January 2026:
Fellow Lions, Lioness-Lions, and Leos,
Happy New Year! 😊
As we reach the halfway point of the Lions year, I am truly inspired by the incredible impact our District continues to make across our communities. It is an honor to serve alongside so many dedicated Lions who exemplify what it means to Lead to Serve—and Serve to Lead.
This month, we are gathering for our Winter Conference, and I would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to SVDG Greg and the Winchester Host Lions for their leadership and dedication in chairing this important event. The conference will focus on Service, Training, and Fellowship, the very pillars that strengthen our clubs and our District.
As part of Lions Clubs International Hunger Week, we will be collecting food donations for local food banks. If you are attending, please bring a bag of food to support this vital service. Conference sessions will include Mental Health, Membership Recruitment and Retention, Hunger, Disaster Preparedness and Support, along with Leo breakout sessions. I hope to see many of you there!
In addition, our Cabinet will vote on the creation of a District 24L 501(c)(3) Foundation, an exciting initiative that will allow all clubs in our District to leverage shared resources. This outstanding effort is being led by PCC John Knepper, and I thank him for his vision and leadership.
This year’s statewide LCIF fundraiser—led by MD LCIF Chair IPDG Jim Cech—is a virtual duck race! What a fun and engaging way to support LCIF. Virtual ducks will be available for purchase at the Winter Conference, and additional information will be shared with each club. Our goal is for every club to purchase at least one duck. The winning duck at the State Convention will receive $1,000 donated to LCIF in the name of the winner or their club.
I was also honored to attend the District 24L Peace Poster judging, conducted by three exceptionally talented AP Art majors. The creativity and passion displayed by these young artists were truly inspiring. I am especially proud that our District winner advanced to the Multiple District level and on to Lions Clubs International—a remarkable achievement for our District and our students.
Lion Dorothy and I were delighted to celebrate the holidays with the Greater Falls Run, McLean FilAm, Springfield Global, Spotsylvania, and Alexandria Asian American Lions Clubs. The fellowship, energy, and holiday spirit we shared were a wonderful reminder of the joy of Lionism.
As we look ahead to the next six months, membership recruitment and extension will be my highest priorities. The future of Lionism—and our ability to serve—depends on growth. Simply put, we cannot serve if we do not grow. I am asking every Lion to participate in the Each One, Bring One membership drive and for every club to commit to at least one membership recruitment event in the coming months.
Please take a moment to reflect, consider the impact your club makes today, the lives you touch, and what would happen if Lions were no longer there to serve your community. Our legacy depends on each of us taking action now. Together, through intentional growth and strong leadership, we will ensure that Lionism remains vibrant and impactful for generations to come.
Please continue to visit the District 24L website and follow us on Facebook and Instagram. Our communications team is doing an outstanding job of sharing meaningful content and providing valuable resources to support club success.
Thank you for all that you do to make a difference in your communities and for living our motto each day—We Serve.
Yours in Lionism,
DG Dan