[Nfb-lions] US/Canada Lions Forum in Memphis

[Ramona Walhof]

   Lion Milton Ota says I should report on the Lions Forum this year in 
Memphis.  He is right; I have been intending to do just that.

Lions Susan Day from Ohio, Steve Booth and  Chris Danielsen from Maryland, 
Lev Williams from Tennessee and I attended.  Fred Schroeder  and Eileen, his 
assistant, also were there for at least part of the time.
We bought a space in the exhibit room where we could show and sell the Louis 
Braille coins.  We sold about 40 coins and gave away more than 500 Braille 
alphabet cards and flyers talking about why Lions might be interested in the 
coins.

Of course, we all attended several Forum sessions, as well.  The best one I 
went to was about the psychology of the different generations or age groups 
of potential Lions.  Some of the speakers at meals were excellent.  Craig 
McFarland is an accomplished blind athlete who spoke Saturday, but my 
favorite was Dr. Charles Petty.  He said a number of witty things.  Perhaps 
the most memorable was that it would be easy to eliminate chaos at airport 
security if people just went through naked.

Memphis has its own subculture, as well.  There are two mayors, one of 
Shelby County, and one of Memphis.  The Mayor of Memphis was busy running 
for re-election, so we heard little from him.  The mayor of Shelby County 
came and made a bit of a speech.  The most memorable thing he said is that 
Memphis has received a great deal from its famous citizens.  In his words: 
Elvis gave us our voice; B B King gave us our soul; Martin Luther King gave 
us our conscience.  The barbecue is as good as reputed to be in Memphis.  I 
think we all  had a great time, and I brought home some wonderful gospel 
music by Elvis Presley that I bought at Graceland.

Lions have the most fun!

Ramona