The Choteau Lions Club is thrilled to announce the launch of the 31st Annual Choteau Lions Club Trip of the Month Raffle marking another exciting chapter in our community’s support for the beloved Choteau Lions Club Pool! As we dive into the 2024 swim season, we celebrate the pool’s 12th year since its grand re-opening in 2013. This vital community resource has flourished under the dedicated management and financial support of the Choteau Lions Club since 1934.
Our pool is more than just a place to swim—it’s a hub of activity, learning, and recreation. From swim lessons and swim team practices to lap swimming and countless hours of fun, the pool provides endless opportunities for our community to stay active and engaged. Despite the challenges that rural communities in Montana face in maintaining public pools, we are determined to keep this cherished facility open and thriving. This effort is made possible through the unwavering support of our community, the dedication of our volunteers, and the tireless fundraising efforts of the Choteau Lions Club.
One of our most impactful fundraising initiatives is the Choteau Lions Club Trip of the Month project. For over three decades, this project has been the primary source of funding for the pool’s yearly operating expenses. The generous contributions from both local community members and supporters from beyond Choteau have been instrumental in our success. The raffle offers participants a chance to win a fabulous vacation for two each month, thanks to our collaboration with Main Connection Travel Agency, now based in Havre.
This year winners can choose between a $2,500 Main Connection travel voucher or a $1,500 cash prize, making it an enticing opportunity for everyone involved. This year, approximately 300 tickets have been mailed to past supporters who get the first chance to purchase a ticket. Tickets are also available through Choteau Lions Club members. Our dedicated members are reaching out to new and former participants, but if you haven’t been contacted and wish to join in, you can find information brochures and tickets with any Lions Club member. Feel free to contact our project committee co-chairmen, Lion Clayton Ketcham at 406-466-2412 or Lion Tom Rogers at 406-466-5326, with any questions.
Every dollar of profit from this program goes directly to the Choteau Lions Club, supporting the pool and other vital civic and charity projects in our community. We extend our heartfelt thanks to all who contribute to this project, making a significant difference in maintaining our pool and enriching Choteau. While only 12 lucky participants will win a monthly prize, we believe everyone who purchases a ticket is a true “WINNER” for making such a valuable donation. Together, we are ensuring that the Choteau community pool remains a vibrant and essential part of our lives.
Join us in this exciting endeavor, and let’s make a splash for our community!
The Choteau Lions Club is thrilled to announce the adoption of our newly-updated Constitution and Bylaws. As a club dedicated to serving our community and enhancing our operations, this essential update reflects our commitment to best practices and to the principles of Lions International. The new governance documents follow the Lions International Club Constitution and Bylaws template, with a couple of key modifications that honor our longstanding local practices.
Key Modifications:
- Biennial Elections/Officer Terms: Unlike the standard annual cycle, we have codified our tradition of holding officer elections every two years, ensuring a smoother transition between leadership teams and allowing for strategic continuity.
- Four-Year Director Terms: We extended the alternating director terms to four years, reinforcing stability and continuity in decision-making while providing ample time for directors to implement meaningful initiatives.
Hosting on Gitbooks:
You can now access these updated documents easily and conveniently via our new Gitbooks platform at docs.choteaulions.club. By hosting them on Gitbooks instead of our WordPress website, we can offer a modern, user-friendly platform that:
- Improves Accessibility: The intuitive and responsive design adapts to any device, making it easier for all our members and stakeholders to stay informed.
- Enhances Searchability: With Gitbooks’ built-in search features, you can quickly locate specific articles or sections, improving productivity and reducing the frustration of manual searches.
- Facilitates Version Control: The platform’s version control functionality ensures that all users have access to the most current and accurate documents while maintaining a transparent update history.
- Supports Collaboration: Gitbooks enables real-time collaboration among our leadership and committee members, streamlining future updates and making the editing process more efficient.
We encourage all members to review these documents and familiarize themselves with the updates. Your understanding and engagement with our governance framework help ensure that the Choteau Lions Club continues to operate with excellence, transparency, and dedication to our mission.
The Choteau Lions Club extends its heartfelt gratitude to all supporters who have bought tickets for the ’23-24 Trip of the Month Raffle!
Proceeds from this initiative enable the Choteau Lions Club to subsidize the operating costs of the Choteau swimming pool, as well as support other civic and charitable endeavors within the Choteau community. This marks the 30th year of this project, and the unwavering dedication and support from the community and friends remain commendable. To date, over 315 dedicated supporters have bought tickets and contributed donations that will be allocated towards the Choteau pool’s expenses for 2024. The expenses for operating and upkeeping the pool rise annually. Members of the Choteau Lions Club, along with other volunteers, tirelessly work each year. Their efforts are not just limited to fundraising and maintaining pool equipment, but also encompass hiring and training staff, offering swimming lessons, and facilitating recreational activities for all age groups.
While the first winner has already been announced, tickets for the subsequent 11 monthly drawings are still up for grabs at a discounted rate. Those interested can reach out to any Choteau Lions Club member or make a purchase directly on our website:
Our Commitment for the New Lionistic Year
The Lions Club International Foundation (LCIF) can play a pivotal role in our community’s development and well-being. In August 2023, the District noted that our contributions in the past year were slightly below the usual standards.
Yearly Goal:
The District has set an ambitious target of raising $41,000. With the collective strength of 59 clubs, they believe this goal is within reach.
How We Plan to Achieve This:
- We encourage each club to contribute $100 every other month, leading to an annual contribution of $600 per club.
- This collective effort will amount to $35,400 over six months from all clubs.
- With additional contributions during our annual parade of green at the convention, we are confident in meeting, if not exceeding, our target.
Your Contribution Matters:
Every member’s consistent contribution, no matter how small, can lead to significant results over time. Whether it’s a couple of dollars during meetings or larger donations, every bit helps us inch closer to our goal.
LCIF Grants:
We also urge clubs to identify opportunities within their communities where an LCIF grant could make a difference. These grants can be instrumental in supporting local initiatives and projects.
Contact for More Information:
The Choteau Lions’ “Trip of the Month” raffle, an exciting vacation giveaway, has been the lifeblood of the Choteau swimming pool for nearly three decades. As we step into its 30th anniversary, we reflect on how this fundraiser has kept our beloved community pool afloat.
Originally, this brilliant idea was borrowed from a Canadian Lions Club in 1993, when our own Choteau Lions Club was teetering on the brink of financial collapse. The continuation of our cherished local pool seemed bleak, with no fresh source of income in sight. Our only hope lay in the promise of this “Trip of the Month” raffle or an unexpected miracle.
The decision to proceed was not an easy one. Many of our Club members had concerns about the community’s support, especially given the pool’s deteriorating condition and the escalating cost of annual repairs. There was an air of uncertainty around the future of our community pool. Yet, deciding to “Do or Die Trying,” we plunged headlong into the Trip of the Month raffle, issuing a maximum of 300 tickets.
With a combination of relentless determination and a well-pitched sales effort, our members went door to door. Within a span of four months, every single ticket was sold, a testament to the community’s unwavering support for the pool, a support that continues to this day.
As we celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Trip of the Month raffle, we’re thrilled to announce the launch of the 2023 edition of this cherished tradition. We’ve made it more convenient for you to join in on the excitement by providing two ways to purchase your ticket. You can get your ticket online, right here for a seamless digital purchase experience.
Alternatively, if you prefer the traditional method, you can purchase your ticket with cash or check directly from the Choteau Lions Club (checks can be mailed to the Choteau Lions Club at PO Box 633 Choteau, MT 59422-0617). Join us as we continue to support the heart of our community, our Choteau pool, and get a chance to win some incredible prizes. We’re grateful for your continued support and look forward to another successful year of the Trip of the Month raffle!
Now, 30 years later, the Lions Club, through its annual fundraising efforts and countless hours of volunteer time, keeps providing safe and enjoyable summer swimming opportunities. Many rural communities in Montana are grappling with the challenge of keeping their pools operational. Several have had to shutter due to high operating and staffing costs. Our Choteau pool, while vital for recreation and swim lessons, isn’t a profitable venture. Revenue from the pool doesn’t offset the costs of operations, lifeguard wages, and maintenance.
Without the Lions Club’s ongoing support and its fundraising projects, including the Trip of the Month raffle, the City of Choteau wouldn’t be able to maintain full pool operations. Remarkably, our pool is the last public pool in Montana supported and operated by a civic organization.
As Lions Club members, we hope you revel in the chance to win an incredible vacation or cash prize. Even if you don’t win, we hope you appreciate the value your contribution brings to our community. By purchasing a ticket, you’re already a “winner.” Your support in maintaining Choteau as a fantastic place to live and visit is invaluable and deeply appreciated.