Presiding – Brooke Hamstra

Invocation – Rick Swaim

Greeters – Steve Block & Lester Pierce

Birthday – Randee Robison

United Way Sponsorship Award – TO Optimist Club for $5,000 – Randy Polston, Ken
Shamblin, Tom Tearney, Jeff Owens, Kris Williams, Chris McCray, & Chris Hanson

Announcements –

• Fundraisers Reminders & Updates
  • Car Show – Tom Tearney & Ken Shamblen
  • Triathlon – Jeff Owens & Adam Heckaman
  • Fall Displays – Kris Williams
  • Golf Outing – Chris Hanson & Chris McCray

50/50 – $38 to Ken Shamblin

Member Moment – Ann Sweet was interviewed,

Program – Friends of the Library Nonprofit-Ann Werk. Friends of the Library is a non-profit group that works to support the Library through fundraising, volunteering, and sponsorship of library events. FOL operates a used bookstore, Story Emporium, within the Library to generate revenue to support their cause.

Anyone is welcome to join the Friends! Members can pay their annual dues at membership meetings or at Story Emporium during open hours. Individual memberships are $20 and dual (two-person household) memberships are $30.

Membership meetings are held on the first Monday of each month (first Tuesday for holiday closures) at 1 pm in Room A at the Library. Guests are welcome to attend with no obligation to join. Members receive 20% off purchases at Story Emporium as well as invitations to member-only events. Members can volunteer to work in the bookstore, contribute their time and talent at fundraising events, and connect with other book-loving, library-supporting people within the community.

Optimistic Quote – Happiness held is the seed; happiness shared is the flower. ~ John Harrigan

Next Week’s Program – Optimist Singers Memorial Day Program

Presiding – Brooke Hamstra

Greeter – Stacy Leek

Invocation – Ken Anderson

Birthdays – Jeffrey Crawford & Cale Fahringer

Announcements –

• Fundraisers Reminders & Updates
  • Car Show, Tom Tearney & Ken Shamblen
  • Triathlon, Jeff Owens & Adam Heckaman
  • Fall Displays, Kris Williams
  • Golf Outing, Chris Hanson & Chris McCray. Jon Teevan guaranteed good weather!
• IN North District Mtg/Oratorical Contest Update and Optimist Noon Club Nelson’s
• Chicken Tickets – Bob Walsh

50/50 – $50 to Jim Smith

Membership –

John Sloat – Sponsor Jim Kessler (1st Reading)
Dana Munson – Sponsor Paul Finley (1st Reading)

Program – David Byers introducing Christmas with a Cop – Officer Ryan Moore. The Kosciusko County Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) Lodge 149 hosts an annual “Christmas with a Cop” event in Warsaw typically in December at the local Meijer. The program pairs local law enforcement officers with around 130–170+ children to shop for holiday gifts, aiming to build community relationships and support families.

Key Details of the Program:

• Purpose: The event, organized by FOP Lodge 149, allows children from across the county to buy toys and clothes with officers.
• Location/Participants: Held at the Warsaw Meijer, it involves officers from the Warsaw Police Department, Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Office, and other local agencies.
• Support: The event is supported by local donors and sponsors like Lewis Salvage and FlowTech.
• Donations: Donations can be sent through FOP 149’s PayPal (FOP149@gmail.com) or by contacting local police departments.

The event commonly features Santa and Mrs. Claus and serves to brighten the holidays for children identified as in need

Sergeants – Jim Smith, Jeff Owens, and Abby Smith

Optimistic Quote – Synergy – the bonus that is achieved when things work together harmoniously. ~ Mark Twain

Next Week’s Program – Friends of the Library Nonprofit

Presiding – Brooke Hamstra

Invocation – Lois Borkholder

Greeters – Ken Anderson & Trish Nichols

Elections –

• President – Kris Williams
• President Elect – Randy Polston
• Secretary – Kristin Huscher-Pahl
• Treasurer – Corbin Holtsberry
• Vice President – Steve Block & David Byers
• Board of Directors – Andy Swihart, Marlene Betances, Angie Tom & Susan Armacost

Birthdays – Jim Smith & David Benning

Announcements –

Sergeats –

Program – Kosciusko Youth Leadership Academy (KYLA). The mission of the Kosciusko Youth Leadership Academy is to educate and train area youth in the principals of leadership. Community service is emphasized along with education through formal and classroom and hands-on training.

In addition to attending formal class room training, each student must donate a total of ten hours towards a community service project. The students must also present their project in the form of a formal white paper project presentation to their peers, board members, and area invited dignitaries and guests at the end of the academic year.

Many of the students donate far more than the ten required hours. In some cases, students have contributed hundreds of hours each. The time required for each student to complete his or her Project Proud depends largely on the nature of the project the student decide to undertake.

Sergeants – Jeff Owens & Abby Smith – Members were asked questions about various topics, “Correct” answers were not fined, however “incorrect” answers were fined $1.00.

Optimistic Quote – Leadership is not about being in charge. It is about taking care of those in your charge. ~ Simon Sinek

Next Week’s Program – Christmas with a Cop – Officer Ryan Moore

Presiding – Brooke Hamstra

Greeters – John Teevan & Rick Swaim

Invocation – Paul Finley

Program – The Lakeland Christian Academy Students of the Week were recognized

Birthday – Happy Birthday to Paul Finley

Announcements –

• Member Passed – David Warner, obituary, Passing of the hat this week and next week in place of 50/50, share stories/memories of David Warner
• Elections coming up, Paul Finley, Nomination Committee
  • President – Kris Williams
  • President Elect – Randy Polston
  • VP Elect 1 – Steve Block & David Byers
  • Board Members – Elect 4 – Susan Armacost, Shari Benyousky, Marlene Betances, Lois Borkholder, Mark Marley, Lester Pierce, Andy Swihart & Angie Tom
  • Secretary -Kristin Huscher-Pahl
  • Treasurer – Corbin Holtsberry
• Fundraisers Reminders & Updates
  • Car Show, Tom Tearney & Ken Shamblen
  • Triathlon, Jeff Owens & Adam Heckaman
  • Fall Displays, Kris Williams
  • Golf Outing, Chris Hanson & Chris McCray
  • Optimist International – IN North District Meeting on May 2nd, 2026 @ Best
  • Western Plus Brandywine Inn & Suites in Monticello

Membership – Angie Tom/Paul Finley

• Heather Stockman-Sponsor Brittany Lyon – Induction by Jim Smith

Sergeants – Jim Smith, Jeff Owens, and Abby Smith, members who brought their own drinks were fined $1.00. In addition trivia questions were asked of various members.

Optimistic Quote – Coming together is a beginning, staying together is progress, and working
together is success. ~ Henry Ford

Next Week’s Program – Cindy Klusman-KYLA Project Proud

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