The Mt. Vernon Lions Club meets at the Lions Den, 7th & Pace, Mt. Vernon, Illinois, three times monthly. The first, second, and fourth Thurday at 6:00 p. m. The second and fourth Thursdays are considered membership meetings. A meal is served at a cost of $ 5.00 and a program is generally provided. Programs are delivered by guests, or occasionally, members of the club. The Board of Directors utilizes the first Thursday each month for the conduct of club business. This Board meeting is held at 6:00 p. m.  Minutes of the previous board meeting are read and approved, bills are paid, eyecare requests are presented, old and new business is conducted. All members of the club are welcomed to any or all board meetings.

One major fund raiser is the annual smoked pork chop lunch sale. Advance sales of tickets is important to the success of this fund raiser, but sales at the curb still play a significant role. Club members, spouses and others gather at the Lions Den early on the day of the sale to sack chips, buns, applesauce and the all important "Twinkie", in preparation for the pork chop, which goes in last. The sack lunch is then ready to be given out at the 12tn & Main location.

A second fund raiser, and the principal one, is the Lions Train. Our club motto might be "Have Train, Will Travel". The train is made available to Lions activities, community events, parades, etc. for a fee. The train (see picture) travels to these events on a Club trailer, pulled by a Club pick-up. At least two Lions members - authorized & trained - take the train to approximately six events each year. These trips are approved by the Board of Directors. The Mt. Vernon Lions Club Train is registered with, inspected and certified by, the Illinois Department of Labor, Amusement Ride Division. It is stored at the Lions Den, when not in use.

Eyecare - {eye exams & glasses, Cataract surgeries and hearing aid} - is emphasized by the Board of Directors. In addition, the Lions of Illinois Foundation program - Camp Lions for Youth - receives financial support.  Other Lions programs, projects and activities are considered on an individual basis.

Lions meet the needs of local communities and the world every day because they share a core belief - to serve their community.

Lions have a dynamic history. Founded in 1917, we are best known for fighting blindness, but we also volunteer for many different kinds of community projects - including caring for the environment, feeding the hungry and aiding seniors and the disabled.

Lions give sight. By conducting vision screenings, equipping hospitals and clinics, distributing medicine and raising awareness of eye disease, Lions work toward their mission of providing vision for all. We have extended our commitment to sight conservation through countless local efforts and through our international SightFirst Program, which works to eradicate blindness.

Lions serve youth. Our community projects often support local children and schools through scholarships, recreation and mentoring. Internationally, we offer many programs, including the Peace Poster Contest, Youth Camps and Exchange and Lions Quest.

Our Leo Program provides the youth of the world with an opportunity for personal development through volunteering. There are approximately 144,000 Leos and 5,700 Leo clubs in more than 140 countries worldwide.

Lions award grants. Since 1968, the Lions Clubs International Foundation (LCIF) has awarded more than US$700 million in grants to support Lions humanitarian projects around the world. LCIF was also ranked the number one nongovernmental organization in a 2007 study by The Financial Times.

Lions help during disasters. Together, our Foundation and Lions are helping communities following natural disasters by providing for immediate needs such as food, water, clothing and medical supplies – and aiding in long-term reconstruction.

Lions are active. Our motto is "We Serve." Lions are part of a global service network, doing whatever is necessary to help our local communities.

For more about Lions Clubs, go to www.lionsclubs.org

Lions Clubs International is the world's largest service club organization with more than 1.4 million members in approximately 46,000 clubs in more than 200 countries and geographical areas around the world.