LCI President’s Message
President’s MessageLead to Serve, Serve To Leadwith International President A.P. Singh |
Dear Lion,
Whether you are a new Lion or have been a member for years, you are here because someone invited you to join. To help us grow our clubs and our service — and reach our MISSION 1.5 goals — now it is your turn to invite someone else and share the joy that service brings.
Growth is essential for us to be able to continue to improve the service that Lions are known for around the world. We are a people-driven organization where service is at the heart of everything we do — and we need dedicated Lions like you to help us make an even greater impact together.
So invite friends and neighbors who have the heart to serve. Welcome diverse individuals and groups who will offer us fresh perspectives and energy. This is how we will keep our organization growing and thriving.
Growth benefits us all — our clubs, our communities and the people we serve. I look forward to seeing your club and your service grow.
Together we serve,
A.P. Singh
International President
By Lion Peggy Tobin
Global Membership Team Report – November 2025
Global and Montana Membership – November, 2025
Congratulations to Lions Clubs and Members for starting off the Lions year 25-26 with remarkable membership numbers. For the first time in over 10 years our district has a net gain of over 20 members.
We can’t stand of our laurels however, as we should continue to engage our communities with new members, new ideas for service and energy.
All members should get with the program and ask a friend, neighbor, or a stranger if they would like to help their communities. We need to remember our challenge “WHERE THERE IS A NEED, THERE IS A LION”.
GMT Chair Richard Gessling
By Global Membership Team
District LCIF Co-Chairs PDG Lary Garrison & PDG Mike Tobin – November 25
District LCIF Co-Chair Lary Garrison – November 2025
This will be my last year as the Lions Clubs International Foundation Coordinator.
This has been one of my most satisfying positions serving Lions Clubs International. As I passed my 80th year on this planet it became clear that it was time to ensure the continued emphasis on District 37 receiving grants and supporting fundraising for OUR FOUNDATION! Please contact me with any questions or interest.
About 15 years ago our district supported LCIF moderately while also using grants sparingly. We occasionally received emergency grants as well as a few matching grants. With some emphasis on the variety of available grants clubs, District 37 started using them to remodel a Senior Center, purchase 100 state of the art readers used throughout Montana, purchase a state of the art ambulance, an emergency generator for a community shelter, a handicap fishing dock, youth diabetes camps, flood recovery, equipment for a food bank, and several Plus/Optix eye screeners.
By LCIF Coordinators
Montana Lions Sight & Hearing Foundation – November 2025
Montana Lions Sight & Hearing Foundation Statistics
Please find below the statistics from January 1, 2025 to October 26, 2025
- Applications Received: 36
- Assistance Provided: 21
- Total Cost of Assistance Provided: $29,966.72
- Applications Received From: Billings, Belgrade, Bozeman, Columbia Falls, Coram, Corvallis, East Missoula, Great Falls, Hamilton, Havre, Helena, Hot Springs, Kalispell, Livingston, Manhattan, Missoula, Sidney, Superior, Townsend, Trego and Whitefish
The Montana Lions Sight & Hearing Foundation is looking to purchase an enclosed trailer to use to haul the current ATV the Foundation is set to raffle off as our yearly fundraiser. Specs for the trailer: 14′ of 16′ (prefered) long x 7′ tall. If you have a trailer to sell or know of anyone looking to sell a trailer, please have them reach out to PDG Dan Sturdevant at 406.439.9297.
By Montana Lions Sight & Hearing Foundation
Plusoptix – Lion David Falcon – November 2025
District 37 PlusOptix Update
PlusOptix screening totals for school year September 2025 to June 2026:
3,963 screened with 541 refers.
Happy Halloween!
Lion David Falcon, District 37 PlusOptix Chair
314 9th St. W., Kalispell, MT 59901; C. 406-253-1726: [email protected]
Special Notices – November 2025
For All Club Secretaries
If you make changes to your club officers, meeting locations and/or meeting dates & times in the Lion Portal, please send a note to Lion Peggy Tobin, District 37 Secretary at [email protected] or call/text 406-461-4206 so she can more efficiently update the District website. The club directory information on the website is used by the district governor’s team to plan visits, set up meetings, and provide updates. THANK YOU!
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.
Dates to Remember – November 2025
NOVEMBER CLUB ANNIVERSARIES
177 years of service!!!
Hysham 11/04/1960
Havre 11/13/1952
Butte Mile-Hi 11/15/1973
UPCOMING DISTRICT MEETING DATES
District Cabinet Meeting – January 10, 2026 @ 9:00am VIA ZOOM
MT Lions Sight & Hearing Foundation – January 20, 2026 @ 6:00pm VIA ZOOM
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
2026 Memphis TN – September 3 – 5
2027 Huntsville, AB – September 16-18
2028 Grand Rapids, MI – To be announced
2029 Shreveport, LA – To be announced
Bozeman Lions Fall Update
The Bozeman Gallatin Empire Lions Club’s Youth Football season continued with the skills and evaluation Day.
Lion Ryan Ballenger, Gallatin Empire Football Commissioner talks rules of the game, sportsman ship, teamwork & football players are good citizens.
The Sweet Pea Lions joined the Gallatin Empire Lions for the Manhattan Potato Festival parade.
Replacement banners were made for each side of the recycling trailer by Lions Sara & Jim Barutha’s grandsons.
By District ConventionSeeley Lake Lions – Having Fun!
Each year the Lions in Seeley Lake not only gather to have our General Monthly meeting, but October is especially fun as we don our costumes for Halloween – funniest, scariest and of course a Lion President!
Our Culinary Committee, headed by Lions Clay and Sharon Creek coordinated the meeting’s meal, and this one was prepared by Lions Sherry and John Fulton. A meal made of beef , lamb or chicken skewers was prepared as well as a salad and cheesecake for dessert. Yum!
We changed our format of the meeting and inducted three new members before going through our meeting agenda.
Then the fun began with a parade of the members in costume judged by other members to decide the winners of the contest. Mother Nature took First Place while Cleopatra and King Tut took Second place. The Cheerleader and The Graduate took third. The one thing I have to say is we have fun at ALL of our meetings and events, not just Halloween.
And we continue to bring in new members. Since June we have inducted at least 12 new members and more to come. Happy Halloween!!!!!!!!!!!!!
By Seeley Lake Lions Club
Recent Comments