Great Falls Sunrise Lions-Tickets on Sale for Annual BBQ & Fundraiser
On Friday, September 18, 2026, the Sunrise Lions Club will be holding our annual BBQ and Fundraiser at 5:30pm at the Moose Lodge located at 401 21st Street NE in Black Eagle, MT. Tickets are $15/person and children under 7 are free. Tickets are available at the event or at Floors & More in Great Falls (406-761-7820). All proceeds continue to support those in our community who qualify for visual and hearing assistance.
Your generous contribution to a silent auction, money donation or attendance will enable us to continue fulfilling our mission.
The children in our local public schools have been a priority of our local Lions. We work with teachers to get referrals for children in need of glasses who qualify financially. The optometry appointment is paid for as well as new glasses if needed. Our local educators have shared how students perform better in school when they receive their glasses. However, we don’t stop there! We also provide services to adults who qualify to supply eyeglasses and hearing aids.
One of our projects has been working with the Montana School for the Deaf and the Blind. With the assistance of a grant from Lion’s Club International Foundation, other Montana Lions Clubs, and local and statewide donations, we were able to purchase 100 digital readers. Digital readers aid the student in classroom participation while greatly expanding reading skills and significantly enhancing the quality of life for individuals who are visually impaired.
Sight and hearing are a blessing that everyone should be able to experience through visual equipment, glasses and hearing aids.
In 1925, Helen Keller addressed the Lion Clubs International convention. She challenged them to become “knights of the blind in the crusade against darkness”. Since then, Lions have worked tirelessly to aid the blind and visually impaired. Sunrise Lions club is proud to help our community.
Through donations from caring companies and people like you, we will be able to continue to help children and adults in need. Please contact Neil Swift at 406-868-4252 or Gretchen Swift at 868-4250 if you have any quesetions or would like us to pick up your donation.
Thank you for your support.
By Great Falls Sunriser Lions ClubSeeley Lake Lions Sendoff for DG Jon Kimble to Hong Kong
Here in Seeley Lake we have the pleasure of having multiple District 37 officers including our Zone Chair Rob Shaffer and 1st Vice District Governor Gary Lewis, but we also have the distinction this year as one of our members, Jon Kimble, was elected as our new District Governor.
At our General Meeting on June 25, 2026 we had over 45 members on hand to give him a sendoff to Hong Kong where he will be inducted and represent the Treasure State of Montana at the International Convention. Lion Jon is such a hard worker, not only for this town, but for all the clubs as well. He gives so much of his time and inspires others to follow in his footsteps. We wish him well on his journey in this coming year and his trip to the Orient!
By Seeley Lake Lions ClubFrom the Desk of IPDG Raleigh G. Peck – June 2026
Leo Club Advisor End-of-Year Reminders
With the end of the Lion year quickly approaching, here are a few reminders to wrap up the year:
- Don’t forget to report this year’s service projects, as well as next year’s Leo club officers in the Lion Portal. There are several resources available on the club leadership webpage for new officers.
- There are many awards available on the Leo Awards webpage, including the Leo Award of Honor. If you feel that your Leo club president should receive the Leo Club President Achievement Award, you may download and present this certificate.
- Lions Clubs International Foundation’s Leo Service Grant is available to Lion districts and multiple districts. Consider working with other clubs in your area to apply for the grant!
- Share this blog post on Leo leadership opportunities with the Leos in your club.
- Encourage Leos to continue serving as Lions and share Leo to Lion transition resources with Lions.
If you have any questions, comments, or suggestions for supporting the Leos of SD37, please reach out—I am always happy to connect and visit with all of you.
Thanks for all you do!
IPDG Raleigh G. Peck
By IPDG Raleigh PeckSidney 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!
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!
Kalispell Sunrisers Lions at the 2026 District Convention
April 17th and18th was the Montana Lions State convention held in Columbia Falls. It was attended by large and small cities across the state with 150 Lions and guests attending. The meeting was very educational with classes for officers, and presentations from many Lions promoting humanitarian organizations.
We heard from Leader Dog’s for the Blind, who have served 80 clients in Montana, MT Lions Sight and Hearing Foundation have covered 49 patients with hearing aids plus some Cataract surgeries. We also learned from the School for the Deaf and the Blind in Great Falls that have 1,500 students in the state. Miss Montana, Haley Joy Tate, and Miss Teen Montana from Kalispell spoke about their passion for Chicks in Chaps, a breast cancer financial help group. There were many more learning experiences.
Next year, the convention will be in Choteau MT. The International Lions Clubs are the largest humanitarian organization in the world, with USA having the 3rd most members following Japan and India. Come join use and help USA become #1. We Serve!!!
By Kalispell Sunrisers Lions ClubSeeley Lake Lions Attend 2026 District Convention
This past April 17-18, 2026 we held the convention in Columbia Falls. While I’m sure the host Lions club will be posting an article, this one was special for Seeley lake. Our own Lion Jon Kimble was voted our new District 37 Governor and our 2nd Vice governor was elected 1st Vice District Governor. As an extra surprise and well-deserved accolade was the presentation of the International Presidents Award to Lion Cheryl Lewis. All of us in Seeley Lake are proud of all three of these Lions and their dedication to service and our community. They are very deserving of these accomplishments.
Everyone had a great time with guest speakers Miss Montana and Miss Teen Montana both giving very heartfelt and inspiring speeches. Thank You Columbia Falls Lions for hosting such a terrific convention with training, great accommodations, food, music and lots of laughs.
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