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About the Lions | Lions History | Greensboro History | Camp Dogwood | Industries of the Blind Since 1917, Lions have served the world's population through hard work and commitment to make a difference in the lives of people everywhere. With 1.3 million members serving in more than 45,000 clubs in 202 countries and geographical areas, Lions Clubs International is the world's largest service club organization. Lions are recognized worldwide for their service to the blind and visually impaired. The International Association of Lions Clubs began as a dream of Chicago businessman Melvin Jones. He believed that local business clubs should expand their horizons from purely professional concerns to the betterment of their communities and the world at large. Jones own group, The Business Circle, agreed. After contacting similar groups around the country, an organizational meeting was held on June 7, 1917 at the LaSalle Hotel in Chicago. The new group took the name of one of the groups invited, the "Association of Lions Clubs," and a national convention was held in Dallas in October of that year. A constitution, by-laws, objects and code of ethics were approved. Among the official objects adopted in those early years was one which read, "No club shall hold out the financial betterment of its members as its object." This object has remained one of the association's main tenents ever since. Just three years after its formation, the organization became international when the first club in Canada was established in 1920. Major international expansion continued as clubs were established, particularly throughout Europe, Asia and Africa during the 1950s and 60s. Perhaps the single event having the gratest impact on the association's service committment occurred in 1925 when Helen Keller addressed the Lions at their In their international convention in Cedar Point, Ohio. It was there that she challenged Lions to become "knights of the blind in the crusade against darkness." In 1990 Lions launched their most aggressive sight preservation to date, SightFirst. The more than US$145 million-plus program strives to rid the world of preventable and reversible blindness by closing the gap between exixting health care services and those that remain desperately needed. In 2005, Campaign SightFirst II was launched with a goal of US $150 million. By late 2008, the goal has been reached and exceeded. More than $200 million has been raised. Broadening its role in International understanding, the association helped the United Nations form the Non-Governmental Organizations sections in 1945, and continues to hold consultive status today. Each year, during the Lions Day with the United Nations ceremonies, an award is presented to the grand prize winner of the Lions International Peace Poster Contest. Since those first years, the association has grown to include over 1.3 million men and women in more than 45,000 clubs located in approximately 202 countries and geographical areas. Lions Clubs International celebrated 90 years of service in 2007. Our club, Greensboro Host Lions, was the seventh Lions Club chartered in North Carolina. We began in September 1922 and celebrated our 85th anniversary in 2007. The club currently has 50 members. Support is provided to Camp Dogwood (see below), the North Carolina Lions Foundation (NCLF), the NCLF Vision Van which visits the WFMY Holiday Blood Drive, The NC Eye and Human Tissue Bank, and clinical eye research at Duke University and Wake Forest University.
We employ 15 to 20 young people to live and work here during the summer with a staff ratio to campers of about one to four. In addition to staffing the various activities, our staff serves as sighted guides, assist in serving of meals and in any other capacity that will insure the accomplishment of our goal to provide a week of fun and fellowship for a segment of our society who cannot experience this type of program in any other facility. The average age of our campers is 58. Funds from our annual White Cane Drive go to help maintain Camp Dogwood as well as provide food and supplies for campers. Industries of the Blind - Greensboro has been a quality
manufacturer of office and janitorial supplies for over 65 years.
Whose mission is "to enhance the opportunities for people who
are blind to achieve greater vocational, personal, and economic
independence."
IOB, Inc. entered into its first one million dollar contract in 1962. Additional important contracts followed including those for clipboards and pens in 1968. Along with the growth of work opportunities came additions, improvements and renovations to our building. Today IOB, Inc. employs over 100 employees in various manufacturing and service direct labor, supervisory and management positions. From our very beginning, our directors have believed in reinvesting excess earnings in the purchase of new equipment, the development of new products and the improvement of quality to create and sustain jobs for blind people. Our Executive Director attributes our success to "the hard work of IOB employees and the leadership of its Board of Directors that is extraordinary in its dedication to IOB's mission." The household supplies sold at our annual Broom Sale are made by employees of IOB, and a majority of the proceeds raised from the Broom Sale go back to the employees. |
Camp
Dogwood is the pride and joy of the North Carolina Lions! Located
on the shores of Beautiful Lake Norman, it is one of the finest
such facilities in the world. The Lions of North Carolina own, fund
and maintain the camp. The volunteers committee coordinates the
volunteer efforts of Lions across the state. This results in significant
saving of funds that can go to the program. 
Camp
Dogwood is a recreational facility serving the blind and visually
impaired people of North Carolina. We operate a program during the
summer with the campers participation in 6 day sessions. We offer
a camping vacation experience utilizing our waterfront on Lake Norman
in boating, swimming, fishing, skiing, and tubing along with activities
in arts and crafts, horseback riding, night time programs and trips
to the mall in Hickory and Super K-Mart. 
IOB
- Greensboro was one of the first agencies employing blind people
to become associated with the National Industries for the Blind
(NIB) in 1938, and we then took our current name, Industries of
the Blind, Incorporated. As an NIB agency, the number of product
items produced by our employees increased and the number of employees
grew to 35 blind people during World War II. During that period
of time the first portion of our current building was constructed
on West Lee Street, and a group medical plan and other fringe benefits
were made available to employees.