Olbrich Park is one of Madison's "jewels", and next week we get to see for ourselves. We will meet at the Olbrich Gardens building at noon for a catered lunch, followed by a tour of the Gardens. There's a lot to see here - the Thai Pavilion, the tropical dome, and all of the flower and shrub general gardens. Search for the MCLC bench, which recognizes a donation we made several years ago. Because of the special lunch, you need to sign up in advance. If you haven't done so, call JODI BURMESTER at 271-4473, right away.

Last meeting began with ROSS ROYSTER practicing up for his next year's TailTwister gig. He doesn't need to practice. He knows how. President LINDA opened the meeting with some unwelcome news- OTTO FESTGE is in the hospital. We hope he gets well and gets home quick. LINDA, having watched OTTO work, led the song and the pledge, and ALEX WONG gave the invocation, based on "America The Beautiful." ALEX does his homework. JODI BURMESTER introduced guest ROB SHERMAN, Vice District Governor-elect from the McFarland Club.

SHARON MOLL-BRENNAN made a special trip from a busy day at the Eye Bank to thank our Club for our donation, which was reported in the last issue of the Tale. Helen Keller asked Lions to be "Knights For The Blind," and this is part of our response. "Thank You" letters were also read from Hospice Care and Attic Angels, for the flowers we donated to them at the end of our Rose Day sale. Your editor heard about them in a casual conversation at coffee - nice to know that our efforts are appreciated!

DON NEVIASER reminded us of the upcoming Golf Outing, on June 7 at the Bridges. Golf starts at about 1 PM and dinner follows. Nongolfers are welcome at the dinner, but all who are coming please sign up with DON.

There's an important point here. We have a number of activities for which you are asked to sign up in advance. That's because the Club has to make reservations for meals, and sometimes hotel rooms, and in the process we are obligated to pay for the services we've requested. If you sign up and don't go, somebody has to pay the bill, and the Club can't afford to do it. We want everybody to participate in our activities, but please be sure that you can be there to use the room or eat the meal that has been reserved for you.

Our Board of Directors has been discussing, among other things, whether to return to every -Tuesday meetings next Fall, or stay on a two-meeting-a-month schedule. The issues include cost - as our meal costs rise, our dues must do likewise unless we have fewer meetings; and membership - can we attract and keep more good members if they don't have to come as often? When your editor joined the Club, half or more of the members could walk to the meetings. At present, only about two can, and many come from ten miles away. Please consider carefully whether such a change would make it more or less likely that you would come to most of the meetings, and let Board members know your feelings and questions.

Speaking of new members, does anyone know someone who is in business on State Street? There is a large number of people who work there, and surely some would make good Lions. We just have to find an opening. And the most important recruiting tool is still the simplest. "Just Ask!"

Plans are afoot to dig out one of our old Eye Donor Booths, add to the message a bit, and have it staffed at the Farmers Market on the Square for about 4 Saturdays this summer. It will make us more visible, and hopefully help us collect eyeglasses and organ donor signatures. We have the booth and the permit - we'll need some Lions to do the talking. And maybe hand out a few free balloons. What to put in the balloons is still up in the air, because contrary to suggestions, we're not using hot air from the Capitol.

JODI BURMESTER introduced Sara Klavas, from the Wisconsin Department Of Tourism, who told us a lot about how and where they promote travel to Wisconsin. We're now a 4-season destination, but 52% of tourists are still Wisconsin residents. Tourism generates $12 billion each year for our economy, and the Department advertises in the Twin Cities and Chicago, and internationally in combination with other Great Lakes States. No limit on things to do - parks, historical sites like Pendarvis, Villa Louis, Old World Wisconsin, museums, water parks. They try to highlight things that make Wisconsin different. Lots of things to see and do, including the paperweight collection at the Bergstrom-Mahler Museum, Neenah.( Editor's just been there.)

Websites: DiscoverWisconsin.com, travelwisconsin.com, greatriverroad, byways.org