NJ Lions History

1920: 1st Lions Club chartered Camden Lions Club (12/15/1920) 
1921: 1st International Director elected from NJ (Wayland P. Cramer, Camden) 
1923: 7th Annual International Convention held in NJ (Atlantic City Steel Pier) 
1925: 1st International President elected from NJ. (Benjamin Franklin Jones. Newark) 
1942: New Jersey Lions was redistricted into 2 Districts (Districts “N” and “J”) 
1942: 1st Chairman of the Int.Board of Governors from NJ (Harold P. Nutter, Camden) 
1943: New Jersey Lions was redistricted into 3 Districts (Districts “A”, “B” and “C”) 
1943: 2nd International Director elected from NJ. (Harold P. Nutter, Camden) 
1945: Harold Nutter re-elected as Int. Director (only Lion elected 2 consecutive terms)
1951: Annual International Convention held in NJ (Atlantic City) 
1951: International President elected from NJ (Harold P. Nutter, Camden) 
1953: NJ Lions was redistricted into 5 Districts (Districts “A”, “B”, “C”, “D” & “E”) 
1955: Annual International Convention held in NJ (Atlantic City) 
1957: 3rd International Director elected from NJ (Herbert L. Birum, Jr, Hopewell Valley) 
1961: Annual International Convention held in NJ (Atlantic City) 
1962: 4th International Director elected from NJ (William F. McCormick, Fair Lawn) 
1966: 5th International Director elected from NJ. . (Maxson P. Strub, Warren Twp) 
1970: Annual International Convention held in NJ (Atlantic City) 
1972: Lions Sight Foundation of NJ is initiated
1976: The position of State Secretary for New Jersey was created. 
1980: 6th International Director elected from NJ (John S. Swantek, Pemberton Twp) 
1985: 7th International Director elected from NJ (Gordon R. Post, Denville) 
1993: 8th International Director elected from NJ (Charles H. Wiemer, Lindenwold) 
1996: To retain 5 Districts, counties of Sussex & Warren were transferred to 16-D 
1997: The NJ Lions Eyeglass Recycling Center at the Katzenbach School for the Deaf (in West Trenton) is named by Lions International as the 6th official Eyeglass Recycling Center in US. 
1998: MD-16 sent aid to victims of Hurricane Mitch; 
1999: 9lh International Director elected from NJ (Stanley Grossman, Springfield) 
1999: 1st female Governors in MD-16 sworn in at San DiegoConvention in (16-A& 16-E)
1999: The NJ Lions Eyeglass Recycling Center sets up pilot program in the Adult Diagnostic Center in Avenel 
2000: Vision 2000 (Free eye screening for the public was initiated by local clubs during the 3rd week in April
2001: The Lions of New Jersey participate with Special Olympics in “Opening Eyes” 
2005: 10lh International Director elected from NJ (Robert W. Moore, West Milford) 
2005: Lions of New Jersey sent aid to victims of Hurricane Katrina
2014: NJ Lions was redistricted into 3 Districts (Districts “N”, “J”, & “L”)
2015: 11lh International Director elected from NJ (Melvyn Bray, Toms River) 
2021: 12th International Director elected from NJ (Jeff Gans, Camden)