The Jungle Jargon

MEETING SCHEDULE

September, 2008

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

September 3 - Regular Meeting - 7PM, Cranbury Station; Dinner: Chicken and Broccoli

Speaker: Mary Ann Rivell, form the NJ Lottery Commission will speak to us about the NJ Lottery.

September 17 - Regular Meeting - 7PM, Cranbury Station; Dinner: Stuffed Flounder

Speaker: TBA

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

Speaker: TBA

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

Speaker: TBA

Things To Know

Summer is over and "Regular Dress Code" is back in effect starting with the September 3^rd meeting. The "Dress Code" for Regular Meetings, for those who may be unfamiliar with it, is business attire. Business attire may be a jacket and tie or appropriate Business Casual. Please remember your name badge and Lions Pin - anyone not wearing both is subject to a fine.

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, when we will be bottling and labeling this delicious Bordeaux Blend.

Unfortunately, and for some unknown reason, the Annual Trenton Thunder Baseball Outing, was not well attended this year. We can only hope that next year will be better. The twenty people who did come had a great time watching the Thunder trounce the Reading Phillies, 7 to 1.

Cranbury Day is September 6, and ALL Cranbury Lions are asked to come out and help for at least a part of the day. This year, in addition to our regular food vendor table, the ice cream cart and the "rolling 50/50 sales", President Mike has donated a table for Membership (and additional 50/50 Sales), so we need a few members to sit at the Membership table throughout the day. So that we are not in competition with the Gil & Bert's, the Board of Directors has agreed that we will not sell ice cream from the cart this year, but, weather permitting, we will sell beverages from the cart. A sign-up sheet has been circulating and will be at the September 3 meeting, or you can call Lion Pat Meehan directly to volunteer for a couple of hours.

As we have for more than 50 years, the Cranbury Lions will host the Cranbury Golden Agers Luncheon on Saturday, September 13. Event Chair, Lion Mahlon Thompson, needs a few servers for the luncheon in the school cafeteria, and again for dessert at Senior Center. There is a sign-up sheet going around, or contact Lion Mahlon directly. Please be generous with your time.

The Lions Eye Bank of Delaware Valley is again hosting a day at the Auburn Heights Preserve. Tickets may still be available for the Family Day at this beautiful Victorian Estate in Auburn Heights, Delaware. This is a limited admission tour for families on September 13^th, from 1-4:30 P.M. Adults $10.00, Children $7.00. This is a chance to step back in history and see the largest Stanley Steamer collection east of the Mississippi, ride the 1/8th size steam railway and the 1915 Stanley Mountain Wagon and to tour the museum. LEBDV has a limit of 500 tickets. The last time they hosted an Auburn Heights visit, it sold out and there was a waiting list. For information contact the Eye Bank at 800-743-6667. For directions and information on Auburn Heights go to their website - www.auburnheights.org

It was so successful last year that, next month we will once again be sponsoring the Halloween Pumpkin Cutting Contest at the school. There will be music and refreshments, and hopefully we will get the services of young George Murray, our favorite young magician. VP Dave Cook will begin searching for volunteers after Cranbury Day, so look for the sign-up sheet at the meetings.

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 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, and 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