At this first convention the delegates defined the constitution and by-laws that were adopted by all clubs. Purple and Gold were approved has colours for the association and a start was made on the Lions Clubs Objects and Code of Ethics. The Objects and Ethics put service ahead of profit.

Leaders began to organise clubs all over the United States. Lions clubs became International in 1920 when the Windsor, Ontario, Canada club was formed. Other clubs appeared in Mexico, China and Cuba. By 1927 there were 60,000 members and 1,183 clubs.

Panama became the first Central American club in 1935. The first club in South America was formed the following year in Colombia. Sweden was the home of the first European club followed by France in 1948. Japan had clubs in 1952. Entry of Lions in to Eastern Bloc countries did not occur until has late has 1989 when clubs were formed in Hungary, Poland and Estonia (former republic of the Union of Socialist Soviet Republics). During the break-up of the former U.S.S.R. a club was chartered in Moscow, Russia, in 1990.