Next Meeting - Tuesday, March 4 - At noon - At the Sheraton. This will be our busyness meeting for the month of March, which we can only hope will be kinder to us weatherwise than January and February. At this meeting we will hear about and talk about what we are busy doing, have done and/or are about to do as Lions of Madison Central. There's more than you think, so come and take part in the discussion. Don't tell us you are too busy. You need to be busy on Lion busyness! Pres. LINDA is very good at laying out projects and programs, past and future. It's up to all of us to do them.

Probably the most important at the moment is our Flower Sale. The order blanks, and presumably the flyers, are already available. Prices and product generally the same as last year, and the depot will once again be at the Sheraton. The order will go in about the first week of April, so start your sales now. We want to order as close as possible to what we will sell, for obvious reasons, so keep careful records. And, every year, the same admonition - FILL OUT THE ORDER BLANKS COMPLETELY, WITH CAREFUL ATTENTION TO DELIVERY INSTRUCTIONS. Those who do the deliveries want to get the flowers to the right person at the right place as easily as possible, so make it easy for them.

At the last meeting, Pres. LINDA rang the Lion bell to start things off, and led the Pledge of Allegiance. We had one guest, SCOTT GROVER's daughter Ann, a family member of Madison East Lions Club. The Salvation Army sent us a thank-you letter for our bell-ringing day, noting that we had raised $535.81 to help them help the unfortunate. Unlike so many, they don't send their money, or someone else, to help. They go themselves. We will get another chance to help them out, since they now have a second annual Red Kettle drive in the Summer.

We also got a check from the Gum Ball rep, for $1968.00. This nearly-effortless project, from sales of gum through machines in locations that Lions have provided or recruited, has given us $162,419.41 for our service funds over the 50+ years it has been going. Chew on that one for a while. And then keep an eye open for places where machines might go. All we have to do is get the owner's consent, and advise the gumball guy. He does all the rest.

There are still a few dollars outstanding for sales of Holiday Treats. Please get them in to LINDA or SCOTT immediately, if not sooner.

March is one of our months for eye tissue transport. There are a couple of new wrinkles - all transporters must have official IDs, and if you don't have yours, ask SCOTT GROVER. The former transfer point at Portage has now been moved to Wisconsin Dells, so if you get an assignment you may have a new route segment to learn (don't worry, a map link is available on our Transporters list).

Cycle For Sight, the fundraiser for the McPherson Eye Research Institute, is on March 8. GAIL STIRR set up one team for MCLC, and JACK HEIM was well along in forming a second, so we will be well represented. The Institute will be a focal point for the research that finds and perfects new procedures to protect and improve vision, something that benefits everyone. If you need a little exercise, contact GAIL or JACK to actively participate, and if you can't do that, give one of them a pledge for financial support.

STEVE BRIGGS was present, moving better every day. It seems the editor was kneedlessly complex in referring to which wheel he had fixed this time. It was his knee, not his hip, which he kneeded to point out. Sorry for the errata, but glad STEVE is up and running (well, walking fast) again.

JOHN JENSON reminded us that Conventions are coming up. Reservations for the District, March 14-15, are closed (but if you really, REALLY, want to go, talk to JOHN) but the State is in the Dells on May 16-17 and you can still sign up with JOHN for that one.

MICHELLE VETTERKIND introduced our speaker, Gayle Viney from the Dane County Humane Society. A private non-profit, supported almost entirely by donations, they shelter and adopt out homeless pets, care for rescued wild animals, and educate people about the needs and care for all kinds of animals. They care for about 7000 animals a year including, but not limited to, dogs, cats (the most common), horses, birds and reptiles. She pointed out that having a pet benefits the human as well as the animal. An interesting and informative program by a good speaker. The Society could use your help - contact Gayle at 838-0413 ext. 129 or on the Web at www.giveshelter.org to find out how.