• We had a very interesting program presented by Mike Walters. He is President of the Southwestern Illinois Employers Association and a Madison County board member. This man knows a lot of politico types. His presentation has been posted.  
• Dani was in the house. Her home in Santiago, Chile does not receive any snow, mostly because it's not cold enough. She is looking forward to a midwest winter. (I wish i could say the same.)
• Don't forget to bring a vet to lunch next week.
• Chris2 was the earliest to arrive. He was closely followed by Allen, Pat, and Wendell. Dave, Rhonda, Roger and Chris1 brought up the rear. With the Riverbend Captains event in the rearview mirror, our attendance jumped back up to 21. 
• Sherry returned from a trip to Arizona, as in she arrived home at 4AM. As Bill suggested, sleep is overrated.
• Mark3 was hoping for a nice lunch to help him get over the blues he is suffering missing wife Nancy. (There's burger overload that's also part of the equation.)
• Lunch featured sliced ham, mac 'n cheese, salad and cake.
• Wendell was spied with his big fork at Beall Manufacturing.
• Opening duties were dutifully performed by Wendell, Allen and Dave.
• Speaking of Beall, Mark1 has abandoned suits and ties for a more casual look. Will that soon include shorts and flip flops?
• Bill was willing to share his back-to-back flu and colonoscopy events. Sorry you missed that!
• Mark 2 announced that he has reserved three Salvation Army bell ringing dates next month. On December 5th we will be at the Wood River Wal-Mart from 6-8 PM. On the 10th we will be at the East Alton Shop 'N Save from 2-8PM. On the 22nd we will be at the Wood River Shop 'N Save from 6-8PM. The sign up sheet is now available. Please pay attention to where and when you are volunteering.
• Brad1 was circulating a circa '69 EA-WR prom pix featuring an leaner (and meaner?) Allen.
• The Christmas party sign-up list is now making the rounds. You have a choice of two entrees.
• Lindsey announced that Erin, Fred and she had selected the new scholarship students. She found the selection process to be very challenging and personally rewarding. They chose from a pool of 9 EA-WR and 11 Roxana students.
• We will once again adopt a family from the Washington Early Development Center. Thanks to Chris1 for serving as coordinator.
• SAA Bill hit the floor with birthday greeting for Wendell, and fines for all the Riverbend Captains. Trivia answers included Johnson/Goldwater, a Russian space dog, Black Bart the poet and the 46 states in the union prior to the Cubs last World Series 1908 victory.
• The Turkey Fund is now at $150.There are two more meeting to contribute. Make any check contribution payable to Operation Blessing.
• Rick and Paul (3rd week in a row) drew the cards, Our guest speaker received the scratch-off. The jackpot rolled.
• That's all from here. Have a fine and dry weekend.

Billionaires Pony Up More Funds in Fight to Eradicate Polio

Bill Gates is getting help from some fellow billionaire philanthropists as he and other health leaders work to overcome setbacks that have delayed the eradication of polio despite a recent sharp decline in the number of cases.

Former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who donated $100 million in 2013 to the Global Polio Eradication Initiative, is contributing another $25 million now to help stamp out the virus, which is highly infectious and can cause paralysis and death. Ray Dalio, chairman and co-chief investment officer of Bridgewater Associates LP, who gave $50 million in 2013, is adding another $30 million. An anonymous donor is contributing $15 million.

The $70 million in new money will help cover costs of the polio-eradication effort that has been extended by about 18 months, Mr. Gates, co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, said in an interview. The foundation is a major funder of polio eradication and a partner in the GPEI, a public-private group. Of $7 billion needed for the eradication effort since 2013, $1.3 billion still needs to be raised, according to the GPEI.

“This allows us not to have to cut corners but do everything right to give us the best chance of getting it done,” Mr. Gates said. “We’re really trying to seize the opportunity where we’re so close.” To continue reading, link here http://on.wsj.com/2eJFHT9

I changed my iPod's name to Titanic. It's syncing now

I tried to catch some fog. I mist

When chemists die, they barium

Jokes about German sausage are the wurst

I stayed up all night to see where the sun went. Then it dawned on me

This girl said she recognized me from the vegetarian club, but I'd never met herbivore

I'm reading a book about anti-gravity. I can't put it down

I did a theatrical performance about puns. It was a play on words