Page 13 - MD20 Anniv Journal 2024

MD-20 History

Initially the United States was divided into 9 Districts.
1917 - First Club in NY was the NYC Herald Square Lions in 1917. It was also cancelled in 1917.
1921 - The Rochester Host Downtown Lions Club was chartered in 1921. It is the oldest
Club existing club in MD-20.
- USA was divided into 17 Districts. District 16 includes NJ-DE-Dist C-MD and NYS.
- 1st District Governor of New York was Warren Barlow (NYC). Served 1921-22.
1922 - NY was detached from District 16 to become District 20.

1938 - New York State becomes Multiple District 20.
1942 - Four Districts are created in NYS - NYSL (New York State Lions).
1943 - A fifth District is added - NYSLA (New York State Lions Association).

1946 - The Hamilton Lions Club becomes the first club in Bermuda to join Lions Clubs
International. Bermuda had a series of provisional Governors. Since Bermuda
would not be able to meet the minimum number of Clubs and requiered to become
a District, They will choose to affiliate with another MD

1949 - Three more Districts are created bringing the new total to 8. N E W Y O R K S.
1960 - Nine Districts are created when District Y divides - N E W Y1 Y2 O R K S.
1961 - District K divides resulting in ten Districts - N E W Y1 Y2 O R K1 K2 S.
1069 - Bermuda Lions held a referendum to affiliate with MD-20 since most Bermudians

primary of entry into the US was New York. They chose District R2.
1973 - MD-20 expands to 12 Districts - N E1 E2 W Y1 Y2 O R1 R2 K1 K2 S.
1976 - A Vice Council Chair is elected by his peers at the1st Council meeting of the Year.
1984 - The Council Chair was elected for next year for the first time.

1993 - First Elected Position of Vice District Governor.
1994 - Bermuda moves their affiliation to District 20-K2.
2009 - The 2nd Vice District Governor position is introduced.
2018 - Districts W, Y1 and Y2 reorganize and create Districts W & Y. Multiple currently has

eleven Districts - N, E1, E2, W, Y, O, R1, R2, K1, K2, S.
There have been five International Presidents and twenty-five International Directors
elected to represent MD-20 and serve on the International Board.

Multiple District 20 supports four MD-20 Projects:
- Empire State Special Needs Experience, Inc. - Lions Camp Badger
- New York State & Bermuda Lions Foundation
- MD-20 Lions SEE (Screening Eyes Early)
- The Alert Foundation

As well as the Brandel-Murphy Youth Foundation.