Lions Clubs, Jaycees Join Forces

Concern about a decline in memberships has prompted two prominent civic groups to collaborate.

Lions Clubs International and Junior Chamber International — whose members are also known as “Jaycees” — plan to encourage their local chapters to work together on community-service projects, run joint leadership assemblies, and find other ways to merge programs.

The partnership is not a legal merger.

The two charities will remain separate tax-exempt organizations responsible for their own fund raising and governance.

In the past 10 years, Lions Clubs has seen its worldwide membership increase slightly, but its domestic membership drop from 580,000 to 575,000.

Junior Chamber International has also seen its global membership decline, from 600,000 to 460,000.