Next Meeting - Tuesday May 7, 2019, on the Mezz at Festival Foods, at 11:30 AM as usual.

Our Business Meeting for May, and the most recent business is likely to have been Rose Day. We will at least hear how it went, and with luck we may have some financials to consider. Maybe one last look back at the Eye Transport in March, and whatever new subjects have been hatched that we haven't heard about.

At our last meeting, our Words of Wisdom were: “The person with diabetes who knows the most lives the longest.” - Dr. Elliott Joslin.

The slate of officers for the upcoming year was finalized and formally elected:

 President

 Dale Burmester

 Past President

 Kevin Goke

 VP

Wendi Dwyer

 Treasurer

 Scott Grover

 Secretary

 John Jenson

 Tailtwister

 Katie Paridis

 Board #1

 Mike Knowlton

 Board #2

 Dale Mueller

 Membership Chair 

 Craig Butler

We had 12 Lions, plus the speaker and Lily, Wendy's service dog, and for us that's quite a crowd. To those who didn't come, YOU CAN COME OUT NOW! IT HAS STOPPED SNOWING!

It was announced that the scheduled Scavenger Hunt project has been cancelled - too many details either unsettled or unraveling. Another retry is planned.

Highway Cleanup was postponed until May 11 due to inclement weather. “Inclement” is the kindest possible term.

Planning for the group visit to Lions Camp on Wednesday, Aug.7th, is set. We have about 20 people going, and PHIL is checking on the possibilities for a bus. This is your chance to see Wisconsin Lionism in action, and recharge your service batteries. Be there! Many Lions get the most satisfaction out of their membership by active participation in one of our service projects, but it isn't all that common to be physically present while that service is taking place. This is one of those times. Your Editor recalls walking by the Camp dining hall during lunchtime on one visit, and thinking “that racket sounds just like my old Boy Scout Camp.” EXACTLY! That's what we do - we provide the camping experience that most of our guests can't get any other way, and you can feel it and hear it when you're there.

Our speaker was Tricia Gundlach, a Monona Lioness who is, as she demonstrated, active in our Diabetes Awareness Project. She reminded us of all the ugly things the disease does to those who have it, making all sorts of medical problems worse, and the fact that there are still people out there who have it and don't know it. On average, 1 out of every 11 people has it, which means that you probably know several of them.

Chronic condition:
Type 1 - Can't produce insulin
Type 2 - Can't absorb insulin
Gestational Diabetes - Threatens the life of a mother and baby.

Lions Goals:
Educate ourselves
Educate our communities
Support a healthy lifestyle
Improve access to care
Medications
Equipment
Help implement national plans for diabetes

There are things we can do here and now. “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed, citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.” Margaret Mead.

We can work on Awareness. A couple of Madison Central Lions joined the Madison Monona Lioness recently at Hy-Vee for outreach and pamphlet distribution. A large number of people came up and spoke about diabetes with members.

The Tour de Cure 5K Walk is coming soon, on July 27, 2019. There is no fee to register. The Team link for Madison-Monona Lioness Club Team is http://bndfr.com/9xl8b.

Calendar for May:
• May 7 - Business Meeting
• May 11 - Highway Cleanup
• May 21 - Program Meeting
• May 17-19 - MD27 State Convention in WI Dells, WI
• May 28 - Board Meeting