March 2026 Newsletter
The publication of the district newsletter is at the beginning of the month, but articles are posted all during the month. A second email notification mid-way through the month will be sent if there are additional posts to share.
You can reply to this email to give us feedback on the new format. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE!!
By Lion Peggy Tobin
Remembering Past International President Justice Brian Stevenson
From the Desk of CC Christine Lank
Lions of Montana, I wanted to let you know about the sudden passing of Past International President, Justice Brian Stevenson, of Calgary, Alberta, Canada. PIP Justice Stevenson was elected to serve as the international president at the Lions’ 70th International Convention, held in Taipei, Taiwan, in July 1987.
PIP Justice Stevenson was a proud Lion since 1966 and a member of the Calgary Northeast Eyeopener Lions Club, and he held numerous roles within the association, including district governor, council chairperson (74-75), member of the association’s board of directors (77-79), a presidential appointee to the international board on five occasions, and served as a board trustee for Lions Clubs International Foundation (LCIF). For his many contributions, Past International President Stevenson received the 100% District Governor Award, the Senior Master Key, 38 International Presidents’ Awards, and the Ambassador of Good Will Award, the association’s highest honor granted to its members. He was a Progressive Melvin Jones Fellow, along with his wife, Lion Patricia.
He wanted to leave this world a better place than how he inherited it through his work with the association, so he served as Canada’s constitutional area leader on the Global Membership Team, as the Canadian advisor on the LCIF Development Advisory Committee, and as Canada’s representative on the association’s Centennial Committee. He also represented Canada on the Vice-Presidential Candidates Evaluation Committee.
Past International President Stevenson served the community as a Lion, and as a dedicated and long-serving judge. PIP Stevenson retired from the Calgary justice system in December of 2024. While no official records are kept, it’s believed that Justice Stevenson spent more than 50 years on the bench, making him the longest-serving judge in Canadian history. Before being appointed as a judge in 1974, he was a partner in a Calgary law firm and served as a special prosecutor of narcotic offences for the Canadian Department of Justice.
In 1996, the City of Calgary recognized his substantial contributions by awarding him the Grant MacEwan Lifetime Achievement Award of Merit. In 2005, the Province of Alberta recognized his service to Alberta with the Alberta Centennial Medal. In 2002, Justice Stevenson was honored by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II with the Golden Jubilee Medal, and in 2023, he was again honored by receiving the Platinum Jubilee Medal. Not only did our association and our Lions benefit from Justice Stevenson’s passion, he also served as an advisor to Calgary’s United Way, as president of the Calgary Social Planning Council, and as a member of the City of Calgary Social Services Committee. He has also served as president of the Alberta Provincial Judges’ Association and as chair of the International Year of Disabled Persons for the Province of Alberta.
But his greatest achievement was his family, his beloved Patricia, who left his side in 2022, his blended family of four daughters, 24 grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
PIP Brian Stevenson showed us what great leadership looks like, and his courage in serving humanity, his gentle manner, humor, and love of life and people should guide us all. Let’s remember what his life taught us and continue his work together. Please keep his family in your thoughts and prayers.
Below is the link for Judge Brian’s celebration of Life:
https://www.arbormemorial.ca/en/edenbrook/obituaries/brian-stevenson/156380.html
The family wanted to accommodate Brian’s Lions family, so they are holding it on Monday after our MD Convention, which is in Grande Prairie. They also had his Law family to work with, hence the 4 pm start. The Red & White club is close to the Calgary Stampeders home stadium, McMahon Stadium.
Vice President Mark & Lion Lyn are staying in Calgary on Sunday night so they can attend on Monday. They are our guests at the convention. We are making arrangements at the Best Western Plus Village Park Inn 1804 Crowchild Trail NW, Calgary AB T2M 3Y7 (403) 289-0241. The Village Park Inn is across the street (Crowchild Trail) from McMahon Stadium and the Red & White Club.
Take care
CC Christine Lank
LCI President’s Message-March 2026
President’s MessageLead to Serve, Serve To Leadwith International President A.P. Singh |
Dear Lion,
When you join Lions, you may focus on how you will give back to others through service. What you may not immediately realize is how much Lions gives back to you. Becoming a Lion opens the door to experiencing more — more belonging, more purpose, more leadership and more community.
Lions is not only the world’s largest and best service organization; it’s a way of life. As a Lion, you grow as an individual while discovering how your unique talents and passions can make a real difference in the world. Lions is your place to shine.
Remember, every one of you is needed, important and valued. Thank you for all you do, and I look forward to seeing how you continue to grow on your Lions journey.
Together in service,
A.P. Singh
International President
Convention & Special Notices – March 2026
OFFICIAL CALL FOR THE CONVENTION
The annual District Convention shall be held on April 17 and 18, 2026 in Columbia Falls, Montana. The convention starts as registration commences on Friday April 17, 2025 at 1:00pm.
CLUB DELEGATE FORMULA
Policy Manual, Article 8, Section B: Club Delegate Formula
Each chartered club in good standing in Lions Clubs International and this District shall be entitled in each annual convention of this District to one (1) delegate and one (1) alternate for each (10) members, who have been enrolled for at least one year and a day in the club or major fraction thereof, of said club as shown by the records of the International office on the first day of the month last preceding that month during which the convention is held. (NOTE: for the 2026 convention, that date is March 1st.) The major fraction referred to in this section shall be five (5) or more members. Each certified delegate, present in person, shall be entitled to cast one (1) vote only on each question submitted to the respective convention. All eligible delegates must be members in good standing of a club in good standing within the District.
Montana District 37 grants full delegate status to each past district governor who is a member of a club in such district independent of the club delegate quotas.
NOTE: If your club has members who are together in a household, the number available to calculate delegates will be different than what is listed above, as it will be based on households.
CONVENTION REGISTRATION
Early Bird Registration for the 2026 District 37 Convention in Columbia Falls ends March 27, 2026. The cost will increase from $110 to $135 on March 28, 2026.
Go to www.montanalions.org to register online or download the registration form on pages 15 & 16 of the newsletter.
For Club Secretaries
If you make changes to your club officers, meeting locations and/or meeting dates & times in the Lion Portal, please send a note to Lion Peggy Tobin, District 37 Secretary at [email protected] or call/text 406-461-4206 so she can more efficiently update the District website. The club directory information on the website is used by the district governor’s team to plan visits, set up meetings, and provide updates. THANK YOU!
For Club Treasurers
Please remember that all Lions clubs with annual gross receipts less than US$50,000 that are not required to file Forms 990 or 990-EZ must file the e-Postcard (also known as the 990-N). Please be advised this filing relates specifically to the 501(c)(4). If your Lions club has a foundation, which is a separate legal entity, the appropriate form will need to be filed as well. If you are unfamiliar with this process, please see the short video noted below.
District 37 Club Officer Training Videos
These videos are all accessible via the district website, www.montanalions.org under “Training/Resources”:
- All Club officers: Trainer PDG Mike Collins
- Club President: Trainer PDG Mike Tobin
- Club Secretary: Trainer Lion Peggy Tobin
- Club Treasurer: Trainer PDG Mike Collins
Short videos about how to do specific secretary or treasurer tasks:
Filing your 990-N (e-Postcard) (9 minutes)
With the release of the new LionPortal, we have added links to some of the short videos provided by LCI:
Newsletter Information
Any Lions club member can submit information associated with any type of Lions project or general club information. You can submit Club News ANYTIME! You are also welcome to email your news (hopefully with photo) to: Lion Peggy Tobin at [email protected].
Website Updates
In Addition to the “Tri-Fold Generator” for clubs to create their own club brochures, additional documents have been added including Leo Application forms and Club Service Project Ideas. If you have trouble finding a resource and it’s not currently available on the website, please contact Peggy Tobin at [email protected] or call 406-461-4206.
Free Club Websites!
The club-level website is still being offered by Montana District 37 at NO COST! If you don’t already have a domain name, Deanna can provide one for a cost of $20/year after the first year. If you are interested in getting a website for your club, please contact Peggy Tobin at [email protected] or call 406-461-4206.
Dates to Remember – March 2026
MARCH CLUB ANNIVERSARIES
318 years of service!!!
Sidney 03/01/1971
Red Lodge 03/03/1947
Plentywood 03/10/1986
Bozeman 03/18/1954
Wolf Point 03/26/1990
UPCOMING DISTRICT MEETING DATES
District Cabinet Meeting – April 19, 2026 @ 9:00am following the Convention
MT Lions Sight & Hearing Foundation – April 19, 2026 @ noon following the Convention
2026 MD C CONVENTION
MARK YOUR CALENDARS
APRIL 10-11, 2026
GRAND PRAIRIE, ALBERTA
KEYNOTE SPEAKER – 1ST VP MARK S. LYON
MEMORIAL SERVICE – PIP JUSTICE BRIAN STEVENSON
APRIL 13, 2026
GRAND PRAIRIE, ALBERTA
2026 DISTRICT 37 CONVENTION
MARK YOUR CALENDARS
APRIL 17-18, 2026
COLUMBIA FALLS, MONTANA
KEYNOTE SPEAKER – PID DEB WEAVERLING
LIONS CLUB INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION SCHEDULE
2026 Hong Kong – Jul 3-7
2027 Washington DC – July 2-6
2028 Singapore -June 23-27
2029 Minneapolis, MN
2030 San Antonio TX
2031 – Helsinki Finland
UPCOMING USA/CANADA FORUMS
USA/CANADA LIONS LEADERSHIP FORUMS CAN BE RELATED TO ALL AREAS OF YOUR LIFE – NOT JUST LIONS
2026 Memphis TN – September 3 – 5
2027 Huntsville, AB – September 16-18
2028 Grand Rapids, MI – To be announced
2029 Shreveport, LA – To be announced
Seeley Lake Lions Skate Park
Who doesn’t love to skate on a pond you can call your own? Getting outside and laughing and having a great time in another winter sport right here in Seeley Lake. On February 15, 2026 the Lions hosted a skate party at the Lions Park where we have our own pond and make sure it gets filled with enough water if Mother Nature is not cooperative enough to have thick enough ice and a great surface.
Our park committee chairman Lion Rich Westin has been the one to maintain and oversee the safety of the ice to ensure a fun time for all. Lion Gary Swain, a former NHL player, helps get donations of skates and, with the help of a local resident that has access to a skate sharpening machine, keeps the skate shed in top shape. These skates are available in all sizes to fit our local residents for a fun day of skating anytime. Just goes to show you that all you have to do is get out there and find the activities that await!
Thank you for all the hard work these two Lions put in to have a safe and fun place to go. Just another thing to do on a cold day in Seeley.
Looking for Club Service Project Ideas?
Sometimes it’s hard to come up with new ideas for club service projects. Lions Club International offers a wealth of information that can assist in making our clubs stronger. One of them is the Quick Start Service Ideas based on our global causes. You can also find this list at montanalions.org under the “About Us/Our Causes” and “Training & Resources” tabs.
February 2026 Newsletter
We are continuing to evolve the format of the newsletter notification emails. The publication of the newsletter is at the beginning of the month, but articles are posted all during the month. A second email notification mid-way through the month will be sent if there are additional posts to share.
You can reply to this email to give us feedback on the new format. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE!!
LCI President’s Message-February 2026
President’s MessageLead to Serve, Serve To Leadwith International President A.P. Singh |
Dear Lion,
As a Lion, you are a leader in your community. Your belief in service and your desire to make a difference — both at home and around the world — are what inspired you to become a Lion.
Every project you begin and every role you take on is an act of leadership that strengthens our entire association. And every person you invite helps us reach our MISSION 1.5 goals and do even more good for the people who need us.
At this midpoint of the Lion year, now is the perfect time to reflect on how you can continue to be a force for positive action in your club and beyond. Show those around you what it means to succeed — and what it means to be a Lion.
Together in service,
A.P. Singh
International President
Convention & Special Notices – February 2026
OFFICIAL CALL FOR THE CONVENTION
The annual District Convention shall be held on April 17 and 18, 2026 in Columbia Falls, Montana. The convention starts as registration commences on Friday April 17, 2025 at 1:00pm.
CLUB DELEGATE FORMULA
Policy Manual, Article 8, Section B: Club Delegate Formula
Each chartered club in good standing in Lions Clubs International and this District shall be entitled in each annual convention of this District to one (1) delegate and one (1) alternate for each (10) members, who have been enrolled for at least one year and a day in the club or major fraction thereof, of said club as shown by the records of the International office on the first day of the month last preceding that month during which the convention is held. (NOTE: for the 2026 convention, that date is March 1st.) The major fraction referred to in this section shall be five (5) or more members. Each certified delegate, present in person, shall be entitled to cast one (1) vote only on each question submitted to the respective convention. All eligible delegates must be members in good standing of a club in good standing within the District.
Montana District 37 grants full delegate status to each past district governor who is a member of a club in such district independent of the club delegate quotas.
NOTE: If your club has members who are together in a household, the number available to calculate delegates will be different than what is listed above, as it will be based on households.
CONVENTION REGISTRATION
Early Bird Registration for the 2026 District 37 Convention in Columbia Falls ends March 27, 2026. The cost will increase from $110 to $135 on March 28, 2026.
Go to www.montanalions.org to register online or download the registration form on pages 15 & 16 of the newsletter.
For Club Secretaries
If you make changes to your club officers, meeting locations and/or meeting dates & times in the Lion Portal, please send a note to Lion Peggy Tobin, District 37 Secretary at [email protected] or call/text 406-461-4206 so she can more efficiently update the District website. The club directory information on the website is used by the district governor’s team to plan visits, set up meetings, and provide updates. THANK YOU!
For Club Treasurers
Please remember that all Lions clubs with annual gross receipts less than US$50,000 that are not required to file Forms 990 or 990-EZ must file the e-Postcard (also known as the 990-N). Please be advised this filing relates specifically to the 501(c)(4). If your Lions club has a foundation, which is a separate legal entity, the appropriate form will need to be filed as well. If you are unfamiliar with this process, please see the short video noted below.
District 37 Club Officer Training Videos
These videos are all accessible via the district website, www.montanalions.org under “Training/Resources”:
- All Club officers: Trainer PDG Mike Collins
- Club President: Trainer PDG Mike Tobin
- Club Secretary: Trainer Lion Peggy Tobin
- Club Treasurer: Trainer PDG Mike Collins
Short videos about how to do specific secretary or treasurer tasks:
Filing your 990-N (e-Postcard) (9 minutes)
With the release of the new LionPortal, we have added links to some of the short videos provided by LCI:
Newsletter Information
Any Lions club member can submit information associated with any type of Lions project or general club information. You can submit Club News ANYTIME! You are also welcome to email your news (hopefully with photo) to: Lion Peggy Tobin at [email protected].
Website Updates
In Addition to the “Tri-Fold Generator” for clubs to create their own club brochures, additional documents have been added under including Leo Application forms!! If you have trouble finding a resource and it’s not currently available on the website, please contact Peggy Tobin at [email protected] or call 406-461-4206.
Free Club Websites!
The club-level website is still being offered by Montana District 37 at NO COST! If you don’t already have a domain name, Deanna can provide one for a cost of $20/year after the first year. If you are interested in getting a website for your club, please contact Peggy Tobin at [email protected] or call 406-461-4206.
