Being “Rooted in Service” is about more than just the service others see us do. It’s about who we are at our foundation. Our roots in service are strong, and they run deep.

Welcome to a new Lion year and a renewed opportunity to strengthen our impact. I am honored to serve as chairperson of Lions Clubs International Foundation (LCIF), our global foundation, inspired by the service and leadership of Lions and Leos around the world. Celebrating LCIF’s incredible reach during the 108th Lions International Convention was a proud moment. With your support, we raised US$85 million for future service. We have already started this Lion year strong, rais

Have you heard about the Helen Keller 2.0 Challenge? It represents celebrating the next 100 years of Helen Keller who started the "Knights of the Blind." The ABQ NE Lions are in for the challenge, and we will be supporting Backpacks for the Blind. Everyone donates supplies for school children, but people often forget that blind and low-vision kids need supplies too. Our backpacks provide Braille items and vision-impaired supplies for students that will last through their sch

Service is the foundation of our organization. It’s at the very root of what we do and who we are as Lions. Meaningful service fuels growth, increases our impact and strengthens our communities and our world. It’s why people join us — and why they stay. That’s why my presidential theme this year is “Rooted in Service.” I encourage all of us to reconnect with our Lion roots and focus on what matters most. Get creative with your service. Have fun.

Lion Sam Pirelli and Lion Bill McCommack of the Ruidoso Evening Lions have been doing some travel voluntourism. They attended the 63rd annual High Rolls/Mountain Park - Summer Cherry Festival. They have also attended several of the Alamogordo Evening Lions Gun shows to give them a helping hand as well.

As this Lion year comes to a close, we have the opportunity to reflect on all we have accomplished together. I am grateful for my time as chairperson of our foundation and proud of the impact we have made. Your dedication and generosity have expanded our service, reached more people in need and left a lasting mark in communities around the world. I look forward to celebrating our success at the 108th Lions International Convention in Hong Kong and reflecting on the difference

Farmington Evening Lions Clubs work with Echo Food Bank every month. This is a regular project that aids our Community with their Hunger needs.

Farmington Evening Lions Club received an email from Presbyterian Children’s Services (PMS) to any party that would be interested in helping them set up the gardening project. PMS had received a grant to start this project. Farmington Evening expressed an interest and has partnered with Presbyterian Children’s Services (PMS) to begin a garden project to teach the children in their program how to plant and raise a garden. It was decided that it would begin at their Cottonwo

This year, Lions and Leos around the world have made a meaningful difference. Through your leadership and service, compassion and kindness, needs have been met, lives have been touched and communities strengthened. As the Lion year comes to a close, that impact continues. MISSION 1.5 reminds us there is more to do, and by growing our membership, we expand our service and extend our reach into the future.

And just like that the year has flown by. It has been a great honor and privilege to serve this wonderful District. The opportunity to travel all over the State and meet wonderful Lions & LEO’s in their own areas, doing great acts of service has been the highlight of this great journey. To each of you whom I have conversed with about all things Lions & who have embraced many of the ideas we discussed, you are the reason it is all worthwhile. We can talk forever but if we neve

The Albuquerque Breakfast Lions Club was among 19 volunteers participating in the annual Burque Bee fundraiser for Ethos Literacy. Ethos Literacy is a nonprofit reading and educational center that empowers adults with literacy, language, and math skills. The Burque Bee-Team Spelling Bee was held on June 5, 2026, at the Canteen Brewhouse in Albuquerque. We were honored to have KOAT News Anchor Shelly Ribando as the host at the event.

This Lions year is about to be over and it has been a year of many changes, both in D40 and at International, we are all striving to operate in this new digital world. Yup, be sure we are all struggling with technology, however it is not going away so our best option is to learn as best we can. Trying to avoid it and wish for the older ways is not helping anybody.

Lion Brian Geber, Edgewood, and Lion Rita Graham, ABQ Breakfast, dropped off 10,000 pair of donated eyeglasses to Sagebrush Enchanted Hills Eyeglass processing location. Kristen Johnson is their Eye Clinic Director (top right). Requested Lions help a year ago. They were unable to collect donated glasses to meet their ministry needs. They came to Lions and Lions answered!!!

Instructions for Free postage to mail eyeglasses to the Texas Lions Eyeglass Recycling Center.

Our community is very generous to donate their used eyeglasses. This is the second counting we have done this year alone. We counted 1387 prescription glasses and 292 Readers and Sunglasses and have cases for almost all of the prescription glasses. Our club had 10 Club members who came out to support us and/or count glasses.

Farmington Evening Lions Club continues donations to the Children’s Hope Foundation with a second $5,000 donation

On May 13, 2026, Trudi Lynn, VIST Coordinator at the New Mexico VA Hospital, invited Lions members to serve the Visual Impaired Veterans at their annual spring BBQ. Lions’ members from Albuquerque Breakfast and Edgewood Clubs reported from 10 am to 2 pm, ready to work.

In Loving Memory

The Ruidoso Evening Lions helped the Ruidoso Warrior Special Olympians to raise $4,000.00 at their Spaghetti dinner. International Director Lion Melissa Washburn visited Ruidoso, along with her husband Librarian Johnny Washburn & her partner in service Lion Gemma Ferguson to induct new members and officers. She also presented a very special Melvin Jones replacement plaque to Lion Sam Pirelli. Sam lost his home in the devastating floods last year. We inducted four new members

As we prepare to enter the final month of our fiscal year, we have an opportunity to reflect on what we have achieved and commit to finishing strong. Through LCIF, Lions and Leos are creating change that will be felt for generations.