Wednesday, June 27, 2012
Future Dates
07/04 no meeting
07/11 Vicki Kitchin – Build Indiana Council – WE MEET AT CENTER LAKE PAVILION
07/18 Mike Taylor – Encompass World Partners
07/25 Jim Erickson – National Pork Board
08/01 Remnant Trust
08/08 WCHS History Winners
08/15 Gary Gerard – Times Union
08/22 Linda Cochran – Bell Aircraft Museum
08/25 Cruisin Hoosiers Car Show for Baker Youth Club
08/29 Jim Pinkerton – INDOT US 31 Projects
09/05 David Best – Thomas Jefferson
09/12 Tom Kline – WCS Student Test Scores
Wednesday, June 27, 2012
>>>>OPENING
84 Optimists & 8 guest attended our meeting. Kelsi Griffith was the guest of John Elliott; Tyas Hansen was the guest of Bruce Hansen; Melaine Sommers was the guest of Linda Sommers; Sally Hogan and Dan Coplen were the guests of Rick Kerlin; Melissa Spagnoli-Uthgenannt was the guest of John Sullivan; Jim Mills and Shane Newsome were the guests of Mitch Goon.
Door Greeter: Fred Nieter.
Prayer was offered by Ot Schroeder.
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: Angie Tom, Steve Albertson, Dr. David Haines, and John Burtoft. Martin Becker led us in the birthday song with our usual results.
>>>> INFORMATION
Prayer Requests: Chuck Kanes’s wife Sally.
Jim Nesbitt’s recovery from heart surgery. He is sitting up now. He has a long recovery in front of him.
Henry Church’s recovery from a broken wrist.
Bonnie Bradley.
Rain.
Membership: Lt. Gov. Sam Whitaker read Kelsi Griffith’s application. Past President John Elliott sponsored Kelsi.
There is no meeting July 4th.
On July 11th we will meet at the Center Lake Pavilion.
Triathlon: We had 551 sign up and 522 who raced.
Please turn in your red dismount or security tee shirts to Ron.
Past Gov. Ron Donkers thanked everyone for volunteering.
Racer Bart Templeton thanked those who worked on building the more solid bike racks.
Ron gave special thanks to Jim Hayes for his MANY hours of work over many months on our Triathlon.
We gave a well deserved standing ovation to Ron Donkers for all his long hours of planning and logistics to make our race a success.
Ron got several nice letters of appreciation for all he and we do to make our Triathlon run smoothly. This is an example:
Mr. Donkers,
Just a note to say thank you for a great time yesterday at the Optimist Tri. This was my second Optimist Tri and also the best ever for me in terms of Triathlon performance. Although I was very pleased with my effort I would be remiss if I didn’t also recognize the significance of your effort and that of all the volunteers, without whose flawless execution and organization I would not have had such a great time. I am impressed by and grateful for your work in presenting this fine event. Thanks and congratulations to you and your team.
Scott Richardson, Berrien Springs, Michigan
Sheriff of Attendance: Bill Landrigan and Harry Gigous are doing a great job of getting us to our meetings.
Optimist District Fundraiser: Ryan Harper is selling $5 raffle tickets for a 32” LCD TV. Proceeds go to our Optimist District.
Past Lt. Gov. Dr. David Haines did a super job taking our pictures today.
Martin Becker invited us to hear our Optimist Singers at the Syracuse Fireworks at 7:30 p.m. July 4th and at the First Friday at 7 p.m.
President John Sullivan presented $100 to Melissa Spagnoli-Uthgenannt for the Greater Warsaw Cooperative Pre-School.
President John Sullivan presented $300 to Jim Mills and Shane Newsome for the Warsaw Cross Country Team who helped put up the bike racks and snow fence at our Triathlon.
Please pray for our Troops and Families: Jacob Gilmer – Army Ranger
Sergeants-at-Arms: Luke Becknell and Bob Jackson entertained us.
Jerry Titus is celebrating his 37th anniversary.
Bruce Hansen is celebrating his 44th anniversary.
Marvin Miller’s daughter, Kate, just got married and his son, Evan, was in the top 12 of his class.
Luke Becknell quizzed us on this month’s OI magazine.
Those who went to the Shrine Building were recognized.
President John Sullivan bought another bell and gavel.
Past Lt. Gov. Jim Reeve reminded us that his Cub Scout Pack # 3736 is having a yard sale at Trinity United Methodist Church on July 7th. We can drop off donations at his office.
We heard several jokes from some of the usual sources:
Fred Nieter told us about the heavy person in Indy who was asking directions to 465. The answer is Weight Watchers.
Martin Becker told of the gardener who mistakenly hit a cat with a weed wacker. They had the cat in one hand and the tail in the other. They needed to rush to WalMart since it is the world’s largest re-tail-er.
President John Sullivan reminded us of the time years ago, when Lt. Gov Sam Whitaker was a patrolman. He tried to pull a speeder over, but they kept going faster and faster. When he finally got them pulled over, they said they did not stop because their ex had run off with a patrolman years ago. They were afraid Sam was trying to return them.
50/50: Dave Turner won $37.
Program: Kosciusko County Historical Society – www.kosciuskohistory.com
Sally Hogan, Director of the Old Jail Museum gave us an overview of our Kosciusko County Historical Society’s programs:
Old Jail Museum
Genealogy Library
Pound Store in Oswego
Chinworth Bridge
Walk-A-Bouts at Hastings (1050N and 425W) and at Clunette in August
Log Cabin at the Fair
Reenactment of the signing of the Constitution in September
Dan Coplen, our County Historian told us several interesting stories.
Warsaw had a talented semi-pro football team in the 1930s. In 1933 the Warsaw Merchants shut out Notre Dame’s 4th string team in Warsaw.
The Tippecanoe River used to go along Center Lake. In the spring, it would overflow it’s banks and go into Center Lake and cause much flooding. In 1895 and 1896 a cut-off changed the flow north and west of Center Lake.
The Dust Bowl of the 1930s affected Kosciusko County. Dust clouds came through the county and reduced visibility. Snowplows had to clear the dust off the roads.
Early on there was competition between Leesburg and Warsaw as to which would be the county seat. Leesburg was up and running while Warsaw was just a swamp. Judges and County Councilmen met in Leesburg. However some people said it should be in Warsaw because it was more centrally located. A local political group called the Clippers proposed to move the bottom border of the county up 6 miles, thus “clipping” the bottom of the county off, so Leesburg would be the county seat.
