Our next meeting is Tuesday, Aug. 1, and our speaker will be David Denig-Chakroff of the Madison Water Utility. Madison’s water supply has been much in the news lately, and this will give us some up-to-date information on the problems and progress on the solutions. JODI BURMESTER is the Program Host.

TaleTwister's Jackpot
$618

Pres. SAL AL-ASHKAR opened the last meeting with the Pledge of Allegiance, OTTO FESTGE led the song and DICK POMO gave the invocation. Samantha Carothers was a guest again, with her granddad SCOTT GROVER. Pres. SAL then reminded us of his challenge to the Club to recruit, and said the two teams should have some fun challenging each other for the most new members. He also announced that the District Youth Exchange would have about 60 foreign students coming to our area this summer. There are opportunities to host these visitors, show them our country, and particularly if you have a teenager in your household, consider being a host for a week or two. SAL has the info.

TT ROSS ROYSTER conducted his weekly drawing for half the $618 that’s in his pot. LINDA BERGREN won the drawing but didn’t pull the joker, so the beat goes on. One less card every week, though. “Archbishop” BOB BOHN needs some more acolytes to give the weekly invocations. See him to volunteer - if nothing else it will make you think a bit.

PP CHUCK BASFORD says we still have a shot at running a refreshment stand for football games, but we don’t seem to have enough personpower from our Club, so we’re going to have to involve 4 or 5 others (clubs, that is) and split the swag. Still a chance to raise some service funds and have a good time working with other Lions while doing it. See CHUCK to help, and see the schedule online.

We got a letter from International President JIMMY ROSS, congratulating us on our 85 years of service. That’s an impressive record, and we have to keep adding to it.

Speaking of service, MELISSA NOVINSKI’s report on Rose Day listed the following Lions who did the essential jobs of planning and/or delivering the flowers to recipients: SAL AL-ASHKAR, CHUCK BASFORD, JIM BRADLEY, STEVE BRIGGS, THAYER BURNHAM, OTTO FESTGE, SCOTT GROVER, PHIL INGWELL, JOHN JENSON, DAWN JOHANKNECHT, CHARLIE & Trish LIBERTY, DAVE MIES, JERRY MILLER, MICHELLE LONERGAN, ED NEESE, DON NEVIASER, MELISSA NOVINSKI, HAL OTTERBACK, WALT PRIDHAM, WARREN RANDY, ROSS ROYSTER, JIM SCHUTZ, DALE ST. JOHN, TOM STEVENS, DAN STOUDT, PHIL STOWITTS,ART TAGGART AND CHRIS WILZ. This is Lionism in action, doing the crucially important work that makes our service possible. THANK YOU!!

JODI BURMESTER introduced our speaker, Lion STEVE KNAPP. A past WLF Director, STEVE is active in the new Lions Pride Campaign, which is designed to build an endowment fund to insure the future operation of Lions Camp. The goal is $25 million USD over five years, about $1,000 for each Lion in Wisconsin. It costs close to $1 million a year to provide for the 1500 campers, and there are serious concerns about rising costs. There have been improvements in management and efficiency, but the aim of Lions Pride is to build an endowment large enough to cover future operating costs with its investment income. The present endowment fund comes only from Birch-Sturm fellowships and memorial gifts, and it’s not anywhere near enough. Our Club is the largest contributor to the WLF operating funds in our District, which is a feather in our cap, but we have to keep working at it. WLF supports other projects which are decided upon by Wisconsin Lions through the Council of Governors- Vision Screening, Diabetes Awareness, Hearing Aids, Eyeglass Recycling, and Youth Projects. WLF funds help Lions serve their communities - many of the campers are from the Madison area. Put this on your “donations list” at tax time, and consider trying to reach the $1,000 level. You can do it over 5 years, at $200 per year. Contact PP CHUCK for pledge forms.