Next Meeting - Oct.18, at the usual time and place. JODI BURMESTER is the Program Host, and she will introduce ERICA SINGLEY, who is a Sales Support Specialist at CUNA Mutual Insurance, on the Board of Directors for the Lions Eye Bank of Wisconsin, Transplant Games volunteer, a member of Madison West Lions, and most importantly, a corneal tissue transplant recipient. She's been able to do a lot of things, and will tell us about what made it possible.

We will celebrate Lion Birthdays for ED NEESE, DALE MUELLER, GLENN SCHAEFER, DALE ST. JOHN, BILL WILCOX, WALT PRIDHAM, MARSHALL FLAX, CHARLIE LIBERTY and JEFF SCHNEIDER. Come on guys - get to the meeting so you can be properly appreciated!

At our last meeting, Pres. JIM opened the meeting, LINDA BERGREN led the song, we Pledged Allegiance to a virtual Flag, and ROSS ROYSTER gave the invocation. We had one unannounced guest - Paddhe Heinen quietly came in. There were some more hints about the proposed fund-raiser - it involves sports, probably football, and money, and we are trying to make sure we won't be investigated by somebody if we do it. When lawyers fight, truth is usually the first casualty. We'll see. As long as the worst we can get is to be banned from the Hall of Fame, it's probably worth the risk. Pete Rose is not involved here, as far as we know. But if it takes much longer to set up, it will be basketball season.

SCOTT GROVER reminded us that we need more workers at the Kohl Center concession stand, in order to maximize our earnings for our Service Fund. So far, the largest group of volunteers has come from the UW Campus Lions, which is a tribute to their youthful enthusiasm, but also means they get the largest cut of the proceeds. It also means that, contrary to some public opinion, the desire to serve others is still strong in the younger generation. Sometimes they just need the route pointed out to them, and that is where the Campus Lions come in. This also means that we have some workers with hustle, which helps everyone. Talk to SCOTT, and/or sign up for a few shifts at the counter on our Club website. He also displayed the t-shirts he has for sale, with our Golf Outing and logo on them, for what he described as a “reasonable $20.00.” (We also have certificates for tee times at the Oaks, also for a “reasonable price.”)

LINDA BERGREN handed out order forms for the Holiday Treat sale. Pretty much like prior years, except that Fruit Cake is available only as a sliced 1 lb. cake in plastic for $6.00 or a 15 oz. cake in a box for $8.00. What's on the order form is the items that have sold well. Some other items from prior years are still available on special order, but the minimum quantity is 12, so unless you can sell at least 8 or 10, or can find somebody else to help sell that item, we can't special order and have a lot left over. If you get your order in quickly, she can get product here by Thanksgiving, contrary to initial announcement.

GAIL STIRR reminded us of the upcoming presentation on the history and progress of the Foundation Fighting Blindness, to be given on Oct. 18 by Mr. Gordon Gund, one of the founders. It is sponsored by the Eye Research Institute, and will be at 4:45 PM at the Health Sciences Learning Center. Free surface parking after 4:30 across the street at the Pharmacy or Waisman parking lots.

JIM KEMMETER reported that there were more than 60 transplant missions for the Lions Eye Bank in September, of which our Club handled 18 (see details online). This is Lion service at its finest. “Because of what I do today, someone will see tomorrow.” The Editor no longer remembers which distinguished Lion he is quoting, but the quote is still memorable. I think it was a visiting DG.

Our speaker was Lion BEN AUGUST of the Token Creek Lions Club, and he told us about the Lions Youth Exchange program. He and his wife, Lion JOLEEN, had and have a front-row seat, because their daughter has visited a German family through the program, and they have hosted a daughter from the German family who came here. They can't say enough about what a wonderful experience it is. Visitors coming here spend a week at Camp Vista in Dundee, WI, and then spend about a month (usually July) with a host family. If you missed this program, you missed a lot. Go to the website - http://www.tokencreeklions.org/27-D1YE and learn all about it.