January 2026 Newsletter
We are continuing to evolve the format of the newsletter notification emails. The publication of the 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 on the new format. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE!!
By Lion Peggy Tobin
From the Desk of Governor Corinna – January 2026
From District Governor Corinna Christensen
As we welcome 2026 with fresh energy and optimism, I want to thank every Lion across District 37 for the service you have continued to provide throughout your communities. You are the heart of Lions, and it shows in every project, every act of kindness, and every person you serve.
One of our global priorities this month is hunger relief. I encourage all clubs to join our Hunger Week of Service from January 3 through January 11. Lead projects that address every aspect of hunger, including food security, community meals, food pantry support, and even agricultural assistance. Do not forget to capture your efforts. Clubs are invited to submit hunger-focused service videos by January 23, 2026 for an opportunity to be featured in the Weeks of Service Video Showcase. If you need ideas, I encourage you to watch the standout entries from our recent Mental Health and Well-being Showcase. You will be inspired.
Have you visited LionPortal.com lately? It continues to improve each month with new features, training tools, resources, and service ideas. You may have heard me mention my favorite form of “R & D”. Research and Development? Nope. Ripoff and Duplicate! Lion Portal is the perfect place to learn from successful club initiatives around the world or to reach out to the club in the next town for ideas. Work smarter and utilize the tools at your fingertips. Additionally, remember that you can start at MontanaLions.org for EVERYTHING Lions. There is News, Training, Directory, Links, and so much more.
Looking ahead, I am very excited for our District 37 Convention in Columbia Falls on April 17 and 18. This will be another outstanding opportunity to collaborate, learn, grow, and yes, do more R and D. We have incredible Lions in our district, and when we come together, our collective strengths shine even brighter.
New Year. New Clubs. New Lions. New Projects. New Leadership Roles. Let us make 2026 the best year ever for service in Montana. Together, “We lead to serve and serve to lead.”
Yours in service,
DG Corinna Christensen
District 37 Montana Lions
(Pictured at “Lion Lake” near Hungry Horse Dam)
By DG Corinna Christensen
By District ConventionDistrict 37 Peace Poster Winners Announced
Celebrating the Future of Peace
Each year, Lions Clubs around the world participate in one of our most meaningful youth initiatives: The Lions International Peace Poster Contest. This inspiring program encourages children aged 11 to 13 to express their visions of peace through art. It is a powerful way to engage youth, support creativity, and promote Lions’ global message of unity and service.
We are proud to announce the Montana District 37 winners of the 2025–2026 Peace Poster Contest, themed “Together as One.” The entries were outstanding, and the judging process reflected the thoughtfulness and artistic talent of students from across our state.
First Place Winner:Josie Hensley
Helena Christian School | Sponsored by Helena Lions Club (President Jack Berry)
Josie’s powerful poster has been forwarded to Lions International Headquarters in Oak Brook, Illinois, where it will compete with entries from around the world.
First Runner-Up: Sylvia Rea Fanelli
Ennis School | Sponsored by Ennis Lions Club
Second Runner-Up: Jessica Haas
Ennis School | Sponsored by Ennis Lions Club
LCI President’s Message-January 2026
President’s MessageLead to Serve, Serve To Leadwith International President A.P. Singh |
Dear Lion,
Lions are known the world over as being agents of positive change. We identify problems and work to find solutions.
Throughout the year, you’ve made plans. You’ve focused on growth. You’ve served. Now it’s time to reflect on what worked. And what didn’t. By reviewing your areas of strength and adapting to obstacles, you and your club will be able to serve better, serve more and create your path to success.
As you work to serve your community and meet your goals, it’s also important to take the time to recognize your achievements. Celebrate each victory with your club, motivate each other — and watch your service impact grow.
Together in service,
A.P. Singh
International President
Global Membership Team Report – January 2025
Global and Montana Membership – January, 2026
Connecting Clubs and Lions to One Another
As I have traveled to Lions Clubs across Montana over the past 11 years, I have observed that while some clubs are thriving, others are struggling with membership. One thing remains constant, however: every club is providing wonderful service to its community.
Recently, I have been tracking analytics from our website, montanalions.org. These analytics show how many members visit the site, what pages they view, and how long they stay. What I’ve noticed is that, unless it is close to convention time, relatively few members visit the website in any given month.
I have also looked at convention attendance. Last year, only half of our 58 clubs had at least one member attend the state convention.
Not surprisingly, many of the clubs that are struggling are also the ones not visiting the website or attending conventions. As a result, these clubs can become isolated—from other clubs and from the district as a whole.
Because of this, I ask those of you who regularly attend conventions to reach out to those who do not. Encourage them to attend this year’s convention. Consider traveling together or sharing a room. For many Lions, attending a convention alone for the first time can feel like a big step.
Sometimes all it takes is an invitation.
Just ask!
GMT Chair Richard Gessling
By Global Membership Team
District LCIF Co-Chairs PDG Mike Tobin & PDG Lary Garrison – January 2026
District LCIF Co-Chair Mike Tobin
Happy New Year District 37 Lions! Throughout 2025, Lions and Leos around the district have continued to serve Montanans, improving their lives and our communities through your generosity. LCIF grants have empowered our clubs in this district to reduce hunger, restore vision, help communities recover, rebuild after disaster, and so much more.
Thanks to your dedication and support, we are making strong progress toward our fundraising goals this fiscal year. As we move forward in 2026, please keep inspiring others to support LCIF and explore grant opportunities to expand your Club’s impact on your community. Remember to invite new donors to make their gifts to LCIF in recognition of Melvin Jones’ 147th birthday. Every donation makes a difference to someone in need and helps us leave our mark on our communities.
Now is the time to schedule a new recurring LCIF donation. Schedule an online monthly donation of $10 or more or a recurring annual donation of at least $120 to qualify for new recognitions available at the end of the Lion year.
Your contributions to LCIF bring us all closer to success!
https://www.lionsclubs.org/en/donate
Yours in Lionism,
PDG Mike Tobin – PO Box 408, Sunburst MT 59482, 406-450-2780, [email protected]
PDG Lary Garrison , 703 Conway St., Billings, MT 59105, 406-855-6997, [email protected]
By LCIF CoordinatorsUnderstanding District 37 Dues for the 2025–2026 Lionistic Year
District 37 will issue its annual dues invoices this month. This is a good time to clarify how dues work at both the district and international levels, since the structure can feel complicated if you do not see the entire system at once.
By Lion Steve Dogiakos
Montana Lions Sight & Hearing Foundation – January 2026
Montana Lions Sight & Hearing Foundation Statistics
Please find below the statistics from January 1, 2025 to December 27, 2025
- Applications Received: 48
- Assistance Provided: 22
- Total Cost of Assistance Provided: $34,025.72
- Applications Received From: Billings, Belgrade, Bozeman, Columbia Falls, Coram, Corvallis, East Missoula, Great Falls, Hamilton, Havre, Helena, Hot Springs, Kalispell, Lakeside, Livingston, Manhattan, Missoula, Sidney, Superior, Townsend, Trego and Whitefish
By Montana Lions Sight & Hearing Foundation
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