Plusoptix – Lion David Falcon – November 2026
District 37 PlusOptix Update
PlusOptix screening totals for school year Sept 2026 to June 2027:
As of the end of October – 2,668 screened with 350 refers.
When you are done screening for the month, please make sure you send me your numbers so I can add them to our District 37 totals.
There is now a course you can take to get certified as a vision screener. This isn’t a requirement, but if you are interested, it is located on www.lionskidsightUSA.org. There is information to study and at the end, there is a 50-question test. Once you get into the website it tells you what to do. If you do get certified, please let me know, and if I find out anything else, I will let you know.
Thanks!
Lion David Falcon, District 37 PlusOptix Chair
314 9th St. W., Kalispell, MT 59901; C. 406-253-1726: [email protected]
By PlusOptix CoordinatorSpecial Notices – November 2026
For Club Secretaries
Lion Portal Forum on Facebook
If you use Facebook, I can highly recommend the “Lion Portal Forum”. They answer all kinds of questions and you can ask questions there too! It is another option for finding the newest “Updated Training Videos” that are now available on the Portal as well as zoom sessions such as “how to prepare for the end of the fiscal year”.
For Club Treasurers
Club statements are no longer being mailed and can only be accessed via the Club Portal.
If your club’s treasurer has not created an account on the portal, that is the first step to completing the process of being able to access your club statements. 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. Below is a short “tutorial” on how to access Club Statements:
Accessing Club Statements on the Lion Portal
1. Log into the Lion Portal.
Note: to create a login, your email address MUST be in the portal as part of your personal information. If you get the message, “email not found” then you need
to update your personal information to reflect the correct email address.
2. Click on “My Club” (2nd Box across the top of the page)
3. Click on “Statements” located under your club information (sixth item to the right).
4. Review your Statement your club’s Monthly activity will be listed along with any
Current Balances owed. IF that statement simply brings a balance
forward from a previous period, then you can scroll down to the “Statements and
Invoices” listing….please note that you can select a prior fiscal year if you have to go
back several months to find the actual invoice that generated the current balance.
Example: For fiscal 2027, the first half of fiscal year was invoiced on June 30th for July 1 – December 31st and is listed under fiscal “2026”. That balance was due July 31st. Also, every time you add a new member (no matter what month of the year), you will be charged a “pro-rated” portion of the annual dues and those invoices will carry forward as well. PLEASE REVIEW YOUR INVOICES ON A MONTHLY BASIS!!
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)
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.
By Lion Peggy TobinDates to Remember – November 2026
NOVEMBER CLUB ANNIVERSARIES
193 years of service!!!
Hysham 11/04/1960
Havre 11/13/1952
Butte Mile-Hi 11/15/1925
MARK YOUR CALENDARS
UPCOMING DISTRICT MEETING DATES
MT Lions Sight & Hearing Foundation – January 16, 2027 – 10:00am – VIA ZOOM
District Cabinet Meeting – January 16, 2027 – Noon – VIA ZOOM
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
USA/CANADA FORUM SCHEDULE
USA/CANADA LIONS LEADERSHIP FORUMS CAN BE RELATED TO ALL AREAS OF YOUR LIFE – NOT JUST LIONS
2027 Huntsville, AB – September 16-18
2028 Grand Rapids, MI – September 21 – 23
2029 Shreveport, LA – September 13 – 15
Helena Goldrush Lions News
CASA Lionheart Kits
The Helena GoldRush Lions Club has launched a new project designed to provide immediate comfort, dignity, and a sense of belonging to children entering foster care. During moments of crisis and uncertainty, many children are removed from their homes with little to no notice, often carrying their belongings in a trash bag—or nothing at all.
Currently, 84 children are served through CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) in Lewis & Clark and Broadwater Counties. For these children, the first hours of transition can be confusing, emotional, and frightening. To help ease this experience, we are assembling Lionheart Comfort Kits: thoughtfully prepared overnight bags that meet both practical and emotional needs
Each Lionheart Comfort Kit includes:
- A durable overnight bag featuring the Lions emblem
- A soft blanket
- A small pillow
- A child‑friendly flashlight
- A Lions Club plush lion for comfort and companionship
Our Purpose
Our goal is to ensure that every child entering foster care feels valued, safe, and supported. The inclusion of the Lions plush lion serves as a lasting symbol of strength and reassurance—something a child can hold onto during an incredibly difficult moment.
Impact of the Lionheart Comfort Kits
- Immediate emotional comfort for children in crisis
- Restored dignity during a traumatic transition
- Visible, meaningful support from the Helena GoldRush Lions Club
- Strengthened partnership with CASA and local child welfare services
As we continue this work, the Helena GoldRush Lions Club remains committed to ensuring that every child entering foster care is met with compassion rather than uncertainty. The Lionheart Comfort Kits reflect our belief that even small gestures can create meaningful change, offering children a sense of dignity, stability, and hope at a moment when they need it most. Together with CASA and our community partners, we are proud to stand beside these children and help light the path toward a safer, more supported future.
By Helena Gold Rush LionsDillon Lions News
Providing Vision Screening in Beaverhead County
The Dillon Lions have begun their annual vision screening for schools in Beaverhead County. Lion Members use the Plusoptix machine and began screening for Wisdom, Grant and Reichle Schools on September 14th. Screenings continued in Wise River on October 14th and will run through November for the other schools in the county. Photos below are from the screening on October 14th in Wise River.
By Dillon Lions ClubSunburst Lions Get Back To Work
Around this time every year, there’s a chill in the air, and the Sunburst Lions get busy with all things community!!
September 16th & 23rd – The Sunburst Lions were in Shelby on the 16th to screen approximately 200 K-5 Elementary students. A week later, we were joined by 2nd VDG Gary Van Dyke to screen another 200 High School students.
Wednesday, October 7th we had about 20 lions joined by several FCCLA and Football team students cleaning up the highway Afterwards a chili & cornbread feast was enjoyed by all at the community center. This is one of the many activities our fine organizations take part in together.
By Sunburst Lions ClubCut Bank and Sunburst Lions
JOIN FORCES FOR PLUS OPTIX
October 6th & 14th – Sunburst headed to Cut Bank on the 6th to screen over 300 Cut Bank Junior High and High School students and completed the elementary screenings on the 14th.
This partnership has allowed us to screen students in all of Toole, Glacier and Pondera counties. We go to Conrad and Valier in the spring and in addition to the public schools we serve the Hutterite colony schools and preschools in all the areas WE SERVE.
By Cut Bank Lions ClubHelena Lions October News
Helena Lions Serving at Helena Food Share
Quarterly, the Helena Lions Club joins hands with Helena’s Food Share to help “build” boxes of food for the community! It’s fun and it’s great to serve! On Tuesday, October 13, Lions Lynn Voss, Byron Beley, Bruce Coen, Diane Gray, and Gene Hill participated.
Helena Lions Small Fry Football Win Championship
Congratulations to the Helena Lions Small Fry Football Team (5th Grade Division) for winning their championship game Tuesday, October 13, 2026, at Nelson Stadium on the campus of Carroll College. The team is sponsored by the Helena Lions Club.
By Helena Lions ClubTwo Lights Montana Series -7 Facts – How American’s Independence Became Official
- January 14, 1784 – This is when U.S. independence became legally binding.
The Treaty of Paris was signed in 1783, but it wasn’t law until the U.S. Congress ratified it on January 14, 1784. - America existed in a legal “in-between” period for months.
From September 1783 to January 1784, the United States had declared independence but was not yet fully recognized under international law. - Britain officially called the U.S. “free and sovereign States.”
The treaty recognized the United States as independent states—plural—reflecting early federalism before the Constitution existed. - The U.S. gained massive territory overnight—on paper.
The treaty set U.S. borders all the way west to the Mississippi River, instantly doubling the nation’s claimed land. - Independence was secured before the Constitution existed.
The treaty was ratified under the Articles of Confederation, meaning the U.S. became a recognized nation before having a strong central government. - The men who negotiated independence were diplomats, not generals.
Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, and John Jay negotiated the treaty—not military leaders. - This happened before America had a president.
The treaty was ratified five years before George Washington became president in 1789.
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.
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By Global Service TeamWinnett Lions News
Winnett Lions helped with the purchase of USA 250 banners that were placed above our Main Street hanging baskets. In addition to our annual highway cleanup, we are set up for our annual side by side fundraiser. We are still giving out memorial donations and doing ‘care baskets’ for our community folks in distress. Our Cancer Walk was a big success with the sale of 149 luminaries. Our proceeds totaled $3,900 that will be donated to Lewistown’s Cancer Center. Our two new members increased our membership to 18!
By Winnett Lions Club
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