Wednesday, July 25, 2012
Future Dates
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, July 25, 2012
>>>>OPENING
86 Optimists & 2 guests attended our meeting. Jim Erickson was the guest of Dr. Jenny Lucht and Rick Kerlin; and Tim Hori was the guest of Kellie Malcolm.
Door Greeter: Dr. K.T. Kishan.
Prayer was offered by John Teevan.
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: Jeff Owens and Martin Becker. Merl Heckaman led us in the birthday song with “round” results.
>>>> INFORMATION
Prayer Requests:
Chuck Kanes’s wife Sally is doing much better. She is totally off of pain medications.
Jim Nesbitt’s recovery from heart surgery. He is back at Grace Village.
Nancy Nesbitt as she is in assisted living at Grace.
Bonnie Bradley’s recovery from brain cancer. She is having radiation daily.
Rain.
Membership: Lt. Gov. Sam Whitaker read Tim Hori’s application. He is being sponsored by Kellie Malcolm.
Sheriff of Attendance: Bill Landrigan and Harry Gigous greeted Henry Church, Kevin Marose, Chuck Kane, and Mike Gavin.
Board Member, Everett Nifong presented Past President George Brennan a check for $500 for Court Appointed Special Advocates for kids at risk (CASA).
Optimist District Fundraiser: Ryan Harper is selling $5 raffle tickets for a 32” LCD TV. Proceeds go to our Optimist District. The deadline is approaching.
Martin Becker invited us to hear our Optimist Singers sing the Star Spangled Banner on Tuesday, August 7 at 6:30 p.m. at the Corporate Volleyball Challenge at the Lakeview Middle School Gym.
Everett Nifong reported Bonnie Bradley’s friends at Millers Merry Manor raised over $4000 at their soup and sandwiches with Karaoke fund raiser for her medical expenses. Donations can be made to her benefit account at Mutual Bank.
Luke Becknell invited cyclists to participate in the 2 Bourbon & Back for cystic fibrosis on September 8, 2012. $15 entry fee ($18 after August 31st). Family entry fee $40 ($45 after August 31st). Luke2bb@comcast.net orwww.becknell.org .
Luke Becknell also invited us to walk in First United Methodist Church’sStomp Out Mosquitoes to stop malaria fundraiser at 6 p.m. on August 1st.
Video Editor Jim Hayes showed us an inspirational video of Patrick Hugheswho was born blind and crippled. He learned to play the piano and trumpet. He plays in the University of Louisville marching band. He makes the “Music of Opportunity” and the “Sound of Potential.”
Please pray for our Troops and Families: William Kretsch – Air Force – 52nd Fighter Wing
Sergeants-at-Arms: Luke Becknell entertained us.
It was noted that Fred Nieter is not using a walker. Fred, your hard work is paying off.
Those who are golfing in the Chamber Golf Outing were recognized.
Dr. Steven Hollar and Jonny Hollar are playing golf in Scotland at the course that hosts the British Open.
Tony Ciriello was tasked with splitting $1 from multiple time 50/50 winnerDon Kenipe among those who have never won.
Martin Becker can attest to Sheriff of Attendance, Bill Landrigan’s tenacity. Martin got a call from Bill while Marty was 6 miles out in the Atlantic fishing.
Bill Landrigan is back from the quads at Holland, Michigan.
Mary Ann Gradeless moved to Warsaw from New Carlisle. She has been commuting for 3 years.
Mary Ellen Jordan has a new grandson who is also Mary Ann Gradeless’s new great grandson.
Past President Ron Henry’s granddaughter won a drawing contest.
Past President Joel Wihebrink ran into fellow Western Kentucky alum and Olympian, Claire Donahue.
Henry Church is grateful for the time he spent with his family at his 50thanniversary.
Al Grossnickle’s 9 year old grandson came in 2nd in a golf tournament. If he had not had the penalty for his ball getting stuck in a tree, he would have won. Don’t you hate it when that happens. Actually this will be a story he will tell his own grandkids in 2080.
Speaking of golf, Past President John Elliott is bringing up his kids right. His grandson’s long drives helped his team to 3rd place.
Juergen Voss thanked us for sponsoring the Lake City Skiers. He invited us to see them Sunday, July 29th at 6:30 p.m. at Hidden Lake.
Kevin Marose complained that Merl Heckaman’s Bobcat of Warsaw repaired his chainsaw too rapidly. He now has too spend a hot day cutting down a tree.
Indiana and Purdue fans were recognized for the influx of new players about to come in from Penn State.
50/50: Don Kenipe won $39.
Program:
Jim Erickson, an Indiana delegate to the National Pork Delegate Body, is the general manager of TDM Farms, a wean-to-finish (market) swine operation based in Newton Grove, N.C. and a division of Hog Slat, the largest contractor and manufacturer of hog equipment in the United States. Jim oversees TDM Farms’
operation in Camden, Indiana where the company finishes 700,000 hogs for market each year. Jim also is responsible for a Hog Slat retail store and Hog Slat’s health and wellness program for its 60 employees in Indiana. Jim joined TDM Farms in 1999.
Jim has been a member of the Indiana Pork Producers Association (IPPA) since 1999 and is a member of the IPPA INPAC (Indiana Political Action Coalition).
Some of the principles of TDM Farms are: Food is a basic human right. Consumers have a right to choose the food they eat. Safe guarding the environment is right.
By 2050 the world will need 100% more food.
Farming has never stood still. There have been continual improvements. In 1960 the average American Farmer fed 25 people. Today they feed 155.
Pork production per sow has doubled since 1960. At the same time pork production now uses 41% less water, 78% less land, and has a carbon footprint that is 35% smaller than 1960.
Today’s pork tenderloin is as lean as a skinless chicken breast.
Indiana is 5th in the nation in pork production.
