Next Meeting — Tuesday, June 3. Speaker will be Atty. Amanda Gennermann, speaking on “Immigration Law In America.” There ought to be plenty of interest in that subject!

At our last meeting, Pres. DON opened the meeting and LINDA BERGREN led the song. There was momentary consternation when it appeared that not only did we not have the US Flag, but our alternate flagpole, JOHN JENSON, was not present. PP SAL AL-ASHKAR saved the day with a dash to the equipment box, where a substitute flag was found. We had a professional for the invocation — seminary student and former MCLC Lion DENNIS URECHE, who was home on a break, was called upon and proved that he had been a good student.

We had some guests. Ray Statz, of Qual-Line Fence in Waunakee was introduced by SAL AL-ASHKAR. Crystal Schultz of Grant Thornton was the guest of MELISSA ABBOTT. Marian Stevens came with DR. TOM, and Celia F. Pierquet Flores, daughter of THEMIS FLORES RAMOS, came with her mom.

JODI BURMESTER reported that we made $6,900 on our Rose Day sale — pretty darn good, considering. Top salesman was ROSS ROYSTER, at $1,808, followed by DAN STOUDT, $1,274; DON NEVIASER, $1,077; STEVE BRIGGS, $766; TOM STEVENS, $738; DAVE MIES $630; JIM BRADLEY and SAL AL-ASHKAR, $628; JIM SCHUTZ, $604; MELISSA NOVINSKI, $582; and CRAIG BUTLER, $560. These eleven Lions sold 75% of our total. 19 additional Lions sold flowers or made donations. 26 Lions worked on delivery day, as noted in a previous BULLetin. Almost all of our members appeared on both lists, so we had almost 30 members who worked on this, our most important project. On the one hand, we’d like to have more — on the other, that is more than our usual meeting attendance, so we still have a core of active members who rise to the occasion. Congratulations and thanks to all!!

JODI announced that committee signup sheets will make the rounds at the next two meetings. Here’s your chance to work on the activity of your choice. All of the committees contribute to the success of our Club, and every Lion needs to get involved. We have a job that needs your talent! There is also hope for a printed (and pocket portable) Directory next year. We have one on our web site, which is always current, thanks to SCOTT GROVER, but a print copy gives those of us without laptops something to use in meetings.

LINDA BERGREN says that we’re having a pot luck supper social gathering for our June 17 regular meeting. It will be at the Warner Park picnic shelter, starting at 5:30. More details later, but bring your own beverage of choice and something to share. The chicken entree will be brought by one of our members, and we’ll potluck the rest of it.

We celebrated Lion Birthdays for: THEMIS FLORES RAMOS, 1 year; TOM STEVENS, 5 years; PHIL STOWITTS, 21 years; STEVE BRIGGS, 27 years; JERRY MILLER, 28 years, 19 of them with us; BOB BOHN, 39 years; DAN STOUDT (present in spirits) 46 years, 37 of them with us; and TERRY SCHAR, 49 years. Drawing winners - JERRY HODDINOTT, SCOTT GROVER, DON NEVIASER, PHIL STOWITTS, JODI BURMESTER, THEMIS FLORES RAMOS, MELISSA ABBOTT and DALE MUELLER. DAVE MIES, 12 years, SPARKY WATTS, 13 years; and KEVIN KING, 26 years, missed the party but their service was duly noted nonetheless.

Our speaker was Dr. David Archibald, of the International Crane Foundation, who told us of their work and illustrated with some pictures. The ultralight pilot really does look like Big Bird! Crane chicks focus mainly on the head of their real or foster puppets, so the Foundation uses crane head puppets at first and a costume with a “crane head” as they get bigger. We’ve heard about the whooping cranes here, and they currently have 72 of them. 11 pair are nesting in the wild. Migration to Florida is handled by a Canadian organization, “Operation Migration”, who supply the plane and pilot, and manage the operation, at a cost of about $400,000 per year. The Foundation is truly international, working all over the world including Africa and Asia. They even work in Russia, North Korea and Myanmar, where there are many more species, all large and some quite striking in appearance. Habitat and poaching are concerns, and so they work with residents of areas frequented by cranes to keep them protected. Often that means assisting the living of human residents in order to keep them from hunting or destroying crane habitat to meet their own needs.