Thanks for stopping here to learn more about how we serve our community as Lions! Our Lions Club was founded in 1952, and we serve the areas of West San Jose and Campbell, California. We’re a fun group of 30+ members with different perspectives, ages, backgrounds, and skills. All feel welcome and appreciated here. Throughout the year we have a number of enjoyable service activities that help make our community a better place. See our Charities and Activities page for examples of what we do.
Lions Clubs Fit Your Lifestyle
Lions Clubs International offers a volunteer opportunity that fits your lifestyle. Whether you are looking to lend a helping hand or pursue a leadership role, Lions has an option for you.
Being a Lion allows you to help change lives, and you can commit as much time as you wish and as your schedule allows.
A club’s time commitment depends mainly on the service activities they undertake. Most clubs meet once or twice a month to plan projects, provide community service and conduct club business.
Lions Clubs Offer New Experiences
Are you interested in helping others and meeting new people? As a Lion, you will:
Use your talents to make an impact locally and around the world
Acquire new skills
Meet challenges head-on
Cultivate lasting friendships
Discover more about yourself
Volunteering your time not only helps those in need, but also gives you a sense of pride and accomplishment that comes from deep within.
FAQ
Q: Your club is involved in a lot of activities. Do I have to participate in all of them? A: Absolutely not! You can participate in the activities that interest you, subject to your availability and abilities.
Q: Can women join Lions Clubs? A: Yes.
Q: How do I become a Lion? A: Membership in Lions Clubs is by invitation only. We ask that you first participate in three activities with us. The activities can be a mix of volunteer events or club meetings. After that, if you are still interested in joining, one or more of our members are likely to ask you to join the club.
Q: Does it cost money to be a Lion? A: Yes. Our club collects dues of $65 every six months, totaling $130 per year. This money covers the club’s operating expenses. The club then pays all of your Lions District and Lions Clubs International dues from these funds.
Q: Is this one of those organizations where most of the money you raise goes to fundraising, or administrative salaries, and very little goes to charity? A: No. Club members are all volunteers. 100% of the funds we raise from the public for charity is donated to charitable causes.
A History of the West San Jose-Campbell Lions Club
In May 1952, a small group of businessmen, led by Enoch A. Davis Jr., established the Hester Lions Club in San Jose to do community work. In 2002, following in her father’s footsteps, Lois Davis Murray became the 51st president of the West San Jose-Campbell Lions Club. In 2022, the club is celebrating 70 years of service.
The club’s name and service area have evolved over the years. Itfirst changed its name to West San Jose Lions Club. Later, it merged with the Campbell Golden Lions Club, changing its name to West San Jose-Campbell Lions Club. At that time, it expanded it’s service area from the western portion of San Jose to also include the city of Campbell.
The West San Jose-Campbell Lions Club (WSJ-CLC) has a reputation as one of the most active clubs in its district. It has been an active fund raiser, trying out a variety of methods: hosting events like Pancake Breakfasts, Flea Markets, and Crab Feeds; staffing ice cream and other booths at local festivals; selling coupon books, and calendars; and volunteering as ballot couriers for the local Registrar of Voters in return for the volunteers’ stipends.
The club also conducts service projects. Utilizing District 4-C6’s A.J. Robinson Mobile Screening Unit, the WSJ-CLC has conducted health and vision screenings in the community. The club has also helped provide or sponsor eye glasses, hearing aids, ear surgery, and eye surgery for a number of needy individuals in the local community. The club has also distributed American flags and talked about flag history for local veterans ceremonies and elementary school classes. The WSJ-CLC has also collected toys for Christmas, and provided and distributed holiday food baskets. It has also donated to disaster relief efforts locally, nationally, and internationally. And this is only a small part of it’s activities.
Back in 1953, the Lions in the area established the Santa Clara Valley Blind Center. The center is open to all people who are sight impaired. The Center remains at its original 101 North Bascom Avenue address and still looks to the local Lions clubs for volunteer assistance and partial funding.The WSJ-CLC continues its support of the Blind Center to this day.
The Lions of WSJ-CLCalso helped with the founding ofBooks Aloud, Inc., which records and supplies books on tape for those with visual impairments. Incorporated in 1973, it has supplied books on tape to thousands of permanently and temporarily disabled listeners across the U.S. Its “Reading by Listening” program consists of some 8,000+ unabridged titles, with numerous selections suitable to patrons of all ages. The club continues to make donations to Books Aloud, and one of its members volunteers his time to record for Books Aloud.
Each year, along with Lions Clubs throughout the state, WSJ-CLC collects thousands of pairs of used glasses to be used in other countries, such as Mexico, for people who cannot afford vision care or supplies. The San Francisco based organization Lions in Sight receives the donated prescription glasses, which it then categorizes, sterilizes and packages. Accompanied by an eye surgeon and an optometrist, Lions Club members travel to many countries to test eyesight and find suitable glasses for those in need. Lions from WSJ-CLC have participated in many of those missions.
Now 65 years old and still going strong, the West San Jose-Campbell Lions Club and its members continue to embody the slogan of Lions Clubs around the world – We Serve.
We meet on the first, second, third, and fourth Thursday of each month at Denny's, 1140 Hillsdale Avenue, San Jose. Meetings start at 12:15pm.
We usually do not meet on the 5th Thursday of a month, if one occurs.
Upcoming Meetings & Activities
Lensometer Training & Use April 2, 2024 at 9:00 am – 1:00 pm
Vista Center - San Jose, 101 N Bascom Ave, San Jose, CA 95128, USA
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Club Meeting April 4, 2024 at 12:15 pm – 1:30 pm
Denny's, 1140 Hillsdale Ave, San Jose, CA 95118, USA
Lensometer Training & Use April 9, 2024 at 9:00 am – 1:00 pm
Vista Center - San Jose, 101 N Bascom Ave, San Jose, CA 95128, USA
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Martha's Kitchen April 10, 2024 at 2:30 pm – 5:00 pm
Martha's Kitchen, 311 Willow Street, San Jose
Bring mask, proof of vaccination. Wear closed toe shoes.ARRIVE EARLY, AS PARKING IS DIFFICULT1Contact Person: Lion Bruce F.
Club Meeting April 11, 2024 at 12:15 pm – 1:30 pm
Denny's, 1140 Hillsdale Ave, San Jose, CA 95118, USA
Lensometer Training & Use April 16, 2024 at 9:00 am – 1:00 pm
Vista Center - San Jose, 101 N Bascom Ave, San Jose, CA 95128, USA
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