Jungle Jargon

A Monthly Broadcast to

THE LIONS CLUB OF CRANBURY, NEW JERSEY

Contact us at: http://cranburylions.org

“A Country Club Trying to Serve Its Country”

Ideals in Government		Mutual Helpfulness
Social Progress	Understanding	Civic Betterment	Fellowship

President	Alex Johnson	Directors – 1 year	Don Herr
1^st Vice President	Mike Kaiser		Doug Pearce
2^nd Vice President	David Cook		Jon Goldstein
3^rd Vice President	Andre Mento		Bob Virgadamo
Secretary	George Smith
Treasurer – Operating/Projects	Glenn Johnson	Directors – 2 Years	Frank Brennan, Jr.
Assistant Treasurer - Projects	Glenn Johnson		Jeff Grundy
			Paul Hayden
Immediate Past President	Walt Caldwell		John Kobland
Information Technology Chairman	Dave Shaffer	Publicity Chairman	Rick Cusworth
Lion Tamer	Rick Burke	Jargon Editor	Bob Virgadamo
Tail Twister	Peter Turner
Membership Chairman	Mike Kaiser

February, 2006

January 31 – Board of Directors Meeting – 7:30PM, Tom Gambino Library Room

February 1 – Regular Meeting – 7PM, Cranbury Station, Dinner: Chicken Parmigiana

Speaker: Matt Long will speak about his mountain climbing adventure in Tanzania

February 15 – Regular Meeting – 7PM, Cranbury Station, Dinner: Oriental Beef and Broccoli

Speaker: Al Stefanowicz – Using the Robert Murdock Band as a fundraising tool

March, 2006

February 28 – Board of Directors Meeting – 7:30PM, Tom Gambino Library Room

March 1 – Regular Meeting – 7PM, Cranbury Station, Dinner: Broiled Swordfish or Tuna (Market Conditions)

Speaker: David Mercaldo, the author of an historical novel set on Staten Island Ferry, will speak

about his writing experiences and the publishing business for independent authors

March 15 – Regular Meeting – 7PM, Cranbury Station, Dinner: Corned Beef and Cabbage

Speaker: Tom Panconi – the Cranbury Mayor will give an update on Township government activities

Get Well Soon

Mary Reilly, wife of Lion Tom Reilly, took a fall last month and although she was quite bruised, she escaped serious injury to her head and face. She was required to undergo a procedure, however, which apparently worked out well. Feel better soon, Mary

Things To Know

Even though we have begun sending a new “Calendar of Events” with the dues mailings, 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 to attend the “off-premises” meeting at the Grape Escape, to assist in the Club Project of making wine; the meeting date is tentative; see below.

Tail Twister’s Corner – Lion Peter advises that all members are to wear their name tags to all meetings and Lion functions; members without a name tag will be fined. Our Tail Twister held a “Cartoon Caption Contest” at the last meeting: the members at the table that won the contest were Lions John Kobland, Andre Mento, Mike Kaiser, Pat Meehan, Bob Virgadamo and Rob Morris (West Windsor Club).

The Super Bowl is February 5^th, so the February 1^st meeting is the Last Chance for the Super Bowl Pool 50/50. This year’s 50/50 Pool will be bigger and better than ever before. Due to popular demand, a box on the pool will now be $20; as usual, there will be four winners: 1st Quarter ($125), Half ($250), 3^rd Quarter ($125) and Final Score ($500). This Administrative Fundraiser is for the benefit of the Cranbury Lions Club Operating Budget.

Valentines Day Roses – the Club has pre-sold bunches of roses, at the discounted price of $30 per dozen. The deadline was January 31. While we didn’t make as much as expected, this new fundraiser did raise $398.75. Hopefully, word of mouth will increase sales next year. Thanks to all who supported this fundraising effort.

The New Jersey Devils will, once again, hold a New Jersey Lions Night at the Continental Arena in the Meadowlands. This hockey game will be on Friday, March 24; tickets are $35 each (normally $55+/-); the Devils will donate $7 per ticket back to each Club! Because this is the farewell game for Ken Daneyko and they’re retiring his number; they expect a sold out evening. In view of this, the Devils have only allotted 250 tickets per District, so even thought the game is almost 2 months out, if you are interested in going, you will need to order tickets ASAP. Contact Lion Bob V (395-7050).

The Club will hold its first Art Auction on March 4^th at Fellowship Hall in the Presbyterian Church. Local Artist Kathie Morolda will organize, promote and prepare the auction on our behalf. The auction will include Original Works, Limited Editions, and Signed Prints from Regionally and Nationally known artists. There will also be a small “Tricky Tray” Auction Corner with works donated by local Artists. Members have been asked to sell at least 4 tickets to the event; it is not required that members buy the tickets, but without the help and efforts of the membership in selling tickets and generally promoting this fundraiser, we may not have enough people in the room to bid on the art which will be on sale. Members are needed to help sell additional tickets, ads in the Program, and especially as volunteers to help set up, clean up, serve refreshments, man the reception and sales tables, and as art runners. A Sign-Up sheet is circulating at the regular meetings; no “art experience” is required. Committee Co-Chairs Lions Bob Virgadamo and Andre Mento hope you will be generous with your time to help support this Club fundraiser. Tickets are $10 each (includes 3 “Tricky Tray” tickets), and refreshments will be served.

As with any celebratory or fundraising dinner, guests will be given a favor at our 75^th Anniversary Dinner. Instead of providing a trinket that will ultimately find its way to the trash basket, the Anniversary Committee recommended, and the Board approved, giving splits of wine with our own label, as favors to each ticket holder. The wine, a Chilean Cabernet Sauvignon, will be made by the Members of the Cranbury Lions in four installments over the course of 9 months, at the Grape Escape in Dayton as a Club Project. All members and their spouses are invited and encouraged to attend the “working meetings” which will be held at the Grape Escape. The first “working meeting” for this project will be in May. This May event will be considered our second regular May meeting, but may not occur on the third Wednesday of May, as this will be the “Grape Crushing” meeting, and the exact date of the arrival of the grapes is not yet known. Although more information will follow, you can be assured that you will not have to remove your shoes to crush the grapes…

The Resolution nominating Lion Bob Virgadamo to the position of Vice District Governor in Lion Year 2006-2007 was read at the District Cabinet Meeting on January 23, 2006. This resolution will be voted upon at the State Convention in May (May 18-24). Cranbury Lions are encouraged to attend the upcoming Convention as voting delegates and alternates.

Mark your calendars…the 8^th Annual Golf Outing will be held at the Peddie Golf Course on Monday, May 15, 2006

Due to the tragedy of Katrina, the International Convention will be held in Boston this year – June 30 through July 4 – this would be a good opportunity for members to attend an International Convention at a limited cost. Applications are available on line (LINK: http://www.lionsclubs.org/EN/content/news_conv_register.shtml); Lion George Smith may have additional copies for “non-electronic” members. PDG Earl Groendyke has advised there will be a golf outing associated with the convention. It will be $40 per player, and held at the Bunker Hill Golf Course nearby the convention sites in Boston.

Reminder…Hold the date for the Cranbury Lions 75^th Anniversary Celebration – Saturday, June 23, 2007. Committees are being formed for this historic event; Co-Chairs Andre Mento and Bob Virgadamo are seeking Chairs for the sub-committees that will be necessary to make this project a success, including advertising, promotions, marketing, donations, printing, ticket sales, entertainment, program, etc. All Past Presidents are encouraged to act as a Sub-Committee Chair; but ALL interested Lions should contact either Lion Andre or Lion Bob. Open discussions about the Anniversary Celebration are encouraged at ALL meetings.

Membership – Membership – Membership

As always we are looking for new members. With so many new homes in Cranbury, there are many opportunities for new members. We ask all Cranbury Lions to try to bring in New Members. Membership applications can be obtained from Secretary George Smith or from membership Chairman Mike Kaiser. Let’s try to keep our Lions Club from being Cranbury’s “best kept secret”.

What’s Happening In Other Clubs

The North Brunswick Lions Club will hold a Pancake Breakfast on May 14, 2006 (Mother’s Day).

The South Brunswick Lions Club will hold a Tricky Tray Auction on April 7, 2006 at South Brunswick High School; a talent show June 2, 2006 at South Brunswick Middle School South; and are making plans for their Annual Cole Beatty Circus Fundraiser. More information on this event will be forthcoming.

Anyone interested in attending these events can contact Regional Chair Tom Reilly or Zone Chair Bob V.

Reminders

Frank Marlowe has been our Program Chair for a few years now, and has done quite an excellent job lining up speakers for our meetings each month. You can all imagine how difficult it can be, finding 20 speakers per year that will be of relative interest to all our Members! We all come in contact with someone interesting on a regular basis. When you do, or if you have any suggestions for speakers, please give Frank a call. Additionally, Frank will take all members’ suggestions for interactive discussion nights.

Even though we have a few new fundraisers, the Cranbury Lions Club is still in search of additional new fund raisers – different, entertaining, and fun. Any member who has a fundraising idea should share the idea with President Alex. The list of potential fundraisers, and the input from interested Lions, will be discussed at a Board of Directors meeting, and presented to the general membership at a regular meeting.

While it is important that we increase our fundraising capability, it is equally important that we do it without continually requesting donations from our small community on a too frequent basis. With over 300 commercial locations in our immediate area, the website is one of the easiest and best fundraisers we have. We ask every member to please try to bring in at least one new advertiser per year. Refer all advertising leads to Lions John Kobland, Ray Dickey, or Dave Shaffer.

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 Lion Frank Marlowe (Chair, H&W) and/or Lion Dave Cook to activate the “phone tree”, so that all members may be notified.

Member Pick-Up

Ed Lawson (5 S. Main)

Lion George Smith will 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, or need to switch, please notify Rick Cusworth (655-2426) as soon as possible. Riders: please notify the assigned driver if you’re not going to make a meeting.