Next Meeting - Tuesday, Sept. 17 - 12:00 NOON - At the Sheraton. JODI BURMESTER is the Program Host (a term for which we are indebted to Lion Alex Wong, who is not easily forgotten by those who knew him) and she will introduce Betsy Ezell and Andy Czerkas of the River Food Pantry, who will tell us about their organization and its operation. What they do is pretty easy to guess, as is the “why”, but the “where” and the “how” is what they'll be telling us.

It is mid-September, and our Club is transporting tissue for the Eye Bank this month. We will probably hear how many missions so far at the next meeting, but if you are on the list, stand by for the phone call. If you aren't on the list but would like to be, contact JIM SCHUTZ or SCOTT GROVER. Transporters now need formal ID badges, and if you don't have yours yet, SCOTT either has it or will know how to get it. These missions are one of the best opportunities to sell Lionism to a member prospect - take one with you if you can. Showing Lionism in action comes right after “just ask!” in recruiting a new Lion member.

Many Lions, your editor included, have had their “Lion Moment” - the realization of the value of what Lions do. Mine came during a visit to Lions Camp, when I stood outside the dining hall at noon and listened with amusement to the clamor from within. “Just like my Boy Scout camp,” I thought. And then, a second later, “EXACTLY!!” These kids were having the same fun camping experience that sighted kids enjoy, despite what some thought were limitations, and I, as a Lion, was helping to provide it. That moment obviously has stayed with me to motivate me through a good many years.

If you have had a “Lion Moment”, tell the editor about it (lionterry@aol.com). We'll share any stories that we get through the Tale, in hopes of spreading the inspiration.

At our last meeting, Pres. LINDA presided, and one of the first announcements was a planned Social on the first Tuesday in October, at 5:00 PM. Location to be decided, but the plan is to include the equivalent of Awards Night. Knowing LINDA, someone is probably headed for the PITA Award, at least.

Another event planned for October is the Madison Central Lions Trivia Run, set for October 5. No, we don't expect you to run (although we would encourage Lion runners to enter), but we do expect you to volunteer to help this event get off the ground. Three or four hours, no selling, no standing. Contact JACH HEIM or SCOTT GROVER for details on how you can help.

World Sight Day is planned for Oct. 10, at the Institutes For Discovery Town Center, Orchard St & University Ave., Madison from 5:30 - 8:00 PM. Sponsored by Combat Blindness International, join them for sensational international cuisine (ask last year's guests), silent auction of beautiful items from our project countries, fellowship, and an inspiring message from keynote speaker, Mike May. Mike was blinded at age three from a chemical explosion. In 2000, he regained partial vision after a procedure using stem cells. He holds the record for downhill skiing by a person who was blind (65-mph!) and he holds three bronze medals from the 1984 Winter Paralympics. Come share with us in a delightful evening to benefit CBI and those we serve. Cost is $100 per person, $50 for students. JACK HEIM will have more information, or you can find it at http://www.combatblindness.org/events/.

LINDA led a discussion of our Club's meeting practices, and it seemed that few people would miss the singing of “America” as part of our opening, given the lack of instrumental accompaniment to the current collection of vocal talent. There are some who would also like to omit the Pledge of Allegiance and/or the Invocation, but there was no clear sentiment on those. These days it seems you can find people who are offended by everything and anything, and who would complain, if given a $10 bill, that it was not a $20, but there aren't many in our Club, and the counter argument is that tradition is a good thing, and there are still some bedrock values worth mentioning. The Pledge is not susceptible to nuanced alterations, but no one is forced to repeat it, or every word of it, and a properly composed Invocation should be observed in silence, which neither approves or disapproves. Might be some further reviews of these two. The Editor's personal opinion is that there are two areas of thought here that don't get the attention they deserve nowadays and still should, but it is obvious that the Editor is “old school” in every sense of the word. One should always look forward, but it never hurts to glance back over your shoulder every now and then to see where you came from. And whatever you're standing on was prepared, somehow, before you got there.

There was also discussion of our fundraising projects. The UW Concession has offered an onerous contract which we should not accept, which means we must look elsewhere for about $2400. A raffle is a possibility. We do need participation by all our Lions in fund raising, one way or another. There will be lots more on this issue, and if you have any ideas, trot them out.