Convention & Special Notices – March 2026
OFFICIAL CALL FOR THE CONVENTION
The annual District Convention shall be held on April 17 and 18, 2026 in Columbia Falls, Montana. The convention starts as registration commences on Friday April 17, 2025 at 1:00pm.
CLUB DELEGATE FORMULA
Policy Manual, Article 8, Section B: Club Delegate Formula
Each chartered club in good standing in Lions Clubs International and this District shall be entitled in each annual convention of this District to one (1) delegate and one (1) alternate for each (10) members, who have been enrolled for at least one year and a day in the club or major fraction thereof, of said club as shown by the records of the International office on the first day of the month last preceding that month during which the convention is held. (NOTE: for the 2026 convention, that date is March 1st.) The major fraction referred to in this section shall be five (5) or more members. Each certified delegate, present in person, shall be entitled to cast one (1) vote only on each question submitted to the respective convention. All eligible delegates must be members in good standing of a club in good standing within the District.
Montana District 37 grants full delegate status to each past district governor who is a member of a club in such district independent of the club delegate quotas.
NOTE: If your club has members who are together in a household, the number available to calculate delegates will be different than what is listed above, as it will be based on households.
CONVENTION REGISTRATION
Early Bird Registration for the 2026 District 37 Convention in Columbia Falls ends March 27, 2026. The cost will increase from $110 to $135 on March 28, 2026.
Go to www.montanalions.org to register online or download the registration form on pages 15 & 16 of the newsletter.
For Club Secretaries
If you make changes to your club officers, meeting locations and/or meeting dates & times in the Lion Portal, please send a note to Lion Peggy Tobin, District 37 Secretary at [email protected] or call/text 406-461-4206 so she can more efficiently update the District website. The club directory information on the website is used by the district governor’s team to plan visits, set up meetings, and provide updates. THANK YOU!
For Club Treasurers
Please remember that all Lions clubs with annual gross receipts less than US$50,000 that are not required to file Forms 990 or 990-EZ must file the e-Postcard (also known as the 990-N). Please be advised this filing relates specifically to the 501(c)(4). If your Lions club has a foundation, which is a separate legal entity, the appropriate form will need to be filed as well. If you are unfamiliar with this process, please see the short video noted below.
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:
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.
By Lion Peggy TobinDates to Remember – March 2026
MARCH CLUB ANNIVERSARIES
318 years of service!!!
Sidney 03/01/1971
Red Lodge 03/03/1947
Plentywood 03/10/1986
Bozeman 03/18/1954
Wolf Point 03/26/1990
UPCOMING DISTRICT MEETING DATES
District Cabinet Meeting – April 19, 2026 @ 9:00am following the Convention
MT Lions Sight & Hearing Foundation – April 19, 2026 @ noon following the Convention
2026 MD C CONVENTION
MARK YOUR CALENDARS
APRIL 10-11, 2026
GRAND PRAIRIE, ALBERTA
KEYNOTE SPEAKER – 1ST VP MARK S. LYON
MEMORIAL SERVICE – PIP JUSTICE BRIAN STEVENSON
APRIL 13, 2026
GRAND PRAIRIE, ALBERTA
2026 DISTRICT 37 CONVENTION
MARK YOUR CALENDARS
APRIL 17-18, 2026
COLUMBIA FALLS, MONTANA
KEYNOTE SPEAKER – PID DEB WEAVERLING
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
Seeley Lake Lions Skate Park
Who doesn’t love to skate on a pond you can call your own? Getting outside and laughing and having a great time in another winter sport right here in Seeley Lake. On February 15, 2026 the Lions hosted a skate party at the Lions Park where we have our own pond and make sure it gets filled with enough water if Mother Nature is not cooperative enough to have thick enough ice and a great surface.
Our park committee chairman Lion Rich Westin has been the one to maintain and oversee the safety of the ice to ensure a fun time for all. Lion Gary Swain, a former NHL player, helps get donations of skates and, with the help of a local resident that has access to a skate sharpening machine, keeps the skate shed in top shape. These skates are available in all sizes to fit our local residents for a fun day of skating anytime. Just goes to show you that all you have to do is get out there and find the activities that await!
Thank you for all the hard work these two Lions put in to have a safe and fun place to go. Just another thing to do on a cold day in Seeley.
Charlie Russell Chew-Choo Tickets for Sale!
The Billings Heights Lions Club Foundation is selling tickets for a Charlie Russell Chew-Choo trip including the following:
Trip includes:
- Tickets for two for train ride on the Charlie Russell Chew-Choo at Lewistown, Montana which also includes dinner, 1 night’s lodging and $50 for gas.
- Optional $550 payoff.
- Tickets are $10 each or 8 for $50
- Drawing to be held April, 30th, 2026
Thank you for any assistance you can provide to our Lions Club Foundation!
By BillingsHeightsLooking 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.
Ennis 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 Dogiakos
February 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!!
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