Wednesday, November 14, 2012
Future Dates
11/16 & 17 Fri. & Sat. Hoops for Hope
11/16 Fri. Grace College Community Wind Ensemble
11/17 Sat. unload Christmas Trees at Owens East
11/17 & 18 Sat. & Sun. Christmas Tree sales
11/18 Sun. Lego League competition at Grace
11/21 Wed. Jim Reeve’s Cub Scout Cake Auction / poinsettias are delivered
11/24 Sat. Salvation Army Bell Ringing
11/24 & 25 Sat. & Sun. Christmas Tree sales
11/28 Wed. Mayor Joe Thallemer
12/1 & 2 Sat. & Sun. Christmas Tree sales
12/4 Tues. Baker Youth Club Open House
12/5 Wed. Lindsey Best – Big Brothers Big Sisters
12/8 & 9 Sat. & Sun. Christmas Tree sales
12/12 Wed. Mike Couzens, voice of the Tin Caps – Business of Minor League
12/15 & 16 Sat. & Sun. Christmas Tree sales
12/19 Wed. Optimist Singers
12/22 & 23 Sat. & Sun. Christmas Tree sales
12/26 Wed. no program
1/2 Wed. White Elephant Auction
1/16 Wed. Christon Clark / Habitat for Humanity
1/23 Wed. Warsaw Schools Symphony
2/6 Wed. Rebecca Bazzoni / Jacob’s Ladder
2/13 Wed. Warsaw Schools Band
3/27 Wed. Dave Hoffert / Chief Academic Officer
5/19/13 Sun. Car Show
6/29/13 Sat. Triathlon
Wednesday, November 14, 2012
>>>>OPENING
84 Optimists & 12 guests attended our meeting. Michael D McCarty was the guest of Harry Gigous; Dennis and Shelly Reeve were the guests of Jim Reeve; Dr. Neeta Jain, and Chris Gensinger, Tracie and Steve Hawblitzel, Sara Hawblitzel, Kim Curson, Jeff Puckett, Karen Anderson, and Wayne Nicola were the guests of Akash Jain.
Door Greeters: Ed Nordstrom.
Prayer was offered by Fred Nieter.
Pledge was given to the American flag.
Promise yourself was said in unison.
Martin Becker led us as we sang “Hail to Optimism.”
Birthday Honoree: Audrey Curson. Martin Becker led us in the birthday song with good results.
>>>> INFORMATION
Prayer Requests: Matt Boren’s family at the passing of his father, Jail Chaplain John Boren.
Membership: Past President Jeff Owens’ assistant Jon Harding readDennis Williams’ application. Past President John Elliott inducted Jon Harding. Dennis Williams is sponsored by Coach Jim Kessler. Jon Harding is sponsored by Board Member Andy Swihart. Jeff Owens encouraged us to have a goal to bring guests. Once they visit they will want to join.
Sheriff of Attendance Bill Landrigan and Deputy Harry Gigous took a well deserved week off after getting 86 of us here last week.
Past Pres. Bob Jackson announced Hoops for Hope will be Friday, November 16 at 2 p.m., 4 p.m., 6 p.m., and 8 p.m. and Saturday, November 17 at 10 a.m., noon, 2 p.m., and 4 p.m. The games are at Grace’s Orthopaedic Capital Center and they raise money for the Kosciusko County Cancer Care Fund that help families dealing with cancer handle some of the incidentals. K21 Health Foundation President Rich Haddad reported the need is bigger this year than any year before. The cost of admission is $5 per person including the players, coaches and referees. This year’s teams are Grace, Huntington, Robert Morris, and Missouri Baptist. Both men’s and women’s teams are competing.
Optimist Singer Dave Turner invited us to hear the Grace College Community Wind Ensemble perform their Fall Concert – Rejoice with Praise and Thanksgiving on Friday, November 16 at 7:30 p.m. at Rodeheaver.
Optimist Singer Director Martin Becker recognized our Optimist Singers for their busy week. They performed at our meeting, South Whitley Elementary, and our Rochester Club. New singers are welcome. Practice starts at 6 a.m. and for 30 minutes after our weekly meetings.
Luke Becknell announced we collected $238 last week for food for Salvation Army. Luke collected from us today as well.
Christmas Tree Co-Chairmen Harry Gigous and Ot Schroeder thanked those who helped set up the Christmas Tree lot at Owens East. Help is needed Saturday November 17 at 9 a.m. to unload the Christmas Trees.
Owens manager Michael McCarty reported they donated $1190 to us last year. Mike graciously is continuing the offer of $5 donated to us for every tree sold at the regular price. The biggest sale days are the first two weekends in December. To help sell trees, just show up. To get in the Pinky Eherenman’s trailer, use the last 4 digits of Jeff’s phone number to unlock the realtor lock that has the key.
Past President Sam Whitaker told how we used to sell Christmas Trees, but the sales were declining. It took a lot of labor for the money that was raised. In 2010 Past President John Elliott came up with the idea of a Car Show that could replace the Christmas Tree sales. Thanks to Art Gakstatter, John Elliott, and the volunteers from the club, the Car Show was a big success. As a club we voted to discontinue our Christmas Tree sales project. Owens manager Charles Neuwirth offered to donate $5 to us for every tree that Owens sold. Those who missed the opportunity to sell Christmas Trees (Kevin Weaver and Angie Tom) decided they wanted to help people pick out their tree. That is how our recent Christmas Tree sales have evolved.
Past President Charles Hollar reminisced about our earlier Christmas Tree sales. He said when his father, Floyd Hollar was a member, they sold Christmas Trees at the Strand Theater, then the B & K Root Beer stand, and later at the Fairgrounds. At times the least desirable trees would be burnt at the Fairgrounds with the Fire Department on hand.
Past Lt. Gov. and Noon Club member Dennis Reeve took orders forPoinsettias to be delivered at next week’s meeting.
Merl Heckaman announced we will ring the bell for Salvation Army at WalMart and Kmart on Saturday, November 24.
Safe Assured ID Chairman Jay Tate read a sad letter from the Safe Assured office. Our local student who passed away this past week was identified by the information from her Safe Assured disc.
Next week’s cake auction will benefit Past Lt. Gov. Jim Reeve’s Cub Scoutgroup.
President Tracy Furnivall invited us to the Baker Youth Clubs’ Tuesday, December 4th Open House. Hours are from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Past President John Elliott announced our Car Show will be downtown onSunday, May 19, 2013.
Past Gov. Ron Donkers made a major announcement about 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.
Please pray for our Troops and Families: Kris Elliott – Marines
Sergeants-at-Arms: John Elliott, Everett Nifong, and Joel Wihebrinkentertained us.
Ken Anderson is celebrating his 40th anniversary.
Coach Doug Ogle is proud of his daughters, Creigh for her Cross Country results and Cendall for being a top NAIA champion in Cross Country.
Dave Meier and Penguin Point were recognized for partnering with kids.
Rick Kerlin and Kerlin Motors and Kerlin Western were recognized for a wildly successful coat drive.
Past President and Voter Max Mock had to pay his “poll tax” since he is the only one of us that had proof they voted.
Past President George Brennan was recognized in Ball State’s literature.
Past Lt. Gov. Dennis Reeve was recognized.
Fred Nieter will read something next week that our Optibullette Editor Emeritus Wayne Snider found about our veterans.
Program:
Eisenhower Principal Chris Gensinger introduced us to our own, Akash Jain. Club coaches are a paid position in our schools. Akash volunteers his time, talent and money to make the Eisenhower Robotics team all that it can be.
Robotics Coach Akash Jain and Chris Gensinger introduced us to Eisenhower Elementary School’s Robotics Teams. The Squirrel Girls are: Abby Doberstein, Ananaya Jain, Audrey Curson, Emily Puckett, and Sydney Marles. The boys team is the Flying Squirrels: Alex Hawblitzel, Harrison Bontrager, Jarrett Orr, Remington Swanson, and Tyler Metzinger.
The kids put in lots and lots of practice. They work on their robots before school, during lunch, and on Saturdays. They have one guaranteed competition. They have to win it to compete again. It takes 3 hours to set up the table they compete on.
The Squirrel Girls did a skit showing a future solution to memory loss.
The Flying Squirrels did a skit showing a future solution to our troubles learning new technologies.
The robots are precise. By adding or subtracting just one Lego piece, or adjusting the rear wheel suspension, or the precise spot the robot is placed on the table, let alone changing the program the teams can change the outcomes. This is an excellent activity to master the scientific method, of modifying one thing at a time and checking the results for that variable.
They are competing in the Regional at Grace College, Sunday, November 18.
