JIM BRADLEY is the Program Host for our next meeting on April 20, and as usual he brings us a good program. Mayor Dave Cieslewicz will be with us to talk about the results of his first year in office. He certainly has accomplished some changes in life in the City (your editor would like to use another term, but this is a nonpartisan BULLetin) of Madison, and maybe we will hear what else he has in mind. Might be a few pointed questions afterward. You'd better be here to find out what's in your future, and bring someone as a guest for a firsthand view.
No TT again at the last meeting, which led to a too-loud microphone and some highly commercial comments, but no bad jokes. President. DICK POMO opened the meeting with a whack at the bell that got everyone's attention, but with no piano LINDA BERGREN did her usual great job at getting us through the song. The designated invocator (editor made that one up) was unavoidably absent, and ROSS ROYSTER broke the silence with an instant version. Talk about a last minute volunteer! But it proved once again that there are certain people you can always count on. The only guest was Sue Simoneau, Commercial Lines Manager for Klein Insurance Group, introduced by TERRY SCHAR.
Rose Day was the prime topic for reports. DAN STOUDT asked that all orders be turned in to the Committee ASAP. They have to plan the deliveries, and it is so much easier if there is time to do it. Orders can be turned in at MELISSA NOVINSKI's office (Dayton's Commercial Interiors, formerly Rowley-Schlimgen, on the frontage road for John Nolen Dr. across from the Stark Co. Central office. Drive almost to the front steps of the Sheraton and turn right) or to MARILYN STAUTER at the Stark Co. East office on Cottage Grove Rd. If you are on the far West Side on Thursday, Friday or Saturday morning and need a closer drop-off, call TERRY SCHAR at home, 238-3284 and we'll work something out. MELISSA said that many Lions deliver their own sales, which is a help, but, in addition, please ask if there are other deliveries you can make in an area you are going to anyway. That's an even bigger help. MICHELLE VETTERKIND will have copies of the "I Am A Lion" brochure at the Rose Depot for handing out along with flower deliveries when appropriate. It is a good opportunity to talk about Lion service - nothing gets people's attention like a nice bouquet of flowers, and there's your opening.
DAN said the depot at Zimbrick Buick (next to the Service Department. at Fish Hatchery & W. Beltline) will be open around 7 AM with flowers arriving about 7:15. He reminded us once again of the importance of this fund raiser - the Lion motto is "We Serve" and we do it better if we have some money to work with.
DAWN JOHANKNECHT scored a big rose sale, but had to promise delivery of a few dozen to her firm's office in Brookfield as part of the deal. If by chance you, or someone you know, is headed that way next Monday please help DAWN out by taking them along. DAWN will go if she has to, but she could use some help.
PHIL INGWELL spoke briefly about the pressing need for organ donations, following up on last week's program. He pointed out that most of us knew of the Marquette assistant basketball coach, Trey Schwab, whose life was saved by a last-minute lung transplant followed by another emergency surgery. PHIL said that his niece was on the same waiting list as Trey, but died last Saturday because no donor organs had been found for her. A sober reminder of the need. If you can be a donor, be sure your family knows your wishes.
JIM BRADLEY introduced Sharon Chamberlain, head of the public relations-research firm of the same name. She started in 1988 in Madison, and her firm now has 100 employees in Madison and Oshkosh. She had some kind remarks about the singing LINDA got out of us, and she was the most perfect guest speaker-she bought some roses for her staff! Her firm does customer research, focus groups, telephone research and product design, and numbers such well-known names as UW Athletics, Honda, Kraft Foods and Culver's Restaurants among their clients. She said that they could still do telephone research - the "do not call" list doesn't apply to them - but it was becoming more difficult as people were less responsive to phone calls. They do have to identify their client to the respondent but only at the end of the survey questions. 83% of the Madison population has Internet access (!) and polling by Internet was growing rapidly, but Internet response was still somewhat skewed in favor of younger ages. She gave several examples of how polling showed where emphasis was needed and what issues were important, such as the mayoral and Monona Terrace balloting, and the recent defeat of the gambling referendum. She suggested that the Ho-Chunk could have but didn't identify the concerns of Madison voters and consequently didn't address them in its advertising. If you missed this one, you missed a good one!