Next Meeting : Tomorrow, May 1. At the Edgewater- a few things don't change. JOHN JENSON is the program provider, and the one he had planned fell through at the last moment, so we may be in for a surprise. JOHN did say that if necessary, he would be the program, and we would have a group discussion of Lionism in general, and perhaps Madison Central Lions Club in particular. With his years of experience as Club Secretary, Past President and Past District Governor, JOHN is well qualified to lead that kind of discussion. So, c'mon in and see what happens.

At the last meeting, Pres. JIM SCHUTZ opened the meeting, with a lengthy lead-in to drafting visitor RICK DALUGE to lead the song, which he finally did. The ever-prepared DALE MUELLER gave the invocation. Following past editorial practice, he has done that so many times that he would be referred to as “Father DALE”, except that he had his wife Gwen as a guest, and the editor cannot reconcile those two things.

JOHN JENSON said that it was still possible to get yourself signed up for the Multiple District (State) convention in Green Bay on May 18 and 19. If you haven't been to one, you should go, because you get a wider view of Lionism in action. See or call JOHN, or bring it up tomorrow at the meeting.

Our Golf Outing, which benefits the Lions Eye Bank of Wisconsin, will be on Monday, June 11. CRAIG BUTLER is in charge, and as always he needs donated prizes and/or hole sponsors. Contact him if you'd like to play, and/or if you have something you can contribute.

Our Rose Day went off on schedule, and apparently the sales went well. MELISSA NOVINSKI was on the job, helping out confused deliverypersons like the editor, and making the system go well, and so we confidently look forward to a detailed report soon. From the looks of things, we still managed to sell a lot of product, but we could have used more delivery help.

Please handle the Badge Box with care. Another piece of temporary padding has been installed in the lid, which keeps the badges in place when the box is shut. Otherwise they all end up in a mess every week, so don't lose the bubble wrap! (If you know where to get a piece of ¾ inch foam, which is what was there originally, bring it in.)

We celebrated Lion Birthdays, honoring our members for their years of service on the anniversary of their joining. ROSS ROYSTER and TERRY SCHAR were present in person, the ever-reliable RICH MATZELLE and JIM RUNDELL were present by gift and by proxy, and the honorably mentioned were SCOTT GROVER, LINDA BERGREN, SPARKY WATTS, JODI BURMESTER, PHILL STOWITTS, JERRY MILLER, JIM BRADLEY and PHIL INGWELL. For all you've done, congratulations and thank you!

JACK HEIM reminded us that the Milwaukee chapter of the Foundation Fighting Blindness is having a “Walk” on May 20. JACK is going to participate, and he would welcome more sponsors to contribute to the effort.

MCLC was represented in the Crazylegs Run by PP MICHELLE VETTERKIND, who finished as #464 in her age group, the 5405th woman, and #11,666. She had the same time, 59:52, as the young lady who finished with her, Nicole Lukens. A great effort in miserable weather, but then MICHELLE is always on the dead run somewhere, and apparently it may be hereditary.

Our speaker was Tom Meyer, a Madisonian who founded Aaron's House, a facility for recovering addicts named for his son, who was 18 months into recovery when he died in an accident. It takes great strength to tell a personal story like that, and Tom told from personal experience what addicts and their families go through during, and recovering from, addiction. Aaron's House is there to give the help that someone in recovery needs. JEFF SCHNEIDER brought the program, and it was a good one.