Wednesday, February 20, 2013
Future Dates
2/21 Thur. 4-H Open House in County Building
2/26 Tues. Bill Landrigan, Ken Zortman, & Tony Ciriello Muscular Dystrophy fundraiser
2/27 Wed. Erin Porter / Limitless Playground and Splash Pad
3/6 Wed. Angie Wood – Heartline
3/8 Fri. Baker Youth Clubs Madness fundraiser at Wagon Wheel
3/13 Wed. Chad Zaucha / YMCA
3/15 Fri. Oratorical Contest
3/20 Wed. Oratorical Contest Winners
3/27 Wed. Dave Hoffert / Chief Academic Officer
4/3 Wed. Olon Dotson / Ball State
4/10 Wed. Suzie Light / Kosciusko County Community Foundation
4/17 Wed. Warsaw High School Band
4/24 Wed. Ann Zydek / Warsaw Community Public Library
5/1 Wed. Randy Polston / Grace Applied Learning
5/8 Wed. Nate Bosch / Kosciusko Lakes and Streams
5/15 Wed. Tracy Furnivall / Baker Youth Clubs
5/19 Sun. Car Show
5/22 Wed. Optimist Singers Memorial Day
5/29 Wed. Dr. Craig Hintz
6/5 Wed. Jay Tate / Safe Assured ID demo
6/12 Wed. Beaman Home
6/19 Wed. Ashlynn Fawley / Red Cross
6/26 Wed. Assemble Triathlon bags
6/29 Sat. Triathlon
7/10 Wed. no meeting / County Fair
7/24 Ronna Kawsky / Warsaw Area Career Center
8/2 Fri. Big Wheel Race
8/14 Wed. Rich Haddad / K21 Health Foindation
8/21 Wed. Lorinda Kline / Professional Learning Community Coach
Wednesday, February 20, 2013
>>>>OPENING
87 Optimists & 8 guests attended our meeting. Amanda Zambrano was the guest of George Brennan; Derek Finch was the guest of Max Mock; Mike Cox was the guest of Rick Kerlin; Laurie Schotz and Lynn Kendall were the guests of Trina Hoy; Michele Bickel was the guest of Everett Nifong; Kyle Dukes and Chad Larsh were the guests of Angie Tom.
Door Greeter: Trace Hansen.
Prayer: Luke Becknell led us in prayer.
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: Alan Lucht, Brooke Hamstra, Dave Meier, and Tracy Furnivall. Martin Becker led us in the birthday song with good results.
>>>> INFORMATION
Prayer Requests: Marv Miller’s continued recovery.
Joy Lavender’s family at Jay’s passing.
Ron Henry’s recovery from surgery.
Camille Kerlin’s trip to Indy.
Membership: Past President Jeff Owens’ assistant Larry Bishop read Derek Finch’s and Rob Edling’s applications. Past President Max Mock is sponsoring Derek and Jason Matthews is sponsoring Rob.
Sheriff of Attendance Bill Landrigan and Deputy Harry Gigous were happy to see over 80 of us at each of our recent meetings.
Matt Deeds and Carmen Flores introduced us to Lakeland Christian Academy Students of the Week: Kaitlyn Binegar, Melissa Goss, Hannah Delp, Jonathan Harmon, Clarissa Harvey, Emily Nifong, and Jacob Steele.
President Elect Everett Nifong thanked Yolanda Hedington and Julie Runnells for their wonderful decorations, Kellie Malcolm for her wonderful violin playing, Past President Joel Wihebrink for his smooth performance as emcee of the Love and Marriage Game. Past Lt. Gov. Sam & Jennifer Whitaker, Dr. Craig & Dr. Susan Hintz, and our new champions, Brooke and Kevin Hamstra were great sports at our Valentine’s banquet. Penguin Pointdid a fabulous job with the meal.
Board Member George Brennan presented Kosciusko County Education Development Graduation Coaches: Steve Henn, David Bailey, and Liane Stewart and Assistant Principal Amanda Scroggs with a check. They helped 125 kids graduate last year. Our graduation rate has grown from 75% in 2009 to 89%.
Bill Landrigan, Ken Zortman, and Tony Ciriello will be in “jail” raising money for Muscular Dystrophy Association on February 26.
Past President Jeff Owens announced our Oratorical Contest will be at Zimmer Corporate Headquarters on March 15. The topic is “Why my voice is important.” Major prizes are being provided by the Esther Pfleiderer Charitable Trust, Lake City Bank and Orthopediatrics. For more info go towww.JeffOwens.net .
Past President George Brennan needs 4 more people who know a lot about nothing for our Quiz Bowl teams.
President Tracy Furnivall invited us to Baker Youth Club’s Madness fundraiser at the Wagon Wheel on Friday, March 8.
Past President John Elliott announced our 4th Annual Breakfast Optimist Club Cruise In to Downtown Warsaw will be on Sunday, May 19, 2013. ML Motorsports is displaying their car. The Studebaker Museum and the Michiana Studebaker Car Club are bringing a car or two. The Oscar Meyer “Hot-Dog” Mobile is invited. Purdue President Mitch Daniels has been personally invited to ride his motorcycle and be the Grand Marshall of our escorted Cruise to The Village of Winona Lake.
Our goal is to host 250 cars, trucks, and motorcycles; have some fun; and make $15,000 to support the youth activities of our Club.
As Club members, we are being asked to commit to three things to help make this event successful:
1) Clear the date so that we can help with the event
2) Be a $25 Trophy Sponsor
3) Secure one additional sponsor of the event at the $500, $200, or $100 level.
Please turn in your Trophy Sponsor Form to John Teevan along with your check. The $25 Trophy Sponsorships are for members of our Club. We are asking others to support at the $100, $200, or $500 levels.
For more information on how you can help, contact Co-Chairmen Art Gakstatter or John Elliott.
Past Gov. Ron Donkers announced people are signing up for our Triathlon. The date has been changed to the Saturday JUST BEFORE the 4th of July. It will be Saturday, June 29, 2013. Also this year in addition to a short swim after the traditional participants, there will be kid’s races for kid’s who are 11 to 12 or 13 to 14.
Video Editor Jim Hayes showed us the Mnozil Brass The Mad Flute video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ph2tOh2wFSY and before our meetingTWO DOGS DINING https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EVwlMVYqMu4 . You will notice the dog on our right is eating continental style while the dog on our left is eating anglophile style. If you can not see the difference ask Past President Jim Nesbitt.
Please pray for our Troops and Families: Cpt Charles Pridgen – Army – Chaplain
Sergeants-at-Arms: John Elliott, Joel Wihebrink, and Everett Nifongentertained us.
We gave our own, Octagon Sponsor Jerry Clevenger a standing ovation for being named Chamber of Commerce Man of the Year.
Mike Gavin graciously donated multiples of a trophy sponsorship to our scholarship fund.
Fred Neiter invited us to see the Warsaw Girls Basketball team play in theSemi-State here at Warsaw, Saturday, February 23 at 6pm.
Birthday girl Brooke Hamstra shares her birthday with her spouse Kevin.
Tony Ciriello was in the paper again. He is busy with KYLA.
It was noted that Attendance Czar Don Kenipe, Past Lt. Gov. Denny Andrews, and Willing Volunteer Ken Zortman sat at their usual places during our Valentine’s Banquet.
Past President John Elliott who works at the 2nd largest bank in the state and that was founded in 1863 donated an aluminum can to Lisa Cassel and Mike Gavin who work for the 4th largest bank in the state and that was founded in 1872. The can is for their collection for Habitat For Humanity.
Past Lt. Gov. Dr. David Haines is proud of his grandson, Michael Ray who is headed to State with the STEM Academy Chess Team.
Dr. Steve Hollar and our TriStar Basketball program were in the 10 years ago section of the Times-Union.
Alan & Dr. Jenny Lucht enjoyed a very nice Caribbean Cruise.
Publicity Chairman David Meier is enjoying the natural habitat in his front yard. The Times-Union published his picture of an eagle in his front yard.
Coach Jim Kessler explained the similarities between handball and soccer.
World Skating standout Trace Hansen was presented with a clipping from the Wall Street Journal about Roller Derby. He was not impressed.
Program:
Valerie Embree told us of the success of Big Brothers Big Sisters. She told of a father who was relieved that his son had a positive role model while he was in jail. Many times a Big can be abridge across a culture gap.
The main programs are the Lunch Buddy program at school and the community based program that is outside of school.
At this time 120 kids are being served. There is a need for 80 more volunteers.
They have a Bowling fundraiser Saturday, March 23, 2013 at Chuck Kane’sThe Bowling Alley at 1535 N Detroit St., Warsaw, IN 46580. To sign up to bowl call John Drebenstedt at 888-456-1600 ext. 2273.
