By District Convention
By Montana Lions Sight & Hearing Foundation2025 District 37 Post Convention Report – Saturday Afternoon
We are continuing our series of the 2025 District 37 convention reports, sharing the experiences of many Lions who attended the 2025 District 37 Convention held May 2nd and 3rd in Helena MT.
Saturday afternoon began with lunch, speed learning provided by our endorsed project vendors, and a Town Hall debate.
We were all inspired by BJ Blahnik and his Leader Dog Jackson. BJ’s life journey of walking into the dim following a diagnosis of Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP) and how his life was changed forever when he received his first Leader Dog was awesome!! Jackson is BJ’s fifth Leader Dog nicknamed Jackson 5.
Montana Lions Sight & Hearing Foundation awards were announced and the LCIF Co-chairs (Lary Garrison & Mike Tobin) were shaved – their “beard challange” raised over $1,500!!
By Lion Peggy Tobin
EYEGLASS RECYCLING IN MONTANA
Here in Montana, Vision is one of the Causes that many of our local clubs participate in. We focus on collecting and providing eyeglasses and vision screening in schools and underserved communities throughout the state.
Collection spots can be found in many optometrist offices, as well as in various private businesses throughout the state. Click here to see current list of drop off locations.
We gratefully accept all types of eyeglasses, loose lenses, contact lenses, and hearing aids for recycling. To help our club volunteers who collect the glasses from various drop off locations in their area, we kindly ask that glasses be separated into five categories if possible:
- Single vision lenses
- Bifocals/trifocals
- Sunglasses
- Broken/damaged (still send us)
- High End/Speciality Glasses
(We understand progressives can be hard to distinguish from single vision — just do your best!)
Please do NOT include the following items in your donation as they cannot be used:
- Reader glasses
- Hard cases (soft cases can be reused in shipping)
If you prefer, you can mail your donation directly to the recycling center:
Northwest Lions Eyeglass Recycling Center (NWLERC)
9013 Mullen Rd SE
Olympia, WA 98513
If you write “Free Matter for the Blind” on the package, the post office MAY ship it at no cost (check with your local branch for details as it’s at their discretion).
Thank you again for helping give the gift of sight — your donations make a real difference.
LCIF Receives Prestigious Antonio Champalimaud Vision Award
From the November District Digest:
In September 2025, Lions Clubs International Foundation (LCIF) was honored with the António Champalimaud Vision Award, one of the world’s foremost recognitions in the fight against blindness and vision loss. LCIF shares the 2025 distinction with the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness and The Fred Hollows Foundation. Presented annually by the Champalimaud Foundation, the award celebrates outstanding contributions to global eye health, with a particular focus on underserved populations in developing regions. As part of the recognition, LCIF shares a monetary award of 1 million euros with fellow recipients. This honor is the largest award in the field and LCIF will use the funds to expand work in vision worldwide.
Honoring a Global Legacy
LCIF’s recognition underscores decades of impact made through its SightFirst program, which, for more than 30 years, empowered Lions, healthcare providers and community partners to combat the major causes of preventable blindness. Through SightFirst, millions worldwide gained access to essential eye care, transforming lives and communities.
“This award celebrates decades of dedication by our Lions, partners and the communities we serve”.
Since its launch in 1990, SightFirst has impacted the lives of more than 544 million people worldwide. With LCIF funding, Lions, alongside local health authorities, eye care professionals and partner organizations, expanded access to vital eye health services in underserved communities, overcoming barriers to access and delivering high-quality, equitable care. Projects also created sustainable systems by improving infrastructure and training local personnel, offering advanced education and rehabilitation for individuals with vision impairments and raising awareness of the importance of eye health.
LCIF Chairperson Fabrício Oliveira accepted the award in Lisbon, Portugal, on behalf of the foundation. “LCIF is deeply honored to be named a recipient of this award, one of the most prestigious recognitions in global eye health,” Oliveira said. “This award celebrates decades of dedication by our Lions, partners and the communities we serve, and honors the countless volunteer hours, impactful collaborations and millions of people whose sight has been restored or saved.”
A Call for Future Action for Vision-Related Service
Oliveira emphasized that LCIF, together with Lions and Leos around the world, remains committed to carrying the legacy of SightFirst forward through its Vision Grant program. “While this award is a tremendous honor, we see it as a call to action to expand our reach, innovate further and ensure that every person, everywhere, has access to quality eye care,” he said.
Learn more about our work or how you can get involved at lionsclubs.org/vision.
By LCIF Coordinators2025 District 37 Post Convention Report – Saturday Morning Speakers
We are continuing our series of the 2025 District 37 convention reports, sharing the experiences of many Lions who attended the 2025 District 37 Convention held May 2nd and 3rd in Helena MT.
Saturday morning began with the flag presentations, singing of the national anthems for Canada and the United States and a warm welcome from Helena’s mayor, Wilmot Collins.
Special Speakers included International Director Gary Rodifer; Vice Council Chair Christine Lank who provided a very entertaining history of women in Lions; Faith Johnson, former Miss Montana and MSU graduate who inspired everyone with her Helena Keller Presentation and Chantel Schieffer, founder of True North Leadership whose message focused on how to be better leaders.
2025 District 37 Post Convention Report – Convention Election
We are continuing our series of the 2025 District 37 convention reports, sharing the experiences of many Lions who attended the 2025 District 37 Convention held May 2nd and 3rd in Helena.
The Election of District officers for the 2025-2026 lionistic year were held Saturday morning. Each candidate had a representative who provided a nomination prior to the ballot election. The election process also included a presentation by the Columbia Falls Lions for their bid for the 2026 District 37 Convention.
We hope to see you all in Columbia Falls April 17-18, 2026!!
2025 District 37 Post Convention Report – Hall of Fame
We are continuing our series of the 2025 District 37 convention reports, sharing the experiences of many Lions who attended the 2025 District 37 Convention held May 2nd and 3rd in Helena MT.
Induction into District 37’s Hall of Fame signifies a Lion’s noteworthy contributions to the ideals of Lionism through the Lions Club, District and community. This is not a longevity award. The 2025 Convention celebrated the induction of two such lions – PDG Richard Gessling and Lion David L. Falcon.
Past District Governor Richard Gessling was the first DG for Single District 37 from 2015 to 2016. He then served as a region chairperson and GMT Chairperson. Richard joined the Red Lodge Lions club in 1990 and served there until 2024 when he transferred to the Billings Lions club.
Lion David Falcon joined the Kalispell Sunrisers in 1989 and is currently serving as their club president, a position he has held multiple times as well as club First Vice President. He has served the district as a zone chair and also the Vision Chairperson. He is the go-to person for the Plus Optix program for the State of Montana.
2025 District 37 Post Convention Report – Parade of Green
We are continuing our series of the 2025 District 37 convention reports, sharing the experiences of many Lions who attended the 2025 District 37 Convention held May 2nd and 3rd in Helena MT. If you have stories or photos to share, please send them via the “Submit Club News” option on the website.
The Parade of Green allows all of the clubs to present their donations to the various endorsed projects supported by District 37.
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