Wednesday, April 4, 2012
Future Dates
04/02-06 Spring Break Skate
04/11 Scott Tucker – Maple Leaf Farms
04/15 Grace Golf Outing at Rozella for Jeremy Mohr
04/18 Eric Lane – Fellowship Missions
04/20 Grace Wind Ensemble
04/25 Lakeland Youth Chorale
05/02 Joan Younce – Purdue Health & Human Res.
05/05 Octagon breakfast for BYC
05/20 Car Show
05/23 Optimist Singers
06/06 Remnant Trust
06/07 Golf Outing at Stonehenge
06/13 Jim Reeve – Roy Rogers
06/20 Triathlon welcome bags
06/23 Triathlon
Wednesday, April 4, 2012
Our meeting was led by President Elect Tracy Furnivall.
>>>>OPENING
77 Optimists & 10 guests attended our meeting. Jamie Visker, Larry Beals, Fred Fribley & Dan Robinson were the guests of Art Gakstatter; Cindy Waddle was the guest of Steve Albertson; Ryan & Chad Goon were the guests of Mitch Goon; Kellie Malcom was the guest of Josh Gordon; Joe Kirkendall was the guest of Jeff Owens; and Katye Fussle was the guest of Jon Fussle.
Door Greeters: Ron Donkers & Trina Hoy.
Prayer was offered by Noel Hoke.
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: Trina Hoy, Don Kenipe, & Mark Skibowski. Martin Becker led us in the birthday song with our usual results.
>>>> INFORMATION
Trace Hansen reported the kids are taking advantage of Spring Break Skate.
City of Lakes Cruise In on May 20th: John Elliott is passing out a sign-up sheet for volunteers. Please give your $25 to John Teevan. John already has over 50 “Christmas Tree” sponsorships. We are asking businesses to sponsor at the $100, $200, or $500 levels. Give the big checks to Ann Sweet. Our overall goal is to raise $10k.
Everett Nifong announced that our Golf Outing will be June 7th at Stonehenge. Brochures are out. Cost is $400 for a foursome (includes golf, cart, lunch, & driving range). Sponsorships are available at the Bronze $100, Silver $475, & Gold $1000 levels. Prize/Goody Bag items are also needed. Again, Everett says whatever you need is in the “bro-chures for-sure.” Teams are starting to register.
Past Gov. Ron Donkers reminded us that our Triathlon is on June 23rd, the FOUTH Saturday of June.
Chad Goon and Ryan Goon invited us to the breakfast fundraiser Octagon is putting on May 5th from 7 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. for Baker Youth Club. Cost is $6 at the door or $5 in advance.
Past President Bob Jackson presented Tony Ciriello a check for $300 for KYLA.
Bart Templeton is looking for greeters.
Martin Becker invited us to the Grace College Community Wind Ensemble’s April 20th concert. It is at 7:30 p.m. at Rodeheaver. Featured are a “new” Sousa number & music from “Schindler’s List”.
Please pray for our Troops and Families: Daniel Hagan – Army
Sergeants-at-Arms: Bob Jackson and honorary Sergeant Coach Jim Kessler entertained us.
Coach K presented the following awards: 1) Seat Cushion to Lyle Enyeart the captain of the Hoosier Hooker fishing boat, 2) Final Four shirt with Ohio State on it to John Elliott, & 3) Big Gulp cup to Bill Landrigan.
It is good to see Lt. Gov. Sam Whitaker up and around after his partial knee replacement.
Those who bought Mega Lotto tickets were recognized. Don Kenipe was not among them.
Dr. Jason Rich was able to take a break from getting his kids off to school to come to our meeting. Jason was commended for following God’s instructions in Genesis. Separately Jason & John Kirkpatrick are happy for the coming Cincinnati Reds season.
Mike Metzger was recognized for his son being on the cover of Grace’s magazine.
Greg Binkerd’s son-in-law is back from Afghanistan & his daughter is starting to fly Blackhawk helicopters.
Don Kenipe’s grandson is headed to Korea.
Bill Katip is proud of the Grace students who are putting on a golf fundraiser April 15th at Rozella. Proceeds are to encourage Jeremy Mohr who was severely injured a couple years ago.
Henry Church is back from the Middle East.
Patty Donkers hit a hole in one!
Chad & Ryan Goon were able to help their ol’ Gamps find his seat. It was too bad Mark Caruso and Past President Jim Nesbitt were not here to see the negative effects Rugby had on Merl Heckaman.
Fred Nieter told “one of his jokes.” This was the one about the bank robbery and the banana split. It is great to have Fred back.
Program:
Jamie Visker, CEO of Winona PVD Coatings, introduced us to Cindy Waddle, Office Manager; Larry Beals, VP Operations; Fred Fribley, President; and our own Art Gakstatter, founder. Art sold Winona Powder in 1999. Jamie bought it from the group that bought it from Art.
Right here in Warsaw, we have the only place in the world that chromes wheels using the Physical Vapor Deposition (PVD) process. They put a chrome finish on aluminum wheels. Their process is the most durable and price effective way to chrome wheels. The PVD process is also green, unlike plating.
The BMW wheels are shipped from Austria to Warsaw, then PVD coated, and then half are shipped back to Europe.
The competing technologies are chrome plating and chrome cladding.
Winona PVD Coatings uses clean rooms, where the air is changed and filtered every 3 minutes to keep dust off the product. In the past car manufacturers biggest warranty issue was chrome wheels. With this process that has been eliminated.
The brining of roads in the winter ruins chrome-clad wheels. The PVD Coated wheels are not affected by the brine.
They are expanding from a batch system to an in-line system of production. Now they have a 240,000 per year capacity doing a wheel every 90 seconds. With the new system they will have a 1,000,000 per year capacity doing a wheel every 30 seconds. They now employ around 30 people. When their expansion is complete they will need around 100 people. The new line should be operational in the summer of 2013.
Winona PVD Coatings has contracts with General Motors, Ford, Chrysler, BMW, Jaguar, & Explorer Vans.
Jamie had an insightful answer to the question of what is needed to be a successful entrepreneur. 1) An entrepreneur must be able to live with risk. 2) It is important to buy something that has positive cash flow. 3) It is important to understand how to finance the business, using term credit to buy the business and equipment & using revolving credit to finance the inventory. 4) Find something you can add value to.
