August 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.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE!!
By Lion Peggy TobinLCI President’s Message-August 2026
President’s MessageRooted in Servicewith International President Mark S. Lyon |
Dear Lion,
Service is the foundation of our organization. It’s at the very root of what we do and who we are as Lions. Meaningful service fuels growth, increases our impact and strengthens our communities and our world. It’s why people join us — and why they stay.
That’s why my presidential theme this year is “Rooted in Service.” I encourage all of us to reconnect with our Lion roots and focus on what matters most. Get creative with your service. Have fun. Look for new ways to meet the needs of your communities. And remember, no act of service is too small — every effort makes a difference.
I look forward to serving alongside you as your international president. Thank you for all the ways you already serve, and I can’t wait to see what we accomplish together.
In friendship and service,
Mark S. Lyon
International President
Two Lights Montana
CELEBRATING OUR NATION’S 250TH ANNIVERSARY
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Join Lions across Montana in celebrating our nation’s 250th anniversary through learning, civic participation, and community service. Plan or participate in a service project on October 24—Montana Makes a Difference Day—and share your efforts using #TwoLightsMT and #D37Lions.
USA/Canada Lions Forum – 2026 Midwest Breakfast
Montana is Invited to the Midwest Breakfast at the Forum
Any Montana Lions attending the USA/Canada Lions Forum are invited by PID Deb Weaverling to attend the Midwest Breakfast.
Special Notices – August 2026
For Club Secretaries
New Training Videos Available on District the Website
LCI has provided several new training videos that reflect the updates that were completed in the Lions Portal over the past year. They include “How to Create and Report Service”, “How to Add a Member”, “Assigning Lion Club Officers for the Next Year” and “How to Manage a Sponsored Leo Club.
These videos are available on the home page of the Lion Portal Website and have also been put on the Training Page of the District 37 Website at the link below:
https://www.montanalions.org/training/
For Club Treasurers
If your club’s treasurer has not created an account on the portal, that is the first step to completing this process. The login is the email address that LCI has on file for each officer. If an email address has not been provided to your club secretary, you will NOT be able to create an account in the Lion Portal.
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 (please note that these were recorded prior to updates that have made changes to the “look” of the pages – but the blue boxes are still there:
District 37 Facebook Page
We all know that Lions serve from the heart, and now we want to see YOU in action! Whether you’re planting trees, organizing a food drive, helping out at a community event, or any other service activity, we want to showcase the amazing work our Lions are doing.
We’re looking for candid shots of Montana Lions actively engaging in service. We appreciate the posed group photos that commemorate events but we want to see how you have captured the real moments that show the spirit of Lionism in action!
How to Participate:
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- Snap candid photos of Lions in action during service activities.
- Share your photos via message to the District Facebook Page (https://m.me/MontanaLions).
- Include a brief description of the activity and the names of the Lions involved.
- Bonus points for Lions wearing Lions Club logos on hats, vests, shirts, etc.!
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Let’s fill our media with the heart and soul of our District’s service efforts. Remember, a picture is worth a thousand words—let’s show the world the impact of the MT Lions Clubs of District 37!
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 – August 2026
AUGUST CLUB ANNIVERSARIES
230 years of service!!!
Baker – 08/29/1946 – 80 Years!
Ennis – 08/30/1948
Huntley Project – 08/30/1954
MARK YOUR CALENDARS
UPCOMING DISTRICT MEETING DATES
District 37 6th Annual Leadership Retreat – October 2 – 4, 2026, Lewistown, MT
MT Lions Sight & Hearing Foundation – October 17, 2026 @ 10:00 Boulder High School, Boulder MT
District Cabinet Meeting – October 17, 2026 @ noon, Boulder High School, Boulder MT
2027 District 37 Convention – April 16-17, 2027, Choteau, MT
LIONS CLUB INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION SCHEDULE
2027 Washington DC – July 2-6
2028 Singapore -June 23-27
2029 Minneapolis, MN – June 29 – July 3
2030 San Antonio TX – June 28 – July 2
2031 – Helsinki Finland – July 4-8
UPCOMING USA/CANADA FORUMS
USA/CANADA LIONS LEADERSHIP FORUMS CAN BE RELATED TO ALL AREAS OF YOUR LIFE – NOT JUST LIONS
2026 Memphis TN-50th Annual!! – September 3 – 5
2027 Huntsville, AB – September 16-18
2028 Grand Rapids, MI – To be announced
2029 Shreveport, LA – To be announced
July 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.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE!!
Meet 2026-2027 2nd Vice District Governor Gary Van Dyke
Lion Gary Van Dyke has had the privilege of living his entire life in the great State of Montana, moving from various small towns during his youth, to finally settling down in Roundup, MT with his amazing wife Lion Jennell, where they raised their now adult son Lion Aaron.
Lion Gary was first introduced to Lions during the Billings Lions Club’s annual Charles Campbell Children’s Camp, held every July since 1961 at their Lions Beartooth Mountain Youth Camp. Gary first attended Camp as a counselor in 2005, immediately falling in love with the majestic mountain views, the babbling creek, fresh pine scented mountain air, and most importantly, the amazing opportunities that the volunteer Lions members and staff gave to youth experiencing physical disabilities – providing them an amazing opportunity to just be a kid in the wilderness away from the “real world” for a week at Camp!
Shortly thereafter, Lion Gary joined the Billings Lions Club, the first club in Montana, founded in 1921. During his tenure with the club, he has held the offices of vice president and president, and recently completed a second term following a small break.
Lion Gary also was a zone chair, and a regional zone chair. He serves on the Camp Committee, ensuring the camp continues to be available for youth organizations and others to enjoy, is a member of the Charles Campbell Children’s Camp staff. He can usually be found running around Camp in various costumes or wild hats. Lion Gary is also a founding member and director of the Camp’s Counselor Scholarship Committee, giving scholarships to counselors of the camp as a small token of appreciation to their dedication and the impacts they make on humanity.
Lion Gary has volunteered and worked in a variety of pre-hospital and emergency settings starting as a high school senior with a small rural ambulance service in central Montana. He currently is a critical care paramedic with a busy rural service in South Central Montana.
In his scant free time, Lion Gary can be found spending time with Jennell and their beagles, visiting with their son Aaron, helping Gary’s brother with various projects, and during the summer, in the pristine Beartooths working around Camp and just enjoying the peacefulness of nature.
For more information on District 37’s Organization & Leadership, please click this link: https://www.montanalions.org/about/organization/
LCI President’s Message-July 2026
President’s MessageLead to Serve, Serve To Leadwith International President A.P. Singh |
This year, Lions and Leos around the world have made a meaningful difference. Through your leadership and service, compassion and kindness, needs have been met, lives have been touched and communities strengthened.
As the Lion year comes to a close, that impact continues. MISSION 1.5 reminds us there is more to do, and by growing our membership, we expand our service and extend our reach into the future.
This impact is worth celebrating, so take time to recognize what you and your fellow Lions have accomplished. As you look ahead, continue building momentum by preparing future leaders and strengthening succession plans, ensuring your club and our mission thrive for years to come.
It has been an honor and a privilege to serve as your international president this year. Thank you for your service and leadership as we continue leading to serve and serving to lead together.
Together in service,
A.P. Singh, International President
Meet 2026-2027 International President Mark S. Lyon
Mark S. Lyon, from Brookfield, Connecticut, USA, was elected to serve as first vice president of Lions Clubs International at the association’s 107th international convention held in Orlando, Florida from July 13 through July 17, 2025.
Prior to his retirement in March 2024, Vice President Lyon has worked in corporate legal administration and financial services with several major corporations and banks for over 40 years.
As a long-time resident of Brookfield and an active volunteer in his community, church and local government, his connection with Lions was already well established before he became a member of the Brookfield Lions Club in 1996. Since then, he has held a number of offices within the association, including international director, multiple district council chairperson and multiple district GLT coordinator.
He was also appointed as a member of the LCI Forward project team, a Global Action Team area leader, a District Governor-Elect Seminar group leader and board liaison to the 2019 USA/Canada Lions Leadership Forum Executive Committee. Vice President Lyon has also served as presenter, faculty and participant at countless training events and leadership forums throughout the years.
In recognition of his service, he has received multiple International President’s Awards and International President’s Certificates of Appreciation, as well as an International President’s Leadership Award. Vice President Lyon is also a recipient of the Ambassador of Good Will Award, the highest honor the association bestows upon its members. Additionally, he has been recognized as a Connecticut Knight of the Blind and a Connecticut Ambassador of Sight, and is the recipient of a number of project and service-related certificates.
In addition to his Lion activities, President-Elect Lyon has been active in numerous professional and community organizations. He has served on the board of directors for the Silver Lake Conference Center and Wide Horizons for Children. He was an associate member of the American Bar Association and a past member of the Association of Legal Administrators, the Society of Corporate Secretaries and Governance Professionals and the Shareholder Services Association.
Vice President Lyon is a Progressive Melvin Jones Fellow. His wife, Lyn Lyon, is also a longtime Lion and Progressive Melvin Jones Fellow. They are the proud parents of three incredible daughters.