Wednesday, January 23, 2013

Future Dates    

1/25 & 26 Fri. & Sat. District Meeting in Logansport

1/26 Sat.  YMCA Community Support Campaign Kickoff

1/30 Wed. Keegan Tom – Trip to Dominican Republic

1/30 Wed. Car Show planning meeting

2/1 Fri.  First Friday downtown Fire & Ice, 4-H Chili fundraiser

2/2 Sat.  TriStar Basketball at BYC

2/6 Wed. Rebecca Bazzoni / Jacob’s Ladder

2/9 Sat. Regional TriStar Basketball at BYC

2/13 Wed. no morning meeting

2/13 Wed. evening Valentine’s banquet

2/20 Wed. Lindsey Best / Big Brothers Big Sister

2/21 Thur.  4-H Open House in County Building

2/26 Bill Landrigan Muscular Dystrophy fundraiser

2/27 Wed.  Erin Porter / Limitless Playground and Splash Pad

3/6 Wed. Angie Wood – Heartline

3/8 Fri.  Baker Youth Clubs Madness fundraiser at Wagon Wheel

3/13 Wed. Chad Zaucha / YMCA

3/15 Fri. Oratorical Contest

3/20 Wed. Oratorical Contest Winners

3/27 Wed. Dave Hoffert / Chief Academic Officer

4/17 Wed. Warsaw High School Band

5/19/13 Sun. Car Show

6/29/13 Sat. Triathlon

 

Wednesday, January 23, 2013 

Our Meeting was led by Lt. Governor John Sullivan.

>>>>OPENING

86 Optimists & 14 guests attended our meeting.  Larry Bishop was the guest of Bob Ibach; Carolyn Stalcup, Gabby Hamill, Isaac Netzley, Jay Liu, Jannalynn Niebbia, Kenneth Lightfoot, Jullianna Niebbia, Justin Fleming, Makayla Reed, Ryan Harter, Cynthia Love, Carianne Bradley, and Lisa Bradley were the guests of Akash Jain.   

Door Greeters:  Ed Nordstrom. 

Prayer:  Ed Nordstrom led us in prayer.

Pledge was given to the American flag. 

Promise yourself was said in unison. 

Martin Becker led us as we sang “Hail to Optimism.”

 

            >>>> INFORMATION

Prayer Requests:  Marv Miller’s continued recovery.

Dave Illingworth’s family at the passing of his father. 

 

Membership:  Past President Jeff Owens’ assistant Toni Derry’s read Larry Bishop’s application.  Bob Ibach is sponsoring Larry.     

 

Our new directories are out.  Many thanks go to Jim Hayes, Dr. Jason Rich, and Trina Hoy for the long hours they put into this project.  Also thanks to those who advertized in our directory.

 

Lt. Governor John Sullivan invited us to attend the District Meeting on January 25 and 26 in Logansport.  Our Optimist Singers are performing.  Let Treasurer Jennifer Dorman know if you are going.

 

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 John Elliott on behalf of theEsther Pfleiderer Charitable Trust donated $1,000 to the campaign.

 

Car Show Chairman John Elliott announced there will be a planning meeting after next Wednesday’s club meeting.

 

Chris Wiggins announced both our local and our regional TriStar Basketball will be at Baker Youth Club, 765 W. Market St, Warsaw, with registration at 9:30 a.m. and the event at 10 a.m.  The local competition is Saturday, February 2 and the regional is Saturday, February 9.  Sign-up sheets are on our tables.  Help is still needed for the 9th.  Please invite kids between the ages of 8 to 13.  The 1st 100 kids on the 2nd will get free t-shirts. 

 

President Elect Everett Nifong announced our Valentine’s banquet will be at the Shrine Building on February 13.  There will be a cash bar at 6:30 p.m. with a Social Time (not hour) until our Premium Buffet dinner at 7 p.m.  The infamous Love and Marriage Game will begin at 7:30 p.m.  The $20 per person will be invoiced.  Sign up sheets are on our tables.  

There will be no morning meeting February 13.

 

Bill Landrigan will be in “jail” raising money for Muscular Dystrophy Association on February 26.  In the past Coach Lichtenwalter took that spot.  Coach retired and nominated Bill.  Not to worry Bill.  You will not be alone.  John Teevan will be there with you to give you some book learning.  As John says, inmates are the best students.  In order to help Bill, write MDA commitment # 5561300017 in the memo of your check.  

 

Past President Jeff Owens announced our Oratorical Contest will be at Zimmer Corporate Headquarters on March 15.  The topic is “Why my voice is important.”    Major prizes are an Ipad Mini and a Nexus 7.   Volunteers are needed.

 

President Tracy Furnivall invited us to Baker Youth Club’s Madness fundraiser at the Wagon Wheel on Friday, March 8.

 

Past President John Elliott announced our Car Show will be downtown on Sunday, 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 us a video of a Dixieland band serenading cows in a video entitles jazz for cows.  

Past Lt. Gov. Ot Schroder led our insurance agents in a moment of silence after a video of a roll over of a huge tow truck and the semi tractor trailer it was hauling.

 

Please pray for our Troops and Families:   Cpt Richard Hurst – Army – Afghanistan – Chaplain

 

Sergeants-at-Arms:  John Elliott and Joel Wihebrink entertained us.


Past Lt. Gov. Jim Reeve has a new grandson.


Past Lt. Gov. Dr. David Haines is proud of Madelyn Ray for winning the STEM Academy spelling bee.


Dr. Craig Hintz was noted for his ability to get money from Indy and his picture in the Superintendents’ magazine as an agent of change.


Octagon Advisor Jerry Clevenger’s wife Shirlee was Teacher of the Year 10 years ago.


Dr. Steven “Rade Butcher” Hollar has been on TV twice in the past week.  He has been sought out as a hunting partner of Coach Bobby Knight.  Remember to yell “Fore” before shooting at anything.


Mike Metzger and Rick Kerlin are celebrating a new dinning establishment in Silver Lake.  Along with the food, they look forward to lower taxes, since the assessed valuation of Silver Lake has just increased with the new Subway.


Since we see Josh Gordon at our meetings, we know the Tower Bank commercials are true, he is available outside of banker’s hours. 


Tower Bank’s leadership is in capable hands.  Rich Haddad is on their Board of Directors.


49ers and Ravens fans were recognized.


Coach Jim Kessler was recognized for his players’ grasp of strategy.


Past President Ron Henry’s brother-in-law has been inducted into the Corvette Hall of Fame.


John Teevan reported that 2 years ago, Grace had 350 college students inside prison.  Today, Principal Denny Duncan has 1000 high school students inside prison.  Now that Bill Landrigan will be in jail on February 26 for Muscular Dystrophy, what John says is true, the best students are behind bars.


Trace Hansen experienced ALL the joys of fatherhood on their recent plane trip to introduce their baby to his family.  Trace also noted that since Bruce Hansen retired as South Whitley Elementary School’s principal, Bill Landrigan has the opportunity to be a principal at yet another local school building.


Past Lt. Gov. John Elliott has been getting stretched out in therapy.  He suggested Coach Kessler can add 2” to his players by sending them to therapy.


Lt. Gov. John Sullivan is proud of his daughter for making the Dean’s List while being a full time student AND a full time employee.

 

Program:   

Warsaw Schools Symphony teacher Carolyn Stalcup introduced us to middle school students:  Gabby HamillJannalynn NiebbiaJullianna NiebbiaMakayla Reed,Cynthia LoveCarianne BradleyIsaac NetzleyJay LiuKenneth LightfootJustin Fleming, and Ryan Harter


They played violins, violas, cellos, and basses.  They performed Can-Can, Zoom Golly Golly, and Pachelbel Canon.  They sounded great.  The program is growing every year.  They start kids in 6th grade and the Symphony goes through high school.