August 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 – August 2026
Fellow Lions,
In a renewed bid to broaden its impact and reverse a longstanding membership decline, Lions Clubs International (LCI) continued a multi-year strategy – Mission 1.5 – aimed at expanding both its membership and the reach of its service projects. The plan, reiterated at this year’s International gathering in Hong Kong, aims to achieve 1.5 million Lions Members by the 2027 – 2028 Lions Year.
The core objective is straightforward: “more members, more service!” Lions’ service is wide given the sponsored programs: vision, health, environmental improvement, among its service programs around the world. LCI leaders emphasized that increasing enrollment is not merely about numbers, but about expanding our service to communities in need, from vision screenings in rural clinics to disaster-response relief, youth mentorship programs and diabetes awareness and treatment.
District 37 has engaged The Wendt Agency to promote Lions across Montana. The initial phase of the project will be aimed at engaging our neighbors where Lions Clubs are no longer active or have never been present. The new members and Clubs are expected to contribute to the Lions Mission, strengthen Lions in Montana, and serve more of our communities. Changes to LCI administration include:
- Expanded recruitment and onboarding: new digital tools to simplify sign-ups, streamlined mentoring for new members, and targeted outreach to women, younger professionals, and diverse communities.
- Strengthened youth and family pathways: renewed support for Leo Clubs and college-age volunteers as pipelines for future Lions, with enhanced training and project funding.
- Local-to-global service alignment: a framework to connect local clubs’ service projects to broader international campaigns, improving impact visibility and collaboration.
- Strategic partnerships: collaborations with corporations, nonprofits, and government-led public health and humanitarian initiatives to provide scaled opportunities for service.
Success will be reason to celebrate! If you would like to know more, visit https://www.montanalions.org/ or https://www.lionsclubs.org/en
Let’s have a GREAT year!
Jon Kimble
District Governor,
Montana Lions District 37
559-352-1455
By DG Jon KimbleFrom the Desk of IPDG Corinna – August 2026 – Peace Posters
Inspire Young Artists and Promote Peace
Sponsor a 2026–2027 Lions International Peace Poster Contest
.
Montana Lions District 37 clubs are encouraged to sponsor the Lions International Peace Poster Contest. This year’s theme is “Harmony in Humanity”.
The contest gives young people ages 11–13 an opportunity to express what peace, kindness and understanding mean to them through art. It is also a wonderful way for Lions clubs to connect with local families, youth leaders and community organizations while promoting the work of Lions.
Participation is not limited to schools. Clubs may also partner with:
- 4-H clubs
- Scout troops
- Boys & Girls Clubs
- Church youth groups
- Homeschool groups
- Libraries
- After-school programs
- Community art centers
- Tribal youth organizations
Montana Lions District 37 offers cash prizes for outstanding entries, and clubs may also offer local prizes or recognition.
At the international level, the grand-prize winner receives US$5,000, a special award and an invitation to a Lions International event. Twenty-three merit award winners each receive US$500 and a certificate.
Lions International also offers a Peace Essay Contest for students who are blind or visually impaired, giving these young people another opportunity to share their vision of peace.
Peace Poster kits are now available online, so there are no postage charges. Each club must purchase a kit for every contest it sponsors. Clubs can also order certificates, pins and other Peace Poster supplies to use as prizes or participant gifts.
Visit the Lions International Peace Poster Shop to purchase kits and supplies:
https://lionsclubsinternational.myshopify.com/collections/peace-poster
Start planning now and help a young Montanan share their vision of “Harmony in Humanity” with the world!
IPDG Corinna Christensen
Montana Lions District 37
“Lead to Serve, Serve to Lead”
By IPDG Corinna ChristensenClub Treasurers: Semiannual Dues Invoices Are Ready for Payment
Lions Clubs International issued semiannual dues invoices to every club on June 30, and they are payable now. If your club’s treasurer hasn’t logged into the MyLCI portal recently, this is the reminder to do it this week.
A note for clubs used to the old process: LCI no longer mails paper invoices. Your invoice exists only in the MyLCI portal. If you’re waiting on something to arrive by mail, it isn’t coming, and the clock on payment is running whether or not anyone has looked.
If your club’s treasurer has not created an account on the portal, that is the first step to completing this process. 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.
What to do
- Log into MyLCI using your credentials.
- Navigate to your club’s account and click on the “Statements” tab to see
- Submit payment through the portal, or route the invoice to whoever handles your club’s payments if that isn’t the treasurer directly.
Unpaid dues can affect your club’s standing with LCI and create complications for member transactions, so don’t let this sit unchecked because no envelope showed up.
Why this matters beyond the invoice itself
LCI dues, along with District dues and any initiation fees, need to be current for your club to process new membership applications without delay. A lapsed invoice now becomes a bigger headache later, right when you’re trying to onboard a new member.
Questions
If your club is unsure about the amount owed or is having trouble accessing the portal, reach out to your zone chairperson or the District 37 Cabinet Treasurer for help.
By Lion Steve DogiakosDistrict LCIF Co-Chairs PDG Mike Tobin & PDG Raleigh Peck – August 26
Lions Clubs Are Invited to Explore LCIF Funding & Service Opportunities
Hello Montana Lions,
Well here it is August already, the last month of summer vacation and possibly that time of year when some of our clubs will be having their first club meeting of the new Lionistic year.
As the clubs start to think and plan for the coming year, I want the club Presidents and club LCIF chairs to think and plan on how their club and each of their members will be supporting LCIF through fund raising and personal contributions. LCIF can only help through those type of donations. Don’t get me wrong, the parade of green at convention is a great thing, but small personal monthly donations throughout the year really add up ($10-20/month), and a club fund raiser just for LCIF also goes a long way in helping meet our District Fund Raising goals ($52,000).
If your club would like a visit from the District LCIF team to help kick off your fund raising or just to learn more about what LCIF is and what it has to offer your community, just call or email one of your District team members.
Together, we can accomplish great things through service.
Yours in Lionism,
PDG Mike Tobin – PO Box 408, Sunburst MT 59482, 406-450-2780, [email protected]
PDG Raleigh Peck , 1575 10th Ave SW., Sidney, MT 59270, 406-480-5000, [email protected]
By LCIF CoordinatorsGlobal Leadership Team – PDG Mike Collins-August 2026
Calling all District 37 Lions!
6th Annual Montana Lions Leadership Retreat
Lewistown October 2-4, 2026
Dear Montana Lions,
The leadership retreat is a unique opportunity for Montana Lions to enhance your leadership skills, gain new insights, and strengthen the connections within our Lions community. Your role as an officer in your Lions Club is vital to the success and growth of our service and Lionism in Montana, and this retreat is designed to support you in that mission.
|
By Global Leadership TeamTwo Lights Montana
CELEBRATING OUR NATION’S 250TH ANNIVERSARY
.
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.
USA/Canada Lions Forum – 2026 Midwest Breakfast
Montana is Invited to the Midwest Breakfast at the Forum
Any Montana Lions attending the USA/Canada Lions Forum are invited by PID Deb Weaverling to attend the Midwest Breakfast.
Special Notices – August 2026
For Club Secretaries
New Training Videos Available on District the Website
LCI has provided several new training videos that reflect the updates that were completed in the Lions Portal over the past year. They include “How to Create and Report Service”, “How to Add a Member”, “Assigning Lion Club Officers for the Next Year” and “How to Manage a Sponsored Leo Club.
These videos are available on the home page of the Lion Portal Website and have also been put on the Training Page of the District 37 Website at the link below:
https://www.montanalions.org/training/
For Club Treasurers
If your club’s treasurer has not created an account on the portal, that is the first step to completing this process. 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.
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)
With the release of the new LionPortal, we have added links to some of the short videos provided by LCI (please note that these were recorded prior to updates that have made changes to the “look” of the pages – but the blue boxes are still there:
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.
Dates to Remember – August 2026
AUGUST CLUB ANNIVERSARIES
230 years of service!!!
Baker – 08/29/1946 – 80 Years!
Ennis – 08/30/1948
Huntley Project – 08/30/1954
MARK YOUR CALENDARS
UPCOMING DISTRICT MEETING DATES
District 37 6th Annual Leadership Retreat – October 2 – 4, 2026, Lewistown, MT
MT Lions Sight & Hearing Foundation – October 17, 2026 @ 10:00 Boulder High School, Boulder MT
District Cabinet Meeting – October 17, 2026 @ noon, Boulder High School, Boulder MT
2027 District 37 Convention – April 16-17, 2027, Choteau, MT
LIONS CLUB INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION SCHEDULE
2027 Washington DC – July 2-6
2028 Singapore -June 23-27
2029 Minneapolis, MN – June 29 – July 3
2030 San Antonio TX – June 28 – July 2
2031 – Helsinki Finland – July 4-8
UPCOMING USA/CANADA FORUMS
USA/CANADA LIONS LEADERSHIP FORUMS CAN BE RELATED TO ALL AREAS OF YOUR LIFE – NOT JUST LIONS
2026 Memphis TN-50th Annual!! – September 3 – 5
2027 Huntsville, AB – September 16-18
2028 Grand Rapids, MI – To be announced
2029 Shreveport, LA – To be announced
Recent Comments