About Us:
The Alexandria Lions Club is composed of civic-minded men and women that volunteer their time and efforts to various humanitarian causes throughout our community, Lions District and Louisiana. We support the two statewide projects of the Lions Clubs of Louisiana - the Louisiana Lions Camp and the Louisiana Lions Eye Foundation. When we raise funds and conduct service projects, we are striving to help those in need.
The Alexandria Lions Club meets every Wednesday at Noon at Piccadilly Restaurant - 1400 MacArthur Drive - Alexandria, Louisiana.
History:
A representative of the Shreveport Lions Club contacted Joe W. Pitts, Sr. in the fall of 1928 and requested that he explore the possibility of forming a Lions Club in Alexandria. After a few months of contacts, he had generated enough interest in forming a club and on March 11, 1929, the Alexandria Lions Club became a reality with twenty-nine members signing the charter. It has served the community continuously since that time.
The Alexandria Lions Club has recruited well over 650 persons to become Lions since its inception in 1929. Ten of its members have been elected to serve as District Governors of the International Association of Lions Clubs.
The club survived the ravages of The Great Depression and also the absence of members as they served in the armed forces during World War II. The membership of several current members dates back to this time in our history.
Historically, the members bought eyesight testing equipment and had a continuing program that tested the vision of every student in the Rapides Parish School System. The Alexandria Lions Club members were instrumental in the formation of what was originally known as the Lions Crippled Children's Camp, located originally in Central Louisiana, and now located near Leesville, Louisiana. The Alexandria Lions Club also played a significant part in the establishment of the Louisiana Lions Eye Foundation.
Many thousands of dollars have been raised in order to fund the multitude of service projects that have been accomplished. For several years, the total membership sponsored and participated in the Lions Club Rodeo in Alexandria - from assisting in the calf-roping and cattle herding to the planning and production of the huge Rodeo Parade through the downtown area. Members of the Alexandria Lions Club in past years have worked the Super Bingo games at the Rapides Parish Coliseum. Major fundraisers of recent and current years are the annual $15,000 Raffle, and the Joe W. Pitts, Sr. Memorial Golf Tournament.