Next Meeting - March 16, 2010. A business meeting, with reports scheduled on a number of projects, District and State meetings, US-Canada Forum, and projects large and small. Of most importance at the moment, a last-minute shove to our Flower Sale, led by Chairman JERRY HODDINOTT. We're down to the last couple meetings before the delivery date, so JERRY needs to know what you've sold/will sell, so he can order the right amounts of product. Obviously we don't want to be short, but if we have too many it leads to sales on street corners and donations of what should be our profit. Be sure to tell him where you stand.

One request is the same every year. FILL OUT THE DELIVERY FORMS COMPLETELY!! If the delivery address is not really obvious, include driving instructions. If it is in an office building, give a room or suite number. We want our flowers to arrive in timely fashion, at the right place, and fresh and attractive. If the driver can't find the recipient, nothing good can happen.

At our last meeting, JODI presided, LINDA directed (soprano, as threatened)and ROSS prayed. Nothing unusual about those. What was unusual was the view of Lake Mendota from the Edgewater windows. There was low fog over the lake, so the view was misty, but you could see brilliant patches where the sun was getting through holes in the fog, and the whole lakescape was much more brightly lighted than usual. First time I can recall needing sunglasses in a fog.

JODI's new Lion Spotlight fell on JIM KEMMETER this week. It was good to see him stride briskly to the podium, and we found out that he was a graduate of the US Naval Academy at Annapolis, having had the questionable distinction of being the last appointee of the late Sen. Joe McCarthy (R-Wis). Following his graduation he went out to the Fleet during the Korean War, serving on a cruiser and destroyer. He said the destroyer was more fun, so he must like carnival thrill rides - they are not limousines. Following that he returned to Madison for his law degree from UW, and has practiced here ever since, first with a large firm and lately by himself, specializing in family and tax law. He didn't mention it, but he did all the legal work to set up our Madison Central Lions Club Foundation, pro bono, and he was Club President for the year 1999-2000. We were also reminded that March is one of our "Transporter" months, and it's been busy - 4 missions in 2 days. JIM is our dispatcher for the Eye Tissue transport project.

Incoming President JIM SCHUTZ is assembling an officer team, and if all goes according to plan we will have both formal nominations and the election at our next meeting. If you are asked to serve, do it.

JODI says the Food Drive is scheduled for April 9-16 at Copps food stores:

Lions, Lioness, Leos and Roundy's Gives Back volunteers will staff information tables and collect donations at each store on April 16. Goal is 2-3 volunteers per 2-hour shift. You can sign up online. Volunteers are encouraged to wear their Lions gear. A table and chairs will be provided at each store. A $ collection container and information from Roundy's Foundation, the Community Action Coalition and I Am A Lion brochure & membership apps will be at each store.

As promised, LINDA BERGREN introduced the speaker, Ted Ballweg, Asst. Sales & Marketing Manager for the Alliant Center. He said they had 500 events per year at the Center, and a show of hands proved that "everybody goes there." He pointed out that they had numerous venues on their 164 acre site - the Coliseum, Exhibition Hall, Arena and Willow Island. There are about 900,000 visitors each year, using 76,000 hotel room nights and producing $2.1 million in room taxes. Usage is 39% consumer events, 24% conventions and trade shows, 21% concerts and touring shows, sports 12% and meetings and banquets 4%. Events like the World Dairy Expo bring international exposure to the Madison area, along with lots of visitors who spend money. From cows to monster trucks to model trains to flowers to service club lunches to hockey to the World's Largest Bratfest - "variety" indeed. Never a dull moment. In your editor's limited experience, a lot of very loud noise seems to be the most common thread.

Pun jab of the week - I thought I saw an eye doctor on an Alaskan island. It turned out to be an Optical Aleutian.