The Jungle Jargon

MEETING SCHEDULE

October, 2008

September 30 - Board of Directors Meeting - 7:30PM, Tom Gambino Library Room

October 1 - Regular Meeting - 7PM, Cranbury Station; Dinner: Broiled Pork Chops

Speakers: Lorraine & Bart Jackson will speak about their Trip to Ghana, including their experiences with "portable libraries" and diamond mines.

October 15 - Spouse Meeting - 7PM, Cranbury Station; Dinner: Broiled Salmon

Speaker: Pete Melios, physical trainer. This promises to be a popular talk, since all of us have aches, pains, and health concerns - especially older folks, as Lions tend to be.

November, 2008

November 4 - Board of Directors Meeting - 7:30PM, Tom Gambino Library Room

November 5 - Regular Meeting - 7PM, Grape Escape Wine School, Stults Rd, Dayton; Dinner: Buffet

Speaker: In lieu of a speaker we will be bottling and labeling the Club Project - LionsPride

November 19 - Regular Meeting - 7:30AM, Teddy's Restaurant for Breakfast (off the menu)

Speaker: Interactive networking meeting

Things To Know

Even though we send a revised "Calendar of Events" with each dues mailing, we'd like to remind all members to PLEASE, share the Jargon with your Spouse, so that our events may be better scheduled on your personal or family calendars for better attendance. Please Note that Spouses are invited not only to attend the meetings, but to become Members under the Family Membership Initiative. In any event, Spouses are wholly encouraged to attend "Spouse Night" meetings. Our next "Spouse Night is October 15.

Lion Rick Burke has designed a snazzy new label for our Club Project Wine, which will continue to be known as "LionsPride". The label will be unveiled at the November 5 meeting, which will be held at the Grape Escape, where we will be bottling and labeling this delicious Bordeaux Blend.

Well, for the first time in "history", it rained on Cranbury Day - Boy, did we have rain! The weatherman said constant rain, so we were prepared to cancel our fundraising efforts if we had to, but luckily, after pouring through the night, it stopped and held off until about 1:30 in the afternoon. Cranbury Day Chair, Lion Pat Meehan, and his crew were out early, picked up food and beverages, and set up the stand. And in spite of the grey skies, a crowd still streamed up and down Main Street. Our Cranbury Day fundraising efforts were not as high as usual, but with no other food vendors showing up, our primary objective was accomplished - serving the community! Congratulations are extended to Rocco D'Armiento for winning the 50/50. The Board of Directors and Members of the Club would like to extend a huge "thank you" to Lion Pat and ALL the Lions who came out to make this year's Cranbury Day fundraiser a success.

As we have for more than 50 years, the Cranbury Lions hosted the Cranbury Golden Agers Luncheon on Saturday, September 20. Usually, the luncheon is on the Saturday, following Cranbury Day, but this year, they wanted to have the Luncheon coincident with the First Anniversary of the opening of the new Senior Center (which explains why last month, this column advised that the event was on the 13^th). A laurel and hardy handshake to Event Chair Lion Mahlon Thompson, and his cadre of volunteers for serving at the luncheon.

It was so successful last year that, we will once again, be co-sponsoring the Great Halloween Pumpkin Cutting Contest at the school (with the PTO). The event will take place on Friday, October 24 at 7PM. As always, there will be cider & donuts, prizes for the best cutting and decorating. Unfortunately (for us), our favorite young Magician, George Murray III, who has been entertaining the kids for the last eight years has gone off to college and will be unable to perform this year. However, 3VP Dave Cook has come up with a new surprise twist that should entertain both kids and adults, alike. Lion Dave is searching for volunteers, so look for the sign-up sheet at the meetings.

The 61^st Annual Pancake Breakfast will be here before we know it - scheduled, as always on the first Sunday in December - this year: December 7. However, due to the nature of the 'world politics', the State of New Jersey now requires all food service and food handling done in schools to be monitored by "licensed professionals". This State requirement will seriously affect our bottom line for this fundraiser, as we must pay an hourly fee for these "licensed professional(s)" for their monitoring duties, which begin on Saturday as we prepare for the Breakfast, and continue into Sunday from the moment they unlock the doors until the moment we finish our clean-up and they lock back up. A note of clarification to our members: the cost of these professionals must also be borne, per event, by the PTO and any other organization that uses the school cafeteria. It should also be noted that this is a requirement from the State of New Jersey, NOT the Cranbury School, and since the school has donated (and will continue to donate) Janitorial Service for the event, they cannot, nor can we expect them to, pay the additional tab for these "licensed professional".

The Board of Directors has approved the Winter Art Auction. Some of you may recall we did this a few years ago and the event proved to be fairly successful. Due to the nature of the event, it was decided to hold it every other year, but due to one snafu or another we were unable to hold the auction last winter; we will, however, be having it this February...look for more information in upcoming issues and at the meetings.

While we're on the subject of fundraisers, we should mention that between the current economic climate and the weather our "income stream" has been negatively and somewhat radically affected: first, our golf outing was rained out, and even though we were lucky enough to get another date at the course, it rained the night before and the morning of, keeping nearly half the golfers away. The weather also negatively impacted our sales on Cranbury Day. The fact is that, with both of these events raising substantially less than they normally have in the past, we will be hard-pressed to make our regular annual donations. That will, of course, negatively impact the bottom-line on those organizations that depend on our donations.

The Board of Directors has discussed ways of helping some of the shortfall, all of which will require a concerted effort on the part of our membership:

Increased advertising revenue; the Art Auction, poinsettia sales at the Pancake Breakfast, a Poker Run in the Spring (new!), and because material donations have also slowed down - sponsorships where ever possible.

President Mike is asking all Cranbury Lions bring in at least one advertiser for the placemat, Jargon, and/or website; and to help market these events, when the time comes, in an effort to boost attendance and maximize our fundraising capabilities.

As a service to the Woman's Club of Cranbury, we are announcing here that the Election Night Supper is back! After a hiatus of a few years, the tradition continues...the Supper will be held, as it always was, at the Presbyterian Church on Election Day, November 4. Serving at 5PM and 6:30PM, or you can have Take Out. The menu will be baked chicken, potato, carrots, coleslaw, roll, dessert and a beverage; $15 adults, $6 kids; proceeds benefit the Woman's Club Scholarship Fund. There is a ticket order form attached to the back of this issue; to reserve a table, call 860-0125. For more information visit: www.personalityresources.com/ElectionNightSupper.htm

Since we already have a few volunteers from Cranbury, we should follow through on our commitment and plan to sponsor a new Club in Plainsboro. To accomplish this, we need a few committed Lions to contact local businesses, local government employees, and perhaps run a membership drive in the shopping plazas and the new "downtown" area to gather local residents as members. This would not be unprecedented; the Cranbury Lions sponsored the Hightstown Club, as well as the (now defunct) Hamilton, Jamesburg, and (former) Plainsboro Clubs. There's no doubt that this will be a large undertaking, but the satisfaction obtained at the completion of this project will make every Cranbury Lion proud! As it is with all our projects, the more volunteers we can get, the easier the task! Interested Lions should contact President Mike.

It has been recommended that a member of the Club be totally familiar with the Lions Clubs International Insurance Policy, which covers us under its umbrella, and be available to inspect our event sites and complete a form as it may apply to any particular event or fundraiser, as the new Club "Safety Officer". It is interesting to note that, other than being familiar with the policy, and completing any form that may ever become necessary (but only if necessary), this Club Position is about as easy as anything could be. Anyone interested in this position - especially members with insurance-related backgrounds - should contact President Mike.

Don't Forget the 2008 Christmas Party! This year the party will be held on Friday, December 19^th, 2008, at "Charlie Brown's" in Princeton. Entertainment will be provided by "The Magic of Music" DJ's. This is the same DJ that played for PDG Bob Virgadamo's Testimonial. They provide dancing lessons and are very good at getting everyone involved. The 2008 Christmas Party Committee has a lot of great ideas and would love for you to join us and/or contribute any of your own ideas for the party. So far some ideas are; door prizes, secret Santa, astrologist, as well as inviting other clubs to join us. Please contact Lions Neile Wright, Bobbie Marlowe or Phyllis Johnson with any questions, comments, or with your reservation. REMEMBER, only with your help can we make this a successful event. Invite your friends and family... sell a table... be creative!

Membership - Membership - Membership

Last year's theme was "the Challenge to Change", and, through change, we can increase our Membership while rejuvenating existing members to help to keep the Club young-at-heart, active, and viable! Cranbury Lions Club President Mike will continue to accept the Challenge to Change, and is asking ALL members to assist Membership Chair Jon Goldstein in attracting and bringing in new members. To get information about membership options or to obtain membership applications contact Membership Chair Jon, Secretary Bob Virgadamo, or President Mike. In any event, we MUST begin a proactive campaign to bring in new Members! Let's try to keep our Lions Club from being Cranbury's "best kept secret".

...And Attendance...

Using the tag-line, "If you build it, they will come", President Mike is asking EVERY Cranbury Lion to provide suggestions on how we might be able to CHANGE the meetings to appeal to a broader range of the membership, in an effort to build a stronger Cranbury Lions Club. Please provide your suggestions to him directly.

Reminders

Do you know of an interesting speaker? You may be an interesting speaker! Please advise Program Chair Frank Marlowe with any and all suggestions for speakers at our meetings to: .

Any member who learns of the sickness or death of another member, or in a member's family, or any other similar incident or emergency, should contact Lions Frank Marlowe (Chair, H&W) and/or Dave Cook ("phone tree"), and/or Bob Virgadamo (e-mail notifications) so that all members may be notified as soon as possible.

Member Pick-Up - Ed Lawson (5 S. Main)

Lion George Smith has volunteered be the "permanent" pick up driver for Lion Ed; Lion Frank Marlowe has volunteered to be the "permanent" back-up driver. Drivers: if you cannot make your pick-up, please notify President Mike as soon as possible. Riders: please notify the assigned driver if you cannot make a meeting