Global Membership Team Report – February 2026
Global and Montana Membership – February, 2026
We Are A Community
Mostly, Montana Lions clubs live within their own world. However, we are joined together in International Lions District 37. We have a chance to meet other lion members at our district convention each year.
I ask the question ”Is this enough?” What can be gained by getting together more often? Lion clubs have a basic structure and motto “We Serve”, and another “Where there’s a need there’s a lion”.
As I have visited clubs I noticed the similarities and differences. My next question is “can we help each other be all we want to be?” By visiting other clubs, you might be introduced to great ideas from recruiting new members, service ideas, resources and more. You might be able to receive guidance on issues your club is dealing with. Will you visit a neighboring club?
Another way to interact is to invite a neighboring club to share a function, NOT A MEETING. A pot luck or a program of Lions endorsed projects or information from a knowledgeable person or persons about an issue that is related to our mottos or another issue in your community.
“Together we will overcome” has become a catch phrase that has been used in recent times when communities have been impacted by an adverse event. This is a way to connect a wide cross section of the community toward solving the situation they find themselves in and moving forward together. “Stronger Together!”
Why do we wait for trouble and not start before disaster has occurred or is knocking at our door? This must be our humanity some would say. Why wait, when sharing and asking for help could prevent a troublesome journey? Too many questions you might say. My response would be to overcome your embarrassment of nonaction and ask for help.
I challenge every Lion member and club to participate in getting to know one another so we can overcome whatever we want to achieve as a person and as a club. A relationship first makes asking easier and with better results. Let us commit to getting to know one another, member or club, to make each of our clubs and our district the best we can be.
I look forward to members and clubs reporting how getting together has made you and your Club stronger and more successful in whatever you and your clubs pursue.
GMT Lion Richard Gessling
By Global Membership Team
Global Membership Team Report – January 2026
Global and Montana Membership – January, 2026
Connecting Clubs and Lions to One Another
As I have traveled to Lions Clubs across Montana over the past 11 years, I have observed that while some clubs are thriving, others are struggling with membership. One thing remains constant, however: every club is providing wonderful service to its community.
Recently, I have been tracking analytics from our website, montanalions.org. These analytics show how many members visit the site, what pages they view, and how long they stay. What I’ve noticed is that, unless it is close to convention time, relatively few members visit the website in any given month.
I have also looked at convention attendance. Last year, only half of our 58 clubs had at least one member attend the state convention.
Not surprisingly, many of the clubs that are struggling are also the ones not visiting the website or attending conventions. As a result, these clubs can become isolated—from other clubs and from the district as a whole.
Because of this, I ask those of you who regularly attend conventions to reach out to those who do not. Encourage them to attend this year’s convention. Consider traveling together or sharing a room. For many Lions, attending a convention alone for the first time can feel like a big step.
Sometimes all it takes is an invitation.
Just ask!
GMT Chair Richard Gessling
Global Membership Team Report – November 2025
Global and Montana Membership – November, 2025
Congratulations to Lions Clubs and Members for starting off the Lions year 25-26 with remarkable membership numbers. For the first time in over 10 years our district has a net gain of over 20 members.
We can’t stand of our laurels however, as we should continue to engage our communities with new members, new ideas for service and energy.
All members should get with the program and ask a friend, neighbor, or a stranger if they would like to help their communities. We need to remember our challenge “WHERE THERE IS A NEED, THERE IS A LION”.
GMT Chair Richard Gessling
Global Membership Team Report – Clubs Helping Clubs-October 2025
Global and Montana Membership – October, 2025
Clubs Helping Clubs!!
On September 28th, the East Missoula Lions Club hosted a community BBQ to share with their neighbors who Lions are and what we do.
They were joined by several Lions from the Seeley Lake Lions Club, and together they created a very successful day with over 30 community members in attendance.
Results:
- At least 10 new member applications were turned in, with hopes that these individuals will inspire even more friends and family to join.
- President Jack Ballas of East Missoula led the effort, supported by an enthusiastic crew.
- Zone Chair Rob Shaffer and Lion Clay Creek worked the grills, while Lions Jayne Lux and Mike Feretich (Seeley Lake Club President) welcomed guests and answered questions to spark interest in Lionism.
A big thank you to everyone who made this day such a success!
If your club would like to host a similar event to boost membership and visibility, please reach out to your Zone Chair for guidance.
Not sure who your Zone Chair is? Check the listing here: District 37 Zone Directory
Some zones are currently without a Zone Chair—if that is the case for your club, please contact DG Corinna Christensen for support.
Together we can keep growing the strength of Lions across Montana.
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.
Global Membership Team Report – PDG Richard Gessling-August 2025
Global Membership Team
Global and Montana Membership – August, 2025
Growing Lion Leaders 3
I’ve been describing what the clubs should be doing to make a Lions leader, but I will describe what a Lion member should be doing to learn how to be a leader in whatever endeavor you pick, including a Lion leader. You might ask why should I want to a Lions leader. My reply would be, you will gain the skills for all aspects of your life. You’ve probably already gained the skills that are necessary to fulfill your lifestyle goals. If so you were exposed and taught and demonstrated by many people in your life, a teacher, parent, or a relative or friend. It is time to pay it back, so they say.
Global Membership Team Report – PDG Richard Gessling-July 2025
Global Membership Team
Global and Montana Membership – July, 2025
Growing Lion Leaders 2
Growing a lion leader begins with the new member induction. They have decided to help their community by joining a Lions Club. They hear a bit about the International Lions founding and the international services during the induction ceremony. After they receive their pin, the entire club should make them feel welcome.
Global Membership Team Report – PDG Richard Gessling-June 2025
Global Membership Team
Global and Montana Membership – June, 2025
Growing Lion Leaders
This will be a continuing discussion from my speed learning presentation at the convention. By “Putting meat on the bones”. Our Montana Lions District is not growing the leaders we need to keep and improve our district. This is evident by not being able to fill our zone chairs positions, Club presidents that are presidents longer than one or two years, and members holding club officer positions for multiple years. To grow leaders, leaders need to allow for succession, replacing one’s self.
Let’s start with club service projects. A new lion needs to be immediately included in service, not by saying come and help but giving them a duty, or by a club member taking them on as an assistant. Club Members tend to have the same duties over multiple years. Incorporating the new member might mean be giving up your current duty, but hopefully you move on to another duty. Let’s face it, change is hard for humans. A chair of a service project should also change after a few years allowing another to grow their leadership skills. The replacement could be a vice chair for a year prior to moving up.
These small steps need to be continued to “GROW A LION LEADER”. I hope you catch my drift and keep moving from position to another and keep the flow moving. This will keep every member engaged and help recruit new members and keep the current members engaged. Doing this should keep your club strong and encourage club and personal growth. The International Lions state that we create leaders. Let’ make sure we do our part.
Lion Richard Gessling
406-425-3785
