2025 District 37 Post Convention Report – Saturday Morning Speakers
We are continuing our series of the 2025 District 37 convention reports, sharing the experiences of many Lions who attended the 2025 District 37 Convention held May 2nd and 3rd in Helena MT.
Saturday morning began with the flag presentations, singing of the national anthems for Canada and the United States and a warm welcome from Helena’s mayor, Wilmot Collins.
Special Speakers included International Director Gary Rodifer; Vice Council Chair Christine Lank who provided a very entertaining history of women in Lions; Faith Johnson, former Miss Montana and MSU graduate who inspired everyone with her Helena Keller Presentation and Chantel Schieffer, founder of True North Leadership whose message focused on how to be better leaders.
By Lion Peggy Tobin2025 District 37 Post Convention Report – Convention Election
We are continuing our series of the 2025 District 37 convention reports, sharing the experiences of many Lions who attended the 2025 District 37 Convention held May 2nd and 3rd in Helena.
The Election of District officers for the 2025-2026 lionistic year were held Saturday morning. Each candidate had a representative who provided a nomination prior to the ballot election. The election process also included a presentation by the Columbia Falls Lions for their bid for the 2026 District 37 Convention.
We hope to see you all in Columbia Falls April 17-18, 2026!!
2025 District 37 Post Convention Report – Hall of Fame
We are continuing our series of the 2025 District 37 convention reports, sharing the experiences of many Lions who attended the 2025 District 37 Convention held May 2nd and 3rd in Helena MT.
Induction into District 37’s Hall of Fame signifies a Lion’s noteworthy contributions to the ideals of Lionism through the Lions Club, District and community. This is not a longevity award. The 2025 Convention celebrated the induction of two such lions – PDG Richard Gessling and Lion David L. Falcon.
Past District Governor Richard Gessling was the first DG for Single District 37 from 2015 to 2016. He then served as a region chairperson and GMT Chairperson. Richard joined the Red Lodge Lions club in 1990 and served there until 2024 when he transferred to the Billings Lions club.
Lion David Falcon joined the Kalispell Sunrisers in 1989 and is currently serving as their club president, a position he has held multiple times as well as club First Vice President. He has served the district as a zone chair and also the Vision Chairperson. He is the go-to person for the Plus Optix program for the State of Montana.
2025 District 37 Post Convention Report – Parade of Green
We are continuing our series of the 2025 District 37 convention reports, sharing the experiences of many Lions who attended the 2025 District 37 Convention held May 2nd and 3rd in Helena MT. If you have stories or photos to share, please send them via the “Submit Club News” option on the website.
The Parade of Green allows all of the clubs to present their donations to the various endorsed projects supported by District 37.
Reflections from USA/Canada Lions Leadership Forum
Zone Chair Margaret Baylinson
REFLECTIONS FROM USA/CANADA LIONS LEADERSHIP FORUM – ATLANTIC CITY 2025
Dear Fellow Lions,
Another USA/Canada Lions Leadership Forum is behind us—and what a powerful experience it was. For a few days, it felt like we had all escaped from the hustle of everyday life and stepped into a space filled with purpose, passion, and positivity.
There’s something truly uplifting about being surrounded by so many like-minded people. The beauty of the forum lies not only in its programming but in the energy it brings. It arms you with new ideas, reshapes your mindset, and inspires a renewed commitment to service. Admittedly, absorbing all the information at once can be a bit overwhelming—but it’s the best kind of overload.
By Margaret Baylinsen
2025 District 37 Post Convention Report- Saturday’s Memorial Service
Over the next few months a series of convention reports will be published to share the experiences of many Lions who attended the 2025 District 37 Convention held May 2nd and 3rd in Helena MT. If you have stories or photos to share, please send them via the “Submit Club News” option on the website.
On Saturday afternoon, the Memorial Service honoring those Lions who had passed since the last convention was held. As in past years, the program began with a video of the lions being honored. Following the video, each Lion was honored with a tribute of their service, a red rose given to a club representative, and the lighting of a candle as the bell was rung.
Dates to Remember – October 2025
OCTOBER CLUB ANNIVERSARIES
177 years of service!!!
Fort Benton 10/10/2005
Billings 10/20/1921
Joliet 10/22/1971
UPCOMING DISTRICT MEETING DATES
MT Lions Sight & Hearing Foundation – October 18, 2025 @ 9:00am The Kopper Kitchen, Kalispell MT
District Cabinet Meeting – October 18, 2025 @ 11:00am The Kopper Kitchen, Kalispell MT
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
2025 District 37 Post Convention Report – Friday Evening Social
We are continuing our series of the 2025 District 37 convention reports, sharing the experiences of many Lions who attended the 2025 District 37 Convention held May 2nd and 3rd in Helena MT. If you have stories or photos to share, please send them via the “Submit Club News” option on the website.
The 2025 District Convention officially opened Friday evening with live music provided by Lion Jack Berry, President of Helena Lions (keyboard) and Lion Scott Cromwell, Director of Helena Lions (drums). Lion Jack introduced DG Raleigh Peck who welcomed over 100 lions and guests.
Todd Carmichael represented the Montana School for the Deaf and Blind and provided an update on what the school has accomplished since the last convention.
The evening also saw the beginning of the sale of 50/50 tickets by various convention Tail Twisters who worked throughout the weekend.
2025 District 37 Post Convention Report – Live Auction
We are continuing our series of the 2025 District 37 convention reports, sharing the experiences of many Lions who attended the 2025 District 37 Convention held May 2nd and 3rd in Helena MT. If you have stories or photos to share, please send them via the “Submit Club News” option on the website.
The 2025 District Convention live auction was the final event Friday evening. Attending clubs provided some of the auction items and so did many local area businesses! We raised $5,175!! This brought the total revenue of both auctions (silent & live) to $9,015!! Proceeds were aplit evenly between Lions Club Int’l Foundation (LCIF) and and the Montana Lions Sight & Hearing Foundaiton (MLS&HF).
It was noteworthy that a chocolate cake donated by a local bakery raised funds not once, not twice, but THREE TIMES! DGE Corinna Christensen purchased it the first time. Then two more quarters were auctioned off again!
2025 District 37 Post Convention Report – Endorsed Project Vendors
Over the next few months a series of convention reports will be published to share the experiences of many Lions who attended the 2025 District 37 Convention held May 2nd and 3rd in Helena MT. If you have stories or photos to share, please send them via the “Submit Club News” option on the website.
The 2025 District Convention provided an opportunity for our endorsed project representatives to have vendor tables so that attendees could learn more about their services and collect information to take back to their clubs. In addition, many of the representatives participated in the Saturday Speed Learning.
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