Next Meeting - March 1, First Tuesday In March, 2016. Our business meeting for the month. Obviously a prime item for discussion is Rose Day. Or Flower Sale. Whatever. We will be handed Order Blanks, given information on price and product, and exhorted to sell as many bouquets as possible. The tradition isn't as long as the holiday treats, but we think the profits are still better. We should all be salespeople, but we will also need box luggers, bouquet counters and delivery persons for the sale day, April 25. We may also hear reports on our Cornhole Tournament, District Convention and Vision Screening events.

March is one of our Eye Tissue Transport months. If you are a Transporter, brace yourself for the phone calls. If you aren't, but would like to be, see SCOTT GROVER. This is probably the most vital service projects we do. “Because of what I do today, someone will see tomorrow!”

At our last meeting, KEVIN OLSEN rang the bell. First up was JODI BURMESTER, who reminded us that there is Vision Screening activity on April 6, and the rescheduled Winners Circle LC Charter Night on April 5 (there WILL be a noon meeting that day). GAIL STIRR said that this year's Cycle For Sight fundraiser for the McPherson Eye Research Institute will be on March 12. If you want to ride, locations will be at the SERF, the Nat, and Princeton Club West. Flyght on Junction Rd. apparently also offers the opportunity to participate, but it sounds as tho you also have to pay to rent a bike, there. Further info at vision.wisc.edu/cycle-for-sight.htm or talk to GAIL.

LINDA BERGREN reported that there is a small number of Holiday Treats still available, and she also noted that we got a “Thank You” from the Salvation Army for our bell-ringing at Christmas. SCOTT GROVER said we also got a formal thanks from the River Food Pantry, for which we raised $781.00

Our speaker was Phil Anderson from Green Cab, introduced by ADAM GRASSNICKLE. (Mr. Anderson is also a Libertarian candidate for the US Senate from Wisconsin, and ADAM is his campaign treasurer.) Mr. Anderson has about 17 years experience in and around the taxi business, and Green Cab is one of Schmidt's Towing enterprises. He spoke about the entrance of Uber and Lyft into the taxi business in Madison, particularly as it affects transport for people with disabilities. Neither of the newcomers are equipped to do this, and it has no place in their business model. They don't have suitable vehicles, and they aren't able to accept payment from many of the common sources such as credit cards. Disability transport is provided here by the bus company, and by volunteers. Union Cab also participates. Uber and Lyft do not follow city cab regulations, although they are permitted to operate under State law, which raises the issue of state vs. local control. Also, they do not operate 24/7 as city regulations require. It appears that they are trying for the easy business, without providing the universal services that a portion of the population needs.