Next Up - Tuesday, Feb. 7, at the Edgewater. Our speaker will be District Governor NEIL WINCHELL. The DG (who leads but does not govern) is a key part of the chain of information from Lions International to Lions Clubs and back again. It is that infrastructure that enables the Lions of Madison Central to have a hand in helping those in need from Barneveld to deepest Africa, and the DG will bring us information on what our commitment to service has accomplished and what more we can do. As they say in the media, “sources tell us that DG Winchell is a great public speaker”, so it should be worth hearing. JODI BURMESTER is the Program Host (a term coined by former MCLC Lion ALEX WONG, who is mostly remembered for other things. Every Lion makes their contribution.)

At the last meeting, we had an overflow crowd. Because the Edgewater was jammed full, we met in the Commodore's Room, where three tables means they can't get the door closed, so Pres. JIM actually was sitting mostly in the bar. But we persevered. Pres. Jim opened the meeting and we said the Pledge as usual, but decided against singing, fearing the effect on the paying customers in the bar. The food was good, but the view out the windows was mostly ice fog. DALE MUELLER gave the invocation. Gwen Mueller was Dale's guest, and Paddhe Heiman brought Oscar. Unfortunately the editor was unable to obtain Oscar's last name.

LINDA BERGREN reported that she had sold the one remaining fruit cake! Amidst the cheers and applause, she said she still had various Holiday Treat items available. Her box is getting smaller, but apparently there is more hidden somewhere, probably in Steve Keip's office.

GAIL STIRR told us more about the Cycle For Sight event coming up on Feb. 11. MCLC has a team entered -two pairs make a good hand in this game - GAIL and husband Rick, and LINDA BERGEN and husband David York. They will do the pedaling (LINDA is good at peddling) and the rest of us can support and sponsor them with contributions to Cycle For Sight. The money raised goes to support the eye research being carried on at UW. Checks, payable to “ERI Cycle For Sight - Madison” can be given to GAIL or sent to her office. Or go to the web page at http://www.cycleforsight.wisc.edu/ on the web and click on “Donate.”

SCOTT GROVER noted that the basketball schedule had reached midseason, and we still need help at the Kohl Center Concession stand for upcoming games. The more hours our members put in, the more $$ we have for service. (See SCOTT's committee report, below.) Pres. JIM also said that we have a vision screening with Head Start coming up, and info is on our web site.

We celebrated the Lion Birthdays of MELISSA NOVINSKI, CRAIG BUTLER, JERRY HODDINOTT, JOHN JENSON and AL GOLDSTEIN. We actually sang, this time, under the direction of LINDA BERGREN, and “Happy Birthday” sounded pretty melodic. There did seem to be fewer people in the bar room when we finished.

SCOTT GROVER was the featured speaker, reporting on the work of his Sight Conservation Committee. He started by saying that the system was overhauled in 2006, using computerized applications submitted by other agencies who were recruited to find applicants among their clients. There have been about 400 applications since, of which 84% (336) have been approved. We now use the same eligibility criteria as the Madison Schools use for free lunch, and we give grants one-time-only. We also give hearing-assistance grants. The rules were changed this year to include the cost of the eye exam as well as the glasses, and the approved grants have gone up sharply, to $7600. This is more than we raise for our Service Fund (for this project alone) and so we have a problem. We presently have approved grants for which we have no money. School nurses now go elsewhere for help. We use Eyemart Express on the east and west sides and Isthmus Eye Care downtown, and no longer use LensCrafters. We have served ages 1 to 91, and we serve a lot more people than other clubs. We do collect used hearing aids as well as glasses - if you have any, give them to John Jenson. We get referrals from more than 10 agencies, and require them to keep records of the submissions. This below-the-radar project has a budget of $7,000/yr., and our present income is not sufficient to cover the expense.