(Click here to go to our website) Call to Order – President Ted Gonsiorowski called the meeting to order and led in the Pledge of Allegiance.

Invocation – David Hunter - Dear heavenly Father, we thank Thee for this food and for our club. Guide our hands that we do truly serve Guide our hearts that we love unconditionally. And guide our feet that we don't fall down. Amen. Vittles – Fried chicken, mashed potatoes, mixed vegetables, salad and toppings, rolls and butter, White and Dark Chocolate Mousse cake, tea and coffee.

Or, if you prefer…

Attendance – 22 members, 2 visitors. Guests – None. Birthdays – None. Lions Report – Bob Suter is not doing well, but is at home. If you are ill or know a fellow Lion that is under the weather, please call Pat Bryan at

Lottery – Byron Balbach won the lottery.

Ten dollars!

Announcements – Ted Gonsiorowski announced we still have some Sight and Sounds Sweepstake tickets; the Children’s Science Museum needs volunteers.

Rich King announced the water station we will maintain for the Illinois Marathon and Walk for Sight is June 9th. We have Tootsie Pop Day in May.

Program – Charlie Osborne introduced Dr. Marsh W. Jones, History Professor at Parkland College,

who spoke on “Victorian Empire: The Sun never Sets.”

Dr. Jones received a Ph.D. from the University of Illinois in After pioneering several online classes at Parkland College in Champaign, Illinois, he was offered a position as the developer and director of Classmate (now known as IVCTutor), an online tutoring system.

Dr. Jones is a Professor in the Social Sciences and Human Services Department at Parkland College.

He pointed out that the current Queen Elizabeth just had her Diamond Jubilee, and is just about to outdo Queen Victoria,

who celebrated hers in Queen Victoria was on the throne for 60 years, during which time there was massive expansion of the empire by 50%.

The British empire was 5 times the size of the empire of Darius the Great, and 16 times that of France.

However, there were serious questions raised about further expansions, which contrasted with those who believed in the British Empire.

Cecil Rhodes was a major promoter of the empire and named a colony after himself; "Rhodesia."

Why was growth of the empire promoted? 1. For economics, but although it helped individuals, it was not so good for England.

2. Humanitarian and social Darwinism, which was a guilt trip but also arrogant in the belief that the English were better than other people.

3. Christianity.

4. Manifest Destiny.

Towns were named “Victoria” all around the world.

The decline was due to size, expense, education, nationalism, WWI and WWII.

Queen Victoria died in January 1901 and that signaled the beginning of the end of empire.

Tail Twister – Tom Yaxley

asked Pat Bryan to carry the bucket and then fined her for a calendar win;

Paul Kunkel for questioning the Tail Twister;

Rich King for the sign up sheet;

Byron Balbach for having won the lottery;

Charlie Osborne for his nice picture in a public place;

Sam McGrew bragged about having Candy Day awards and paid for the privilege,

which awards he shared with Herb Bail and Ed Tichenor for their help;

Charlie Osborne again for talking about his broken ribs;

and Omer Benn for getting his tax return. What’s this? A Tailtwister fining another Tailtwister???

Greeter: Omer Benn Mar 20 - David Leake (Parkland) - How to Buy a Telescope Mar 27 - Valerie Van Buren (Bella Medical) – Anti aging center Click here to Charlie Osborne and let him know what you would like to see in a Lions Club program some Coming up Mar 13 - Business Meeting – Know Your Lion

Thank you for watching Editor Rex Hess Publisher David Hunter To Dave with your comments, click here → To go to the our website, click here →