Year Started at LCI 1994Job duties Lots of communicatingwith members regarding programsand service activities, especiallythrough the Health and Children’sServices department’s programarea newsletters, program Webpages, verbal and written corre-spondences.Education B.S. in physical educa-tion from the University of Illinois –Go Illini!HometownWillowbrookFamily Husband, Bill, adult kidswho are all on their own: Ben, Joeand Katy; two wonderful daugh-ters-in-law: Shannon and Tera;and the first grandchild due inJuly!My first job was Checker at Na-tional Tea groceryIf I were an actor, my ideal rolewould be A momMost unusual item in my cubiclePositive and encouraging quotesThe first CD I ever owned byMichael CardMost memorable moment on thejob A phone call from a womanwhose niece needed Lions helpwith getting a prosthetic eye thatwould fit the child and not fall outso she could confidently walk upto get her eighth-grade diploma.That year my own daughter wasgraduating eighth grade, and wewere all caught up in what dressshe would wear – while here was achild that needed so much morethat was lastingly important. Ishared the story with my daughterand we both did some growing.Something people would be sur-prised to know about me is If Iweren’t at LCI, I’d have pursuedbeing a physical therapist.When I was a kid, I wanted togrow up to be A grandmaIn my free time I Garden, read,knit, cook and love to play boardgames

My first car was a MustangIf I could only eat one food forthe rest of my life, it would beRoasted potatoesI recommend that people gosee/watch/rent Enjoy the MortonArboretum, watch “Waking NedDevine” and read “The Levity Ef-fect.”If I won the lotto, I would defi-nitely donate through my churchand Lions, set up a plan with mycertified financial planner who ismy also husband so the moneywould continue to grow and bethere for us. I don’t know if I’d re-tire quite yet. I’d get a cleaninglady and hire a landscaper to dothe heavy digging in my yard andgarden. I’d get a new kitchen sink.I’d …I have always wanted to go toPrince Edward IslandIf I were in a karaoke contest, Iwould sing Provided I had thevoice range, I think it would be funto belt out Whitney Houston’s “IWill Always Love You” – A hugestretch!If I started a book club, our firstread would be “Where the RedFern Grows”The four guests at my fantasydinner party would be My dad,Mike Singletary, someone from myfamily who comes over from theold country and Bobby Flay –which would mean he thinks I aman expert at cooking something,so much that he’d show up tochallenge me to a “throw-down.”Remember, this is a fantasy.My “claim to fame” is My cousinwrites for “Mad Men.”I recently learned How to knit ca-blesThe title of my autobiographywould be “It’s on the Tip of MyTongue”What’s for lunch? Leftovers

insider pollThis month marks the beginning of spring. Whatoutdoor activities are you looking forward toresuming?Please e-mail responses to Kelly Janowski, Public Relations.

From last month’s Insider poll:What is the best prank you’ve ever pulled or been thevictim of?

In college we dissected a mouse. I managed never totouch anything but it's tail. I told my mom that I hadbecome attached to Martha, the mouse, and was thinkingabout bringing it home when we were finished. So when Iwent home the next time I dipped some paper towels inrubbing alcohol and put them in a plastic bag in therefrigerator. I knew when my mother found the package bythe scream that came from the kitchen. Followed by Momyelling, "Melitta, you really didn't bring that mouse home,did you?"

Melitta Cutright, Public Relations

ABOUT THE INSIDERThe Insider is a newsletter for Lions Clubs InternationalHeadquarters employees. It is published and posted onthe Intranet once a month. Employees are encouraged tosubmit new items such as story ideas, departmenthappenings, births, weddings, anniversaries, awardsreceived or any other information regarding InternationalHeadquarters employees or their families to KellyJanowski, Public Relations Department, at ext. 6827 or bye-mail. The deadline for submitting information forthe April newsletter is Monday, March 8.

lightspotDebbie O’MallHealth and Children’s Services | Coordinator

Monika Kural, LCIF Donor Services, found these cutevisitors at her home on Valentine’s Day

inSIDERwelcomeKate Barcal, Downers Grove,Program Development

Gayle Whitmer, Barrington,Information Systems

Jim Finn, Arlington Heights,Registration & Housing

anniversariesCongratulations to the following staffmembers celebrating employmentanniversaries:

Rebecca Ross, Information Systems,10 years on March 13

Sana Musallam, Ibero-American,10 years on March 20

after hoursbuilding accessIf you’re entering the building before7:30 a.m. or after 4:45 p.m., please signin at the front desk. It helps responderslocate employees in case of an emer-gency outside of normal business hoursand keeps us all safe while at work.

HELP FOR HAITISince a devastating 7.0-magnitudeearthquake hit near Haiti’s capitol ofPort-Au-Prince Jan. 12, LCIF hasbeen working to restore hope andrebuild Haiti.

LCIF immediately delivered amajor catastrophe grant and nowhas more than US$2 millionmobilized for relief efforts.Fundraising is taking place on theclub and district levels throughoutthe world, with Lions collectingdonations and hosting a variety ofcreative events. Several truckloadsof supplies have been delivered toHaiti survivors by Lions and Leos inthe Dominican Republic.

LCIF Chairperson Al Brandeltraveled to Haiti one week after thequake with a group of 40 Lions fromthe Dominican Republic.

“In 35 years of law enforcement,I’ve seen a lot, including 9/11, theChina earthquake, forest fires inAustralia … but I tell you, I’ve neverseen anything like what we saw inHaiti,” Brandel said. "It brought tearsto my eyes to witness the despair ofthe people, but I also saw hope intheir eyes because of Lions help."

Local Lion and video producerCarole Burke-Hallberg was on handin Haiti and later delivered a powerfulinterview on Fox Chicago News.Other media coverage of Lions reliefefforts include spots on ABC andChicago Tonight.

LCIF has established three tentcities and is working in conjunctionwith other organizations to equipthese areas. A regional Lionscommittee has also been created tooversee relief efforts and Lionspreviously assisted by LCIF duringother natural disasters are pitching in

and giving back. A second trip to Haiti was scheduled for the end of February. For moreinformation, visit www.lionsclubs.org, check out the March issue of LION Magazine orwatch for future updates in Insider.

Lions provide relief supplies and shelter tosurvivors in Haiti

3/2 Anna Koivisto Eurafrican3/3 Katharine Meyer LCIF Development3/3 Marjorie Samec Membership Billing & Account Services3/5 Anthony Garst Ibero-American3/7 Rebecca Teel Daou Lions Clubs International Foundation3/7 Carole Bodenstab Membership Programs & New Clubs Marketing3/7 Cynthia Bianchi LCIF Development3/7 Anthony Paskauskas LCIF Donor Services3/8 KaSondra Byrd LCIF Humanitarian Programs3/8 Erin Crouch LCIF Humanitarian Programs3/13 Rebecca Pietrini Membership Programs & New Clubs Marketing3/13 Meg Marshinski Human Resources3/17 Donna Helfert Convention/Registration & Housing3/19 Jill Neumann LCIF Humanitarian Programs3/20 Insook Kim Financial Reporting & Compliance3/26 Jindalle Beeck LCIF Humanitarian Programs3/28 Patricia Barborka Club & Officer Record Administration3/30 Jim Finn Convention/Registration & Housing

birthdaysmar

PEACE POSTER PRIZEWINNER NAMEDThe winner of the 22nd annual Peace Poster Prize contest is13-year-old Yu-Min Chen from Multiple District 300 Taiwan.She was sponsored by the Taichung Kuang Hua Lions Club.

Yu-Min Chen’s poster was selected from more than 120finalists. A skilled panel of more than 35 judges viewed eachposter during the judging this January at the Loyola Univer-sity Museum of Art. Each poster was evaluated based on itsartistic merit, originality and the portrayal of this year’stheme, “The Power of Peace.” Yu-Min Chen said she wantedher poster to “show that children hope to live in a peacefulworld.”

As the grand prize winner, Yu-Min Chen will be flownwith two family members and the sponsoring club presidentto Vienna, Austria, for a special award ceremony at Lions Daywith the United Nations this month. In addition to her award,she will receive US$2,500.

The 23 Merit Award winners come from the Bahamas,China, China Hong Kong, the Dominican Republic, Germany,India, Italy, Japan, Korea, Malta, Mexico, the Philippines,Russia, Slovenia, Switzerland and the United States; Con-necticut, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Minnesota and New Jer-sey. The merit winners will each receive US$500 and acertificate of achievement.

The winning posterfrom Yu-Min Chen, 13.

namesin the newsCongratulations to Renee Aubin, Convention, this month’swinner of movie tickets from the Employee Activities Committee.

Congratulations to Ellen Pilarczyk, Accounts Receivable, thismonth’s winner of the reserved employee parking spot.

Congratulations to Ajay Singh, Information Systems, on beingsworn in as a citizen of the United States of America in an officialceremony on Jan. 28, 2010

Congratulations to Patti Hayes, Club and Officer RecordAdministration, winner of the "Penny Harvest guess how muchmoney is in the box" contest sponsored by the EAC. Patti madea guess of $125 and the actual amount was $125.95. Along witha chocolate bar, Patti won $30 in gift cards. The proceeds fromthe Penny Harvest box went to the LCIF Haiti Relief efforts.

Congratulations to Pvt.Matthew L. Whistler, son ofDenise Whistler, LCIFDonor Services, forgraduating from Army BasicCombat Training on Dec. 16,2009 at Fort Sill, Oklahoma.He graduated with honorsearned the High MarksmanMedal for his entire platoon.He is now in medic trainingat Fort Sam Houston, Texas.

Congratulations to Dane LaJoye, Public Relations andProduction, for showing hisdog “Spartan” Danson’sWith the Stars at the 2010Westminster Kennel ClubDog Show. The 3-year-oldBoston Terrier made it to thefinal cut for best in breed.The dog is now the No.10-ranked Boston Terrier in thecountry.

Wellness CornerWhat do you gain when yougive up smoking?Better health! Check out these benefits:• Within 20 minutes of giving up cigarettes, yourheart rate and blood pressure drop. Staysmoke-free for a few months and yourcirculation and lung function increase.

• After 12 hours, the carbon monoxide level inyour blood drops to a normal level.

• Give yourself one to nine months of notsmoking and you’ll decrease coughing andshortness of breath as your lungs get back tonormal. Once this happens, your risk forinfection decreases.

• One year after kicking the habit, your risk forheart disease is cut in half.

• As 10 years go by, your risk for developingvarious cancers dramatically goes down.

• Finally, after 15 years, your chance of havingheart disease is the same as a nonsmoker.

Former smokers live longer than people whokeep smoking … that’s definitely something tostrive for.

Source: American Cancer Society

Convention keynote speakerannouncedChesley “Sully” Sullenberger will deliver the keynote speech atthe International Convention in Sydney. The pilot skillfullylanded a US Airways plane in the Hudson River and saved 150passengers in January of 2009.

The New York Daily News reported that Flight 1549 wasthe first major aircraft that crash-landed on water without anyfatalities. The veteran pilot walked up and down the aisles ofthe downed aircraft twice looking for passengers before exit-ing the plane, according to ABC News.