Special Notices – June 2026
For Club Secretaries
ALL 2026-27 CLUB OFFICERS MUST BE ENTERED INTO THE LION PORTAL!!
PLEASE REMEMBER THAT ALL LIONS CLUBS OFFICERS FOR THE 2026-27 YEAR MUST BE REPORTED TO LCI EVEN IF NONE OF YOUR OFFICERS HAVE CHANGED! PLEASE REFER TO THE EMAIL THAT YOU RECEIVED FROM LION PEGGY TOBIN ON MAY 18, 2026.
THERE ARE TWO METHODS AVAILABLE FOR COMPLETING THIS TASK:
1. Log into the Lion Portal and complete the process online (see the short Lion Portal video on montanalions.org – “Club Management – How to Assign an Officer”).
2. Complete a paper PU101 document available at montanalions.org and send it via email or regular mail to the district secretary, Peggy Tobin, at [email protected] or PO Box 408, Sunburst MT 59482.
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS REGARDING THIS PROCESS, PLEASE CALL PEGGY TOBIN AT 406-461-4206!!
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 (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:
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 – June 2026
MAY CLUB ANNIVERSARIES
134 years of service!!!
Whitefish – 06/01/2009
Winnett – 06/05/1991
White Sulphur Springs – 06/17/1985
Turner Hogeland – 06/30/1985
MARK YOUR CALENDARS
UPCOMING DISTRICT MEETING DATES
MT Lions Sight & Hearing Foundation – July 12, 2026 @ 10:00 at the MT School for the Deaf and the Blind, Great Falls, MT
District Cabinet Meeting – July 12, 2026 @ noon at the MT School for the Deaf and the Blind, Great Falls, MT LUNCH WILL BE PROVIDED
LIONS CLUB INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION SCHEDULE
2026 Hong Kong – Jul 3-7
(See 2026 Official Convention Call – Page 5)
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-50th Annual!! – September 3 – 5
2027 Huntsville, AB – September 16-18
2028 Grand Rapids, MI – To be announced
2029 Shreveport, LA – To be announced
Sidney Lions Honor Veterans
Memorial Day Flag Display
The Sidney Lions Club once again demonstrated its deep commitment to honoring those who served by participating in a longstanding Memorial Day tradition at Central Memorial Park.
Rising early on Memorial Day morning, Lions members joined forces with local Boy Scouts and dedicated community volunteers to place 128 veteran casket flags throughout the park—a powerful and moving tribute to the men and women who gave so much in service to our country.
This meaningful project, which the Sidney Lions have proudly supported since the late 1970s, continues to stand as a symbol of remembrance, respect, and community unity. Each carefully placed flag represents not only an individual hero but also a shared commitment to never forget their sacrifice.
The day’s events continued with a well-attended parade and a heartfelt presentation by the local VFW and Auxiliary, further reinforcing the importance of honoring our nation’s veterans and preserving their legacy.
Later that afternoon, around 4:00 p.m., Lions members and volunteers returned to Central Memorial Park to carefully take down and properly fold each of the 128 flags. Handling these casket flags is both a solemn duty and a profound honor—one that was deeply felt by all who participated.
The Sidney Lions Club is proud to carry forward this tradition year after year, ensuring that the service and sacrifice of America’s heroes are remembered with dignity and gratitude.
Story submitted by Raleigh G Peck, IPDG SD37, 406-480-5000.
By SidneySeeley Lake Lions LCIF Auction
On Saturday May 16, 2026, Seeley Lake Lions held our annual auction. This year we decided that the proceeds would go to benefit the Lions Club International Foundation. By making our donation to LCIF, we can help continue the financial support that Lions need, not only in Montana, but worldwide, supporting the causes of Vision, Childhood Cancer, Diabetes, Disaster Relief, Environment, Humanitarian Aid, Hunger and Youth.
We inducted another new member bringing our total for the year to 15 new members! We were treated to a wonderful dinner supplied by 1st District Governor Elect Gary Lewis and his sous chef, Lion Clay Creek. We also had the pleasure of a presentation from PDG and current LCIF co-chair, Mike Tobin, reminding us of the importance that each one of us has to the club locally, in our district and worldwide. He was joined by his lovely wife, Lion Peggy Tobin, our District 37 secretary and administrator.
We then had our silent and live auctions of either new or slightly used items for members to bid on. All totaled, we raised a little over $4,100 which will go to LCIF. It was a fun evening and everyone had a blast!
By Seeley Lake Lions Club
Supporting Mental Health Together
FROM THE DESK OF DISTRICT GOVERNOR CORINNA CHRISTENSEN
Mental health is one of the world’s most urgent challenges, and Lions across Montana District 37 are helping make a difference through service, compassion, and community connection. Whether it is supporting youth, checking in on neighbors, assisting families in need, or simply offering a helping hand, every act of kindness matters.
Research also shows that volunteering not only helps others; it can improve your own mental health and well-being too. Serving as a Lion brings purpose, connection, friendship, and the rewarding feeling of making a positive impact in the lives of others.
As Lions, we know that service changes communities and it changes us as well. Discover how your club can take action and support mental health and well-being in this short video. For those of you that were at the District 37 Convention in Columbia Falls, you may recognize a familiar face, our friend PID Marvin Chambers from Alberta.
Take a moment to explore Lions International’s Global Cause for Mental Health and Well-Being and consider how your club can make a difference right here in Montana District 37. Together, we can continue to lead with compassion, serve with purpose, and strengthen the well-being of our communities.
By DG Corinna Christensen
50th USA Canada Forum-Memphis TN-Sept 3rd-5th
The 50th Annual USA Canada Lions Leadership Forum will be held September 3rd – 5th in Memphis, TN. If you are planning to go, or have thought about going, or would like to find out more about Lions and being a leader, please click here to see a brochure with more information 2026-Memphis Brochure Click here to download the registration form 2026-Memphis-Registration
Want to learn a little more about Memphis, TN? Watch the video below.
Finally, if you ARE going to Memphis or might want to go, contact IPDG Raleigh Peck.
Don’t Just Take My Word for It: Read Item 2 in the Official Convention Call
Back in February I covered the proposed international dues increase that will be voted on at the 2026 Lions Clubs International Convention in Hong Kong. This post is a short follow-up with one specific ask: go read the official language yourself.
LCI has published the formal call for convention, which lists all proposed amendments to the International Constitution and By-Laws that delegates will consider. The dues proposal appears as Item 2.
What Item 2 proposes
Item 2 is a resolution to amend Article XII, Section 2(a) of the International By-Laws, which governs semi-annual international dues. If adopted by a majority vote of convention delegates, the amendment would increase the semi-annual rate from the current $25.00 to $30.00 over five consecutive fiscal years:
- July 1, 2028: $25 to $26
- July 1, 2029: $26 to $27
- July 1, 2030: $27 to $28
- July 1, 2031: $28 to $29
- July 1, 2032: $29 to $30
That is a $10 total increase to annual dues spread across five years, or $2 per member per year.
Why read the source document
Summaries, including ours, involve editorial choices about what to emphasize. The official call for convention contains the exact proposed language that delegates will vote on, including the specific by-law sections being amended. If your club is going to have an informed conversation about this proposal, or if your club has a delegate attending the convention, reading the primary source is not optional.
What to look for
When you find Item 2, note that the resolution language is structured as a series of sequential “BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED” clauses, one for each year’s increase. This is the mechanism that allows the phase-in. The resolution requires a majority vote to adopt, not a supermajority.
For reference, Item 3 in the same document covers a separate proposal to restructure international director representation by region. That item requires a two-thirds vote and is a different conversation entirely.
District 37 dues remain unchanged
As noted previously: this proposal does not automatically change District 37 dues or club dues. District dues are set through our own budget process. If the international increase is approved, individual clubs will decide independently how to handle the impact.
Questions about the convention call or the delegate process can be directed to your Zone Chair or any member of the District Cabinet.
By Lion Steve DogiakosSidney Leos Crush Pop Tab Challenge!
By collecting over 400 pounds of pop tabs – that’s over 1/2 million tabs – the Sidney Leos handily defeated the Sidney Lions and received a free pizza party. The tabs are an almost pure aluminum alloy and bring a much higher price than the whole can for recycle.
This is not all! The photo on the right shows what fit in the truck to go to the Ronald McDonald house in Billings. They say there’s about 200 more pounds to be turned in. The Sidney Lions were thrilled to buy these great young people pizza. But Wait..There’s More!
The Sidney Leos completed their pop tab collections for another 429 pounds of pop tabs. For a total of 830 pounds to support Ronald McDonald House!! At 1,500 tabs per pound that’s approximately 1.25 MILLION tabs!!!!!
They did have a little help. They had their own contest with all the grade schools and middle school where the winning class at each of the 4 schools also got a pizza party. This time from the Leos. WE NEED MORE LEO CLUBS IN SD37.
Seeley Lake Lions Vision
One of the most important functions that Lions around the globe participate in is Sight and Hearing. We make sure in the Treasure State of Montana that we see the children each year to screen their eyes and head off a possible problem down the road early in the process. Each club has a committee that goes to the local schools and performs the screenings.
On April 23, 2026, the Seeley Lake Lions had the pleasure of doing just that at the Seeley Swan School in Condon. There were 19 children screened and they couldn’t have been sweeter. Knowing that we are doing this to help young children gives you that sense of satisfaction and also helps parents with regards to the health of their child.
We Serve!
MLS&HF Raffle Winner Announced
The Montana Lions Sight & Hearing Foundation drew the winning ticket for the Honda Side by Side at the recent 2026 District 37 Convention held in Columbia Falls.
The lucky winner is Lion Greg Lackman of the Hysham Lions Club!
The MLS&HF has been doing raffles for many years and the proceeds have allowed the foundation to serve many Montanans around our great state.
By Montana Lions Sight & Hearing Foundation
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