Next Meeting - August 2, Tuesday noon, at the Coliseum Bar & Restaurant, as usual. This is our usual Business Meeting, and we can expect a report on the Bags Tournament, information on what else is going on (Stuffed any Buses lately?) and perhaps a glimpse of the funture (that was a typo, but it looked like an interesting new word, so I left it in. Feel free to copy whenever you think it's useful.) There's always some fun in your Lions future.

Pres. MIKE opened the last meeting, on schedule, but without any formalities. Not even a bell clang, because it was quiet enough for him to be heard. LINDA BERGREN was first up in the business list, with a picture of blankets donated to the Children's Hospital.

DALE BURMESTER reminded us that volunteers were still needed for Stuff The Bus, on Aug. 13. Locations are the three Hy-Vee stores in Madison and Fitchburg.There is also a need for help a week later,on Aug. 20th, to sort the various items that have been donated so that they can be properly distributed. That activity will be at LaFollette High School. See, e-mail or call DALE or JODI BURMESTER for specifics. Sign up on the web at http://lions-serve.org/volunteer.html. This is one instance where the internet is really helpful - all the info is there.

Man of All Activities SCOTT GROVER, dressed in “summer casual” attire for the meeting (sort of “beach bum” - somewhere Lions JIM RUNDELL and ELMER NIELSON must be wincing, but times have changed) reported on the Concert In The (Warner) Park. NESCO had a bluegrass band and there were lots of people there. Obviously SCOTT was our principal representative, but we don't have word on other LIONS that helped out. We'll get that at this next meeting.

Our Madison Parks Ranger KEVIN OLSEN was spotted by the Editor last week, checking out a small West Side park. Looked very official in uniform, returning to the vaguely ominous-looking city vehicle. The Editor was very careful not to run over him, even tho he didn't realize who it was until he was half a block past. Kevin says there's a lot of variety and judgement calls in his job, but the one “no exceptions” issue is dogs off leash in parks. The fine is $124.00, so if you're a dog walker, as the Editor is, take heed!

Program Host CRAIG BUTLER introduced our speakers, Capt. John Patterson and officer Mike Alvarez, arriving too late for lunch because they were dashing from one meeting to another, told us us some of the things going on in South Madison, and the constant efforts by the Department to become known as friends to the communities they serve and protect. Officer Alvarez, a former teacher and MP, has spent ten years working to get to know the people in the Latino community. He runs a summer soccer program for kids, which has grown from 40-45 participants last year to 70-90 this year, and of course working with the kids brings good contacts with parents, siblings. Some are refugees, whose previous contacts with police have instilled a fear that he tries to alleviate. People who know him as “Coach” are more willing to talk with him about other situations.

From their remarks, listeners realize that police work is usually not quite what they think it is, and certainly not what is often plastered all over the media. They noted that opportunities to “ride along” are often available to people who ask, and seeing what the world looks like from the front seat of a police car often provides attitude-changing results.