Thirty brother and sister Lions gathered at our historic clubhouse on the night of March 12. We dined on Chef Amy Ronan's delicious meal of roast chicken (after stuffing our faces with her sinful appetizers of stuffed mushrooms and spring rolls) and heard from our guest speaker, Cally Aldrich, R.N., of the Boothbay Region District Nursing Association.

Ms. Aldrich has been the district nurse here in the Boothbay region for six years. This unique program has offered low-cost, home-based nursing services to residents of Boothbay, Boothbay Harbor and Southport since 1952.

Unlike home health care nurses, the district nurse program is not restricted to Medicare patients. Patients do not need to be home-bound, and there is no time limit for how long care may be provided. Services, which cost a suggested fee of $7 per visit, include treatments and procedures, pre-pouring of medication, instruction and teaching, and general overseeing of a physician's orders. Home visits can be made from any referral, but continued services require written orders from a physician or practitioner.

Ms. Aldrich reports she serves a caseload of approximately 60 patients, ranging from the 'poorest of the poor to the richest of the rich.' She sees each of her patients an average of one time per week, and says that "one of the biggest privileges of my job is to see someone who maybe hasn't seen anyone else that day or that week and to put a smile on their face."

For more information on the Boothbay Region District Nursing Association, call 633-5533.

In other Lions news, special thanks went out to Giles Rubbish for the recent loan of one of its trucks.

Thanks are also due to the entire community for showing up to the latest blood drive. Lion Pete Johnson reported that more than 80 people donated blood this month. Volunteers at the event included Lions Norm Irish, Mel Shanahan, Don Soler, Sandy Terry and Paul Greenleaf.

Fines were heavy this week, going to Lions Jay Andrews for leaving early, Alan Tilton for going South to play golf, Steve Branch for visiting the "tropics" (not that Florida was warm, he reported), and Mark Jones for not being to a meeting in "a while" (despite only missing one or two meetings).

Norm Irish won the 50/50, and Doug Burnham won the door prize, although both gentlemen donated their winnings back to the club. Alan Tilton also received late news that he won the Super Bowl Party 50/50, and he, too, donated his winnings back to the club.

The club also reported that it will make a donation to The Iris Network in Portland, a state-wide resource and catalyst for people who are visually impaired or blind so they can attain their determined level of independence and integration into the community. For more information on The Iris Network, visit www.theiris.org.

Fed Up With Wi n ter? Well, the Lions will offer you a chance to start spring in style with a Fish Chowder Dinner on Friday, March 21 at 5 p.m. If you've ever sampled our famous fish chowder at the annual Fall Foliage Festival, you know it's something special. We'll be offering a bowl of delicious chowder and a biscuit for just $6. Everyone is welcome, and proceeds will help support the Lions Club's ongoing charitable outreaches here in the Boothbay region. We look forward to seeing (and serving) you on the 21st.

Our next meeting will be held on Wednesday, March 26. The doors will open at 5:30 p.m. and dinner will be served promptly at 6:30. Remember, guests are always welcome!

For more information about the Boothbay Region Lions Club (including the great benefits of membership), contact King Lion Tom Nickerson, or visit our Web site at www.lionwap.org/boothbay.