Wednesday, May 23, 2012

Future Dates
05/30 DNR – Boating Laws and Safety
06/06 Remnant Trust
06/07 Golf Outing at Stonehenge
06/13 Jim Reeve – Roy Rogers
06/20 Triathlon welcome bags
06/23 Triathlon
06/27 Sally Hogan – Kosciusko County Historical Society
07/11 Vicki Kitchin – Build Indiana Council
07/18 Mike Taylor – Encompass World Partners
07/25 Jim Erickson – National Pork Board
08/25 Cruisin Hoosiers Car Show for Baker Youth Club

Wednesday, May 23, 2012
>>>>OPENING
88 Optimists & 11 guests attended our meeting. Alan Lucht was the guest of Dr. Jenny Lucht; Denny Strain was the guest of Jim Bricker; Nancy Nesbitt was the guest of Jim Nesbitt; Amanda Rudisel was the guest of Mary Ellen Jordan; Keith Sampson was the guest of Everett Nifong; Karen Kauffman was the guest of Dr. Steve Hollar; Brad Voelz was the guest of Gina Voelz; Paul Goshert was the guest of Art Gakstatter; David Morales and Wayne Wilkie were the guests of Scott Whitaker; and Barbara Gigous was the guest of Harry Gigous.
Door Greeters: Marvin Miller and Ken Anderson.
Prayer was offered by Bob Jackson.
Officers David Morales and Wayne Wilkie presented the Colors.
Pledge was given to the American flag.
Promise yourself was said in unison.
Martin Becker led us as we sang “Hail to Optimism.”
Birthday Honorees: Karen Kauffman, Dr. Jason Rich, Ron Chambers, Andrew Swihart, and Bill Landrigan. Martin Becker led the Optimist Singers in the birthday song with great results. The Martin led the Optimist Singers as they sang Happy Anniversary to Brad and Gina Voelz.

>>>> INFORMATION
Membership: Lt. Gov. Sam Whitaker read Denny Strain’s and Alan Lucht’s applications. Jim Bricker sponsored Denny and Dr. Jenny Lucht sponsored Alan.

Sheriff of Attendance: Bill Landrigan reported we had 99 at last week’s meeting. He implored us to “Bring them in!”

City of Lakes Cruise In: John Elliott and Art Gakstatter thanked all who worked our show. The community really supported our show. We had 160 cars, over 100 supporters, and 70 Optimist volunteers. John Teevan reported receiving a check from Wayne Snider, bringing the donors to 161. Keeping with our focus on kids, Martin Becker had 3 youngsters guest direct the Lakes Area Band. We gave John & Art a well deserved standing ovation. Let’s see if we can convince John & Art to not listen to the siren call of the Rotarians and keep them right where they belong, with us! After next week’s meeting there will be a wrap up meeting.

Art Gakstatter presented Cruisin Hoosiers President Paul Goshert a check for $500 for their August 25, 2012 Car Show for Baker Youth Club.

Everett Nifong reported that 20 to 22 teams are signed up for our June 7th Golf Outing at Stonehenge. If you want to enter a team, sign up right away.
Cost is $400 for a foursome (includes golf, cart, lunch, & driving range). A single golfer can sign up for $100. Door prizes are welcome.
Thanks go to committee members: Mike Cusick, Josh Gordon, Jay Tate, and Jerry Clevenger.

Past Gov. Ron Donkers reminded us that our Triathlon is on June 23rd, the FOURTH Saturday of June.
We will have hand sanitizer and hot towels for our participants after they finish our race.
We are missing the vests and noodles the Parking Committee use to direct traffic. We are also missing One (1) 7 gallon cooler and Four (4) 5 gallon coolers that the Food Service and Water Stations use. We are also missing 17 packets of Gatorade. If you have an idea of where any of these are, contact Ron Donkers, Marty Becker, or Craig Nayrocker.
Chris Wiggins is Sub-Chairing our set up.

Martin Becker reported our Optimist Singers are not practicing next week.

Optimist District Fundraiser: Ryan Harper is selling $5 raffle tickets for a 32” LCD TV. Proceeds go to our Optimist District.

Kellie Malcolm is doing a good job of selling 50/50 tickets.

Please pray for our Troops and Families: SGT Ray Gradeless – Afghanistan

Sergeants-at-Arms: James Nesbitt announced that in honor of Angie Tom’s winning hat at Warsaw Toyota we are all wearing hats next week.

Program:
Optimist Singers: Director Martin Becker led our Optimist Singers in the following songs:
The Star Spangled Banner
Shenandoah
Back Home Again in Indiana
Cohan’s medley of Yankee Doodle Boy, Give My Regards to Broadway, and You’re a Grand Old Flag
Bring Him Home
Battle Hymn of the Republic with solos by Dr. David Haines and Luke Becknell.

Martin Becker and Video Editor, Jim Hayes presented a video of Arlington National Cemetery. Marty suggested when visiting Arlington, it is a good idea to single out a single grave and think of the person who sacrificed themselves for us and our children and grandchildren.

Arlington is the pantheon of our heroes and our tragedies.

By the end of the Civil War 7,000 soldiers were buried there. Years later when leaders of the Civil War were buried there, it started to be thought of as a special place. Originally it was just a potters field. In 1899 the 150 who dies in the battleship Maine were buried there. Taft was the first President to be buried there. In modern times, JFK’s burial in Arlington solidified it as a special place.

Marty finished by playing Taps.