JODI BURMESTER is the Program Host for the next meeting, and she will introduce Deb Archer of the Greater Madison Convention and Visitor Bureau. There's a lot going on in Madison these days, and we will hear more about who comes here, what effects they cause and how much money they leave behind.

No TailTwister at our last meeting, so everything was peaceful and serene. LINDA got her gift toy, which disappeared last week, back from an unlikely source. We thought Past Presidents were above such nonsense. Even the "turmoil table" was quiet. But President LINDA warned us to be prepared to pay double next week. OTTO FESTGE led the singing of "America", President LINDA led the Pledge of Allegiance (commas are creeping in again Lions - just keep going!) and Alex Wong gave the invocation, complete with timely reference to the Club raffle. There were no guests, but we got our first introduction to RALPH JOHNSON, who is transferring to our Club from the Columbus Lions. Welcome, RALPH!

DICK POMO was called back to the speakers' table he thought he was through with, as President LINDA presented him with a Past President's Certificate in recognition of his service in leading the Club last year. Secretary JOHN JENSON also presented a Past President's pin to DICK. Richly deserved honors, because DICK led by example and with humor. Thanks from all of us, DICK!

We had a plethora of PHILs, but when the order was sorted out, PHIL STOWITTS reported that we had sold 20 Bucky Books, and had five left to go to reach our goal of raising $300.00. Then PHIL INGWELL told us that the Cottage Grove Lions Club was having their annual flower sale. Roses or a Fall Bouquet, delivered on Nov.18th, for $15.00.

GEORGE ALBRIGHT said we'd sold almost all of the raffle tickets, with DON NEVIASER leading the way with over 200 sales! DON had said the tickets needed shaking up, so GEORGE let him do it himself. It paid off, too, because one of his customers (who bought 50 tickets) won twice. Our own AL GOLDSTEIN won the Grand Prize (AL in a coat from Woldenberg's -that we all want to see!). BOB BOHN won the second prize but declined, giving a second chance won by Greg Simonis, who also took the 5th prize. Sari King and Christie File were the other two winners.

Our Board of Directors, diligently searching for economies in our budget, has asked all members who can obtain the Lions Tale by Internet to do it that way, and remove their names from the mailing list for the print copy. We spend about $900 per year on the BULLetin, and there is an opportunity to save both printing and postage costs. There are two ways to get the Tale over the web. It is posted each week (by SCOTT GROVER) on our website where it can be read in an attractive format, and where there are also links to the Club calendar and photo album, and other sites. Each member requesting it will receive an e-mail reminder (with a link) that the Lions Tale is posted for their reading. You may also receive a text copy directly in an e-mail, but the type and format are subject to the vagaries of e-mail transmission. The facts are there, but the presentation may be a little garbled. (No cracks about the print version!) If you can get your news on the web, and save the Club some money, please let either Secretary JOHN JENSON or Editor TERRY SCHAR know. Every little bit helps, and you'll actually get the BULLetin a day or two sooner. The print version will continue for those who need it that way.

JIM BRADLEY introduced our speaker, Stephen Fleischman, Director of the Madison Museum of Contemporary Art, and he and his assistant Jennifer Holmes showed us architects' plans for the new Museum, now under construction on State Street as part of the new Overture Center. Originally the Madison Art Center, the organization was founded in the early 1900s, was located for a time in the old Lincoln School building on E. Gorham St. and then in the former Montgomery Ward section of the Civic Center. Now a huge hole in the ground, a new and larger Museum, which will run from the old theater facade to the corner of Henry, Johnson and State Streets will have workshops, a conservancy shop, a hall for presentations, gallery spaces, a store and a rooftop restaurant and sculpture garden. They presently have about 5000 art works in specialized safe storage, until the new space is ready in about a year. They anticipate an operating budget of about $2.2 million, supported by memberships, contributions, endowment income and store and restaurant income. The periods of emphasis are modern art, created from about 1900 to 1970, and contemporary art, from 1970 to the present. Types of works displayed will include paintings, prints, sculpture, carvings, glass, computer-created graphic art, and more. Their Museum Store is presently located in the new Middleton Station shopping center, and if it is successful they will keep it as a branch when the main store is reopened in the new building. Like the rest of the Overture Center, it promises to be an attractive and impressive place to showcase the arts in Madison.