Future Dates
06/20 Triathlon welcome bags
06/23 Triathlon
06/27 Sally Hogan – Kosciusko County Historical Society – WE MEET AT CENTER LAKE PAVILION
07/04 no meeting
07/11 Vicki Kitchin – Build Indiana Council
07/18 Mike Taylor – Encompass World Partners
07/25 Jim Erickson – National Pork Board
08/01 Remnant Trust
08/15 Gary Gerard – Times Union
08/25 Cruisin Hoosiers Car Show for Baker Youth Club
08/29 Jim Pinkerton – INDOT US 31 Projects

Wednesday, June 13, 2012
>>>>OPENING
80 Optimists & 9 guests attended our meeting. Karen Kauffman was the guest of Dr. Steve Hollar; Kelly Wildman and her parents, Rod and Nancy were the guests of our Scholarship Committee; Kelsi Griffith was the guest of John Elliott; Jon Hopwood was the guest of Bob Ibach; Todd Pequignot was the guest of Scott Whitaker; and Kamden and Kamron Tom were the guests of Angie Tom..
Door Greeters: Kathy Kurosky and George Paton.
Prayer was offered by Jim “Roy Rogers” Reeve.
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: Chuck Kanes’s wife Sally.
Jim Nesbitt’s recovery from heart surgery.
Luke Becknell and his family at Deb’s passing.

Membership: Lt. Gov. Sam Whitaker read Karen Kauffman’s and Kelsi Griffith’s applications. Karen is being sponsored back into our club by Dr. Steven Hollar. Past President John Elliott sponsored Kelsi. Past President Mike Hall inducted Denny Strain. Jim Bricker sponsored Denny.

On June 27th we will meet at the Center Lake Pavilion.
There is no meeting July 4th.

Everett Nifong reported that 85 participated in our June 7th Golf Outing. Dave Illingworth and Toyota of Warsaw almost gave away a car. A hole-in-one was missed by inches. The boys and girls from Warsaw Community High School’s golf teams helped. John Elliott was recognized as having the winning team.

Past Gov. Ron Donkers and Luke Becknell, reminded us that our Triathlon is on June 23rd, the FOURTH Saturday of June. We have 433 registered. It looks like we may have 500 participants.

We need someone to set up the orange snow-fence around the transition area in the afternoon or evening of Friday, June 22nd. Please see Ron.

Also help is needed Monday, June 18 from around 4 or 5 p.m. to 6 or 7 p.m. at Ron Donkers and George Brennan’s storage building to build bike racks.

We will start the registration packets at next week’s meeting. Mary Ellen Jordan asked those who can, to go to Ron & George’s building after next week’s meeting to finish off the registration packets.

Optimist District Fundraiser: Ryan Harper is selling $5 raffle tickets for a 32” LCD TV. Proceeds go to our Optimist District.

We met Kelly Wildman, one of our scholarship recipients. Kelly will continue her studies at Taylor. Thanks go to our Scholarship Committee members: Kevin Weaver, Mark Skibowski, Trace Hansen, Don Reinholt, and Past President Joel Wihebrink for all their unseen work.

Past Lt. Gov. Dr. David Haines did a super job taking our pictures today.

Please pray for our Troops and Families: Jimmy Ray – Air Force

Sergeants-at-Arms: Luke Becknell entertained us.

Past President John Elliott was recognized for having the winning team in our Golf Outing.

Past President Joel Wihebrink led us in thanking Everett Nifong for his hard work chairing our Golf Outing.

Joel was also proud of his daughter being the 19th person out of the water in a recent swimming event.

Sheriff of Attendance Bill Landrigan encouraged us to buy our fireworks at Franciscan Fireworks. He has 10% discount tickets, plus 10% goes to Kosciusko Right to Life.

Martin Becker moved into the same neighborhood the Toms live in. There must be something in the water, since he was late.

Speaking of the Toms, Angie Tom and Kamden Tom brought Kamron this morning. Angie had Lyle Enyeart hold Kamron.

Speaking of Lyle, Andy Swihart is back from a fishing trip on Lyle’s boat.

Program:
Our own past Lt. Gov. Jim Reeve re-introduced us to Roy Rogers and introduced us to his new sidekick Prickly Cactus a/k/a Jim Hayes. Luke Becknell, Ron Chambers, and Bill Katip helped Roy and Prickly try to keep things under control.

The uproar started when we were told that there was more than one Trigger. Here we thought since childhood that Roy was riding the only Trigger we knew for 35 years.

It seems the IRS was fooled too. They said the stuffed Trigger was worth $350,000 because you know, there was only one Trigger.

If you ever want to know anything about Roy Rogers just ask Jim. Jim even is friends with Roy’s son Dusty Rogers.

Dusty told Jim about a time when after a long day, Roy heard of a disabled child, he went 100 miles to see that child to cheer them up.

Roy Rogers had the largest fan club in the world. It now has 2 new members. Dusty authorized Jim to induct our President John Sullivan and Prickly Cactus Jim Hayes into the Roy Rogers Riders Club.