DG Peggy Hess - "Feed the Need"

Awesome Lions of 39 W.  You are the best!!

If you are having a special project or a Charter Party, please let me know.  208-670-5545 or peggjess@pmt.org   Keep me informed of what is going on.

Mental health and well-being     October 4-12, 2025     Please do something.  Each club needs to report something for mental health in October.  As simple as a flyer that lists all of the resources in your area.

I visited The Gooding Club on September 27^th for their Fall Picnic, and it was a great visit.  Was planning on more visits until my car got backed into.  I have no wheels right now.   October must be the month for Charter Parties.  Caldwell Lion Club, Emmett Lions Club, and Payette Syringa Lions Club.  Congratulations on another year as Lions.

• Let’s go out and “Just Ask” to get new members!!
• Make sure to get on the portal to enter your service,
• Give to LCIF to help our district and all those worldwide.  Our district got a big grant, so we need to support LCIF.  
• Don’t forget to do a food project.  January is hunger month, but you can do it anytime.
• Have you done a Mental Health activity this month? 
• Have you done a food project?
• Let me know what your special projects are and I will try to come help.

1st VDG Lisa Gier    Learning Together, Growing Together  

2. We were introduced to helpful tools like the Lions Chat Bot (Ellie Lion AI) and LionsVirtual.org, which can help us navigate club resources and plan projects more efficiently, but with the important reminder that we must verify everything ourselves. If you don't use these yet, you should take 20 minutes and try them out to see if they are supportive tools for you too! 

3. We dug into the heart of recruitment and retention: people join for all sorts of reasons, but they stay when they feel valued, engaged, and part of something joyful. If any of this sparks your interest, I’ve got pages of ideas, resources, and cool tips from the weekend. Just shoot me an email, I’d love to share more!

1VDG Lion Lisa Gier
Executive Director
Diabetes Education and Camping Association

MD39 Council Chair Lynn Johnson

If you are interested in assuming the mission chairs of Diabetes, Environment, Childhood Cancer, or Vision, please contact Lion Jim Spanburger.  We are looking for someone interested in fulfilling the Marketing position on the Council.
 
You want to save the dates for the Sun Valley Convention of May 1^st and 2^nd.  I would like to see some new faces on the Convention Committee, so if you have a hankering for that sort of thing, contact Lion Lynn at (207) 423-6118 or lynn.johnson4@aol.com.

MD 39 LCIF Coordinators' Team - Heart of A Lion

Greetings from your MD 39 LCIF Coordinators’ Team!

• We listened to your suggestion and have extended the tentative “Heart of a Lion” nomination deadline to November 28. Please, keep in mind that we have a limited supply of 2025-2026, “Heart of a Lion,” pins available so, it is possible the tentative, extended deadline listed, could end up being an earlier date. We encourage you to make your nominations as soon as possible to ensure a pin is available.
• A Zoom, LCIF Club Coordinators training was held on October 13. Special guest presenter was CA-1 LCIF Vice-Chair, PDG Lorri Rieger, from New York.
• An updated list of MD 39 “Heart of a Lion” nominee recipients and information follows.

Congratulations, to all of our recipients! Thank you, for your participation and support of LCIF.
 
Your MD 39 LCIF Coordinators,
Multiple District Coordinator, PCC Betty (Simpson)
39E District Coordinator, PDG Lyndon (Rinehart)
39W District Coordinator, Lion Bryan (Straw)

MD 39 “Heart of a Lion” LCIF Fundraiser:

• You can honor any Multiple District 39 Lion by purchasing a heart for each nominee.
• Donation for each individual Lion you nominate as having the “Heart of a Lion” is $10 per heart. The nominator’s name is kept confidential.
• Write checks to LCIF.
• Mail your nominated Lion(s) name(s), their club name, and check to: LCIF Heart of a Lion, c/o PCC Betty Simpson, 1760 Sunset St., Weiser, ID, 83672
• Tentative extended deadline:  No later than November 28, depending on available number of pins. Tentative deadline could end up being earlier. (Pin supply is limited.)
• Pins will be available for pick-up at the LCIF display table during the recipient’s respective district convention.
• To add to the fun, the MD 39 Lions Club with the highest percentage of hearts purchased by members in the club will receive a “surprise” gift. This will be awarded at the MD 39 Convention in May.
• Yes, “Heart of a Lion” recipients from last year are eligible to be nominated again during this 2025-2026, Lion year fundraiser.

• Thank you, for your support! Please, don’t delay! This fundraiser will not be repeated again for a while.

  This is a MD 39 fundraiser for LCIF. All donation points will be credited to MD 39 and used to award MD 39 Melvin Jones Fellowship awards at the MD 39 Convention
   

2025-2026, MD 39 “Heart of a Lion” Nominees Received (as of 10/10/’25):
Note: * Multiple = Recipient received multiple nominations

Alex McDonald (Chubbuck)
Louis Mendoza (Franklin)
PID Floyd Miller (Twin Falls) * Multiple
Don Moyle (Weiser)
Juanita Moyle (Weiser)
Bonnie Ney (Payette Syringa)
Eyvonne Nichols (Payette Syringa)
Karen Penner (Weiser)
Steve Penner (Weiser)
PDG Lyndon Rinehart (St. Anthony)
Allycia Roberts (Payette Syringa)
Lauren Ryon (Weiser)
PCC Bob Saunders (Scholarship)
PCC Joyce Saunders (Scholarship)
Debi Sherry (Council)
Rob Shively (West Jefferson)
PCC Betty Simpson (Weiser) *Multiple
Joanne Small (Twin Falls)
Sheila Sorensen (Weiser)
Anita Straw (Mountain Home)
Bryan Straw (Mountain Home) *Multiple
Debbie Tabbert (Weiser) *Multiple
Cleo Thompson (Payette Syringa) *Multiple
VDG Irene Torgesen (Scholarship)
DG Paula Turner (Chubbuck)
Debra Vavra (Rigby)
PDG Tim Vincent (Nampa)
Phyllis Violette (Hamer)
VDG Marie Virden (Adrian) *Multiple
Lisa Ward (Dubois)
Gary Warren (Soda Springs)
Marilyn Warren (Soda Springs)
Lois Watkins (Weiser)
Lene Wilkie (Mackey)
Jill Williams (Weiser)
Billie Wood (Payette Syringa) *Multiple
Jonna Duvall-Williams (Weiser) *Multiple
Linda Youngblood (Weiser) *Multiple
Ted Young (Soda Springs)
Stephanie Arnold (Emmett)
Nicole Mock (Emmett)
Ron Coates (Emmett)
Jared Welsh (Emmett)
 

Susan Goudie-Adams (Council)
PDG Lisa Allen (Chubbuck)
Jackie Ashby (Payette Syringa)
Danna Barnhart (Council)
Kate Bridges (Twin Falls)
Mike Cope (West Jefferson)
Chris Courter (Weiser)
Sue Chamberlin (Payette Syringa)
Julie Derr (Weiser)
Shawna Draper (Mountain Home)
Rand Dixon (Hamer)
Marion Feil (Council)
Eugenia Fairbanks (Payette Syringa)
Kari Li Garcia (Twin Buttes)
Debbie Griffin (Payette Syringa)
Jeremy Hampton (Arco)
PCC Cliff Hart (American Falls)
DG Peggy Hess (Rupert)
Chealsey Straw Holguin (Mountain Home)
Eleonore Huggins (Payette Syringa)
Tina Hutton (Mountain Home)
Christina Isaacson (Weiser)
Billie Jensen (Payette Syringa)
John Jensen (Weiser)
Margaret Jensen (Weiser) *Multiple
Rose Jensen (Payette Syringa)
Dee Jessup (Rigby)
CC Lynn Johnson (Caldwell)
Bob Jones (Chubbuck)
Neal Jorgensen (Preston)
Trudy Keim (Payette Syringa)
Paul Kenny (Rigby) * Multiple
PDG Sue Kenny (Rigby) * Multiple
Mark Light (Mountain Home)
Cheri Marvin (Weiser)
PCC Jerry Mastell (Rigby)
Sandy McBride (Chubbuck)
Brendan McCarthy (Mountain Home)
Carlotta McCarthy (Mountain Home)
PDG Harry Granger (Emmett) * Multiple
Kary Mavencamp (Emmett)
Shawn Flagstad (Emmett)
Colleen Coates (Emmett) * Multiple
Amy Jauregui (Meridian)

 

Hello Fellow Lions,

I hope you're enjoying this beautiful fall season! 🍂

Many of you are likely busy coordinating school visits to conduct student vision screenings. One challenge we’re all facing is obtaining parent permission for these quick but important screenings. In Mountain Home, we’re trying a new approach this year: we’ve decided to wait until after the first round of parent-teacher conferences to conduct our screenings. Our hope is that when teachers mention the Lions Vision Screening opportunity during conferences, more permission slips will be signed and returned—or even left behind at the conference itself. I’ll share whether this strategy made a difference in next month’s newsletter.

If you have any creative ideas to help increase permission slip returns, I’d love to hear them! Please email me at anita.straw@gmail.com. I’ll include your suggestions in the next newsletter so we can all benefit from each other’s experiences.
 
Youth Vision Screenings
A big thank you to the Emmett and Caldwell Lions Clubs for reporting your Youth Vision Screenings on the My Lions Portal!

• 🦁 Emmett Lions screened 222 youth
• 🦁 Caldwell Lions screened 180 youth
• 🦁 Mountain Home Lions screened 107 youth

Please remember to log your Youth Vision Screenings—it helps us track our impact and celebrate our collective efforts!
 
Envision Eye Bank
Did you know Envision is Idaho’s only Eye Bank? Not every state has one, so we’re incredibly fortunate. Envision harvests corneas from donor eyes for transplant, giving recipients the gift of sight. Eyes not suitable for transplant are used for research, and even the whites of the eyes can be repurposed for medical bandages. There is no cost to donors or their families.

Envision also collects used eyeglasses from Lions Clubs across Idaho and parts of Oregon. These glasses are sent with Idaho optometrists on international missions. Envision supports qualifying vision surgeries, including cataract and cornea transplants. Lions Clubs can refer patients directly to Envision for assistance.

📊 From July 1st to August 31s:

• 8,297 pairs of glasses donated
• 377 individual vision screenings conducted
• 41 individuals referred for further optometric assessment
• 34 sets of donor eyes received
• 49 corneas provided for transplant
 
Envision Capital Campaign Update
Envision’s Capital Campaign continues to gain momentum! The goal: upgrade vision exam equipment, expand the vision center, hire additional staff, invest in corneal tissue processing technology, and support rural health screenings.

🎉 Total donations have reached $287,000—an incredible achievement! Lions, give yourselves a well-deserved pat on the back. Your generosity is changing lives.

A heartfelt thank you to all clubs and individuals who have contributed, and to the dedicated Envision team working tirelessly to bring this campaign to life. Construction is expected to begin once city permits are approved—hopefully by late October. Equipment orders will follow shortly thereafter.
 
Until next time, 
Lion Anita Straw

39W Training

Here are the new Zoom training dates... Remember you don't have to hold the office / position to take the training contact Lynne Burks or Joyce Saunders for questions or invite. 

Nov. 3 - Treasurers
Dec 1 - membership
Jan 5 - service
Feb 2 - marketing
Mar 2 - guiding Lion
April 6 - LCIF
May 4 - new officer.

ENVISION

Club & Recruiting Ideas for New Lions & Clubs

Specialty Club Ideas

Professional Networks

6. Firefighters Club – For fire service personnel.
7. Business Networking Club – Focusing on connecting businesses.
8. Remote Professionals Club – Connecting freelancers, consultants, and remote workers for service and networking.
9. Healthcare Innovations Club – For professionals in biotech, health-tech, and innovative medical solutions.
10. Creative Professionals Club – Engaging artists, writers, designers, and creators in community-focused projects.
11. Legal Professionals Club – Lawyers and paralegals using their skills for community advocacy.
 

Recruiting Ideas

9. Have a booth at malls, fairs, festivals etc.
10. Place pamphlets in doctors’ offices, hospitals, cafeterias, libraries, etc.
11. Create videos of your events and promote your Club on YouTube
12. Host an Open House
13. Hold a club assembly only on membership
14. Ask former Leos, Effective Speaking Contestants, Lions Quest grads, Vision Screening school contact, etc.
15. Make the membership chair an active Club Officer that reports at each meeting
16.Put together guest information packets (see Family recruitment Brochure / Campus Club recruitment brochure / Standard recruitment brochure / Club recruitment brochure template)

NEWSLETTER INFO

Greetings, 39W Lions!

Have you recently completed an exciting project or have an event on the horizon? We want to hear about it! Submit your details, and we'll feature it in our upcoming Newsletter. Enhance your story with a couple of photos for greater impact.

Please provide articles as Word documents or similar text files. Keep your submissions brief and limit photos to two per article. The deadline for newsletter submissions is the first Wednesday of each month.

*Ensure you have consent from a parent or guardian for any photos featuring children.

For club members not receiving the newsletter who wish to subscribe, direct them to email our team at 39WLionsnews@gmail.com.

PAYETTE SYRINGA LIONS

This month, we participated in the Mental Health Week of Service at Payette High School, where our Lions Club provided snacks to support students struggling with hunger and focus. Last week, we set up booths at two Fall Bazaars and raised funds for future projects. We also had a fantastic time celebrating our 40th charter party with fellow Lions 39W DG Peggy Hess, Jesse Hess, 2nd VDG Marie Verden, MD39 LCIF Multiple District Coordinator, PCC Betty Simpson, Jim Simpson, MD39 GMT Larry Hunt, 39W Treasure Amy Jauregoi They helped us celebrate with wonderful food (provided by Wayne Griffin), fun raffles, and engaging conversations.

BOISE BENCH LIONS

Boise Valley Lions Walk to End Alzheimer’s

The Boise Valley Lions Team proudly joined the Walk to End Alzheimer’s last Saturday, with about a dozen members and friends walking together in support of this vital cause. The team raised $1,550, which included a generous $100 donation from the Boise Bench Lions Club.
This year’s walk brought together over 1,000 registered participants and raised more than $158,000 to support Alzheimer’s care, research, and awareness. The Boise Bench Lions have been proud sponsors of the Boise Valley team for nearly 10 years, and we continue to walk with hope for a future without Alzheimer’s.
Together, Lions are making a difference—one step at a time
 
Boise Bench Lions Release New YouTube Video Featuring Community Service.

The Boise Bench Lions Club is excited to announce a new video on our YouTube channel! This video highlights our recent partnership with Sleep in Heavenly Peace during the Community Bed Delivery held on September 20th. You can watch the video here https://youtu.be/Ks587udhbEQ This special project brought together Lions volunteers and community members to deliver beds to children in need—helping ensure that every child has a place to sleep. The video captures the joy of service, teamwork, and the true spirit of “We Serve.”
 
Seven Boise Bench Lions helped bag 1,800 lbs. of pinto beans and 2,500 lbs. of Roma tomatoes at the Idaho Food Bank.  The tomatoes went to the Nampa center where they were expecting around 1,000 food insecure people.

 
Bringing Clearer Vision to Idaho City Students

On September 10–11, Lions volunteers partnered with the Envision Vision Clinic to provide vital vision screenings for students in Idaho City. A total of 121 students received screenings, with 36 students receiving follow-up exams from an optometrist. Of those, 12 children were found to need corrective eyewear—glasses that were generously provided by Envision Vision Clinic to ensure no child is left behind in their learning because of vision challenges. This event was made possible through the teamwork and dedication of Lions and partners. Through this vision service project, the Lions continue to honor their long-standing mission: “We Serve”—making a tangible difference in the lives of children by giving them the gift of clearer sight and brighter opportunities.
 
Several members also prepared and served dinner at Interfaith Sanctuary in September.  This is an ongoing program for community outreach participated in by the club.
 
The club started a new project in cooperation with Boise City Parks and Recreation.  City parks will be cleaned up on a rotating basis during the warmer seasons.  Molenaar and Hobble Creek parks were done on the first date.
 
Monthly Lions and Friends Socials had a new twist in September.  Four new members were inducted at the September Lions and Friends Social.  This brings the number of members to a new high in recent history of 95.
 
Curt Kelley
Boise Bench Lions
www.boisebenchlions.org
208 859 3642

WEISER LIONS

RUPERT LIONS

Over $600 in food for our Christmas Council.  Rupert does their food shopping when the stores have their case goods sale.  That $600 would have cost us $800.

MERIDIAN LIONS

The Meridian Charter Party will be held on Thursday, October 23, at 6:00 PM at the Hampton Inn, 885 S Allen St., Meridian, ID. Please RSVP to Dan Ollivant by October 18 at 208-794-8499 or deo57@hotmail.com.

EMMETT LIONS

Emmett Lions gave out several checks in the last month: Emmett Little league, Gem County Museum & Emmett Valley Friendship Coalition. A big congratulations to Lion Lary Hunt Lions University 2025 graduate.