Next Meeting - Tuesday, September. 19, at Festival Foods on East Washington Avenue. We have been told that entry to parking is off Patterson St. The meeting start time is 11:30 AM, and we are advised to arrive around 11:00 and buy our lunch at the deli, and then proceed to the meeting room on the second floor. Festival needs the room by 1:00 for a staff meeting, which is the reason for the earlier start.

We will discuss the logistics and desirability of this new location at the meeting. One big reason is rumor has it that the Coliseum Bar may start charging a fee for the use of the room there, because of the low numbers at lunch. We need to find ways to increase our attendance at meetings, which will be another topic for discussion, feedback, etc. If you have strong opinions on these subjects, make your voice heard.

At our last meeting, 9 valiant Lions found their way to the new meeting spot, not far off our usual attendance, and by all accounts the meeting went well. Those present agreed to continue at that location for the time being, to see how it goes.

There was a good deal of business to be done, starting with a Stuff The Bus report that we collected about $30,000 in supplies and cash, which was distributed to the Madison Schools. We also made a direct gift of supplies, delivered by SCOTT GROVER, to a single father of 3 who had been told by his grandmother that a Lions Club might help.

Our Bags Tournament has been rescheduled to November 4, 2017 at Headquarters in Oregon, WI, It will be a joint venture with the Oregon Lions Club.

We hear from Rick Daluge that the Eye Bank has had no more defections from sources or destinations for eye tissue, so hopefully the situation has stabilized and our network will stand by us. There is a lawsuit by the Eye Bank against the Milwaukee County Medical Examiners Office over their refusal to continue working with LEBW, so Lions are asked not to comment in public media about the dispute, which has had newspaper publicity.

Our Club is doing Eye Tissue Transport in September, so transporters should be on high alert.

LINDA BERGREN does not want to run the Holiday Treat Sale this year. It is a great deal of work for the $1000 or so that is raised, and there are other calls on her time and energy this year. All of us can remember the dogged determination with which she unloaded surplus for months each year, so it is time for a break. Pesumably the Board will explore the possibilities and we may hear more, but if your entire Christmas season has been riding on that fabled Lions Fruit Cake, it may be well to consider other plans.

District Events in September
Sep 10 - Campus Club Focus Recruitment Workshop - Grafton Legion Hall
Sep 17 - New Glarus Lions Club Ron Buchholz/Ron Martinson Memorial Scramble
Sep 19 - MCLC Program Meeting
Sep 26 - MCLC Board Meeting
Sep 27 - Darlington Lions Annual Walk for Sight

WILDD on WHEELS - Oct 1. Reps from Wisconsin Institute for Learning Disabilities and Dyslexia met with the Board in August. The Board agreed to assist with funding and volunteer help for their cycling event in Verona. Anyone wishing to help can contact Jessica Edge at jedge@wildd.org. This just in - WILDD has postponed the cycling event due to a deficit of riders. Sound familiar? Word is that they will reschedule at some later time, to be determined.