History:

The Homewood-Flossmoor Lions Club was organized in 1948 under the joint sponsorship of the Riverdale-Dolton and Lansing Lions Clubs. On June 7th, District Governor Victor C. Neumann presented the Club its charter during the course of a banquet held at Surma's Restaurant (where Belagio's is now) in Homewood. The featured speaker was Melvin Jones, the founder of Lions Clubs International and a charter member of our club.

During it's early years, the Club struggled to survive and define its mission of service to the communities of Homewood and Flossmoor. In both of these efforts it was successful. By the mid 1950s, Club membership was at a peak with a number of ongoing service projects, including the construction of the Lions Club Pool.

The swimming pool was the major service project for the next 18 years, however the Club was actively seeking out other ways to help their comunities. They also became an active participant in Candy Day, the statewide campaign which the Lions conduct to raise funds for programs which aid those with visual and/or hearing impairments.

In the early 1970s, the Club had to make a decision about the future of the swimming pool. The bonds that were issued to pay for the construction were coming due and it was not viable to refinance at a reasonable interest rate. The decision was made to sell the pool to the Homewood Flossmoor Park District, and place the proceeds in a fund which could be used towasrd worthwhile projects in the two communities. The HF Park District retained the name of Lions Club Pool in recognition of our leadership in service to our communities.

During the 1980s the Club iniated changes in its by-laws to admit women as members. In 1998, one of our earliest women members Sheri Hamann, became our first woman Club President. With a stong core of memebers, we continue to this day providing service for those in need.