The next meeting is next Tuesday, July 20. We have two meetings in a row this month, and JIM BRADLEY is the Program Host for the next one. He will introduce Sue Jones, Coordinator for the Dane County Lakes and Watershed Commission, whose subject will be "The State of the Waters." We all know this is a subject much in the news these days, with all sorts of proposals, rules, laws, ordinances and procedures which are supposed to make the lakes better, and perhaps Ms. Jones can make some sense of it all. Certainly few would argue that the Madison lakes are not now an attractive place to go swimming.

This is the spot in the BULLetin where the TailTwister's Machiavellian machinations are usually reported. This week all we got was an announcement from the Pres. that MARILYN STAUTER is unable to be present regularly enough to fill the office, and so we have to find another one. Line forms at the right.

Our new President, LINDA BERGREN, opened the meeting, but without using the shiny new bell, complete with Lion emblem at the top, which had just appeared to replace the old wreck we had been using. Maybe she'll test the sound next week. OTTO FESTGE led the song, and MICHELLE VETTERKIND gave the invocation. We had two guests: Eugie Beyer was with SPARKY WATTS, and PADDHE HEINEN was with us. She is transferring to MCLC from the Madison-Monona Lioness Club, and we welcome her as a new member for our club. All of her Lioness history transfers with her, tho, so she's new to us but not a new member.

MARK LARSON showed us a tape of the story which ran on CNN without our knowledge. First we knew was when the tape was shown at the Lions International Convention. Our meeting was briefly shown, and President LINDA was featured as a courier for the Eye Bank. MARK and GEORGE ALBRIGHT were on long enough to be recognized, and we got approving comments from the CNN anchors on "bringing the gift of sight."

DON NEVIASER read off the schedule for the Service Club Olympics. It sounds like we have a competitive volleyball team, and other participants. There are some events open to all comers - horse-shoes, bait casting, agility course, to name a few. If you need info on the Service Club Olympics, call DON.

Until the Directory (CRAIG BUTLER, Chairman) comes out, the BULLetin will list as many committee chairs as possible, so you can seek out the one you want to serve on, or have suggestions for. First off is Invocation, "Archbishop" BOB BOHN, Chairman. He needs a few more volunteers to provide variety and spread the load - here's your chance to be heard. See BOB to volunteer. The Community Service Committee will be chaired by STEVE BRIGGS and TERRY SCHAR. As the name implies, this committee manages our service in areas other than sight and hearing. Again, volunteers welcome. And if you don't volunteer, somebody will come after you!

PHIL INGWELL reported briefly on the International Convention in Detroit. Attendance, about 11,000, was on the low side. He enjoyed reunions with Lions from other areas that he got to know during his International Director term, and apparently there were no major initiatives at the convention this time. Next year, Hong Kong (ALEX WONG'S home town) followed by New Orleans in 2006 and Chicago in 2007. If you've never been to an International Convention, you should go.

JODI BURMESTER introduced our speaker, George Dreckman, Recycling Director (Trashmaster?) for Madison. He pointed out that cities are organized to provide police and fire protection and pick up the garbage, but it is usually police and fire that get all the headlines. Not lately, tho, because a new system is in the works which will automate much of the process, using machinery to empty trash and recycling containers and sort the recycled materials. It turns out that if you have enough volume, machinery is available that will sort out newspaper, cardboard, cans, bottles and plastic, all out of the same stream. By using a system like that in the Chicago area, they can feed our recycling into their sorting plants. Handling the new and larger trash bins by a mechanical device off the truck will cut down on the work related injuries which add much to the cost of the current system. The Street Department adds about 3000 hours each year, as the city grows, to clean and plow the streets, grub tree stumps on terraces, and cut weeds on vacant lots, as well as pick up trash and recycling. They anticipate that the city will add about 820 new households each year for several years, and the new system will save enough to offset the cost of this growth. Other cities are already using it, so they know it can work, and provisions are being made for areas and individuals where special handling will be necessary.