Scheduled speaker for our next meeting is Brad Livingston, Director of the Dane County Airport. It seems that our air travel facility is one continuous construction program, as our area grows, and we will be brought up to date on what's going on, or up, now. In an age of increasing air traffic on bankrupt airlines with scheduling problems, maybe he can make sense of it all. Certainly the airport is a vital factor in the Dane County economy. JODI BURMESTER is the Program Host. We think.

At the last meeting, everything went as usual despite the Editor's absence. President LINDA BERGREN opened the meeting and gave the invocation, and OTTO FESTGE led the song. Sicklist report: RALPH JOHNSON is still recovering from pneumonia - BOB BOHN reported in last week, back from Mayo's and very hopeful. New diagnosis, new medication, no surgery. He said he already felt better after only one day on the new meds. So much so, that he was planning a trip to visit his son. We hope they'll both be back with us soon, and that BOB can get his bishop's miter back out of his closet.

The Rose Day kickoff is March 1, when the Felly rep will be with us. DAN STOUDT's committee will meet next Tuesday at 11:30 in the Edgewater Bar. DICK WATTS has volunteered to have his phone number on the order blank if someone wants to order flowers - thanks, SPARKY!

There will be a Diabetes Awareness/Education Meeting Wednesday, March 9 at First United Methodist Church, 203 Wisconsin Ave. Information on diabetes, controlling or preventing its onset and complications, diet information will be presented. Attendees will be urged to join Lions Clubs to aid in the fight against one of the worst destroyers of vision. CHUCK BASFORD is our point man in this effort. He has his own personal war against this disease in all its aspects, and knowledge is the best defense.

JOHN JENSON circulated the signup sheets for the Conventions again. Time is running out for signup for our District Convention at the Middleton Marriott on March 11 & 12, but call JOHN if you want to go. If you haven't been to one, it will never be any easier, and you should go. It gives you a wider vision of how much you are doing for your community (however you define it) as a Lion.

Our bowling team in the Civic League, after its usual scramble for roster members, is doing well. They've won 13 out of 14 in the first third of the season. Way to go, Lions!

Board of Directors meets next Tuesday night, February 15. President LINDA says some important items are on the agenda, so all Board members please be sure to attend. Call LINDA for the location.

Ed Fink, a member of the Rotary Club of Madison West Towne and Middleton told us about the Orphan Train Project, which he's worked on since 1997 .The Orphan Train Project is designed to help orphanages and the children they serve. Its principle activity is to match service clubs, schools and other organizations to foreign orphanages. There are about 50 orphanages being assisted in 10 countries: Bulgaria, Guatemala, Peru, Mexico, Romania, Zimbabwe, South Africa, China and Ukraine (I missed one). In Zimbabwe alone there are about 800,000 orphans due to the AIDS/HIV epidemic.

Each of the orphanages has one or more "conductor" groups. Conductor groups are located all across the U.S. and overseas. Conductor groups are Rotary, Kiwanis, Jaycees, Lions, Optimist, Knights of Columbus, schools, family charities, churches, and businesses. A conductor group forms an ongoing relationship with their orphanage. Each Conductor group and orphanage are assigned an English-speaking intermediary. The intermediary is often a Peace Corp worker, American abroad, foreign Rotarian or other trusted individual. The use of email has greatly improved the communication and timeliness of serving the orphanages.

Other Orphan Train Activities are education, vision screening and travel. The Orphan Train project has sponsored training for orphanage directors by Mooseheart in Illinois, which models positive reinforcement. Our Club is a special conductor for the Orphan Train for vision screening. Jim Schutz is leading a team in March to travel to Romania. Certain conductor groups have traveled to visit their orphanages.

Often the Orphan Train gets request for help through their website, www.rotaryorphantrain.org. They aren't even able to service all those asking for help. Currently, the Orphan Train is encouraging conductor groups to build libraries and donate textbooks and storybooks for the orphanages. Often the orphanages focus on basic needs for food, clothing, and other basic necessities. They don't think to ask for things such as books, although most badly need them. A good program and worthy cause. Ed was a good speaker and told several stories about the different orphanages and their conductors.

Thanks to MELISSA NOVINSKI for the reporting notes on the last meeting. (And, after all, the original program schedule did say something about trains.)