The Lions International Pin Trading Club (LITPC) was “born” on June 27, 1973 during the 56th Lions Clubs International Convention  in Miami Beach, Florida.   From the 36 Lions representing 14 States and  Canada who signed up in 1973, the LITPC has grown into an organization with a membership from 50 States, the District of Columbia, Canada, and 18 other District/Multiple Districts outside of North America.  At the beginning of 2007, the membership  was in excess of 700 Lions and Lionesses.  However, this is not a true measure of the total interest in the hobby of pin trading.  In January 1982, LITPC members from the State of Virginia organized the Pin Traders Club of Virginia for the main purpose of encouraging more of their fellow Lions and Lionesses to become interested in the hobby.  Since then, 37 other Multiple District pin clubs have been formed with a membership of several thousand.  The LITPC membership rolls have benefited tremendously from this expansion of the interest in the hobby.  An active membership drive to attract even more members to the LITPC and to the other pin trading clubs at the District/Multiple District level is ongoing.

The LITPC was organized for the purposes of fostering and developing friendship, good fellowship, and mutual understanding through the avocation of trading and collecting Lions friendship pins, which are more commonly referred to as “trading pins”.  The founding fathers of the LITPC hoped that this association would have a lasting and continuing influence on their desire to strengthen international Lionism through international good will.  There is no doubt that this objective has and continues to be achieved.  These are individuals who are dedicated to the principles of Lionism and are prone to remind all that they are Lions and Lionesses first and pin traders second.   Evidence of this is found in the fact that these members have and are continuing to raise thousands and thousands of dollars for the many humanitarian efforts supported by Lions Clubs International.  The LITPC is proud to count among their membership several Past International Directors and current District Governors.    In this connection, more than 30% of the membership are Past District Governors.  This is truly an organization of Lions and Lionesses who permeate the very fibers of our great International Association of Lions Clubs.

Organizationally, the LITPC has a president, two vice presidents, a secretary, a treasurer, and six directors.  The president may appoint up to three other members as chairpersons for the standing committees.  All of the individuals serving in the aforementioned positions are voting members of the LITPC Board of Directors.  A list of the current officers, directors, and committee chairpersons are shown elsewhere on this site.

Membership in the LITPC is open to all Lions and Lionesses who are active members and in good standing in their respective Clubs.  Obviously, an interest in the collection and trading of Lions pins is important.  However, just as important is the exposure that one can get in developing friendships with Lions families all over the world.  A membership application form is available elsewhere on this site.  If you have any questions that we have not answered here, please address them to PCC William A. “Bill” Smith, 3643 Osborne Drive, Warrenton VA 20187.  He will also be happy to furnish you with a complimentary copy of the LITPC newsletter, “The Trading Post”.