Next Meeting - Tuesday, March 5 - BREAKFAST MEETING! -7:00 A.M. At the Sheraton, as usual. We have a number of things going on during March, and Pres. LINDA will review them, including any late developments.

It is our month for Eye Tissue Transport, so if you are on the transporters list, stand by for phone calls. If you aren't on the list and want to be, contact web guy SCOTT GROVER.

March is also Diabetes Awareness Month, and we have informational DVDs that can be provided to anyone or any place that will show them. Contact JACK HEIM.

LINDA still has a selection of Holiday Treats available - Cashews, Almonds, Mixes. There was even one Fruit Cake - better grab that one right away. Didn't see the classic Malted Milk Balls, but there probably are some for the fanatics. If not, treat yourself to one of the others.

Cycle For Sight was Saturday, March 2. We had a team in the action, which GAIL STIRR will probably tell us about.

At the last meeting, Pres. LINDA rang the bell, and also led the Pledge and the song. JOHN JENSON gave the short, but to the point, invocation. Didn't see any guests, but we had 14 Lions. We need more.

TailTwister JACK HEIM had a donated gift card from the Roman Candle Pizza to auction off. STEVE BRIGGS came up with the winning bid. He didn't say whether it would be dinner out or carryout.

Sec. JOHN JENSON reminded us that the District Convention is this week - Friday and Saturday, March 8 and 9. It's at the Marriott in Middleton, and we have several members going. If you haven't signed up but want to go, talk to JOHN.

There's also the Multiple District ("State”) Convention coming up at the same site in May - the 16th thru the 18th. JOHN has a list for that one too, and the Club pays some of the cost, so here's a chance to get a still wider view of Lionism in action. Sign up with JOHN.

Our speaker was Megan Bessett, from the American Red Cross, Badger Chapter. She told us about a relatively new form of blood donation, called Platelet Apheresis. They've come a long way from the old days of donating a pint of whole blood, and this process uses only the “platelet” portion of the blood, which can be used in more ways, for more people, with less effect on the donor. Blood is extracted from one arm, run through a separation process to take out the platelets, and the rest of the blood - plasma, red cells and white cells - is returned to the donor, through the other arm. It takes longer, about 2-3 hours, but you can do it more often. A donation can help up to 8 recipients, and the donor's body replaces the platelets in only about 24 hours. Platelet donations can be given as often as 24 times each year, while whole blood donations are spaced no sooner than 56 days apart. A donor can do both, however.

Age limits begin at 16 with parental permission, 18 for everyone, and there is no maximum age limit, as proved by our own Lion DALE MUELLER, who regularly donates every three weeks. He says the only problem is that you can't scratch your nose. So age doesn't matter, but medications do (aspirin-free for 24 hours, among other things). Donations are by appointment - contact Megan at (608) 298-6145, or meganbessett@redcross.org.

Locations are on Zier Rd. on the east side and Sheboygan Ave. on the west side, and they are open 6 days per week. Platelets can only be stored for 3 days, so they need a constant stream of donors. They can also use volunteer help, for administration and/or transportation.

Mark your calendars - Adult Vision Screening - May 10 - 8:30am-12:00pm - NESCO - Warner Park - we need volunteers to assist.