Congratulations to next year’s leadership teams in the Multiple District!

At district conventions held the final Saturdays of February, Ed Lopez of Safford Lions and Marsine Perry of Phoenix Asian-America Lions were elected as district governors for 21-South and 21-North respectively for the Lions year 2026-2027.

Also elected were Julie Sullivan of Buckeye Lions and Jim Myers of Prescott Sunrise Lions as the first vice district governors for the respective districts, 21-S and 21-N.

Also, congratulations to Pat Hammons of Mesa Thunderbird Lions and Dereck Davis of Cottonwood Lions for being elected second vice district governors for 21-S and 21-N respectively. They are both experienced Lions who have served as a club president and as a zone chair during their individual tenures in Lions.

And special congratulations to PDG Keith Alexander of Safford, announced as next year’s Council Chair for MD21. Having worked with Lion Keith throughout the years, I look forward to his leadership at the state level and to his continuing work strengthening the membership, the clubs, and the services of Lionism in Arizona in LY2026-2027 through the incoming leadership team.

We’ve already begun planning the MD21 state Convention that will be held June 12-14, 2026, at the Doubletree in Phoenix/Mesa. More details coming, but mark the date as we will be hosting International First Vice President Mark Lyons of Connecticut. Lion Mark will be inducted a few weeks after our convention as the International President in Hong Kong.

With Flag Day on Sunday of the event, we’re inviting everyone to wear red-white-and-blue, as we’ll be only weeks before our America250 AZ celebration. Convention plans include the parade of club banners for Saturday at the luncheon, as well as learning workshops that morning and afternoon.

Focus will be on “Meet the Next Prez” with many opportunities to go one-on-one with the incoming Lions International President. We’re talking about a “Town Hall” event during the convention, where you may have an opportunity to ask FVP Mark a question.

The Lions International initiation fee ($35) continues to be reimbursed to all NEW LIONS members registered between January 1, 2026 and continuing through this June 30.  Monies from the Multiple District Growth Fund are being used to help with costs associated with becoming a NEW LION.

For all Lions of Arizona, here’s your opportunity to recruit new members to your club and help reduce their costs to join our Association.  As many as 200 new member initiation fees (or more) will be reimbursed.

For NEW clubs chartered during this period, the LI new member initiation fee will be paid as arranged, either directly to Lions International with the chartering documentation or reimbursed to the new club.

For reimbursement, an expectation is that any NEW member will be registered for a full year and will remain on the club roster for LY2026-2027. The club will reimburse the multiple district the initiation fee paid if a new member is not included in the July 1, 2026 club roster.

Both local district, multiple district and international dues are billed twice a year, on July 1 and January 1 of each Lions year.  Lions removed from club rosters prior to any billing date are still responsible for local and international dues if reinstated prior to permanent deletion from Lions International.