NEW ORLEANS: The Lions Club International voted down proposal Saturday to allow women to join the 1.3 million member club but its new president predicted the measure will eventually pass.
With just under 38000 affiliates the club claims to be the world’s largest international service organization.
Fifty-nine percent of the estimated 6600 to 7000 delegates attending the 69th annual convention voted in favor of the proposal short of the two-thirds majority needed to change the constitution. Exact vote totals were unavailable club officials said.
“I would like to stress that this was the first time that our delegates were asked to vote on this question…. which has been brought to our brother service organizations many times without success” said a statement issued by newly installed President Sten Akestam of Stockholm Sweden.
“We are encouraged by the strong vote on behalf of this revolutionary change and believe it reflects well on the willingness of our members to face the future with confidence” Akestam said predicting eventually passage of the proposal.
Judge Brian Stevenson of Calgary Alberta the newly installed first international vice president said the greatest opposition to the change came from some chapters in the South and those dominated by members in their 50s and 60s. There was also strong opposition from the female Lioness organization and the Lions Auxiliary.
The strongest support for the proposal came from delegates from India he said.
The club has been sued or is being threatened with lawsuits seeking admission for women in Pennsylvania Maryland Oregon and Michigan Stevenson said.
Article extracted from this publication >> July 18, 1986
