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Champaign Lion's Chatter (Click here to go to our website) 22 February 2012 Call to Order — President David Lin called the meeting to order and led in the Pledge of Allegiance.

Invocation – Dave HunterWe thank Thee, Lord, for this food and these friends. We thank Thee too, for the life of George Washington, the Father of Our Country, whose birth we celebrate today. Amen. Vittles – Meatloaf, mashed potatoes with gravy, vegetable, salad and toppings, bread and butter, peanut butter cheese cake, tea and coffee.

Attendance – 26 members, 1 visitor. Guests – Larry Bowden (Fonda Bowden’s husband). Lions Report -- Jim Smith is in therapy across from the Windsor and today was doing better. Bob Suter is walking with a cane but is getting around; If you are ill or know a fellow Lion that is under the weather, please call Pat Bryan at 586-4535.

Birthdays – Ben Turpin and Paul Kunkel.

Lottery – Herb Bail won the $12 lottery.

Announcements –Bill Johnson announced we have Sight and Sound Sweepstakes available.

Charlie Osborne announced the $15/ticket for basket ball raffle for the March 1st game (2 tickets), donated by Byron Balbach with dinner for 2 at Houlihans. We still have 30 tickets available.

Program – Dave Hunter introduced our speaker, Lion Ravi Challa, whospoke on “Algae for bioenergy production.”

Ravi is from India. Randy Fonner sponsored him in the club. The topic today is a report on his research project, which was funded after he submitted a grant proposal.

Ravi next showed a video of his research; use of waste water from a kitchen or bathroom sink, tub or shower, which is then moved into a tank in the basement where the algae is grown.

Nonrenewable is something that you cannot get again once it is gone. Renewable is something that can be replenished in a short period of time. The problem with wind and solar energy is the high cost to harness it.

The best alternative is growing algae but it takes a lot of water, however this water does not need to be clean. The process is simply photosynthesis, which takes the sun's energy and converts it to biomass, which produces methane gas. The gas is then converted to biodiesel.

Algae needs carbon dioxide for its growth, so algal cultures could be set up to remove CO2 from manufacturing facilities.

The best bioenergy is obtained by growing plants. However, ethanol from corn is an example but it uses a lot of water and uses a food substance.

Algae productivity is higher than that of any feedstock. Algae grown in 15,000 square miles of land would produce 140.8 billion gallons of biodiesel, which is the annual transportation fuel consumption of the US.

This system will process 500 gallons per day. Algae likes to grow under red light. Their system cleans the water and separates the algae for the biodigestor to produce methane.

Tail Twister – Omer Benn asked Earl Swanson to carry the bucket.

He fined David Lin for bragging about his son;

Charlie Osborne for not knowing what a “blinker” is. Herb Bail was a blinker operator on a destroyer; Herb Bail for having won the lottery;

he fined himself for Weldon Garrelts who flew him to get lunch for his birthday; Dave Hunter for an error in our picture roster;

the birthday boy’s table;

Byron Balbach for napping; Sam McGrew for his cell phone ring; Byron Balbach for bragging on the Champaign-Urbana Symphony, which will present “Classic Moving Pictures”;

And Rich King for bragging about his son performing in his music recital.

Coming up • Feb 29 - Emily Evans (Opthamologist) – Works with Lion’s Abroad • Greeters: Kathy Struck and Shaughnessy Rice • Mar 6 - Board Meeting • Mar 7 - Business Meeting – Know your Lion • Mar 14 - Jonathan Ross (from Parkland) – Hybrid Vehicles

Thank you for watching Editor Rex Hess Publisher David Hunter To email Dave with your comments, click here → hunter4000@comcast.net To go to the our website, click here → http://www.champaignlions.org/

George Washington’s Birthday 22 February 1732

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