In the Beginning...

Lionism in what is now known as Multiple District Four had its beginning in Oakland with the organization on February 27, 1917, of the first Lions Club on the west coast. It was not until nearly four months later on June 7 that the Association of Lions Clubs was organized at the Hotel LaSalle in Chicago by Melvin Jones. The first president of that first Lions Club in California was Jesse Robinson, destined in 1919 to become the president of Lions Clubs International.

California and the states adjoining it formed what was then known as the First District. That district was of tremendous size, extending from the Mexican border to the Canadian line and from the Pacific Ocean to the Utah state line. It embraced California, Oregon, Washington, and Nevada.

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Lions Clubs Code of Ethics

• To Show my faith in the worthiness of my vocation by industrious application to the end that I may merit a reputation for quality of service.

• To Seek success and to demand all fair remuneration or profit as my just due, but to accept no profit or success at the price of my own self-respect lost because of unfair advantage taken or because of questionable acts on my part.

• To Remember that in building up my business it is not necessary to tear down another's; to be loyal to my clients or customers and true to myself.

• Whenever a doubt arises as to the right or ethics of my position or action towards others, to resolve such doubt against myself.

• To Hold friendship as an end and not a means. To hold that true friendship exists not on account of the service performed by one to another, but that true friendship demands nothing but accepts service in the spirit in which it is given.

• Always to bear in mind my obligations as a citizen to my nation, my state, and my community, and to give them my unswerving loyalty in word, act, and deed. To give them freely of my time, labor and means.

• To Aid others by giving my sympathy to those in distress, my aid to the weak, and my substance to the needy.

• To Be Careful with my criticism and liberal with my praise; to build up and not destroy.

Lions Clubs International Purpose

• To Organize, charter and supervise service clubs to be known as Lions clubs. 

• To Coordinate the activities and standardize the administration of Lions clubs. 

• To Create and foster a spirit of understanding among the peoples of the world. 

• To Promote the principles of good government and good citizenship. 

• To Take an active interest in the civic, cultural, social and moral welfare of the community. 

• To Unite the clubs in the bonds of friendship, good fellowship and mutual understanding. 

• To Provide a forum for the open discussion of all matters of public interest; provided, however, that partisan politics and sectarian religion shall not be debated by club members. 

• To Encourage service-minded people to serve their community without personal financial reward, and to encourage efficiency and promote high ethical standards in commerce, industry, professions, public works and private endeavors.

This organization shall be known as Multiple District Four, California, Lions Clubs International, hereinafter referred to as Multiple District Four (MD4).

The purpose of this organization is to bring greater strength to the Lions Clubs of MD4 through a unity of effort and to spread the principles of Lionism throughout said MD4.

All Lions clubs within MD4 shall hold membership in this organization subject to the Constitution and Bylaws of the International Association of Lions Clubs and to the Constitution and Bylaws of MD4. A chartered club in good standing is defined as a club, which is current with the payment of its per capita tax to Lions Clubs International and to MD4.​

The territory embraced by MD4 shall be the area of the State of California, except such clubs in communities bordering other states and electing to be a member of another District.

MD4 shall be divided into a number of alphabetically designated Districts, each known and referred to as District 4, followed by a designating letter and numeral, District 4-C1, District 4-C2, District 4-C3, District 4-C4, District 4-C5, District 4-C6, District 4-A1, District 4-A2, District 4-A3, District 4-L1, District 4-L2, District 4-L3, District 4-L4, District 4-L5, and District 4-L6. 

The District Governors and the Council Chairperson of MD4 shall constitute the governing body thereof and shall be known as the Council of Governors. A majority of said Council of Governors shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. 

There shall be an Executive Administrator for Multiple District Four. The office of said Executive Administrator shall be located in Santa Barbara.

Ken Ibarra

2021-2023

Invocations in memory