Next Meeting - Tuesday, Oct. 20, at the Edgewater as usual. One of our business meetings, and Pres. JODI will have a number of items for our edification, and maybe even for discussion. Project details, opportunities for service, Holiday Treat sales - lots of stuff to present and talk about. You need to be at these meetings to find out what everybody's up to.

Next After That - Our Awards Night meeting, also on the Edge, at 6 PM on Tuesday, Oct. 27. Nibblers and munchies, cash bar, socializing, and our usual short program of awards, some significant and some not, and Lion Birthdays. Spouses, guests and prospective members are welcome.

We Need - volunteers to work the refreshment stand at the Kohl Center. With good locations this year, we're making sales, and the more helping hands at work, the more sales and the more income for our Service Funds. The world needs our help, and we need yours! Sign up on our web site, or see SCOTT GROVER.

Don't Forget! - Your Holiday Treat order blanks at the next (10/20) meeting. LINDA BERGREN needs to know what you want so she can place the order. Since she must order full cases and our orders seldom add up exactly to full cases, there will be additional product available when the order comes in.

Last Time - VP JIM SCHUTZ rediscovered the podium and opened the meeting, led the song with an assist from STEVE BRIGGS on the pitch, and LINDA BERGREN gave the invocation, effectively conducting a good share of a business meeting on God's time. Clearly a Club prayer, not a parish one. There was one guest, Kim Koster, from Dean Clinic, introduced by PDG JOHN JENSON.

VP JIM, Pres. JODI, and PID PHIL INGWELL attended the USA-Canada Forum at Memphis. There were about 2750 Lions in attendance, and as in every case your editor can remember, they all said the meetings were very worthwhile. The material presented contributed to Lion, career and personal growth. Any Lion who has an opportunity to go to a Forum should go, and that means all of us, because next year it will once again be in Milwaukee. The Milwaukee committee apparently had some platform time for a skit, and the INGWELLS were on stage. We understand PHIL was a keg and BETTY was a mug, and it probably wasn't Pepsi they were emulating. Too bad there's not a video of that one. The Forum will be the last weekend in September, and you can save $40 by pre-registering. See PHIL to find out how.

JIM KEMMETER reported that there were 35 transport missions for the Lions Eye Bank of Wisconsin in our District during September. "Because of what we do today, someone will see tomorrow!"

JIM BRADLEY introduced our speaker, Ruth Shelley of the Madison Children's Museum. Presently on State St., they are remodeling a new location on the Square at N. Hamilton St. into an exciting new facility, with several floors of activities to interest, amuse, and teach children about all sorts of things. From log cabin and farm life, to a suspension bridge, to music, water spouts, light tables, painting areas, nets, chutes and ladders, kids can see, and do, an amazing variety of things. It is pitched to today's "families", not The Beaver's, where nearly half the kids are born out of wedlock and/or live in single-parent households, and 42% are deemed not ready for kindergarten. The aim is to connect children with their families and the world beyond through "creative play." In 2009, at their present facility, they expect 93,000 visitors and hope to reach 30,000 more through outreach programs. The new facility was made possible by a gift of $5 million from the Frautschi family as part of the Overture program, and in addition to the exhibit and activity space it has two levels of parking. One floor will be an Early Learning Gallery for age 5 and under, and beyond that will be a treadmill wheel, climbing and sliding devices, an art studio and science presentations, aimed at 4th graders and up. The rooftop will be open year-round, with chickens, growing veggies in season, lookouts and telescopes, play forts and shelters, including some fashioned around native Ho-Chunk early dwellings. There will be a circa 1800 log cabin in the parking lot. The present location will close on 1/4/2010 and the new one will open in August of 2010. They have already raised $8 million of the $10 million total cost. It is even possible that we might be able to offer Lion Vision Screening programs to the children who will be drawn to this new facility, adding a new dimension of service. Hopefully there will be more on that later, but it sounds as though it will be a great place to take your kids and grandkids.

Plan Ahead! The Kohl Center Basketball schedule is available. We need your help! Volunteer now for the games you can work.