The Jungle Jargon

MEETING SCHEDULE

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

Program: 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 (from the menu)

Program: Interactive networking meeting

December, 2008

December 2 - Board of Directors Meeting - 7:30PM, Tom Gambino Library Room

December 3 - Peace Poster Meeting - 7PM, Cranbury Station; Dinner: Steak Orleans

Program: PDG Bob will present Awards to the Peace Poster Winners, with comments from Art Teacher Mrs. Tamara Woronczuk and/or Chief Administrator, Lion John Haney

December 19 - Holiday Party - 7PM, Charlie Brown's, Princeton; Dinner: Choice

Program: In lieu of speaker - Interactive meeting, featuring "The Magic of Music" DJ's for dancing.

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.

We co-sponsored the Second Annual Great Halloween Pumpkin Cutting Contest at the school (with the PTO) on Friday, October 24, and a laurel and hardy handshake goes to Event Chair Lion Dave Cook and his band of ghoulish volunteers for making it such a successful event. We sold approximately 50 pumpkins, which doesn't include pumpkins that kids brought to the event; about 80 kids came during the course of the evening. 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 was unable to perform this year. However, Lion Dave brought in a new juggler/magician who kept the kids and adults entertained. Cash prizes were given for first, second, and third place pumpkin carvings, with 12 additional runner-up awards, and small toys were given out to all kids in attendance. As always, Lion Monty Hagerty and his crew were there to provide the Halloween revelers with cider & donuts.

The children in Mrs. Woronczuk's art class have been busy creating poster art since September. The winning Peace Poster will be displayed at the November 19 meeting; we will host the 1^st, 2^nd, and 3^rd place winners, as well as Mrs. Woronczuk and School Administrator at our Annual Peace Poster Meeting on December 3.

Past President Rick Burke will once again chair the Poinsettia Sales Fundraiser. We will "advertise" through some public service announcements in the Cranbury Press, but word of mouth advertising never hurts! If members are able to 'pre-sell' poinsettias for pick-up at the Pancake Breakfast, it would help sales immensely. Lion Rick will have cost information for us within the week, and members can expect an e-mail with the information shortly.

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 '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 Annual Holiday Decoration Contest will be coming up shortly; if anyone is interested in assisting Lions Don Jo Swanagan and Monty Hagerty in judging the homes throughout the town, please contact them directly.

The 2008 Christmas Party is right around the corner! The 2008 Christmas Party Committee, chaired by Lion Neile Wright, has advised that this year's party will be new, different, and exciting - but none of that can happen without you being there! The party will be held on Friday, December 19^th, 2008, at "Charlie Brown's" in Princeton. There will be a choice of meal; Entertainment will be provided by "The Magic of Music' DJ's (the same DJ that played for PDG Bob's Testimonial); and there will be a "Secret Santa". The cost of the event is $60 per person. 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. For additional Information, see the attached flyer. Invite your friends and family... sell a table... be creative!

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...Lion Frank Vesci has agreed to Chair the event, and a sign-up sheet will start circulating soon. Look for more information in upcoming issues and at the meetings.

The Lions Eye Bank of Delaware Valley is once again running their Gift of Sight Raffle. Tickets are $30, $5 of which is returned to the selling Club; there will be 4 drawings through the winter and each drawing is for a $1000. Any one who wishes to sell or purchase a ticket(s) should contact President Mike.

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 and the Board of Directors is asking EVERY Cranbury Lion to bring in at least one new 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.

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.

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".

As a "bonus", all new members and their sponsors will be personally invited by International President Al Brandell to attend the Induction Ceremony under the Globe at Flushing Meadow Park (the site of the 1964 World's Fair) on World-Wide Induction Day - March 7, 2009 - and to be inducted by International President Al, himself. There has also been a pin designed just for the occasion, which will be given to each new member and each sponsor; after the ceremony, all unused pins will be destroyed, creating an instant "collector's item".

...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

LION'S CLUB CHRISTMAS PARTY 2008!!

On behalf of the Lion's club, we would like to invite you to attend the Annual Christmas Party on Friday, December 19^th, 2008!!

PLEASE PUT THE DATE ON YOUR CALENDAR NOW!

The party will be held at "CHARLIE BROWN'S" in Kingston. There will be a one hour cash bar cocktail reception with butler style passed hors d'oeuvres starting at 7:00 pm. Sit down dinner and dessert to follow. The cost for this festive event is $60.00 per person. The menu is as follows;

A. Mixed green salad

B. Your choice of 1) Queen cut Roast Prime Rib of Beef, Au Jus, OR

2) Stuffed Flounder with Lump Crabmeat, Lemon Dill Butter, OR

3) Marinated Breast of Chicken, Francaise Style

C. Garlic Mashed Potato, Bread

D. New York Style Cheese Cake with Raspberry Drizzle

Entertainment will be provided by "The Magic of Music" DJ's. This is the same DJ that played PDG Bob Virgadamo's testimonial party earlier this year. They provide dancing lessons and are very good at getting everyone involved.

There will also be a "Secret Santa" gift exchange this year. If you would like to participate in the exchange, please bring a gift worth no more than $15.00. (If you choose not to bring a gift, you can not participate in the Secret Santa.) The explanation of how the gift exchange works will be given at the next Lion's Club meeting.

REMEMBER, only with your help can we make this event successful. Invite your friends and family... sell a table... be creative!

Please contact Neile Wright, Bobbie Marlowe or Phyllis Johnson with any questions, comments, or your reservation. We will be taking reservations until December 12^th. (Last minute arrivals cannot be guaranteed a seat or meal choice.) We look forward to seeing you there!!