The Official Schedule for the 2007 Train Ride Season is as follows, so mark your calendars!

Down River Days and Affair on Main Street - two rides each day:
1:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. on Saturday and
11:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. on Sunday

Times for Autumn Color Rides will remain at 11:00 am, 1:00pm and 3:00pm
First Autumn Colors – September 29 & 30
Second Autumn Colors – October 6 & 7
Third Autumn Colors – October 13 & 14
Fourth Autumn Colors – October 20 & 21

Trains for DRD will run on Friday night for the Lions Party in Metaline Falls. During Affair on Main Street (Labor Day Weekend), the trains will run from the Metaline Falls Depot for both days, as usual.

Lions Treasurer Dick Norton reported that income from Affair on Main Street train rides was $10,354.00. Souvenir sales went well – it is worth the effort to transport items up to Metaline Falls to sell souvenirs at the rides during this local celebration. The ride schedule will be reduced to two rides per day, similar to DRD, to eliminate the two rides with the fewest numbers of passengers.

The budget was reviewed and two areas are currently over budget. Members voted to amend the budget to make the following changes: Increase income from souvenir sales by $1000, increase expenses for souvenir sales by $1000, and increase amount for Depot Site Improvements by $2000.

The 2006 rides were very well attended and many members attributed this to the continued emphasis on publicity and advertising. Much of this is word-of-mouth, input to local publications, and distribution of schedules and flyers by Lions members. Thank you and keep up the good work!

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Railroad News

The Autumn Colors rides were very successful! The last three weekends had full train cars for every ride, and the riders really seemed to enjoy the Great Pumpkin Rides on October 21-22. Thanks to all of the hosts, food preparers, parking attendants, souvenir ladies, ticket salespersons, and other volunteers that so generously gave of their time and energy to make this a great Train Ride Season! Ridership statistics and financial information will be discussed at the November 16th meeting.

There are still a few more things that need to be done so we can put the train cars “to bed” for the winter. Removal of the last few Great Pumpkin decorations, final cleaning, vacuuming, and covering seats with dark plastic or other material to protect them from fading, for example. Let’s get on this before the REALLY COLD weather hits! If you need help, please ask and we can get a quick work party scheduled to get the job done. Lions Bob Shanklin, Glen Saxe, Mike Caldwell, and Curt Lynn have already done more than the Lions share of Train Winterizing Activities (TWA), but there are still a few important TWA items that still need to be done. Let’s pitch in and get the job done!

Following a disciplinary problem on an open car that could have resulted in a potential safety issue, the members voted to establish a club policy empowering Lions Hosts to stop the train if necessary to correct situations with unruly passengers. If it can’t be corrected on-board, the Lion Host has the authority to put the passengers off at Metaline Falls. Signs will be posted in all train cars stating that policy and an announcement will be made at the beginning of each train ride. The POVA train crews were in complete agreement with this policy, since safety is a very important consideration for them, as well.

A special thank you to Lions Dick Norton and Larry Deming for picking up bus seats that will be used to replace older, worn seats.

Depot News

Lion Curt Lynn reported that the restrooms in the trailer have been winterized. Decorations on the back deck of the Depot still need to be removed, and a drip line needs to be installed above the doors on the trailer restroom (so it won’t rot out again!).

There seems to be a problem with the outside lighting at the Depot, if you know anything about this, please contact Lion Curt or President Karen.

The membership voted to spend $100 for the purchase of railroad signs from Fire District #2 to be posted around the depot. The sale of highway and other signs during the train ride weekends was very popular with many passengers, and was a successful fundraiser for the Fire District.

Hearing/Sight/Health

Lion Gayle Pollock organized the Lions Mobile Screening Unit again this year, with great success. The Lions Mobile Health Screening Unit screened over 320 students in one day. Thanks to all of the volunteers that participated in this screening!

Lions Mints

It was reported that $73.24 was collected for mint sales for the month of September. A sweet “Thank You” to Lion Carol Stone for taking over this important project!

Other News

Lions Larry and Gayle Pollock installed the new AED (automatic external defibrillator) on the wall in the Lions Depot, next to the front door. Please contact Lion Gayle if you are interested in learning how to operate this lifesaving piece of equipment.

It was voted to make a donation of $100 each for Brendan Vermeulen and Randi Taylor to attend the National Young Leaders Conference in November 2006. This donation comes with the stipulation that the donation follows the club policy for Youth Support (10 hours each of work on a Lions service project and a report back to the club on the program they are attending). It should be interesting to hear their impressions of Washington, D.C. during the post-election excitement! Funds are to be taken from the budget item of Youth Support.

Lions Patricia Woelfel and Joanne Egan are collecting donations for the Christmas Greeting Boards. Standard donation is $12 for an ‘ornament’ spot on the Christmas Tree board but, as usual, additional donations are always welcome. Please contact Lion Patricia or Lion Joanne for further details and to make your donation. Donations for the Christmas Tree Boards go towards the Lions Scholarship Fund.

Lion Curt Lynn modeled Lions fleece vests that can be purchased. The vests are a warm golden fleece with the Lions patch on the left front. The NPOV Lions emblem can be added to the back for an additional charge. This is a fundraising project for the Parma, Idaho Lions Club, where Lion Curt’s cousin is a member. It sure would be a nice warm layer to wear during those chilly Autumn Color Train Rides! Order forms are available at the Depot.

Our club hosted the District Governor’s Cabinet Meeting on Saturday, November 11, 2006 at the NPOV Depot. Lions Marita Norton, Karen Kinsella, Marvel Smith, and Joanne Egan served a wonderful soup with fruit and vegetable trays for lunch and brownies for dessert. It was a great success, with approximately 23 Cabinet members in attendance, and three requests for copies of the soup recipe.

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Question #1

A man leaves home, makes three left turns and runs into two masked men.
What is he doing? (answer)

Question #2

PRE-SCHOOL TEST
Pre-school children were asked the following question:
"In which direction is the school bus pictured below traveling?"

Look carefully at the picture. Do you know the answer?
The only possible answers are "left" or "right."
Think about it, then look at the answer.