The Lions Den was full of Rotarians, led by President Doug Harley, who joined the Lions Club for a total of 66 people at one of the two joint meetings held annually.

There were two speakers during the evening. The first was Judy Sullivan from the American Red Cross who asked to speak to thank the organizations for donating over 1,500 pints of blood since the Lions Club started sponsoring Blood Drives in 1978. She also pointed out that with the prolonged war against terrorism, there are going to be causalities needing blood, particularly with the Armed Forces going into combat.

"It is important," she said, "to support the upcoming Lions Blood Drive at the YMCA on November 1 from 1-6 p.m." Those wanting appointments to give blood at that time can call St. Andrews Hospital to set one up.

There is also a Lions Club Charity Breakfast to be held on Saturday, November 10 with the proceeds going to the Red Cross September 11 Disaster Relief Fund.

The featured speaker for the evening was Terry Stockwell from the Department of Marine Resources who spoke about the plight of the North Atlantic Right Whale. No small mammal, the right whale grows up to 60 feet long, weighs about 50 tons, and lives for about 75 to 100 years! This black stocky whale has no dorsal fin, white patches on its head, and breeds in the Bay of Fundy and Roseway Basin. The problem is a declining calving rate and increasing mortality and injury rate that has reduced the population to only about 300 whales. Most injuries and deaths are from human causes: Boat and ship strikes and fishing and lobster gear entanglements. "The mortality replacement rate is now zero," Stockwell said, "and the survival of the species is in doubt."

King Lion Chip Davison reported that the Lion's Fish Chowder Booth run by Lion Jay Andrews did so well at the Fall Foliage Festival that by early Sunday they had sold out!

The "chair movers" were at it again. Led by Tom Nickerson, they moved over 100 chairs from the elementary school to the Railway Village and back for the Special Olympics. Even new Lion Louis Augustine pitched in to help Louis Rioux, Paul Greenleaf, Phil Webster, and Lew Curtis do the moving.

The Board of Directors made a donation to the Walk for Breast Cancer held in Damariscotta.

Members of the Lions Club are reminded that dues are to be paid no later than October 31 to keep your membership active. Also members are asked to sign up on the Activities Participation Sheets posted on the clubhouse bulletin board. There are 21 activities that need support. Lions are asked to sign up for at least two each.

Super Bowl Sunday in 2002 will be February 3 rather than the end of January, so plan ahead to attend.

The Fall Foliage Raffle winners of $100 each were Margaret Hyson and Lion Harry Pinkham. The Cheer Raffle was won by Lion Peter Johnson, and the 50/50 drawing was won by Lion Roy Lewis, who, by a strange quirk of fate, was present.

The next meeting, on October 24, will feature Sgt. Jennifer Mills from the State Fire Marshal's Office.