Looking for Club Service Project Ideas?
Sometimes it’s hard to come up with new ideas for club service projects. Lions Club International offers a wealth of information that can assist in making our clubs stronger. One of them is the Quick Start Service Ideas based on our global causes. You can also find this list at montanalions.org under the “About Us/Our Causes” and “Training & Resources” tabs.
By Lion Peggy TobinEnnis Lions Club Poker Tournament
The Ennis Lions Club hosted its annual Poker Tournament on Sunday, February 1st, at the Silver Dollar in Ennis, and the event delivered exactly what it promised…great cards, great company, and an even greater cause. From the opening deal to the final hand, the atmosphere was jovial and the camaraderie unmistakable as players squared off in a spirited Texas Hold ’Em battle. Laughter, friendly banter, and good-natured competition filled the room, underscoring what has become one of the Lions Club’s largest and most anticipated fundraisers of the year.
Proceeds from the tournament directly support Ennis Lions Club initiatives that benefit the entire Madison Valley and beyond, including student scholarships, maintenance and improvements at Ennis Lions Park, eye testing in all Madison County schools, the Father’s Day Kids Fishing Derby, and many other community projects. More information about these programs can be found at ennismtlions.org.
Adding to the enjoyment of the evening, players and community members were treated to an exceptional meal during the tournament break, prepared by Campfire Pizza Catering. The delicious meal was served by Joel Shows and Sherri Shows and was generously sponsored by Jenny Rohrback, Realtor, and Sky Federal Credit Union. The food was widely praised and added to the warm, community-centered atmosphere that defined the event.
The final poker table was a fantastic representation of local supporters and Lions from neighboring communities. After an exciting finish, the final standings were announced. (Not pictured was 4th place winner Jeff Cotterell, President of the Bozeman Lions Club.
Adding a particularly meaningful layer to the evening, the tournament title sponsor was MDM Construction, sponsoring the event in memory of Ken Sciuchetti. Ken was a longtime and beloved member of the Ennis Lions Club, and it was especially heartwarming that his son, Scott, took home the tournament win.
A special note of appreciation is also due to Lion Bernie Oglietti, who chaired this event for many years and has been an exceptional mentor to fellow Lions. His legacy of leadership and service continues to be felt in the success of events like this one.
The Ennis Lions Club thanks everyone who attended, played, sponsored, and supported the tournament. The Lions look forward to seeing the community again next year around the poker table, all in the spirit of service.
By Ennis LionsHavre Lions Celebrate Brandy Kurtz
On Jan. 16, between basketball games, the Havre Lions Club honored Brandy Kurtz with the distinguished Melvin Jones Fellowship Award, one of the highest forms of recognition within Lions Clubs International.
Named after Lions Club founder Melvin Jones, the award recognizes individuals who exemplify the organization’s motto, “We Serve,” through outstanding commitment to their communities. Kurtz was selected for her lifelong dedication to serving Havre and the surrounding area.
An active member of the Elks and a strong supporter of veterans, Kurtz is known for her involvement at the local, state, and national levels. She has also contributed her time and energy to numerous community efforts, including support for MSU-Northern and its students, as well as volunteering during Bear Paw events and the Montana State Fair.
By Havre Lions ClubSeeley Lake Lions-Fund Raising for Scholarships
Polaris Raffle
Recently we were blessed with a donation of a Polaris General with a snowplow by one of our newest members Lion Michael Williams. Our goal was to raise at least $8-10,000, however, we exceeded that and brought in a whopping $15,000! It was a great effort by many in the club to sell tickets and through the generosity of residents of Seeley Lake and nearby towns we were able to pull off this miracle. On top of that we had a local resident be the lucky winner!
These scholarships, which we give out on an annual basis, will go to help high school students here with academic, merit and performance based. Last year and this year we also gave out trade scholarships which is equally important for those students are not going to college but need assistance in a trade. Helping with this cause was our local Leos club. Out of 98 students at the school 24 are Leos and they contributed $500 in sales and learned the responsibility of getting this done on time and accurately. We budget for these each year but with the addition of this money, it will help students for years to come as we can add to the amount we decide to hand out. A huge congratulations goes to Lion Rich Westin for being the driving force behind ticket sales.
True Lionism in Action!
Winterfest 2026
For the past few years, we in Seeley Lake are trying to find new fund raisers. We have done a couple of shows with either live talent or lip synching. We call this Winterfest and the theme was Showtime! Put together by Lion Ginger Williams with support from countless other members, we were able to gather 15 different acts for the January 24th performance.
Lion President Michael Feretich was the MC and kept the show moving with inspiration and humor. Lion Cory Thompson donated all of our refreshments while countless others donated items for our silent auction. All totaled with admission, refreshments, the silent auction and the raffle of the Polaris General we were able to bring in almost $20,000!
It was outstanding that we had so much help from our small town. Lots of old faces plus many new ones enjoyed an evening of music and entertainment we don’t normally see.
By Seeley Lake Lions ClubLCI Considering International Dues Increase for 2028-2032
Lions Clubs International has proposed a future adjustment to international dues that will be considered by voting delegates at the 2026 International Convention in Hong Kong. Because dues discussions often raise understandable questions, this post is intended to clearly explain what is being proposed, when it would take effect, and how it does and does not affect District 37.
What is being proposed
The International Board of Directors has approved a proposal to gradually increase international dues by a total of $10 over five years, beginning in 2028.
If approved by convention delegates, the adjustment would follow this schedule:
July 1, 2028: +$2
July 1, 2029: +$2
July 1, 2030: +$2
July 1, 2031: +$2
July 1, 2032: +$2
That equals $2 per year, or $1 per semiannual billing period, over five years.
Why Lions Clubs International is proposing this change
Like most global organizations, Lions Clubs International has experienced sustained cost increases due to inflation, rising technology expenses, and the cost of maintaining worldwide member support.
Before proposing a dues adjustment, Lions Clubs International reports that it:
Reduced operating budgets
Renegotiated vendor contracts
Cut or consolidated programs after ROI review
Adjusted staffing levels
Improved efficiency through automation
The proposed increase is intended to maintain current service levels and infrastructure rather than expand programs.
How Lions international dues compare to other service organizations
Even with the proposed adjustment fully implemented in 2032, Lions international dues would remain comparatively low:
Rotary International: approximately $107 per year
Kiwanis International: approximately $107 per year
Lions Clubs International: $50 currently, rising gradually to $60 by 2032
Lions international dues include insurance coverage and a subscription to LION Magazine, which some peer organizations bill separately.
What international dues are used for
International dues support the global operations of Lions Clubs International, including:
Club and member support services
Training and leadership development
International conventions and events
Technology platforms and digital tools
Global marketing and public relations
Translation and language services
Legal support and liability insurance
International dues do not fund LCIF grants or programs, which are supported entirely by donations.
What this means for District 37
This is the most important clarification:
District 37 dues are not changing as a result of this proposal.
District dues are set independently through the District budget process and are governed by District 37 policy and cabinet approval. The proposed international adjustment does not automatically increase district or club dues.
What this may mean for individual clubs
If the international dues adjustment is approved in 2026, club boards will need to decide whether and how to absorb the increase.
Clubs generally have three options:
Absorb the increase within existing club budgets
Adjust member dues to offset the increase
Use a combination of budgeting and dues adjustment
For context, the impact is modest:
$2 per member per year
$1 per semiannual billing period
That scale is intentionally small and gradual to allow clubs time to plan.
Who makes the final decision
The proposal has been approved by the International Board of Directors but has not yet been adopted.
The final decision will be made by official voting delegates at the 2026 Lions Clubs International Convention. If approved, the first increase would take effect July 1, 2028.
As always, District leadership will continue to share accurate information as it becomes available so clubs can plan responsibly and without surprises.
If your club has questions about budgeting, dues structure, or planning for potential future changes, reach out through your Zone Chair or District Cabinet.
By Lion Steve DogiakosSpecial Notice for Club Officers Unable to Register on the Lion Portal
ALL CLUB OFFICERS TRYING TO REGISTER ON THE LION PORTAL – Try Again!
We’ve had several club officers who are in the Lion Portal but cannot create a login. Please see the recent Facebook post below from the Lion Portal Forum (and if you use Facebook, this is a great source for seeing answers to common questions or to ask your own question).
If anyone has a Microsoft email account such as yahoo, outlook, msn, hotmail, etc., and were having trouble receiving Lion Portal emails such as verification codes or password resets, please try again. An issue was found with a vendor platform that we just resolved.
District 37 Club Officer Training-REGISTRATION OPEN!
District 37 will be offering Club Officer training via the Zoom meeting platform in February of 2026 The training will consist of 4 separate webinars. This training is highly recommended for all club officers but all lions are welcome to attend.
These sessions will be live on-line zoom interactive training sessions. This does require online access from a computer or tablet with speakers. You can participate without a microphone but would be limited to typing any questions.
These webinars will be recorded and made available for people who are unable to attend on the district website: https://www.montanalions.org/training/
Session 1: Monday, Feb 2nd – 7:00pm – All Club Officers – 1.5 Hours. Trainer – PDG Mike Collins.
Register Here: https://us02web.zoom.us/
- Lions history
- Describe the Lions Club International Structure
- Describe standard club leadership structure.
- Identify the duties and responsibilities of each club officer.
- Standard Club Constitution and Bylaws
- Meaningful Projects
- Be familiar with the LIONS PORTAL and the Lions Learning Center
Session 2: Tuesday, Feb 3rd – 7:00pm – Club President – 1.5 Hours. Trainer – PDG Mike Tobin.
Register Here: https://us02web.zoom.us/
- President Responsibilities
- Leadership
- Where to find Resources
- Things to do and not to do
- How to enjoy your year
Session 3: Wednesday, Feb 4th – 7:00pm – Club Secretaries – 1.5 Hours. Trainer – Lion Peggy Tobin.
Register Here: https://us02web.zoom.us/
- Secretary Responsibilities
- Secretary functions before, during, after meetings
- Membership & Officer reporting – Hands-On training for Lions Portal
- Activity Reporting – Hands-On for Lions Portal
Session 4: Thursday, Feb 5th – 7:00pm – Club Treasurers – 1.5 Hours – Trainer – PDG Mike Collins.
Register Here: https://us02web.zoom.us/
- Treasurer Responsibilities
- Club Accounts & Budgets
- Member Dues
- Payments
- Financial Policies
- Financial Records
By Global Leadership TeamBillings Heights Lions Donation
The Billings Heights Lions recently made a $100 donation to the Lockwood Lions Jr. ROTC for their upcoming competition in Salt Lake City, Utah.
By BillingsHeightsSeeley Lake Lions-December News
GIVING THANKS
At a time when families are planning for the holidays with lavish meals and relatives traveling to be with one another, not everyone is as fortunate. Some families wonder if they will see relatives or what kind of meal they will have. One of our own members , Lion Cory, who owns Cory’s Valley Market here in town, each year, puts together food baskets to be distributed to those less fortunate. In the baskets will be either a turkey or a turkey breast, complete with stuffing, vegetable, milk and of course a pumpkin pie!
Members of the Lions in Seeley have already met months in advance to find out who in town is in need of such a wonderful gift. Then we gather a few days before Christmas and load up the boxes to be hand-delivered to each house in need. I can tell you from first-hand experience that every one of these deliveries are received with grateful arms. We hand out at least 35 of them in conjunction with a local church that also has a list. True Lionism in action in Seeley Lake!
CELEBRATING CHRISTMAS SEELEY STYLE
Submitted by Michael Feretich
Christmas would not be the same if it wasn’t for a Christmas Party with the Lions! This year was a little unusual dealing with adverse weather conditions. Just a day before the meeting we were hit with a violent wind and ice storm that left most of the town without power. Crews from Missoula Electric Cooperative worked round the clock to take care of families in the dark.
Unfortunately our hall, where our meetings take place and all the decorations had been set up, was without power for several days. We had to wait it out, but they came through for us and had the hall up and running in a few days. So we rescheduled and had about 35 members show up with all the small finger foods, hors d’oeuvres, and desserts to make this a festive party. We had an ugly sweater contest and a White Elephant gift exchange. Of all the many good things I can say about this club is we have fun and I am proud to be their president.
By District Convention
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