state with an estimated population of 5.2 million, that equates to one out of every 250 Minnesotans. By contrast, the state of New York – with 16,686 Lions members and an estimated population of 19.3 million – counts about one member among every 1,150 New Yorkers.
In addition to their strong state presence, Minnesota Lions are involved in a variety of service activities including Project New Hope (www.projectnewhope.net), a military retreat service aimed at providing veterans and their families the education, training and skills necessary to manage their lives after wartime service.
Host Committee – Lions volunteers from Minnesota have spent several years preparing for the convention. The group is responsible for hospitality, including staffing welcome centers, arranging welcoming banners, securing local marching bands for the parade and serving as sergeants-at-arms for major events.
Upcoming Lions Clubs International Conventions
2010: Sydney, Australia
2011: Seattle, WA, USA
2012: Busan, Korea
2013: Hamburg, Germany
2014: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
