Wednesday, February 14, 2018

Attendance: 98

Greeters: Jill Long, Michele Bickel

Invocation: Tracy Furnivall

Valentine’s Greeting: The Optimist Singers presented the club with a special Valentine performing “Let Me Call You Sweetheart” and “Heart of My Heart”.

Guests (Hosts): Stephen Kays (Simon Stone), Vicky Owens (Jeff Owens), Bill Lawrence (Rob Edling), Trish Smith (Jim Smith), Dana Hollar Lawrence (Dr. Charles Hollar), Gary Hunter (Mathew Townsend), Joella Smith (Edgewood Middle School Principal) and Jason Culver (Edgewood Asst. Principal), Edgewood Middle School Students of the Week (See Below)

Birthdays: Lyle Enyeart, Alan Lucht, Adam Heckaman

Membership: Joey Hickerson conducting

3rd Reading: Stephen Kays (Simon Stone – sponsor)

Announcements: 

Christmas with a Cop Check Presentation

Tri-Star  Basketball Competition for boys and girls 8-13 will be held this Sunday, February 18, at Baker Youth Club. The event is free. Registration will be at 1:30 that day with the event from 2 to 3. Additional volunteers to help at the event would be welcome. Contact Chris Wiggins to volunteer or if you have any questions.

Mark your calendars for the Warsaw Breakfast Optimist Club 60th Birthday Bash – September 26th! Andy Swihart was our photo of the day.

Optimist Oratorical Contest winner, Reagan Kauffman sent a thank you note to the club:  “Dear Warsaw Optimist, Thank you for the chance to compete in the Oratorical Contest. Thank you for providing prizes, which I think is better than the scholarship money! I chose the iPad Mini as my 1st place prize, which is something I always wanted! Sincerely, Reagan M. Kauffman”

Check Presentation: President Steve Hollar presented a check for $1,000 to Kyle Dukes, Paul Heaton, and Jim Smith for the “Christmas with a Cop” program.

Edgewood Students of the Week

Students of the Week: Joella Smith, Edgewood Principal, recognized the Edgewood Middle School students and introduced their parents:

Wini Barnett (Peter & Cynthia Barnett)
Rahel Berelsman (Brian & Dawn Berelsman)
Isaiah Courtois (Frank & Gina Courtois)
Erin Dawson (Randy & Erin Dawson)
Jackson Dawson (Chad & Rebecca Dawson)
Piper Ellis (Tim & Wendy Ellis)
Bonnie Hampton (Daniel & Christine Hampton)
Marin Hart (Neil Burns)
Mogan Howett (Noel & Angie Howett)
Preston Kohler (Brian & Katrina Kohler)
Madison Long (Chad Long)
Helina McPhail (John & Amy McPhail)
Alexander Rice (Robert & Abigail Rice)
Preston Townsend (Jennifer Townsend)

Sergeants-at-Arms: Jeff Owens, Gina Voelz, Brook Hamstra – Highlights included special Valentine’s quizzes for couples in the club. Alan and Jenny Lucht were each asked what they were thinking the first time they saw each other. Alan replied, “Hrrrr….. I was scared.” But Jenny said, “I thought he was very handsome!” Denny Andrews shared that the first time he saw Millie they were in band where she sat in front of him. He wondered “Who is this girl” while looking at the back of Millie’s head. And, Millie said she was thinking “Who just hit me in the back of the head!”. Happy Dollars – Dr. Charles Hollar thanking club members for reaching out to his family, Joel Wihebrink for his daughter breaking 3 records in swimming and being ranked 24th in the state.

Tracy Fitzgerald – National Donor Day: A Kidney Donation Story

Program: National Donor Day: A Kidney Donation Story by Tracy Fitzgerald.

  • Over 115,000 people are waiting on life-saving transplants.
  • Last year, over 35,000 surgeries were performed.
  • 6,182 transplants came from live donors.
  • Every 10 minutes, someone is added to the National Transplant Waiting List

Tracy shared her personal donation story. She originally was going to be a kidney donor for her mother who’s kidneys stopped working after an illness. She wasn’t a direct match but could participate as a paired-donor. Sadly, her mother passed away before Tracy could donate. Knowing that someone waiting for a kidney was not able to get one at that time drove Tracy to try again one year later when she was able to successfully donate to someone with whom she was matched. To learn more about organ donation, you can visit OrganDonor.gov.

Next Week’s Program: SWAT