Presiding – Brooke Hamstra

Greeters – Bri Lycan & David Byers

Invocation – Layne Sumner

Guests – John Sloat

Birthdays – Art Gakstatter & Dawn Wilkinson, Brent Mock

Check Presentation – Leesburg Drama Club – Treleen Cox $353.90

Program – Warsaw Area Career Center (WAC) Student of the Week, Tracy Horell & Ben Barkey, WAC top students were recognized. Jeremiah Paseka was honored as Teacher of the Week.

Announcements –

• Elections coming – Paul Finley, Nomination Committee, Members that were running for various leadership positions shared their reasons for desiring to serve.
• Fundraisers –
  • Car Show, Tom Tearney & Ken Shamblen
  • Triathlon, Jeff Owens & Adam Heckaman
  • Fall Displays, Kris Williams
  • Golf Outing, Chris Hanson & Chris McCray

50/50 – Kris Farwel, $41 to Jamison Huscher-Pahl

Membership – Angie Tom/Paul Finley

• Heather Stockman-Sponsor Brittany Lyon (3rd Reading)
• Allyson Taylor-Sponsor Stacey Leek (1st Reading)Member Moment – Jim Smith & Brittany Lyon

Sergeants – Jim Smith, Jeff Owens, and Abby Smith, Members were “taxed” for various bogus reasons.

Optimistic Quote – Act as if what you do makes a difference. It does. ~ William James

Next Week’s Program – Student of the Week from Lakeland Christian Academy

Presiding – Mitch Goon, Past President

Invocation – Jim Kessler

Greeters – Susan and John Armacost

Announcements –

• Elections coming up 04/29/26 Paul Finley, Nomination Committee
• Fundraisers –
  • Car Show – Tom Tearney & Ken Shamblen
  • Triathlon – Jeff Owens & Adam Heckaman
  • Fall Displays – Kris Williams
  • Golf Outing – Chris Hanson &Chris McCray

Membership – Angie Tom/Paul Finley

• Heather Stockman-Sponsor Brittany Lyon (3rd Reading)
• Allyson Taylor-Sponsor Stacey Leek (1st Reading)

50/50 – Won by Jurgen Voss

Program – Jeff Murphy shared the work he is doing with Elementary Students, teaching Science, Technology and Math (STEM) through the fun of Pinball. This new STEAM unit engages students in the design and construction of functional pinball machine prototypes, blending physics, engineering and creativity. The unit, which launched in January and will continue through May, immerses all K-6 students in STEAM principles as they work in collaborative teams to explore force, motion, angles and simple machines. As part of the experience, students refine their problem-solving and critical-thinking skills through an iterative design process.

One highlight includes a special guest presentation by Jeff Murphy, a local pinball expert, who provides students with insight into the mechanics, physics and history of pinball. His expertise further enriches students’ understanding of real-world applications of STEAM concepts.

Optimistic Quote –You don’t have to be great to start, but you do have to start to be great. ~ Zig Ziglar

Next Week’s Program – Student of the Week – Warsaw Area Career Center (WACC)

Presiding – Brooke Hamstra

Greeters – Molly Fisher & Maria Beltran

Invocation – Jeff Servies

Birthdays – Steve Block & Herb Duncan

Program – Trish Nichols/Jeff OChiwens and Shari Benyousky Optimist Oratorical Contest & Optimist Essay

Grant Check Presentation – Trace Hansen/Eastlake Skate Spring Break Skate Program up to $1,800

Announcements –

• Fundraisers
  • Car Show – Tom Tearney & Ken Shamblen
  • Triathlon – Jeff Owens & Adam Heckaman
  • Fall Displays – Kris Williams,
  • Golf Outing – Chris Hanson & Chris McCray
• Directory Committee Update – Ot Schroeder
• Elections are upcoming – Nominating Committee members are:
  • Charlie Wagner, Trace Hansen, Mitch Goon, Rick Kerlin, & Joel Wiehbrink
  • We will be voting for officers – Secretary/Treasurer & President Elect, Members for the Board of Directors & Vice President

50/50 – $36 to Jim Kessler

Membership – Angie Tom & Paul Finley

• Heather Stockman-Sponsor Brittany Lyon (2rd Reading)

Member Moment – Jim Smith & Brittany Lyon – Brittany Lyon was highlighted today.

Optimistic Quote/Did You Know –

• Did you Know – Spring flowers can grow through snow? Crocuses and snowdrops are early bloomers
• Quote – You don’t have to be great to start, but you do have to start to be great. ~ Zig Ziglar

Next week’s program – 4/8-Pinball and WCHS Math

Presiding – Brooke Hamstrra

Greeters – Rick Kerlin & Ot Schroeder

Invocation – Dave Benning

Guests – Madison, Director of Development, Cardinal Center

Birthdays – David Haines & Tom Ray

• Announcements
• Fundraisers
  • Car Show – Tom Tearney & Ken Shamblen
  • Triathlon – Jeff Owens & Adam Heckaman
  • Fall Displays – Kris Williams
  • Golf Outing -Chris Hanson & Chris McCray
• Directory Committee update – Ot Schroeder

50/50 – $43 to Chad Goon

Membership – Angie Tom/Paul Finley

• Heather Stockman-Sponsor Brittany Lyon (2rd Reading)
• Allyson Taylor-Sponsor Stacey Leek (1st Reading)
• Megan Davis-Sponsor Rick Swaim (New Member Induction) – Mitch Goon

Sergeants – Members were asked to throw a “Javelin” through a hoop, if successful no fine for the table, if not, $1 fine for the table.

Program – We recognized the Students of The Week from Warsaw Community High School.

Optimistic Quote/Did You Know –

• Did you Know – Spring flowers can grow through snow? Crocuses and snowdrops are early bloomers.
• Quote – Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can. Arthur Ashe

Next week’s program – Optimist Oratorical and Essay Winners

Presiding – Brooke Hamstra

Attendance – 70

Invocation – Dave Turner

Greeters – Jeff Owens & Logan Anderson

Guests – Judy Becker

Birthdays – Randy Polston, Abby McClaren & Charlie Wagner

Announcements –

• Fundraisers:
• Car Show (05/17/26) Tom Tearney & Ken Shamblen
• Triathlon (06/27/26) Jeff Owens & Adam Heckaman
• Fall Displays (sale starts Kris Williams
• Golf Outing Chris Hanson & Chris McCray
• Oratorical Contest (03/29/26, from 12-3pm) – Letricia Nichols “The Moment I Realized I Belonged – My Definition of Community.
• Spring Break Skate will be April 6-10, Monday – Friday at East Lake Skate Center

50/50 – $33 to David Haines

Membership –

• Megan Davis, third reading, Sponsor, Rick Swaim
• Heather Stockman, second reading, Sponsor Brittany Lyon
• Allyson Taylor, first reading, Sponsor Stacey Leek

Membership Moment – Abby Smith was interviewed for our membership moment.

Sergeants – Jim Smith, Jeff Owens & Abby Smith led the charge for the Sergeants fining members for various bogus reasons.

Program – Lakeview Middle School students were recognized as “Students of the Week”.

Optimistic Quote & Did You Know –

• Did you Know – Spring flowers can grow through snow? Crocuses and snowdrops are early bloomers.
• Quote – Let your hopes, not your hurt, shape your future – Robert H. Schuller

● Next week’s program – Student of the Week – Warsaw High School