District 5M9 Lions

10/27/2026

District 5M9 is growing, and it's because of YOU!

Across our district, Lions are doing more than serving their communities. They are inviting others to be part of something bigger!

They are making the ask.
They are welcoming guests.
They are sharing their club stories.
They are showing others what it means to be a Lion.

And it's making a difference!

Membership growth isn't just about adding names to a roster. It's about bringing new hands, new hearts, fresh ideas, and more energy to the incredible service happening across District 5M9.

To every Lion who has invited a friend, welcomed a guest, or encouraged someone to get involved, THANK YOU!

You are helping build stronger clubs, stronger communities, and a stronger District 5M9.

Now, let's recognize those Lions who are making a difference!

Tag a Lion in the comments who does a great job inviting others to serve. Let's give them some well-deserved recognition!

We Serve. We Grow. Together.

10/26/2026

District 5M9 is one of 12 areas in Multiple District 5M and there's a Big Challenge this year to collectively raise $1million for Lions Clubs International Foundation (LCIF) then have some fun celebrating! Check it out and help us reach our goal by investing and making a real impact through LCIF!

WOOHOO, MD5M! The challenge is ON! 🎉

If Multiple District 5M raises **$1,000,000 for Lions Clubs International Foundation (LCIF) during the 2026–2027 year**, four distinguished leaders will take the plunge in Minnesota in January 2028!

🥶 A.P. Singh
🥶 Brian E. Sheehan
🥶 Mark S. Lyon
🥶 David Evangelista

Yes, friends… FOUR Lions leaders and a Minnesota winter! This is one plunge you won't want to miss! 😂

But this challenge is about much more than a chilly dip. It's about **INVESTING IN HUMANITY** and supporting LCIF as it helps communities, responds to disasters, fights hunger, and changes lives around the world.

❤️ **Please remember:** This is a separate fundraising initiative from our work with Special Olympics. We're rallying together to support our Foundation and its incredible global impact.

💙 Every donation matters. Every club can make a difference. Together, MD5M can make BIG things happen!

**OUR GOAL: $1,000,000 FOR LCIF!**
**THE REWARD: FOUR LIONS AND ONE VERY COLD ADVENTURE!**
**THE MISSION: INVESTING IN HUMANITY!**

Ready to help us reach our goal? Scan the QR code on the flyer or visit https://lionsclubs.org/donate to support LCIF.

Let's rally our clubs, spread the word, and show what MD5M Lions can accomplish when we unite for a cause!

🦁 **BIGGER IMPACT. BRIGHTER FUTURES. A WHOLE LOT OF LION ROAR!** 💙💛

10/23/2026

Calling all District 5M9 Lions Clubs!

We’re looking for your November events so we can help spread the word across District 5M9.

Do you have an upcoming fundraiser, service project, community event, social, or special club activity?

Drop the details in the comments below, or when you make your own post, be sure to tag 5M9 Lions so we can find it and help share it.

Be sure to include:
• Club name
• Event name
• Date and time
• Location
• Any other important details

Think of District 5M9 as an extension of your club. We’re here to help promote your events, celebrate your service, and show our communities what Lions are doing across the district.

Let’s fill up the November calendar and keep supporting one another across District 5M9!

10/22/2026

District 5M9, are you ready to get JAZZED FOR SERVICE?

The Verndale Lions Club is getting ready to welcome Lions from across District 5M9 for the 2027 Mid-Winter Convention, and this year we're bringing a little Mardi Gras spirit to Brainerd!

January 8–10, 2027
Cragun's Resort on Gull Lake | Brainerd, MN

Theme: Jazzed for Service. United in Purpose.

From great speakers and service projects to fellowship, games, live music, and a Saturday night Mardi Gras celebration, this is shaping up to be a weekend you won't want to miss!

A few important deadlines to remember:

November 14 – Convention book advertising deadline
November 15 – Youth Outreach Scholarship applications due
December 8 – Hotel reservation deadline for convention pricing
December 14 – Food and convention registration deadline

THINGS TO BRING TO CONVENTION!

This convention is about more than just getting together. It's also an opportunity to make a difference through service! Here's what we're asking Lions and clubs to bring:

Eyeglasses & Hearing Aids – Bring your donations for collection.

LEGOs – Help bring some joy to children in local hospitals! Clubs interested in distributing donations to hospitals in their communities are encouraged to reach out.

Raffle Basket – We're asking each club to put together a basket featuring local items, homemade goodies, or other fun donations.

Pop Tabs – The Nisswa Lions will be collecting pop tabs to support Ronald McDonald House.

Blanket-Making Supplies – Bring cloth scissors, rotary cutters, cutting mats, and rulers. The Bluffton Lions are providing fleece for a tie blanket service project. Please label your tools!

Lions Gear for Re-Sale – Donate gently used Lions clothing, pins, jewelry, hats, or accessories. Proceeds benefit LCIF.

Club Banner – Show your club pride!

Mardi Gras Mask & Outfit – Get ready for Saturday night's celebration and mask contest!

Printed Club Project Photos – Share the amazing things your club is doing in your community.

Extra Life Jackets – Help support the Palisade Lions' free life jacket library at area water launches.

Verndale Lions Mardi Gras Coin – Bring yours for a chance to win!

Clubs, now is a great time to start planning! Gather your raffle baskets, collect those pop tabs, and get ready to support some incredible service projects throughout the weekend.

Register for the convention:
https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/krewe-of-5m9-jazzed-for-service-united-in-purpose-2027-mid-winter-convention

Reserve your room:
https://craguns.formstack.com/forms/lions_5m_9_jan2027

A big thank-you to the Verndale Lions for all the work going into this year's convention!

Let's come together, celebrate service, strengthen friendships, and make some great District 5M9 memories.

Let the Good Times Roll!

10/20/2026

Club Spotlight: Baxter Lions Mn

This month, we're highlighting clubs across District 5M9 that are staying connected through service, fellowship, and community impact.

This past Sunday, the Baxter Lions rolled up their sleeves and spent a beautiful fall day helping with cleanup at the Northland Arboretum in preparation for the upcoming Haunted Trail!

With a great turnout of members, the club came together to lend a hand and help get things ready for a fun community event.

It's a great reminder that service doesn't always have to be a big project. Sometimes it's simply showing up, working together, and making a difference right in your own backyard.

This is what makes District 5M9 strong.

Every club has its own personality, its own traditions, and its own way of serving. Together, those stories make up the bigger 5M9 story.

Great work, Baxter Lions! Thank you for stepping up and making a difference!

Calling all District 5M9 Lions Clubs! We want to share your stories! Send us your service photos, event recaps, and fellowship moments for a chance to be featured in an upcoming Club Spotlight.

10/19/2026

𝗩𝗜𝗦𝗜𝗢𝗡

In 1925, 𝗛𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗻 𝗞𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗿 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗱 𝗟𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 “𝗞𝗻𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗕𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗱.” Today, we continue that mission, helping people around the world see a brighter future.

Idrissa, a businessperson in Burkina Faso, struggled to work because he couldn’t see clearly. He received glasses from an LCIF-supported clinic - and with clearer vision, he returned to delivering sandwiches, reconnecting with customers, and growing his business.

𝗟𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗻 𝗰𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗿 𝘃𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝗻𝗲𝘄 𝗼𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗱𝗮𝘆, 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗿𝘆𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗛𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗻 𝗞𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗿’𝘀 𝘃𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱 – 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗼𝗻, 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆, 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗱𝗶𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗮𝘁 𝗮 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲.

𝗧𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗟𝗖𝗜𝗙.

5M9 Lions collect glasses year ‘round for recycling to help provide improved eyesight. Please remember to bring those glasses to our Mid-Winter Convention in January.

http://www.lcif.org

10/15/2026

Today is White Cane Safety Day!

A white cane represents independence, confidence, and freedom for those who are blind or visually impaired.

District 5M9 joins the Minnesota Lions Vision Foundation in reminding everyone to be aware, show kindness, and respect others.

Small actions make a big difference. We Serve!

10/14/2026

Thank you all for working so hard on the membership challenge and on retaining the members we already have.

As a reminder, the club with the highest growth percentage wins 10 pizzas and 2 cases of pop.

The winner of the Fall Membership Drive is…

JENKINS AREA LIONS CLUB!

The Jenkins Area club added 5 new members: a 125% increase. Way to go! DG Sheri will be reaching out to set up the pizza party date.

Here are the clubs who added members in September:
• Backus Lions: 6
• Baxter Lions Mn: 1
• Brainerd Lions Club MN: 1
• Frazee Lions Club : 4
• Hewitt: 1
• Jenkins Area: 5
• Palisade Lions Club Area: 2
• Pillager & Area Lion's Club: 1
• Verndale Lions Club: 1

That’s 22 new Lions welcomed across 9 clubs. Every one of them started with a Lion making the ask.

Keep inviting. Keep welcoming.

10/14/2026

Welcome to Lions, Vanya and Bill!

District 5M9 would like to congratulate the Palisade Lions Club on inducting two new members into their club.

We are excited to welcome Vanya and Bill to the Lions family!

We are glad to have you as part of District 5M9!

The Palisade Lions inducted new members Vanya and Bill Rickmeyer into our club this evening. We reviewed our summer projects, talked about the Community Meal that has started in Palisade, heard from our District Zone and Diabetes Chair Terry Carter, and began planning for upcoming activities and the district convention.
Pictured l to r: Secretary Evie Ladd, New Members Vanya and Bill Rickmeyer, Membership Chair Dave Carlson, and 1st Vice President Pam Nordstrom

10/13/2026

District 5M9 Lions, let's come together and make a difference!

We're bringing service to the 2027 Mid-Winter Convention, and we need your helping hands!

January 8-10 at Cragun's Resort, we'll be tying fleece blankets for cancer patients at four area hospitals throughout our district.

Our goal is 25+ blankets!

It's a simple project that can bring a little warmth, comfort, and kindness to someone going through a difficult time.

Want to help? Bring a good pair of cloth scissors or rotary cutters and cutting mats. Most importantly, bring your willingness to serve!

Let's show what happens when Lions across District 5M9 come together for a great cause.

Meet new people. Do cool things. Make a difference.