Continuing our "Things To Do Around Madison" theme, next week we will hear Secretary Jim Holprin of the Wisconsin Department of Tourism. This is the department that works so hard to bring visitors, and their money, to Wisconsin, and we will probably hear about how they are brought here, what they do and where they go. In the process we'll probably also learn about some places and things that even those of us who've been here forever haven't seen. JODI BURMESTER brings us this one.

Our Board of Directors recently approved donations of $4000 to the Lions Eye Bank of Wisconsin, and $6000 to the Wisconsin Lions Foundation. Our flower sale money at work, helping others in our community and state. The Eye Bank is self-explanatory. WLF runs our service programs in the state, including Lions Camp, hearing and diabetes programs, and others. If you read the information coming out of the Council of Governors, you know they need the money. Our club has also provided $200 to assist a Madison resident with a hearing aid, and $650 to send a really good high school violinist (who happens to be blind) to the statewide Honors Orchestra program.

JON WINSKI started things off by donating a set of Lion golf balls and towel to the TTOTW, DON NEVIASER. That was impressive, but things got really scary when JON set out to help the TT raffle them off. Might we have another TT in training? But the raffle went off well, our speaker drew the winning ticket and (absolutely honest drawing) it was won by Mirelle Wuolle, who was again visiting with her husband Tim. They are joining our Club, but we think they'd already decided that before the raffle. We understand that her name is correctly pronounced "Mih RELL ee." Tim we can all pronounce, and we're glad to have them with us. President LINDA opened the meeting, OTTO FESTGE led the song, and Bishop BOB BOHN gave the invocation.

LINDA then announced that at the recent Multiple District (State) Convention, the International President's Medal For Service, one of the highest awards in Lionism, was presented to JODI BURMESTER. JODI has been very active at the Zone and Region level, and it's great to see her contributions to Lionism recognized! The medal was passed around the room for all to see, since apparently we can't get her to wear a Lion vest to display it.

President LINDA presented THAYER BURNHAM and OTTO FESTGE with International President's Certificates of Appreciation for their years of Lion service - 57 years and 52 years respectively. They've given us a lot of help through the years, and they're both still doing it! Congratulations, and thank you!

We're going to meet at Olbrich Gardens on May 31, have lunch, and tour the gardens and the tropical dome. Guests are welcome, we hope all our members will be there, but JODI BURMESTER needs a count, by this Friday, of those coming for the meal. If you haven't signed up but can come, or want to add a guest, call JODI at 271-4473 or e-mail her at Burmester@charter.net. Quickly, please.

CHUCK BASFORD presented special pins honoring our members who are transporters for the Eye Bank. SCOTT GROVER, PHIL STOWITTS, JODI BURMESTER, PHIL INGWELL, LINDA BERGREN and dispatchers JIM KEMMETER and CHUCK received them. This is Lion service at its best - the transporters are a vital link in relaying donated eye tissue to the surgeons who use them to restore sight.

ANDREW J. "ANDY" STRUNK is our newest member. He and wife Kelly live at 5491 Caddis Bend, Fitchburg, 53711, home phone 608/278-8301. He is a Human Resources Coordinator for UW Hospitals, office phone 263-7372. He has an impressive service record with Big Brothers, and United Way and teaches English as a second language at Bethel Church, speaking Spanish and German. His sponsor is DON NEVIASER. Welcome, ANDY!

Larry Johnson, Manager of the Dane County Farmers' Market On The Square, was introduced by Program Host JODI BURMESTER. A Madison institution since 1972 , the market draws 8,000 to 10,000 people every Saturday, even in the rain, and brings in an estimate $8 million to vendors and $6 million to other businesses in the area. They have over 300 vendors for only 166 spaces, with about 40% being there for the whole season and 60% with seasonal products. There's a 3 yr. waiting list for a space. Most visitors come from within a 5-mile radius, but people come from all over, including foreign countries. The serious buyers are there early (6 AM start), the local chefs a little later, and then the strollers looking for whatever is good that week. It is a "producer-only" market. The vendors must produce the product themselves.