District LCIF Co-Chairs PDG Mike Tobin & PDG Lary Garrison – June 2026
District LCIF Co-Chair Mike Tobin
Dear Montana Lions,
Well, Spring has sprung, school is out, and it is time for summer fun to begin. Most clubs will have their last meeting this month if they haven’t already had it. The District’s LCIF fund raising has been a little lack luster this year as compared to last year. Our goal this year was to raise $51,378 and right now we are only at $38,453. BUT this Lionistic Year is not over and we still have the month of June to go.
Soooo, if each District member donated just $10, (1,519 members X $10 = $15,190), that would get us to $53,643, well over our goal!! As you can see a little goes a long way. More hands make work easier and our goals are easily attainable. I don’t think $10 is too much to ask for, for just ONE month. So head to montanalions.org, select “links”, Lions clubs international foundation, and click on donate to fill out the form. And if you are so inclined you could donate 50 or 100 dollars. Thank you!!
I want to take this time to thank PDG Lary Garrison for all his hard work over the years as he steps away from the District Co-Chairmanship Role. I also want to thank him for helping me and mentoring me when I started my role as the District Co-Chair. He made that transition really easy for me. I would also like to welcome IPDG Raleigh Peck to the team as he takes Lary’s slot. He will be a great asset to the team and I look forward to working with him.
Thank you for your past and future support for Lions Clubs International Foundation!
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 CoordinatorsGlobal Leadership Team – PDG Mike Collins-June 2026
Montana Lions Leadership News
6th Annual Montana Lions Leadership Retreat
Lewistown October 2-4, 2026
Dear Montana Lions,
The leadership retreat is a unique opportunity for Montana Lions to enhance your leadership skills, gain new insights, and strengthen the connections within our Lions community. Your role as an officer in your Lions Club is vital to the success and growth of our service and Lionism in Montana, and this retreat is designed to support you in that mission.
What to Expect:
- Inspiring Workshops: Led by experienced Lions, these sessions will cover effective leadership strategies, community service innovations, and personal growth techniques.
- Networking Opportunities: Connect with fellow club officers and Lions from across Montana, share experiences, and build lasting relationships.
Key Details:
- Dates: October 2-4
- Location: Yogo Inn, Lewistown, MT
- Cost: Free of charge for participants*
*Note: The free training includes double occupancy accommodation. If you prefer a single room, there is an additional charge of $100. If you wish to bring a spouse or significant other, there is an additional $50 charge (total of $150) for their accommodation and meals.
Thank you for your continued dedication and leadership within the Lions Club. I look forward to seeing you in Choteau for what promises to be a transformative retreat.
Yours in Service,
Lion Mike Collins, District GLT Leader
District 37 Montana Lions
By Global Leadership TeamClosing the Books, Opening the Summer: A Treasurer’s Year-End Message
Reflections on Two Years of Service
As June draws to a close, so does my second year serving as your Cabinet Treasurer for Lions District 37, Montana. When I took on this role in July 2024, I made a commitment to be a practical resource for club treasurers across the district, not just a title in the cabinet directory. Whether it was navigating dues questions, walking through LCI financial reporting, or helping clubs reconcile a confusing invoice, it has been my genuine privilege to serve alongside you.
Two years in, I want to say plainly: thank you. Thank you to every club treasurer who answered the phone, replied to an email, or showed up at convention and asked the hard questions. Thank you to our Zone Chairs and Vice District Governors who helped carry messages down to the club level. And thank you to District Governor Corinna, First Vice District Governor Jon Kimble, and Second Vice District Governor Gary Lewis for the trust and support throughout this cabinet year. The financial health of District 37 clubs is a team effort, and I have been proud to be part of that team.
With that said, there is real work to do before anyone closes their laptop for the summer. Let’s get into it.
Know Your Dues Deadlines – They Are Not the Same Date
This is the point I most want club treasurers to internalize, because confusion here is common and the consequences (good standing issues, and membership processing delays) are avoidable.
LCI International Dues: Due July 1
Lions Clubs International invoices your club for the coming year’s per-capita dues at the start of each fiscal year. For the 2026-2027 Lionistic year, those payments are due July 1, 2026. LCI dues are based on your official membership count as reported in Lion Portal. If your club has not reconciled its roster recently, do that first, so you are not paying dues on members who have dropped.
Log into Lion Portal and verify the invoice amount matches your active membership count before submitting payment. Discrepancies are easier to resolve before you pay than after.
District 37 Dues: Due January 1
District per-capita dues for 2026-2027 will be invoiced and due January 1, 2027. I will be in touch with clubs in the fall with specifics. That may feel far away right now, but your summer budget planning should account for it. Know the number, build it in, and do not let it be a surprise mid-year.
If you have any questions about either dues amount or how your club is assessed, reach out to me directly. That is what I am here for.
Year-End Financial Checklist for Club Treasurers
Work through this list before the end of June, or as early in July as possible:
- Reconcile your final bank statement for the fiscal year. Every outstanding check should be accounted for. If something is still outstanding from months ago, it may be time to void and reissue or write it off per your club’s policy.
- Verify authorized signers on all club bank accounts. Officers change. Make sure the departing officers are removed and incoming officers are added promptly. Banks often require an officer visit in person, so do not wait until October to start this process.
- Prepare a year-end financial report. This should go to your club board and be presented to the full membership. It does not need to be complicated, but it does need to be accurate: beginning balance, total income, total expenses, ending balance. Transparency keeps trust.
- File your IRS Form 990-N (e-Postcard) if your fiscal year ended June 30. If your club’s gross receipts are normally $50,000 or less, you are required to file the 990-N annually. It takes about five minutes at IRS.gov and keeps your tax-exempt status intact. Missing it three years in a row means automatic revocation. Do not skip it.
- Check your club’s standing with the Montana Secretary of State. Annual reports for nonprofit corporations are due by April 15, but if yours was missed or filed incorrectly, summer is a good time to catch up. Check your status at biz.sosmt.gov.
- Confirm your LCI dues invoice in Lion Portal and submit payment. Due July 1. Verify the member count first (see above).
- Review your club’s budget for 2026-2027. A budget is not just a document for the board meeting. It is a planning tool that helps your club avoid mid-year shortfalls and make deliberate decisions about fundraising and service spending. If your club does not have a written budget, this is the year to start one.
- Audit your club’s fundraising records from the past year. Were proceeds properly documented and deposited? Was restricted fundraising money used as intended? This is not about distrust; it is about protecting your club and your officers from liability.
- Confirm your club is bonded, if required. Some clubs carry a fidelity bond on officers handling funds. Check your bylaws and consult with your club president if you are unsure.
- Transition your records to the incoming treasurer, if applicable. If your club has a new treasurer taking over, do not just hand them a binder and wish them luck. Sit down with them. Walk through the accounts, the passwords, the filing system, and the schedule of dues and reporting deadlines. The best thing you can do for your club is a smooth handoff.
Looking Ahead to Year Three
I will be returning for a third year as Cabinet Treasurer, and I am looking forward to continuing to build on what we have accomplished together in District 37. Expect updated resources, clearer communications around dues and reporting timelines, and continued availability for clubs that need support.
My door – and my inbox – are open all summer.
If you have questions about anything in this article or about your club’s financial situation, do not hesitate to reach out. You can contact me through the District 37 website or directly at your Zone Chair.
We are all Lions. Let’s get to work.
By Lion Steve DogiakosMontana Lions Sight & Hearing Foundation – June 2026
Montana Lions Sight & Hearing Foundation Statistics
Please find below the statistics from January 1, 2026 to May 26, 2026:
- Applications Received: 15
- Assistance Provided: 5
- Total Cost of Assistance Provided: $11,147.04
- Applications Received From: Belt, Emigrant, Great Falls, Havre, Helena, Kalispell, Libby, Missoula, Polson & Whitefish.
Montana Lions Sight & Hearing Foundation Fellowships
Foundation Fellowship: Foundation Fellowships can now be purchased by individuals. Foundation Fellowships are used to recognize outstanding Lions and other deserving individuals. The Board of Trustees of the Foundation endorses this Fellowship. The Fellowship award includes a lapel pin and a mounted certificate and may only be bestowed by a Lions Club on an individual or group of individuals with a donation of two hundred fifty dollars ($250) to the Montana Lions Sight and Hearing Foundation.
PID Fellowship: The PID Dave Hajny, PID Tom Lehman, PID Gary Tschache and PID Ben Apeland Fellowships are now available. The fellowships recognize the contributions to Lionism made by PID’s Dave, Tom, Gary and Ben. The new fellowships are a great way to provide recognition for a deserving Lion. Fellowships can be purchased for five hundred dollars ($500) to the Montana Lions Sight and Hearing Foundation.
Life Membership: A Life Membership to the Foundation, which includes a lapel pin and pocket card can be bestowed by an individual, group of individuals, Lions Club or can be purchased by an individual with a donation of one hundred dollars ($100) to the Montana Lions Sight and Hearing Foundation.
Memorial or Honorarium: Remember a loved one or honor that special person by donating to the Foundation. What better way to remember or honor someone than having your donation live in perpetuity? Your Memorial or Honorarium donation is never spent; only the interest earned on these assets will be used to further the purpose of the Foundation.
Thank you for your continued support of the Montana Lions Sight & Hearing Foundation.
Does Your Club Collect Glasses?
Used glasses can be dropped off in Great Falls at Floors and More, located at 920 1st Ave N, Great Falls, MT.
Please place the following address on boxes of used glasses:
Lions Eyeglass Recycling Center, 9013 Mullen Road SE, Olympia, WA 98513
By Montana Lions Sight & Hearing FoundationPlusoptix – Lion David Falcon – June 2026
District 37 PlusOptix Update
Hello Lions:
PlusOptix screening totals for school year September 2025 to June 2026 – 34,934 students screened with 4,313 refers through May 2026.
Any club still interested in purchasing an S20 PlusOptix screener, please let me know ASAP.
Stay safe out there!
Lion David Falcon, District 37 PlusOptix Chair
314 9th St. W., Kalispell, MT 59901; C. 406-253-1726: [email protected]
By PlusOptix CoordinatorSpecial 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 ClubSupporting 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
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