Next Meeting - Tomorrow, November 1, at the Coliseum Restaurant and Bar, at noon, as usual. Our Business Meeting for the month, and surely there will be some business to discuss. We'll probably get a report on what unique items were found by our intrepid crew of highway cleaners, there is the ongoing Holiday Treat sale to consider, and there may be other items that surface - that's one reason we have the meeting. The other is that it's a chance to have a good lunch with good Lion friends, and if nothing else, the Badger win and the Packer loss will provide grist for the mill. Hopefully no one will bring up politics. That kind of language is inappropriate for Lions Club.

Our Christmas Party is set for December 13th, the 2nd Tuesday in December, from 5:30 to 9:00 PM, At Angelo's, 5801 Monona Drive. More details to follow, maybe even tomorrow. We WILL meet on the first Tuesday, December 6, as well, but we will NOT meet on the third Tuesday, December 20.

At our last meeting, Pres. MIKE opened the meeting without ceremony, there being one less than a dozen Lions present. First voice to be heard was DALE BURMESTER, who said the International President's visit to Milwaukee kicked off a drive for used eyeglass collection. The goal is 100,000 pairs of eyeglasses, and the huge number brought in to the IP's visit put Wisconsin Lions well on the way to reaching it. It is not true that JOHN JENSON has a thousand pair in his garage, so we have to get to work. One of the Editor's friends recently lost his only daughter at age 51, and in the midst of his sorrow brought a small bag with two pair of mint-condition glasses and wordlessly handed them to me. Proof that our message of service is heard, and that donation counted twice, once as something that he and his family wanted to do, and secondly when they are received by two people in need, in the days ahead. Make sure your friends know what we do, and how gratefully the glasses are received by people who have none.

Sec. JOHN JENSON reminded us that the International Convention is in Chicago next July. The current Greatest Show On Earth will be in our own back yard, and if you've never been to one, make plans to go. It's hard to be unmoved when you join thousands of Lions from all over the world, from Iceland to Bangla Desh and everywhere in between, to celebrate the good things we do. All those Lions from all those countries, make an impression you'll not forget, and it's exciting to be a part of it.

LINDA BERGREN introduced an old friend of hers, Mike George, to talk to us about a different subject, the work of an organization he now works with, now titled just “SCORE” - it's not an acronym for anything anymore. It used to be a group made up of retired businessmen, but now they have people still active in business as well. The group shares their knowledge of how to organize and run a business with new entrepreneurs just starting out, and also non-profits, who are often started by people who really want to do good, but aren't familiar with all of the organizational details that usually separate success from failure. SCORE members spend 2-8 hours a week mentoring one-on-one with individuals, suggesting answers to questions and problems, providing access to new resources, offering workshops on such things as financial planning and recordkeeping, theft and fraud prevention, and navigating the thicket of rules and regulations pertaining to employees and payroll taxes. SCORE members are all volunteers, and among the prospects for their assistance are over 5000 nonprofits in Dane County , most of which have 0-1 paid employees. If you've “been there, done that” and have knowledge to share, here's your chance. If you know someone who's struggling with startup problems for their business or charitable organization, here's where they can go to get help.

BETTY INGWELL is working on patient bags for Childrens' Hospital, still. (As distinct from “again.”). See here to find out how you can help. She also has the full story of a “Meat Raffle”, held weekly at Tully's, benefiting charitable purposes. A way to do good and eat well at the same time, perhaps.

A sad note: Roxanne Nelson, spouse of ROSS ROYSTER, has passed away on October 26. A Celebration of Life will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Tuesday, November 1, at CRESS FUNERAL HOME, 206 W. Prospect St., Stoughton. Visitation will be held from 12:00 noon until the time of service. Our sympathies are with ROSS and family. More information.