Wednesday, May 21, 2014
Future Dates
5/28 Wed. Warsaw Community Schools / Dr. Craig Hintz
5/28 Wed. Review Cruise-In (after club meeting)
6/4 Wed. FWA Airport Authority – Jessica Miller
6/11 Wed. Mudlove Kyle Garberson
6/16 Mon. Boomerang Backpack Golf Outing
6/18 Wed. Guy Fisher / Goodwill Career Center
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
7/16 Wed. Mayor Dr. Joe Thallemer / State of the City
7/23 Wed. Warsaw Area Career Center / Ronna Kawsky
7/23 Wed. Cheerleaders
7/30 Wed. Paragon
8/1 Fri. Penguin Point and Optimist Big Wheel Race
8/6 Wed. Boys Soccer
8/8 Fri. Indiana North District Golf Outing
8/8 & 9 Fri. & Sat. Indiana North District Convention at Warsaw
8/13 Wed. Boys Cross Country
8/20 Wed. Boys Tennis
9/3 Wed. Girls Soccer
9/10 Wed. Girls Golf
9/10 Wed. WCHS Athletics / Dave Anson
9/17 Wed. Crystal Heckaman / Rachel’s Challenge – Friends of Rachel
Wednesday, May 21, 2014
President Everett Nifong led our meeting.
>>>>OPENING
96 Optimists & 9 guests attended our meeting. Scott Reust was the guest of Joel Wihebrink; Kevin Sandberg was the guest of John Elliott; Ryan Goon, Chad Goon, & Nikos Schlitt were our guests from our Octagon Club; Dr. Sarah Masterson was the guest of Mike Cox; Ben Essick was the guest of Martin Becker; Troy Redenbarger was the guest of Angie Tom; Clelda Benning was the guest of David Benning and Ann Sweet.
Door Greeters: Noel Hoke & Bob Jackson.
Prayer: Luke Becknell led us in prayer.
Our Warsaw JROTC presented the colors.
Our Optimist Singers under the direction of Martin Becker led us in singing our National Anthem.
Pledge was given to the American flag.
Promise yourself was said in unison.
Martin Becker led us in singing Hail to Optimism.
Birthday Honorees: Karen Kauffman, Trace Hansen, Ron Chambers, Andy Swihart, & Craig Nayrocker. Martin Becker led us in the birthday song with great results.
>>>> INFORMATION
Prayer Requests:
Rocky Goshert’s family at his father, Bill’s passing.
Larry Bishop’s continued recovery from ankle surgery. It was great to see Larry today!
Coach Jim Kessler’s granddaughter, Claudia’s recovery from eye surgery. She will have follow-up surgeries around early June and early July. Pray for comfort and patience for Claudia this spring and summer.
Membership: Past Lt. Gov. Ot Schroeder inducted Julia Yestrembsky and read Scott Reust’s application. Julia and Scott are sponsored by Toni Derry and Past Pres. Joel Wihebrink.
Treasurer Andy Swihart presented Sergeant Major Mark Whitford with a $1000 check for our Warsaw Community High School JROTC program.
Our Octagon officers: Ryan Goon, Chad Goon, and Nikos Schlitt presented our Past Pres. Tracy Furnivall $400 for Baker Youth Club. Ryan, Chad, and Nikosreported on some of the many things Octagon has done: sold cotton candy and fall displays, raised over $1,000 for Riley Children’s Hospital, helped with our Santa House, school carnivals, Toys for Tots, read to elementary kids, & put on their Super-Bowl of Caring.
Jim Hayes and Past Pres. Tracy Furnivall are working on a replacement for our projector, which is has problems that would be more expensive than a new projector.
President Everett Nifong reported that over and above providing a great breakfast, Golden Corral is donating 100 meals for our students we invite to our meetings. Thanks to Golden Corral for their generosity!
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.
Craig Nayrocker is looking for someone to take over writing our Optibullette newsletter. See Craig to find out more.
Bart Templeton is passing around a sign-up sheet for greeters.
Trina Hoy reported our Suggestion Box needs suggestions. It is a great way to get ideas to our leadership.
Co-Chairs John Elliott and Art Gakstatter thanked everyone who worked our City of Lakes Cruise-In to Downtown Warsaw. Club members were there from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Many participants commented on the friendly volunteers. Jim Lancaster donated to our Car Show in honor of Chubb Smith, Bill Dalton, John Crum, & Phil Eherenman.
There will be an important meeting after next week’s club meeting. We will review this year’s Cruise-In for possible tweaks next year.
President Everett Nifong reminded us of our Golf Outing that will be Thursday, June 19 at Stonehenge. Registration begins at 11 a.m., lunch is at 11:30 a.m., and the Shotgun start is at 1 p.m. Cost is $440 per foursome including golf, cart, lunch, and driving range use. Please consider golfing, becoming a Tee Sponsor,donating a door prize or goody bag items. Tee Sponsorships are $100. Brochures are here and on our website. We have 22 to 25 teams signed up.
Triathlon Co-Chairman Luke Becknell is sending around a T-shirt sign-up sheet. If you want a $5 T-shirt mark the size you want. Remember we all need to work our Triathlon. Next week our sub-chairpeople will start lining up their help. Our new members and our long term members all need to block off the last Saturday in June. We need to keep that open every year. This year it is June 28. Luke Becknell as our manpower chairman can connect anyone with a function that needs help. This year we will have youth races (11 & 12 year olds and 13 & 14 year olds, 15 year olds are with the adults) in addition to our usual event. This year Akash Jain is working with Jim Hayes on the database. Wow, we now have 2 “get-er-done” kind of guys doing this mountain of behind the scenes work!
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/
President Everett Nifong asked us to keep an eye out for our 3rd quarter dues statements. They went out by e-mail May 11. Check your spam or junk file if it is not in your regular in-box.
Eric Ohman reported the Warsaw Evangelical Presbyterian Church has 50 paid scholarships available to their Day Camp that runs from June 16 to 20. He asked us to introduce this opportunity to any family who has kids between Kindergarten through 5th grade.
George Paton brought a supply of booklets with discounts at Martin’s Supermarket. They are good through June of 2014. If anyone knows anyone who would benefit from these can distribute them.
The Walk-N-Wander display of sixteen life-size bronze sculptures by Seward Johnson is from June 6 to September 28.
Trina Hoy invited all to The Big Ride for Kid’s Sake to benefit Kosciusko County kids. It is August 2 with the proceeds go to Little Brothers & Little Sisters of our county. Registration is at 10 a.m. The cost is $20 per rider or $25 per rider and passenger. The 100-mile ride starts at The Bowling Alley. See Trina Hoy for more information.
Dave Meier announced our 34th 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.
Past Gov. Ron Donkers reported our Indiana North District Convention will be in Warsaw, Friday & Saturday, August 8th and 9th. There will be a fun Golf Outingon Friday the 8th.
Past Gov. Ron Donkers thanked Akash Jain for stepping up to help Jim Hayes with our database.
Troy Akers invited us to the 2nd Annual Boomerang Backpacks Golf Outing, Monday, June 16 at Tippecanoe Lake Country Club. It will help feed students from Warsaw, Wawasee, & Tippy Valley on the weekends. Cost is $400 for a foursome. Sponsorship opportunities are available. See Tracey Akers attrakers@warsaw.k12.in.us .
Sergeants-at-Arms: Luke Becknell, Trace Hansen, and Lyle Enyeart entertained us.
President Everett Nifong is celebrating his 2nd grandchild.
Jim Walmer is celebrating his new grandchild.
Alan & Dr. Jenny Lucht are celebrating their 10th grandchild.
Those with over 10 grandchildren were recognized. Past Lt. Gov. Dr. David Haines appears to have the record at 20 grandchildren.
Joe Wilkey is happily expecting his grandchild from Dr. Mitch Reinholt.
Coach Jim Kessler’s granddaughter Lanae is a champion shot put star.
Legendary Storyteller Fred Nieter told us great news that Coach Doug Ogle’s daughter, Cendall is a new teacher at Lincoln Elementary.
John Burtoft is celebrating his son’s wedding.
Santa House Co-Chair Jane Wear thanked our Knights of Columbus members for raising $15,700 in the Tootsie Roll Drive for Cardinal Services.
Bill Landrigan is proud of his granddaughter, Kristin Quick, who is an Indy 500 Princess.
In honor of Limerick Day, Bill Landrigan recited a poem about his hat.
Next week Dr. Craig Hintz will speak about Warsaw Community Schools. We have been blessed to have his leadership.
Program:
Our Optimist Singers entertained us as they reminded us of the great debt we owe to those who have served. They were directed by Martin Becker, and accompanied by Millie Andrews and Ben Essick.
They sang:
Precious Lord Take My Hand
Let there be Peace Like a River
Let there be Peace on Earth
Lord Listen to Your Children Pray
Seize the Day
Medley of American Services honoring
Army veterans
Marine veterans
Navy veterans
Air Force veterans
America, America, God Shed His Grace on Thee
We recognized and thanked those who have served our country.
Our Optimist Singers then sang, God Bless the U.S.A.
Our program was closed by Martin Becker playing Taps.
