Future Dates   

3/7 Fri. Oratorical Contest

3/12 Wed. Warsaw Schools Band

3/12 Wed. Student of the Week

3/13 & 14 Thur. & Fri. Riley Radio Days fundraiser

3/14 Fri. BYC Madness

3/18 Tues. Penguin Point Big Wally Eating Contest @ N Detroit St

3/18 Tues. Warsaw Education Foundation Quiz Bowl

3/19 Wed. Oratorical Contest Winners

3/19 Wed. Boys Basketball / Doug Ogle

3/21 Fri. Grace Wind Ensemble / Martin Becker / Rodeheaver

3/22 Sat. Bowling for Kids / Big Brothers Big Sisters @ The Bowling Alley

3/25 Tues.  Eva Kor, Surviving the Holocaust / Manahan Orthopaedic Capital Center

3/26 Wed. Warsaw Community Schools Chief Academic Officer David Hoffert

3/27 Thurs. Business After Hours at Warsaw High School Performing Arts Center (PAC)

4/2 Wed. English Learner Tutoring – Phil Call

4/9 Wed. Big Brother Big Sister – Trina Hoy

4/16 Wed. WPD DARE / Corporal Doug Light & Ptl Officer Jeff Tickner

4/23 Wed. Nate Bosch / Center for Lakes & Streams

4/30 Wed. Josh Wildman CEO of Wildman Business Group

5/7 Wed. Splash Pad / Erin Porter

5/14 Wed. Sheriff’s Office / Aaron Rovenstine

5/18 Sun. City of Lakes Cruise-In

5/21 Wed. Optimist Singers / Memorial Day

5/28 Wed. Warsaw Community Schools / Dr. Craig Hintz

6/4 Wed. FWA Airport Authority – Jessica Miller

6/16 Mon. Boomerang Backpack Golf Outing

6/19 Thur. Optimist Golf Outing

6/25 Wed. Registration Packets for Triathlon

6/28 Sat. Triathlon

7/2 Wed. Rebecca Bazzoni / Jacobs Ladder

7/9 Wed. Christon Clark / Habitat for Humanity

7/23 Wed. Warsaw Area Career Center / Ronna Kawsky

7/23 Wed. Cheerleaders

8/1 Fri. Penguin Point and Optimist Big Wheel Race

8/6 Wed. Boys Soccer

8/8 & 9 Fri. & Sat. Indiana North District Convention at Warsaw

9/10 Wed. WCHS Athletics / Dave Anson

 

Wednesday, March 5, 2014

President Everett Nifong led our meeting.

>>>>OPENING

84 Optimists & 12 guests attended our meeting.  Brenda Hiner was the guest of Jim Bricker, David Cates was the guest of James Layne, Ralph Turner was the guest of Mitch Goon, Rusty & Tammy Meier were the guests of David Meier, Adam Heckaman was the guest of Art Gakstatter, Tony Elliott was the guest of Sam Whitaker & Art Gakstatter, Ricardo Scarlett was the guest of Greg Binkerd, Mickey Smethers was the guest of Don Kenipe, Reginald Young was the guest of Dr. KT Kishan, Keegan & Kamden Tom were the guests of Angie Tom.   

Door Greeters:  State Senator Dr. Pam Galloway and Lt. John Sullivan.

Prayer:  Past President Max Mock led us in prayer.

Pledge was given to the American flag. 

Promise yourself was said in unison. 

Martin Becker led us in singing Hail to Optimism.

Birthday Honorees:  Coltin Brumfield & Dr. Jon Lippe.  Martin Becker led us in the birthday song with great results.    

 

            >>>> INFORMATION

Prayer Requests:

Larry Bishop’s recovery from his 3^rd ankle surgery.

 

Membership:  Past President Max Mock inducted David Cates.  Membership Chairman Kellie Malcolm read Brenda Hiner’s, Adam Heckaman’s, Rusty Meier’s,Tammy Meier’s, Ralph Turner’s, Ricardo Scarlett’s, & Mickey Smethers’ applications.  David, Brenda, Adam, Rusty, Tammy, Ralph, Ricardo, & Mickey are sponsored by Jim Layne, Jim Bricker, Art Gakstatter, David Meier, Mitch Goon, Greg Binkerd, & Don Kenipe. 

 

Past President Jeff Owens reminded his helpers our Oratorical Contest is Friday, March 7^th at Zimmer’s Headquarters, just north of the library, at 7 p.m., doors open at 6 p.m. 

The three top scorers, at the Club level receive medallions and their choice of an iPad Mini, Nexus 7, or Nook.  Prize sponsors are Esther Pfleiderer Charitable Trust at 1^st Source Bank and Lake City Bank. 

 

Past Pres. Jeff Owens reported we have an Essay Contest entrant. 

 

Past Gov. Ron Donkers & Lt. Gov. John Sullivan reminded us of Optimist International Foundation’s Dime-A-Day fundraising program.  Some of the overhead for things like the Oratorical and Essay contests at the district and higher levels are in need of funding.  The higher level Oratorical Contest winner receives $2,500 and the higher level Essay Contest winner receives $500.  As a larger club, we need to cover a large part of these costs.  The Dime-A Day program is a great way to do this.  Please send your $36.50 to Optimist International Foundation, Dime-A-Day Campaign, P.O. Box 952126, St. Louis, MO 63195.  Make sure you put “club # 04555” in the memo section of your check. An even better way to do this is to use a form Ron has to have your card charged $3.05 per month on an ongoing basis.  The forms are by the badge box.

 

Trace Hansen reported our Spring Break Skate is April 7 through 11.  Eastlake Skate provides free admission and we provide the skate rental.  Volunteers are needed to take the tickets to the schools the week before Spring Break.

 

May 18^th City of Lakes Cruise-In to Downtown Warsaw:  Co-Chair Past President John Elliott reminded us that we really need some people to approach potential corporate sponsors.  Those interested should meet after our March 12^th meeting.  Remember to give your sponsorship money to John Teevan, the guy with the money tie.  On Sunday, April 13 we are visiting the Michiana PT Cruiser show.  The Duesenberg Cord Auburn Museum will feature one or two cars. Special invitations have been extended to the Michiana PT Cruiser Car Club, the Fort Wayne Corvette Club and the Hoosier A Ford Club to host their car clubs at our Cruise In.  Working with Owens Supermarket, we’ve also invited the Oscar Meyer “Hot-Dog” Mobile to our show.  Purdue President Mitch Daniels has been personally invited to ride his motorcycle and be the Grand Marshall of our escorted Cruise to the Village of Winona Lake.

Our goal is to host 250 cars, trucks, and motorcycles; have some fun; and make $15,000 to support the youth activities of our Club.

As a Club member, we are asking you to commit to three things to help make this event successful:

1. Clear May 18 on your schedule so you can help with the event

2. Be a $25 Trophy Sponsor or upgrade to the Bronze, Silver or Gold level.

3. Secure one additional sponsor of the event at the $500 … $200 … $100 level.

Enclosed in the action packets are a yellow Trophy Sponsor or higher form for members of our club.  The white Sponsor form is for others who we are asking to support at the $100, $200, or $500 levels.  John Teevan will be monitoring our support.  Please turn your sponsorship forms along with your check to “the guy with the money tie.”

• We are looking for some people to call on businesses to ask them to sponsor our Cruise In at the $100, $200, or $500 level.  Please meet with John Elliott, Art Gakstatter, Alan Lucht, & Dr.Jenny Lucht after our March 12^th meeting.

 

 

Board Member Tracy Horrell presented Abbi Richcreek with a $600 check for the 1^st Annual Warsaw Robotics Tournament.

 

Past President George Brennan has organized our 2 teams of people who know a lot about nothing for our Warsaw Education Foundation Quiz Bowl onTuesday, March 18. 

 

Rick Kerlin is looking for volunteers to answer the phones for the Riley Radio Days fundraiser.  Help is needed in 1 hour shifts from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. on Thursday, March 13 and Friday, March 14.

 

President Everett Nifong reported our Golf Outing fundraiser will be Thursday, June 19 at 1 p.m. at Stonehenge.  Please consider golfing, becoming a Tee Sponsor, donating a door prize or goody bag items.

 

Past Gov. and Triathlon Chairman Ron Donkers reported our Triathlon is open.  We already have 40 registrations.  Save Saturday, June 28 on your calendar.

 

Past Lt. Gov. Dr. David Haines provided our first post to our Year in Review series.  It is featured on the front page of our website.  Here is a direct linkhttps://warsawoptimist.org/1975-1976-year-in-review/ .

 

President Everett Nifong reported we need to be more proactive when it comes to paying our dues. 

 

Dave Meier announced our 34^th Annual Big Wheel Race is Friday, August 1 at Center Lake Park.  Registration starts at 5:45 p.m.  Race is at 7 p.m.  Thanks to Penguin Point for sponsoring the bicycles, trophies, and gift certificates.

 

Lt. Gov. John Sullivan reported our Indiana North District Convention will be in Warsaw August 8^th and 9^th.

 

Past President Tracy Furnivall invited us to Baker Youth Club’s 2^nd annual BYC Madness on Friday, March 14 at 5:30pm at the Wagon Wheel.

 

Dave Meier invited us to support our school at the 35^th Big Wally Eating Contest on Tuesday, March 18 at 7 p.m. at North Detroit Street Penguin Point.  The traveling trophy is currently at Tippe Valley.  $250 of prize money goes to the winning school’s prom fund.  WRSW will broadcast this great event “bite by bite.”

 

Big Brothers Big Sisters Community Development Director for Kosciusko County Trina Hoy challenged us to provide at least 4 teams of 5 bowlers for BBBS’s Bowl for Kids’ Sake at The Bowling Alley, by Tokens N Tickets N. Detroit Street, Saturday, March 22.  There are openings at 11 a.m., 1:30 p.m., and 4 p.m.  Each bowler is asked to secure pledges of $100 or more.  All of the money raised goes to support matches of Bigs and kids.  You can register online at www.bbbsnei.orgor with the registration forms Trina has by our badge box.

 

Kelsi Griffith invited us to hear Holocaust survivor Eva Kor at the Manahan Orthopaedic Capital Center on Tuesday, March 25^th at 6 p.m.  The topic is Surviving the Holocaust –  Stopping Hate.  Understanding Suffering.  Finding Forgiveness.   

 

Laurie Schotz invited us to see The Fantasticks, the World’s Longest-Running Musical at our Warsaw Performing Arts Center (PAC) at our Warsaw Community High School at 7 p.m. on Thursday, March 13.  Tickets are $25, $15 for students.

 

Laurie Schotz invited us to see Miss Nelson is Missing!, a play aimed at children at our Warsaw Performing Arts Center (PAC) at our Warsaw Community High School at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, March 18.  Tickets are $10, $5 for students.  

 

Director Martin Becker invited us to the Grace Wind Ensemble’s Salute to Souza at Rodeheaver on Friday, March 21 at 7:30 p.m.

 

Laurie Schotz invited us to see our Warsaw Community High School Performing Arts Center (PAC) at a Chamber After Hours between 5 p.m.  to 7 p.m. on Thursday, March 27. 

 

Student of the Week Chairman Tracy Horrell introduced us to Ronna Kawsky who introduced us to:  Alicia Richey, Coltin Brumfield, Will Petro, Sandra Granda,Joshua Cardin, Sam Allbritten, Riley Betz, & Emily Poe.

 

Video Editor Jim Hayes showed us a new Penguin Point TV commercial.  We recognized our better looking members in the video.

 

Sergeants-at-Arms:  Trace Hansen entertained us.

 

Those in the Penguin Point commercial were recognized. 

 

Trina Hoy is happy to have water after all the problems caused by the weather.

 

Trace reminded Past President John Elliott that Ohio State Football recently went through a stretch of wins resulting in a 24 – 0 record that resulted in nothing.

 

Past President Dr. Charles Hollar, Actor Dr. Steve Hollar, Mayor Dr. Joe Thallemer, and Actor Dr. Mitch Reinholt were recognized for National Dentist Day.  

 

 

 

Program:  

 

Program Chairman Akash Jain introduced us to WCHS Assistant Principal Amanda Scroggs who introduced us to Courtney Thompson who read the Caged Bird and Grace Robison who read Sheet Music.  Our poetry team is in the top 10 in the state.