Next Meeting - Tuesday, January 17, 2012. At the Edgewater, which still stands despite the politics. SCOTT GROVER is the Program Host, and, in his capacity as Sight Conservation Chairman, he will also be the program, reporting on our eyeglass grants, which haven't been in the news much lately. This may well be our oldest, longest-running project.

We will also celebrate an impressive list of Lion Birthdays: MELISSA NOVINSKI, 18 years; CRAIG BUTLER, 19 years; JOHN JENSON, 31 years; JERRY HODDINOTT, 31 years; and AL GOLDSTEIN, 51 years! That's a lot of service, 150 years of it, from some of our most loyal Lions. Come and honor their service, and, besides, you might win one of the gifts!

LINDA BERGREN has more stuff left from the Holiday Treat sale. Seems that last year everybody wanted Trail Mix and/or Granola. This year, apparently the trailer got uncoupled and the health nuts didn't want health nuts, so we have plenty of both remaining. There are also the ever-popular Malted Milk Balls, some Almonds, a few miscellaneous , and one lonely Fruit Cake. Please help out, and let's get rid of these goodies.

At our last meeting, Pres. JIM SCHUTZ ran the show, VP LINDA BERGREN led the song, and "Padre" ROSS ROYSTER gave the invocation Gwen MUELLER was DALE's guest.

LINDA BERGREN reported that sales were brisk at the Kohl Center Concession Stand on New Year's Eve and the Lions working the stand were busy making money for our Service Fund. Lion Sec. JOHN JENSON departed at half time for Los Vegas, presumably taking only his own money with him. Maybe we can get a report from him on how he fared once he got there.

SCOTT GROVER, who will talk about where our service money goes during the program, also talked about where it comes from, meaning the commissions from our work at the Concession Stand. SCOTT could always use more help - look for shifts needed on our website.

We are forming a 4-person team for the Cycle For Sight event coming up, led by GAIL STIRR and her husband. Their goal is to raise $500 for sight research, and if you can help, contact GAIL. It will take place on Sat. Feb. 11, and it's a chance to get your exercise and do good at the same time.

Apparently we still can't be sure the sports raffle we were planning is legal, and so it's still on hold. It's one of the results of having a Club President with a law degree, but it's a good thing to make sure of. We want to be in the newspaper, but not for holding an illegal raffle.

The meeting time consisted of a general discussion on how to improve our membership situation. Among the suggestions, take a prospective member with you on a Lion project - tissue transport and concession stand sales were mentioned. Look among your neighbors and friends for someone who would like to give something back to their community, and show them how we do it. Also suggested, look for prospects among people who can control their own time - managerial or sales people - and therefore are available for meetings and projects.