Albuquerque Northeast Lions Club Melvin Jones Birthday Party Celebration – January 13th, 2026

Celebrating a Legacy of Service

During the Melvin Jones Birthday party celebration, twenty committed members representing six Albuquerque clubs gathered to commemorate the event. The gathering fostered a spirit of unity, enabling participants to review their shared accomplishments, cultivate collaborative efforts, and engage in meaningful discussions rooted in the Lions Club’s core values of service, compassion, and community engagement.

Commitment to the Lion’s Mission

This event provided an opportunity not only for celebration, but also for collaboration, as attendees discussed marketing and membership strategies. GLT Lion Annie led a productive conversation about how the district can increase enrollment both statewide and within individual clubs. Sincere thanks go to all Lions who participated and contributed valuable ideas before the birthday festivities commenced.

Fun and Fellowship

Lion members wore birthday party hats and enjoyed various activities such as Pin the Tail on the Lion, Liongrams (modified version of Bananagrams), and a birthday hat contest. In addition to singing "Happy Birthday," members renewed their commitment with the rededication pledge to serving with the Lions Club International. The fundraising portion of the event included a Melvin Jones Challenge Pin drawing, where Lion Carol Marshall won a limited-edition lapel pin commemorating Melvin Jones’s 147^th birthday. Lions KR Scott and Cindy Petersen brought smiles and added to the festive atmosphere as winners of the birthday hat contest. 

Community Contributions

During the celebration, Lions Club members demonstrated their generosity and community spirit by making several meaningful contributions. Among the donations were nine knitted hats, which were dedicated to supporting the Boys and Girl at the Ranches. In addition, members collected and donated a remarkable 162 cans and 323 pounds of cat and dog food, along with a monetary gift totaling $300, all intended to aid our pet’s insecurity needs.  These thoughtful acts of service highlighted the club’s ongoing commitment to helping those in need and reinforced the core values of compassion and support that define the Lions community.

Looking Forward

Thank you to everyone for your enthusiastic participation and celebratory spirit during this gathering. It is hoped that this marks the beginning of a tradition where we unite to celebrate, communicate, and share our passion for being members of the Lions Club International.