December 12, 2012
Future Dates
12/ 14, 15, & 16 Fri., Sat., & Sun. Santa House downtown
12/15 & 16 Sat. & Sun. Christmas Tree sales
12/19 Wed. Optimist Singers
12/19 Wed. Collect our gratuity for Penguin Point
12/21 Fri. Deadline to participate in the Warsaw Com. Schools Speak Up 2012 Survey
12/22 & 23 Sat. & Sun. Christmas Tree sales
12/26 Wed. White Elephant Auction
01/2 Wed. Greg Rauen Director of Operations at World Compassion Network about Hurricane Sandy relief
1/9 Wed. Purdue Extension Junior Leaders and 4-H
1/16 Wed. Christon Clark / Habitat for Humanity
1/23 Wed. Warsaw Schools Symphony
1/26 Sat. YMCA Community Support Campaign Kickoff
2/6 Wed. Rebecca Bazzoni / Jacob’s Ladder
2/13 Wed. Warsaw Schools Band
2/20 Wed. Lindsey Best / Big Brothers Big Sisters
3/13 Wed. Chad Zaucha / YMCA
3/27 Wed. Dave Hoffert / Chief Academic Officer
5/19/13 Sun. Car Show
6/29/13 Sat. Triathlon
Wednesday, December 12, 2012
>>>>OPENING
87 Optimists & 9 guests attended our meeting. Brooke Hamstra was the guest of Rick Kerlin; Jared Parcell was the guest of Akash Jain; Chris LaLonde, Miranda Domiano, Ashley Murrell, Morgan Sands, Alexis Manwaring, Elizabeth Meadows, and Nichole LaLonde were the guests of Everett Nifong.
Door Greeters: Dr. Steven Hollar.
Prayer was offered by Alan Lucht.
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: George Brennan and Ashley Murrell. Martin Becker led us in the birthday song with good results.
>>>> INFORMATION
President-Elect Everett Nifong led our meeting.
Prayer Requests: Marv Miller’s continued recovery.
Jim Kessler’s family at the passing of his father. Services are Thursday at Noon at Winona Lake Grace Brethren Church. Viewing is at 10 a.m.
Membership: Past President Jeff Owens’ assistant, Dr. Craig Hintz, Indiana’s School Superintendent of the Year read Brooke Hamstra’s application.
Next week we will collect our gratuity for our wonderful servers from Penguin Point.
Sheriff of Attendance Bill Landrigan and Deputy Harry Gigous took a much deserved break. We had 96 here last week and 99 the week before.
Salvation Army Bell Ringing: Merl Heckaman reported we raised $572.88 at K-Mart, $732.40 at the South door of Wal-Mart, and $627.79 at the North door of Wal-Mart for a total of $1,933.07. Pretty good for no or reduced capacity bells. Someone was using a bell with a nut for a clangor. That is about right since we have so many DNR graduates.
Song Leader Martin Becker reported over 700 heard our Optimist Singers at Rodeheaver last weekend.
Luke Becknell passed the basket today for the Baker Youth Club Christmas presents and dinner. Last week we raised around $340. Usually around 120 kids come. Help will also be needed to buy the gifts.
Christmas Tree Co-Chairmen Harry Gigous and Ot Schroeder reminded us that Owens East manager Michael McCarty graciously is continuing the offer of $5 donated to us for every Christmas Tree sold at the regular price. To help sell trees, just show up. To get in Pinky Eherenman’s trailer, use the last 4 digits of Jeff’s phone number to unlock the realtor lock that has the key.
Jane Wear reminded us our Santa House will be downtown this year. The hours are Friday, Dec. 14 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.; Saturday, Dec. 15 from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m.; and Sunday, Dec. 16 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Ann Sweet attested thatLuke Becknell was a great Santa.
President – Elect Everett Nifong introduced the Warsaw Girls Golf Team, who helped us with our Golf Outing. Coach Chris LaLonde introduced us toMiranda Domiano, Ashley Murrell, Morgan Sands, Alexis Manwaring,Elizabeth Meadows, and Nichole LaLonde. They went 13 – 1 this year, won their Sectional and came in 5th in their Regional. Elizabeth Meadows was the Sectional Medalist.
Back by popular demand, for a $10 donation to the club we can get a CD of Lt Governor John Sullivan playing Christmas music on his guitar. He is good!
Indiana’s School Superintendant of the Year, Dr. Craig Hintz encouraged us to participate in Warsaw Community Schools Speak Up 2012 Survey before the December 21st deadline. Participating helps our schools plan for future instructional and technology initiatives. The survey takes a brief 15 to 20 minutes. Please follow these steps:
1) Go to the Speak Up Welcome page at https://www.speakup4schools.org/speakup2012
2) Click on the Blue button to the bottom-left labeled “Parents enter here to take the survey”.
3) Look up your child’s school
a. Click on the state drop down button and select Indiana.
b. Go down to the next line and type in your child’s school name. This can be any part of the school name. For example: for Claypool Elementary School – you can just type Claypool to search.
c. Click on the “Find School” button.
4) On the schools found page a list of schools matching the letters you typed in will show up. Click on the school that matches in the list. Make sure the appropriate school and city/town are listed.
5) If you do not see your child’s school, please try again by clicking on the search button at the bottom of the screen. Try step 3 again but try using less letters from the school’s name (For example: just type in the first three letters of the school’s name).
6) You will now begin the survey. Please read the Parent’s introduction page. Then click on the red arrow (next) to begin the survey.
a. Please use the RED arrow tabs labeled next and back to go to the next page (not the browser buttons).
b. Please read questions thoroughly. For questions with circles you will choose one answer and for questions with squares you choose all that apply.
c. If you are unsure of a question just skip to the next question.
Thank you for participating in Speak Up 2012 and helping Warsaw Community Schools continue its mission to inspire and equip all students to continually acquire and apply knowledge and skills while pursuing their dreams and enriching the lives of others!
Chad Zaucha invited us to the YMCA’s Community Support Campaign Kickoff Saturday, January 26 from 5 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Past President Jeff Owens is getting started on our upcoming Oratorical Contest.
Past President John Elliott announced our Car Show will be downtown onSunday, May 19, 2013.
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 a Video of Jay Thomas describing a funny story about the “Lone Ranger.” It seems earlier in life, Jay and his hippie friend got into a situation where a middle-aged Rotarian driving a Buick claimed the authorities would believe him over them. Just then the Lone Ranger stepped out of the back seat of Jay’s car and in a deadpan said “They will believe me Citizen.”
Please pray for our Troops and Families: 1st Lt Jeff Mason – Ohio Nat Guard – Chaplain
Sergeants-at-Arms: John Elliott, Everett Nifong, and Joel Wihebrinkentertained us.
Alan and Dr. Jenny Lucht are celebrating their new grandson.
Trace Hansen’s son and Bill Landrigan’s granddaughter were each accepted to Purdue.
Past Lt. Gov. Sam Whitaker won the Christmas tie contest. Sam also was Santa for our Optimist Singers.
Past President John Elliott and Dr. Steve Hollar had basketball and golf quizzes for us. They were difficult.
We found out past cheerleaders: Past Lt. Gov. Dr. David Haines, Sheriff of Attendance Bill Landrigan, Tracy Horrell, and Trace Hansen still have some moves.
Art Gakstatter was presented information on someone in LaPorte who lost 20 cars in a barn fire.
Scott Whitaker was congratulated on his staff’s work with a skid loader getaway.
Past President Joel Wihebrink gave President Elect Everett Nifong a bell ringing lesson.
Luke Becknell is celebrating Indiana University’s Soccer championship.
Past President John Elliott officiated at over 40 I.U. Soccer games, including the first one.
Fred Nieter told us the one about Grandma and Grandpa during the Johnstown Flood. Apparently Grandma floated out of the house on the table and Grandpa accompanied her on the piano. We moaned like always.
Program:
Jared Parcell told us about the Fort Wayne Tin Caps Minor League Baseball team. A few years ago when Fort Wayne built Parkview Field, the former Wizards were renamed the Tin Caps. The connection is to Johnny Appleseed, who came through the Mid-West and is buried in Fort Wayne.
Last year they had 396,000 people attend their games. They offer group sales of 10 or more that make great birthday events. The Tin Caps offer a reading program through schools and libraries, where kids can earn tickets and snacks for reading.
Little League teams make money by selling tickets.
Scouts have overnights at the stadium.
The Tin Caps get their players from the San Diego Padres. 110 Tin Caps have been called up to the Major League.
https://www.milb.com/index.jsp?sid=t584
