[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 158 (Tuesday, September 25, 2018)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1291-E1292]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




CELEBRATING THE 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE CHARTERING OF THE LOS ANGELES 
                            HOST LIONS CLUB

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. LUCILLE ROYBAL-ALLARD

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Tuesday, September 25, 2018

  Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today with my colleagues 
Congressmembers Maxine Waters, Grace Napolitano, Adam Schiff, Judy Chu, 
Karen Bass, and Jimmy Gomez to recognize the 100th anniversary of the 
chartering of the Los Angeles Host Lions Club. Not only was the Los 
Angeles Host Lions Club the first Lions Club chartered in Southern 
California, it is the oldest Lions Club in the entire state of 
California.
  On January 13, 1913, Dr. Herman Beckwith met with his friend Philip 
Dodson for lunch at Marcus Godfrey's cafeteria on Spring Street near 
Fourth Street in downtown Los Angeles. He presented the idea of forming 
a luncheon club, and proposed the name Cirgonian, taken from the Latin 
words ``Circum'' and ``Ago''--sort of a ``round table'' idea. By 
February 20 of that year, there were twelve men who became charter 
members of the Cirgonian Club of Los Angeles. During the next few 
years, the club grew and prospered.
  Early in 1916, the Cirgonian Club officers exchanged a series of 
letters with Melvin Jones of Chicago concerning the founding of an 
international service club organization. As a result, a meeting was 
held in Chicago on June 7, 1917, at which the Cirgonian Club was 
represented, and a date was set for the first convention in Dallas, 
Texas. At that convention, on October 8 through 10, 1917, Lions Clubs 
International was born.
  Although the Cirgonian Club was not represented at this convention, 
less than a year later, its 85 members voted to affiliate with the 
International Association of Lions Clubs and became charter members of 
the Lions Club of Los Angeles. The Charter was presented on September 
12, 1918, making it the first Lions Club in Southern California. In 
1940, it was designated as the ``Host Club'' of Los Angeles County. 
Additional ``host'' clubs were added as the county grew.
  Given that the L.A. Host Lions Club has directly sponsored 22 Lions 
Clubs over the years, beginning with the Pasadena Host Lions Club in 
1920, it can be considered the parent and grandparent of nearly all 
Lions Clubs in Southern California.
  For more than 50 years beginning in 1919, the L.A. Host Club was the 
principal sponsor of the Lark Ellen Home for Boys, a nonprofit 
corporation organized in 1895 for the benefit of orphan newsboys. The 
name Lark Ellen is attributable to a benefactor of the home, Ellen 
Beach Yaw, a noted opera singer of the day who some had said ``sang 
like a lark;'' hence, Lark Ellen. In 1950, the home relocated to more 
spacious facilities in Azusa (at a greater cost) where it operated for 
nearly another quarter of a century.

[[Page E1292]]

  Due to an enormous increase in the costs of operation, the Boys Home 
was discontinued in 1973. Its assets were sold, and the proceeds formed 
the endowment fund known as the Lark Ellen Lions Charities. From that 
time until now, Lark Ellen has approved donations of approximately $1.5 
million for the benefit of inner-city youth.
  After many decades of meeting in the Biltmore Hotel, the Los Angeles 
Host Lions Club currently meets at Taix Restaurant in the Echo Park 
community, just north of downtown Los Angeles, where it now 
concentrates its service activities.
  Today, the Los Angeles Host Lions Club participates in many projects, 
including:
  Providing volunteers at health fairs to work the Lions Mobile Health 
Screening Unit, an RV vehicle outfitted so an eye professional can 
screen low-income patients for visual acuity and possible eye diseases 
such as glaucoma.
  Sponsoring two Leo Clubs, teenage leadership development programs in 
conjunction with inner-city youth centers: The Salvation Army Red 
Shield Youth Center and El Centro del Pueblo in Echo Park. The 
sponsorship includes funding for travel and lodging for the Leos to 
attend regional leadership forums and other events.
  Conducting community needs assessments to learn how the club can do 
the most good and serve more people.
  Distributing food baskets/bags to families with children in inner-
city schools.
  Supporting district and multi-district projects such as Lions Camp at 
Teresita Pines, the Student Speakers Contest, Lions in Sight, and Lions 
Sight and Hearing Foundation.
  Participating in the celebration and recognition of Flag Day by 
distributing American flags with patriotic presentations at local 
elementary schools.
  Sponsoring inner-city youth as participants in the California Youth 
Exchange Program, which provides them an opportunity to spend six weeks 
with participating Lion families in Japan and Europe. In exchange, the 
club hosts teenagers coming from other Lions clubs from Europe or 
Japan.
  Helping to decorate the Lions float appearing in the Pasadena 
Tournament of Roses Parade.
  Participating with community partners on projects that focus on the 
environment.
  The Los Angeles Host Lions Club has had a great 100-year tradition. 
The vitality of its members and their commitment to service assures us 
all that the motto of Lions, ``We Serve,'' will be upheld for many 
years to come. On Saturday, September 29, 2018, the L.A. Host Club will 
hold its Centennial Gala Celebration at the Crowne Plaza Hotel-Los 
Angeles in Commerce. More than 300 Lions and friends from throughout 
California will attend to commemorate this significant milestone.
  Mr. Speaker, Congressmembers Waters, Napolitano, Schiff, Chu, Bass, 
Gomez, and I ask our colleagues to please join us in celebrating the 
Los Angeles Host Lions Club's 100th anniversary. We also thank the 
Lions for their service, and for improving the quality of life of those 
they have worked with and helped.

                          ____________________