COMING UP! — Tuesday, Nov. 4, our speaker will be Dr. John Wiley, former UW Chancellor and professor. He is the newly-appointed Director of the Discovery Center, which is being built at the corner of University and Randall Aves. The name suggests research, and that is its purpose. Dr. Wiley will tell us all about it, and what makes it important to all of us. He is a noted and well-known speaker — we need every Lion present to hear him. Bring a guest, or a prospect, or a spouse, and be there!

JUST PAST — Our Awards Night Social, organized by LINDA BERGREN and as usual enjoyed by all who were there. If you weren't, you blew it. "Good eats", we hear, and a good time to socialize with fellow Lions and friends. It was "Miller Time" — A Melvin Jones Fellowship , LCIF’s highest recognition, was presented to Past President JERRY MILLER. In addition to his service as officer and director, JERRY is a long-time Lion who is usually found where the work is being done. A Birch Sturm Fellowship, WLF’s highest recognition, was presented to DALE MUELLER. A Lion member for 43 years, DALE too has worked on many committees and projects, has been TailTwister, and often does the little things that help make up our Club’s existence, such as taking photos and offering invocations. He’s also on hand whenever help is needed on fundraisers.

The Club awards, which don't have quite the storied history of the Fellowships, included the Lion with Dignity Award to PHIL INGWELL, who certainly epitomizes the award. Besides, we've already given him the other two. Your Editor still recalls the good advice from PHIL when there was a presentation to be made - "if you’re going to do something important, wear a suit!" The annual "Pain In The Butt" award (who picks these, anyway?) went, with affection, to Pres. JODI, presumably to recognize the enthusiasm with which she has attacked her current Club position. No one sits idly by in JODI’s presence, and she is nearly omnipresent.

NEWS — There will be an opportunity for a valuable training/information session at Stevens Point Dec. 11-14. Lions with less than 8 yrs. of membership who’ve been on at least one committee and haven’t been Club President are eligible for the Emerging Lions Leadership Institute. The sessions are full of valuable information which will help the individual not only to be a better Lion leader, but also in everyday life. This is serious business, and those who attend these sessions or those given at the USA-Canada Forum each year find them very worthwhile. See JODI or JOHN for more information.

The Eye Bank transporters were active in September. There were 42 transplant missions, 16 of them by MCLC members. "Because of what I do today, someone will see tomorrow!"

The Concession Stand fundraiser is doing pretty well. There’s enough staff for the remaining football games, and SCOTT GROVER reports that the first basketball game is covered, too, just in the nick of time. There are lots more basketball games to follow, and more help is needed. Friends and family are welcome. There’s a schedule on the website — pick your spots and sign up. If you don't trust these newfangled electronics, just see SCOTT. The money generated from this work is very important to our Club service activities, so pitch in and help out if you can.

Our last meeting demonstrated how much there is to talk about in our Club’s operation and service. Pres. JODI led the discussion, LINDA BERGREN led the song, disdaining any pitch selection from the electric piano, and PHIL INGWELL gave the invocation. We need chairpersons for the Texas Hold 'Em Poker Tournament fundraiser, planned for January or February, and the Walk For Sight in March. Both are fundraisers and the Walk will also serve to provide valuable health info to attendees. The Walk has a committee meeting planned for Nov. 4 at 11:30 in the Edgewater Lounge - if you can help out, be there.

There will be a Diabetes Awareness Workshop on Nov. 8 from 9 AM-noon at the Albany Lions Clubhouse. See SAL AL-ASHKAR for information.

We are holding our first annual Sight Night on Halloween. Information has gone out to all Madison schoolchildren, asking them to collect used eyeglasses along with their treats. A newspaper article is planned, and MICHELLE VETTERKIND will be on Channel 15 at 6:10 AM to talk about it.

The Lensometer Committee, headed by DALE ST. JOHN, needs more workers to process eyeglasses. Call DALE if you can help, and he’ll arrange instruction on how to do it. This is a hands- on service!.

LINDA BERGREN says the Holiday Treats may be here by 11/4 — 11/18 for sure. She’ll have some extra stock because she has to order case lots, so find someone who likes nuts. If they won’t buy the bagged ones, ask them to join our Club.

PLEASE COME TO THE 11/4 MEETING. WE NEED A BIG CROWD!!! Vote afterwards.