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Global Membership Team Report – PDG Richard Gessling-September 2025

Global Membership Team
Global and Montana Membership – September, 2025

Report on Progress

As humans we tend to quantify many things.  How many years married, how many children, how much we earn, how much we save, credit scores.  You get the idea, not a bad concept and it can be useful. 

This year three Lions clubs in Montana ceased to exist, leading to loss of services to their communities.  Since I was the district governor in 2015-2016, the district has lost 10 clubs.  Lions International measures lots of issues including clubs.  The most concerning to all of us is the net loss or gain of members and clubs over-all in our district. Over the last five years, our clubs and district have worked to reverse this trend.  Two years ago, we had a net loss of four,  one year ago we had a net gain of one, the year just ended showed a net gain of six.  Not a large number, but significant because we have over-come the year after year loss of clubs and members.  It was a difficult reality and necessary to turn around, like stopping a large stone from rolling down-hill.  

CONGRATULATIONS ARE IN ORDER!  Clubs and members have stepped forward to reverse the course we were on.  You have made a difference.  Why are membership numbers important?  New members aren’t just a number.  New members help clubs with more hands to help with service, bringing new energy, bringing new ideas for service projects, and strengthening clubs in so many ways. 

Many clubs are making membership gains, some have stopped the loss of members, and some are hanging on.  More encouraging is that some clubs are reaching out to help clubs struggling with membership.  Helping them with recruitment and service ideas. 

As a district we should be celebrating our successes as we continue to add more members.  As International President A.P. Singh stated “LEAD TO SERVE, SERVE TO LEAD”.  This is what we should be celebrating as each little step makes for a successful journey. 

BECOME A LEADER 

Lion  Richard Gessling

406-425-3785

Written By Global Membership Team

The Global Membership Team (GMT) supports membership development by recruiting new members and promoting positive membership experiences. The Global Extension Team (GET) is an offshoot of the Global Membership Team that is focused on starting new clubs within its district.

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