History

The Lions Club of Annandale was organized on March 23, 1948 under the sponsorship of the South Arlington, Virginia Lions Club during a dinner held at the George Mason Hotel in downtown Alexandria. On May 4th of that year, the 30 original members of the Lions Club of Annandale met at the Annandale Methodist Church for its formal chartering ceremony and initial charter night celebration.

Back then, Annandale was a tranquil rural community with several gas stations, a couple of small restaurants, a variety store, a new volunteer fire department, an elementary school, several churches, a Grange (i.e., agricultural lodge), and little else. For a time, the club held its meetings at the Little Tea House in Arlington, however attendance was dropping off and a new meeting place was needed. The Annandale Baptist Church came to the rescue by allowing the Club to have its dinner meetings there. In December, the meeting place changed again -- this time to the Dardanelles Restaurant in Falls Church.

By the end of the first year, there were only 12 of the original members left and the Club was in financial difficulty. The situation was serious -- Lions International was discussing with the District Governor the possibility of rescinding the Clubs Charter. But then Lion Erskine Worden was elected as the new club President. During that second year, he and several other Lions worked energetically to rebuild the Club on a firmer foundation. Their enthusiasm sparked the Annandale Lions to pull together for the purpose of collectively serving the Annandale Community. The Club now had defined its mission -- a legacy that has continued for over a half century.