November 2026 Newsletter
The publication of the district newsletter is at the beginning of the month, but articles are posted all during the month. A second email notification mid-way through the month will be sent if there are additional posts to share.
You can reply to this email to give us feedback.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE!!
By Lion Peggy TobinFrom the Desk of Governor Jon Kimble – November 2026
DISTRICT 37 BULLETIN
District 37 Newsletter Update
Happy Thanksgiving
Recently, our District Leadership received notice of a number of Clubs in District 37 who were falling into “Status Quo” status for past due balances to LCI older than 90 days. We have worked to resolve those issues and still have some work to complete. LCI adopted a policy of posting any outstanding Club invoice to LCI online at Lions Portal. They have discontinued the practice of mailing printed invoices monthly, semi-annually, or annually. We have discussed options for remedy and are consulting with LCI about those approaches. Until we have a clear alternative, we will offer the following:
Lions International will post outstanding invoices on your club account monthly. Please use the procedure below to download, save, and print a copy of your invoices. Please check them and forward any remittance to LCI to maintain “Active” Status for your Club.
How to Find, Access, and Download Your Lions Clubs International Invoice
A Step-by-Step Guide for Club Administrators, Treasurers, Secretaries, and Presidents
Every Lions Club has financial responsibilities to Lions Clubs International (LCI). One important responsibility is monitoring the club’s accounts, reviewing invoices, and ensuring that payments are on time.
Whether you are a Club Administrator, Treasurer, Secretary, or President, knowing how to locate and download your club’s LCI invoice is an important part of effective club management.
The following instructions will help you find your club’s invoice through the Lion Portal.
Step 1: Access the Lions International Website
- Open your internet browser.
- Go to lionsclubs.org.
- Select the Lion Portal login option.
- Sign in using your Lion Account credentials (email address and password).
If you have not established your Lion Account, follow the account registration instructions on the login page.
Step 2: Navigate Your Club’s Financial Information
Once you have successfully logged in:
- Open the My Club
- Look for Club Statements.
- Select this option to access your club’s financial information.
You should now be able to review the financial statements and outstanding balances associated with your club.
Step 3: Locate the Invoice You Need
Review the available statements and financial documents.
Look for the invoice or statement you need. Pay attention to:
- The invoice or statement date.
- The billing period.
- The amount due.
- The invoice reference or account information.
- Any payment deadlines.
If you do not immediately see the document you need, check the available statement periods, and document listings.
Step 4: Open and Download the Invoice
Once you locate the appropriate document:
- Select the invoice or document you wish to view.
- Open the document.
- Look for the download icon or the option to save the document.
- Select Download or Save As, depending on your browser.
- Save the document to your computer in PDF format, if available.
Choose a recognizable file name, such as: ClubName_LCI_Invoice_October2026.pdf
This will make it easier to locate the invoice when preparing financial reports or reviewing club records.
Step 5: Save and Share the Invoice
After downloading the invoice:
- Save a copy of your club’s financial records.
- Provide a copy to the Club Treasurer if someone else retrieved it.
- Share the invoice with the appropriate club officers or board members.
- Record the invoice amount and payment due date in your club’s financial tracking system.
- Retain the document for future reference and financial accountability.
Important Reminders
- Check the portal regularly. Do not wait for someone to remind you that an invoice is due. Make checking the club’s financial account part of your regular administrative routine.
- Keep your club’s records current. Accurate membership records are important because international membership dues are based on the club’s membership information.
- Work as a leadership team. The President, Secretary, Treasurer, and designated Club Administrator should communicate about the club’s financial responsibilities. Everyone should understand where invoices are located and who is responsible for processing payments.
- Remember that access and payment authority may differ. Being able to view or download a financial document does not necessarily mean you have authorization to make payments. Follow your club’s financial procedures and assigned responsibilities.
- Don’t confuse LCI invoices with LCIF donations. Lions Clubs International and Lions Clubs International Foundation are separate organizations with different financial purposes. Make sure you are accessing the correct account and document.
Need Additional Assistance?
For official payment instructions and financial resources, visit:
Lions Clubs International – Finance Resources
Lions Clubs International – Payment Instructions
For questions concerning club invoices, account balances, or payments, contact the LCI Accounts Receivable Department:
Email: [email protected]
Telephone: +1 630-203-3810
In Service,
Jon Kimble
District Governor,
Montana Lions District 37
559-352-1455
By DG Jon KimbleDistrict LCIF Co-Chairs PDG Raleigh Peck & PDG Mike Tobin – November 26
Why Isn’t Your Club Taking Advantage of Grant Opportunities?
Here’s One Most Lions Don’t Even Know About!
Did you know that the District and Community Impact Grant (DCG) is available to every Lions club? And qualifying for it may be easier than you think!
For years, Lions clubs and individual members have generously supported Lions Clubs International Foundation (LCIF). Many clubs have made annual donations, and members have contributed individually because they believe in helping Lions make a difference around the world.
Now, there’s an opportunity to bring some of that money back home!
The new District and Community Impact Grant (DCG) program gives clubs the opportunity to receive a portion of their LCIF contributions back in grant funding to support projects right here in their own communities. In other words, you can continue supporting humanitarian projects around the world while also putting some of those contributions to work locally!
Here’s how it works: When your club reaches a minimum of $5,000 in combined donations to LCIF during a Lionistic year, your club can receive 15% of that amount back in a DCG grant to use in your own community.
The $5,000 is a group total. It includes donations made by individual club members throughout the year, along with donations made directly by the club itself.
Think about it. Many clubs make an end-of-year donation using leftover club funds. Add that amount to the individual contributions members make throughout the year, and reaching $5,000 may be surprisingly easy!
Let’s look at an example:
Imagine your club has 30 members, and each member donates just $10 per month to LCIF.
- 30 members × $10 per month = $300
- $300 × 12 months = $3,600 annually
- Add a $2,000 year-end club donation.
- Total annual LCIF donations = $5,600.
- 15% DCG grant = $840!
That’s $840 your club can put back to work right in your own community!
It’s a WIN-WIN! Your club continues supporting LCIF and helping fund humanitarian projects around the world, while also getting the opportunity to bring grant funding back home to make a difference locally.
Even better, the money doesn’t simply disappear if your club doesn’t reach the $5,000 threshold. According to the DCG program, as long as there are at least $10,000 in qualifying donations across SD37, those donations are still put to work at the district level, benefiting communities throughout Montana.
Getting Started Is Easy!
Encourage every club member to consider making a small monthly donation. Even $5 or $10 a month can make a tremendous difference when everyone participates.
Simply visit MontanaLions.org, click the Donate button, and select an amount that works for you. It could be $5, $10, $50, $100, or even $28.19. Every donation helps!
Enter your credit card information, set up your contribution, and you’re on your way to making a difference. It’s a simple way to support Lions around the world while helping your own club qualify for additional community funding. And don’t forget to use the credit card with the best rewards so you get a little something back for yourself, too!
So, make an effort to reach that $5,000 goal! Don’t let your club miss out on the opportunity to bring 15% back through a DCG grant.
And remember, this is just one of the grant opportunities available to Lions. It’s also one of the easiest ways to get started, even though the grant amounts may be smaller.
Watch this space in the coming months! We’ll be sharing information about other opportunities, including matching grants, diabetes grants, hunger grants, and much more.
Thank you for everything you do for LCIF, your communities, and Lions around the world!
If
you want more information or help with a grant, call PDG Mike Tobin
(406-450-2780) or Raleigh G Peck at 406-480-5000.
PDG Raleigh Peck , 1575 10th Ave SW., Sidney, MT 59270, 406-480-5000, [email protected]
PDG Mike Tobin – PO Box 408, Sunburst MT 59482, 406-450-2780, [email protected]
By LCIF CoordinatorsGlobal Leadership Team – PDG Mike Collins-November 2026
Leadership Training for Lions in District 37
Lions Clubs International and District 37 Leadership Training aims to develop members’ leadership skills, improve communication, encourage teamwork, and prepare future leaders. It helps members understand their responsibilities, make effective decisions, solve problems, and manage club activities successfully.
Lions International and District 37 provide various leadership development opportunities, including club officer training, district leadership training, leadership institutes, and online learning. These opportunities help members at different levels gain the knowledge and confidence needed to fulfill their leadership roles.
- Club Officer training is held twice a year. Online training will be held in November of 2026. Dates will be announced soon. You can see videos of the past training at https://www.montanalions.org/training/ Club officer training is also held at the District 37 Convention. The Convention will be in Choteau in April 2027.
- Online Training in the Lions Learning Center. https://lionsinternational.my.site.com/s/ Under the heading of “Learn” there are video training for club officers, zone chairs, and many other roles.
- Online Training at Lions University. https://lionsuniversity.org/ Lions University is online training provided by USA/Canada Leadership forum. It is broken up into tracks by degrees. Bachelors is for club leadership. Masters is for District Leadership. You do not have to attend a Leadership forum to sign up for training.
- District 37 Leadership Retreat. The training is usually held in early October each year. The training is intended for current and future leaders in Montana. There is no cost to attend the training. The training details will be announced at the convention in April.
Lions Clubs International Leadership Training is essential for building confident, responsible, and service-oriented leaders. By developing leadership skills and encouraging continuous learning, Lions can strengthen their clubs, inspire volunteers, and make a lasting difference in communities worldwide.
Leadership in Lions means inspiring others, working together, and serving humanity with dedication.
|
By Global Leadership Team
Global Leadership Team – Lewistown 2026 Leadership Retreat
The October 2nd and 3rd, 2026 Leadership training was held in Lewistown. The two-day affair saw over 21 attendees participating in talks, discussions and group activities. Topics included The Foundation of Leadership, Lions History, Mentoring, Impromptu Speaking, Stages of Team Development and Service Reporting.
There were a lot of positive comments as we look for future leaders in clubs and the District. Public speaking is a difficult thing and those fears need to be put to rest at training like this. Seeing how information is presented gives the participants the idea that they too can be a leader and pick topics to present to their own club or to a district meeting. Even people who have been leader in the past find the information helpful as a refresher.
Our Global Team Leader Mike Collins put on a wonderful couple of days of training. District Governor Jon Kimble offered his words of support to the Mission 1.5 million members worldwide. Past District Governor Mike Tobin showed us all how easy it is to support the District with ongoing monthly or yearly donations of just a small amount that makes a difference. Lion Cheryl Lewis was instrumental in presenting how service activities are reported and how important the information is. It was followed up with a hilarious skit from the Seeley Lake club featuring Super Admin Guy telling everyone that any activity is worth reporting.
If you have gone to one of these trainings you know the value. If not, please consider the next time the training comes up. It is well worth it!
Global Service Team – Lion Cheryl Lewis – November 2026
Greetings from your GST
Hello Montana Lions! 1st VDG Lion Gary and I have been making our way across the state and back, and what a pleasure it has been to be hosted by some wonderful Lions Clubs! Each time we visit, we come away with very special memories, from great food and fellowship, to lots of helpful “R and D” (Ripoff and Duplicate!
) on club projects and fundraisers, and rounded out with spectacular sunsets and scenery of our beautiful state. I can’t think of a better way to be spending these few months of our retirement. We love Lions Club, and we love serving you!
Speaking of service, we want to offer our kudos to those clubs who have successfully signed in to the Portal, learned how to retrieve their billing statements and submitted service reports. We know it has been an effort, and we are very proud of you! Thank you for working with us on these important club updates. And for those of you still working on this, please let us know how we can serve you better.
Happy Fall, Lions!
By Global Service Team
Global Service Team – Lion Cheryl Lewis – Why Report Service?
Why Report service?
A Service Activity Report Poem
By GST Chair Lion Cheryl Lewis
(Presented at the Lewistown Leadership Retreat)
When I was just a “Lion Cub,” I joined a very active club.
And as it grew we did more and more. But no one knew what we did it for.
One day my leader was passing by and asked me please if I would try
To do my part to tell our story…Not for fame, or wealth, or even glory
But just to let the record show so others in the world would know
about the Lions in this town whose service deeds are just not known
If clubs can show how much we’ve done, we’ll catch the notice of those “Big Guns”
Like The World Food Program, Johnson & Johnson, and Special Olympics … We’re in the company of giants with some heavy metrics!
Our service needs to have the attention of those Big Guns I’ve already mentioned
A single club can bring inspiration to worldwide Lions and those in our nation
So it took awhile for me to see the reason for his heartfelt plea:
It’s too important not to share how much we do, and how much we care!
Two Lights Montana Series -The Constitution
March 4, 1789: The U.S. government was scheduled to “turn on”, but it didn’t start with a bang.
We celebrate Independence Day in July, because July 4, 1776, is when the Declaration of Independence was adopted. But the new government created by the Constitution was scheduled to begin operating later, when the first federal Congress was set to meet on March 4, 1789.
The day the U.S. government “turned on”
March 4th mattered because it was the official start date chosen for the First Congress to convene in the new system, replacing the old national framework under the Articles of Confederation.
What actually happened that day
Congress was supposed to meet at Federal Hall, but not enough members were present to reach a quorum, so they couldn’t conduct official business. Travel was slow, roads were rough and representatives arrived in dribs and drabs. The government’s “engine” was there, but it couldn’t fully run yet.
- The House finally reached a quorum on April 1, 1789.
- The Senate reached a quorum on April 6, 1789.
Where it happened
The new Congress met in New York City at Federal Hall (America’s temporary capital at the time).
What it set in motion
Once Congress could officially operate, it could finally:
- Organize itself and elect leadership
- Count the Electoral College votes (April 6)
- And move toward the inauguration of George Washington (April 30)
One simple takeaway
March 4, 1789, is when the Constitution’s new federal government was supposed to begin, but the first morning had empty seats, and it took weeks for enough members to arrive to truly get it moving.
Join Lions across Montana in celebrating our nation’s 250th anniversary through learning, civic participation, and community service. Plan or participate in a service project on October 24—Montana Makes a Difference Day—and share your efforts using #TwoLightsMT and #D37Lions.
Plusoptix – Lion David Falcon – November 2026
District 37 PlusOptix Update
PlusOptix screening totals for school year Sept 2026 to June 2027:
As of the end of October – 2,668 screened with 350 refers.
When you are done screening for the month, please make sure you send me your numbers so I can add them to our District 37 totals.
There is now a course you can take to get certified as a vision screener. This isn’t a requirement, but if you are interested, it is located on www.lionskidsightUSA.org. There is information to study and at the end, there is a 50-question test. Once you get into the website it tells you what to do. If you do get certified, please let me know, and if I find out anything else, I will let you know.
Thanks!
Lion David Falcon, District 37 PlusOptix Chair
314 9th St. W., Kalispell, MT 59901; C. 406-253-1726: [email protected]
By PlusOptix CoordinatorSpecial Notices – November 2026
For Club Secretaries
Lion Portal Forum on Facebook
If you use Facebook, I can highly recommend the “Lion Portal Forum”. They answer all kinds of questions and you can ask questions there too! It is another option for finding the newest “Updated Training Videos” that are now available on the Portal as well as zoom sessions such as “how to prepare for the end of the fiscal year”.
For Club Treasurers
Club statements are no longer being mailed and can only be accessed via the Club Portal.
If your club’s treasurer has not created an account on the portal, that is the first step to completing the process of being able to access your club statements. The login is the email address that LCI has on file for each officer. If an email address has not been provided to your club secretary, you will NOT be able to create an account in the Lion Portal. Below is a short “tutorial” on how to access Club Statements:
Accessing Club Statements on the Lion Portal
1. Log into the Lion Portal.
Note: to create a login, your email address MUST be in the portal as part of your personal information. If you get the message, “email not found” then you need
to update your personal information to reflect the correct email address.
2. Click on “My Club” (2nd Box across the top of the page)
3. Click on “Statements” located under your club information (sixth item to the right).
4. Review your Statement your club’s Monthly activity will be listed along with any
Current Balances owed. IF that statement simply brings a balance
forward from a previous period, then you can scroll down to the “Statements and
Invoices” listing….please note that you can select a prior fiscal year if you have to go
back several months to find the actual invoice that generated the current balance.
Example: For fiscal 2027, the first half of fiscal year was invoiced on June 30th for July 1 – December 31st and is listed under fiscal “2026”. That balance was due July 31st. Also, every time you add a new member (no matter what month of the year), you will be charged a “pro-rated” portion of the annual dues and those invoices will carry forward as well. PLEASE REVIEW YOUR INVOICES ON A MONTHLY BASIS!!
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)
District 37 Facebook Page
We all know that Lions serve from the heart, and now we want to see YOU in action! Whether you’re planting trees, organizing a food drive, helping out at a community event, or any other service activity, we want to showcase the amazing work our Lions are doing.
We’re looking for candid shots of Montana Lions actively engaging in service. We appreciate the posed group photos that commemorate events but we want to see how you have captured the real moments that show the spirit of Lionism in action!
How to Participate:
-
-
- Snap candid photos of Lions in action during service activities.
- Share your photos via message to the District Facebook Page (https://m.me/MontanaLions).
- Include a brief description of the activity and the names of the Lions involved.
- Bonus points for Lions wearing Lions Club logos on hats, vests, shirts, etc.!
-
Let’s fill our media with the heart and soul of our District’s service efforts. Remember, a picture is worth a thousand words—let’s show the world the impact of the MT Lions Clubs of District 37!
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.
Recent Comments