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.
By Global Membership Team
District LCIF Co-Chairs PDG Mike Tobin & PDG Lary Garrison -August 2025
District LCIF Co-Chair Mike Tobin – August 2025
District 37 IS #1!!!!!
Congratulations District 37!! You did it!! Of the eight single Districts in CA1, we have ranked 4th in LCIF fund raising for the past several years and District 50 ( Hawaii) as always been 1st. However, this past Lionistic year, (2024-2025) WE RANKED FIRST!!
District 50 had a goal of $41,686 and District 37 had a goal of $46,172. District 50 raised $55,887, a 134% increase of $14,201. We raised $59,281, a 128.4% increase of $13,109, beating Hawaii by $3,394. This is the first time in the History of District 37 that we reached our LCIF fund raising goal!!
THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH to all the clubs that donated $5,000 to qualify for the Community Impact grant of 15% and all those that are making personal monthly donations – it all adds up!
I believe this next year will be even better. I look forward to visiting with each of you and all the clubs. You all do make a difference in the communities in our District.
Yours in Lionism,
PDG Mike Tobin – PO Box 408, Sunburst MT 59482, 406-450-2780, [email protected]
PDG Lary Garrison , 703 Conway St., Billings, MT 59105, 406-855-6997, [email protected]
By LCIF Coordinators
Montana Lions Sight & Hearing Foundation – August 2025
Montana Lions Sight & Hearing Foundation Statistics
Please find below the statistics from January 1, 2025 to July 26, 2025
- Applications Received: 28
- Assistance Provided: 15
- Total Cost of Assistance Provided: $17,610.72
- Applications Received From: Billings, Bozeman, Columbia Falls, Coram, Corvallis, East Missoula, Great Falls, Hamilton, Havre, Helena, Hot Springs, Kalispell, Livingston, Missoula, Sidney, Townsend and Trego
By Montana Lions Sight & Hearing FoundationCascade Lions Club Diabetes Awareness Walk
A total of 21 adults, 8 children and 5 dogs participated in the mile-and-a-half walk around the town of Cascade. Along the route, walkers stopped at stations providing educational materials and tips on recognizing the signs of diabetes and the importance of early detection.
Organizers emphasized that education is key to identifying and managing diabetes. When all was said and done the Cascade Lions Club raised $1,300 that will go toward helping kids attend the Montana Youth Diabetes Summer Camp where they can learn more about living with the condition in a supportive environment.
By Cascade Lions ClubHelena Fourth of July Flag Ceremony
Centennial Park in Helena Montana was the scene of the celebration of the American flag and its history. There was a large excited crowed watching as the flag was delivered by a DNRC helicopter. A Scout troop carried the flag from the helicopter to the flagpole and helped slowly to raise the flag as the history of the flag was told.
By Helena Lions ClubHonored Leaders in Seeley Lake
We give out all kinds of awards to dedicated Lions within our organization. Some are fun awards like the Repeat Offenders award or Rookie of the Year award. However, sometimes members just go above and beyond the “We Serve” credo to really serve their community. In that case we have the Melvin Jones Fellowship Award.
The Melvin Jones Fellowship (MJF) is the backbone of our foundation. Presented to those who donate US$1,000 to LCIF or to people for whom a donation was made by others, it’s a tremendous contribution to humanity and to the legacy of our founder, Melvin Jones.
This year we were proud to present the award to to a husband and wife team of Lions Cheryl and Gary Lewis for all the time and effort the they donate not only to the club but to the town of Seeley Lake. We are lucky to have them and we lean on them for their past experiences to help guide us along the way. Both have served as President over 8 times over the years and several committee chairs. Currently Lion Gary is our 2nd Lieutenant Governor while Lion Cheryl is assisting in the duties of our Treasurer.
We thank them sincerely for all they do for us!
By Seeley Lake Lions ClubSpecial Notices – August 2025
ALL CLUB SECRETARIES
IF YOU HAVE NOT ENTERED YOUR OFFICERS FOR THE 2025-2026 FISCAL YEAR, PLEASE CALL LION PEGGY TOBIN AT 406-461-4206 OR EMAIL HER AT [email protected] !!
YOU WILL NOT HAVE ACCESS TO THE LIONS PORTAL UNTIL THIS ISSUE IS RECTIFIED.
For Club Treasurers
PLEASE NOTE THAT LCI DUES WILL INCREASED JULY 1, 2025. THE INCREASE IS $2/YEAR ($1/6-MONTH BILLING CYCLE) FOR FULL MEMBERSHIPS. NOTE: New members are charged at a prorated amount depending on date joined.
District 37 Club Officer Training Videos
These videos are all accessible via the district website, www.montanalions.org under “Training/Resources”.
- 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
The new “Tri-Fold Generator” is now available for clubs to create their own club brochures using a tri-fold format that your club can use to share your information to prospective new members. You will find it under Training/Resources on the website.
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 – August 2025
AUGUST CLUB ANNIVERSARIES
226 years of service! WOW!!
Baker 08/29/1946
Ennis 08/30/1948
Huntley Project 08/30/1954
UPCOMING DISTRICT MEETING DATES
MT Lions Sight & Hearing Foundation – August 2, 2025 @ 8:00am MT School for the Deaf and the Blind, Great Falls, MT
District Cabinet Meeting – August 2 2025 @ 10:00am MT School for the Deaf and the Blind, Great Falls, MT
2026 DISTRICT 37 CONVENTION
MARK YOUR CALENDARS!!
APRIL 17-18, 2026, COLUMBIA FALLS, MT
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
2025 Atlantic City, NJ – September 18-20
Registration is open online at
https://members.lionsforum.org/event-5804241/Registration
2026 Memphis TN – September 3 – 5
2027 Huntsville, AB – September 16-18
Choteau Lions Club Launches $10-Grand Pool Payout Raffle to Support Community Swimming Pool
The Choteau Lions Club is excited to announce the launch of its brand-new fundraiser: the $10-Grand Pool Payout Raffle. This dynamic new raffle replaces the club’s long-running “Trip of the Month” raffle, which successfully supported the club’s projects for over three decades.
The Pool Payout Raffle aims to help sustain and improve the Choteau Lions Swimming Pool while continuing to fund vital community Lions Club projects like park improvements and youth programs.
Here’s how it works:
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Tickets are $100 each or 2 for $150
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A grand prize drawing for $10,000 will be held on August 14, 2025
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Two early bird drawings will add excitement and more chances to win:
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- July 4th: a BBQ grill plus 50 lbs. of Montana beef
- July 31st: a CZ Redhead 20-gauge shotgun
Local pools are more than recreation: they are community anchors, providing safe, healthy summer fun for kids and families. The Choteau pool is no exception. With the cost of maintaining and operating community pools rising each year, support from programs like this raffle makes a tremendous difference.
Purchasing tickets is easy! Tickets are available online at https://choteaulions.club/10k-raffle.
We encourage all Montana Lions to help spread the word, support your fellow Lions, and ensure the Choteau Lions Swim Pool continues to be a shining example of service in action.
By Choteau LionsHelen Keller’s “Knights of the Blind” Video
The video below is a wonderful reminder of how we came to be the “Knights of the Blind” a century ago and why it is so GREAT to be “LIONS THAT SERVE”!
Watch below or directly on Facebook:
By DG Corinna Christensen
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