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NEXT MEETING - Tuesday, Feb. 19. Our speaker will be Don Schramm, faculty member of the UW Engineering Professional Development Dept. He will talk about myths about disasters. Since he is from KAREN AL-ASHKAR's department, we assume she will be the Program Host.

At our last meeting, Pres. DON, able to wave both arms again, opened the meeting with a chime from the bell. ROSS ROYSTER was drafted to lead the song, which he did with aplomb if not with baton, and Vicar BOB gave the invocation. Once we got the order straightened out.

JODI BURMESTER reminded us that our Walk For Sight will be held at East Towne Mall on Saturday March 29. Mark the date on your calendar and take part, either as a participant or a committee member, or both. JODI still needs some helpers to handle the admin, so see her to volunteer.

SANDY SOBEK LESLIE had the Order Forms for Rose Day ready to go, probably the earliest on record. Mixed flower bouquet $18.00, a dozen red roses $24.00, a dozen mixed color roses $24.00 and vases $4.00. Start your selling now, and remind your contacts that not only are they giving someone a colorful present, they are helping us help the community. Since our cost is the same for each variety of bouquet, sell roses wherever possible, so we make a greater profit. But SELL! The Eye Bank's 2nd Annual Gift of Sight Luncheon is Thursday, March 20, at the Marriot Madison West. Miss Wisconsin 2008 is the featured speaker. Lions get half price - individual tickets $50, table for ten $500. The general public pays $100/$1000. Proceeds go to the Eye Bank.

JOHN JENSON says he's about to send in the registrations for the District Convention at Baraboo Ho-Chunk on March 7 and 8. Our Club will pay for registration and Saturday lunch for those who sign up, so call him immediately (or sooner) if you want to go and haven't signed up. He could use some help in the Hospitality Room on Friday night too.

JOHN, in his role as Vice District Governor, presented a Membership Key to our Past President SAL AL-ASHKAR for having successfully sponsored two new members. That's even before he sponsored KAREN - she'll count towards the next level.

Past Pres. JERRY HODDINOTT came a little late for his Lion Birthday party, and ROSS ROYSTER, the fill-in TT, followed him to the rostrum, but we celebrated his 28 years of Lion service just the same, and he drew JOHN JENSON's name for the gift. No word on what it contained.

BOB BOHN read a "thank you" letter from the Salvation Army for our work on the kettle. The Army raised a total of $577,000 from the kettles, and our team collected $2,323 of that. It was fun, too.

SAL AL-ASHKAR announced that the Lions Camp will have two sessions for diabetic children this summer - July 27-Aug. 1 and Aug. 3-8. The Camp is set up with medical staff to handle these children's situations properly, and what you hear over and over from the campers is "that week, I was just like all the other kids!" And they all do what kid campers everywhere do, no limitations. That's what makes Lions Camp so special, and every Lion can be proud of what we do there. SAL also reminded us of our partnership with the Kidney Foundation. Workers are needed - training is March 5 and the screening session is March 10th. If it's successful, there will be more of them.

DALE ST. JOHN and HAL OTTERBACK just made another run to Portage, to turn in eyeglasses our teams had graded and packaged, and pick up a new supply to be processed. This project urgently needs more Lions - the work is done during business hours at the M&I Bank on Verona Road. We hear that our Eyeglass Center is sending out glasses as fast as they can get them, and every Lion can help. Look for a location where you can place a collection bucket, and then keep it emptied. HAL can get you one.

SAL AL-ASHKAR introduced our speaker, Paul Terranova from the new Lussier Community Education Center, under construction next to Jefferson Middle School. Paul has a varied background in working with the underprivileged, and the new $4.5 million center will provide rooms for classes, after-school activities, food pantry, senior meals and neighborhood meetings. A lot of varied help for those in need. It is noteworthy that 22% of Memorial High students are now from "low income" families. Center support will come from govt. grants, United Way and fund-raising activity.

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