Valerie rang the bell at 12:10 PM.   Invocation  = Bob Merriman     Pledge =Jerry Browning      Attendance  = 64

MYSTERY PERSON:  Pete Bakutes noted that he is celebrating a 6-month relationship with a wonderful woman and chose the 6^th person to shake his hand.  Prez. Valerie,  a wonderful woman herself,  receives a free lunch next week.
TAIL TWISTER: Steve Henderson’s word of the week is “catch”.  He wants each of us to catch someone doing something right and compliment him or her.
FELLOWSHIP: Marilyn Bohanan was absent so Valerie asked for birthday volunteers.  Pat Brown let us know that his birthday is this week.     
ANNOUNCEMENTS:  
*Show Me State Games – Larry Fick thanked the volunteers last week but offered a few leftover shirts.  He hopes that if members like the shirts they will volunteer next year!
*East Missouri District Meeting, August 23 in St. Louis. If you would like to attend the Club will pay your registration, which includes lunch. Aug. 15^th is the deadline for registering. Please let Joe Reardon know before then that you would like to attend.
*Wednesday, August 6, is our day to help at the Central Missouri Food Bank and Valerie thanked, in advance, Mark Stevenson, Rick McKernan, Chris Brewer and Jake Jolley for volunteering to help from 6 – 8.  Please feel free to bring your children and show them Optimism at work! She also offered a SPECIAL thanks to Chairman Connie Howe, who, although on vacation on the East Coast, still managed to make these arrangements and let us know in advance!  Hope you’re having a good time, Connie!
*Productivity Enhancement Program – Valerie Goodin made the following presentation.  Two weeks ago we introduced the PEP project which would bring 11 industry-specific, Russian entrepreneurs to Columbia for 21 days.  The purpose of this project, supported by our government is to help Russians transition to a free market economy. The program is administered by a private agency [CCI] in San Francisco and delivered through civic organizations across the country. There are 4 major components of the project. They are home hosting, training, transportation, and socialization.  The group we are considering hosting are private medical clinic managers.  
   The training component is the most extensive. Clubs are asked to obtain a day of training on site at a local agency or business. The PEP project gives an extensive list of possible sites and we have already developed a local list of 16 potential training sites. Each business host will be given an outline to follow for the training day that ensures important basic business issues are covered. Each hosting business is asked to provide lunch for the group and a place where the group can meet for one hour at the end of the day to review what they have learned.
   Russian who are selected for this program are required to pay their own way to America to participate. In addition, they have extensive reporting and programmatic responsibilities in Russia, after they return from the US.  Here are comments from 2 participants, with regard to their training:

Boris …, age 55, Furniture Manufacturer. "We started from scratch in 1992 with no history. We attended large exhibitions, watching and learning, even from the Italians. My education in Soviet times was engineer of automated systems. We now make office furniture and some for households. PEP was no doubt useful. Only one of us had visited the US previously.  Our boldest expectations had been surpassed. Professionally it was very educational and useful. We were impressed with openness of our American colleagues.  They shared their secrets of management with us. Also we learned a more natural and healthy type of furniture production. We use this technology now. I'm now doing veneer.  So many interesting things I was learning in the US that while where, I was constantly calling my partners in Chelyabinsk and telling them how to change our technology.  Now I give presentations on my trip to America.  So the practical result of my trip is not only a professional one.

Svetlana …, early 40s, dentist:  "We started from scratch and need more equipment, but we are building good business. My dream is a new building like I saw in America.  My internship was fantastic. Americans took great interest to give us their experience. Dental hygienist was new information for us.  Immediately on return .., I implemented hygienist training and service for our patients. Also I learned of bleaching teeth in the US to make pretty smiles. I purchased American materials, and later learned I can buy in Moscow too.  Russian people want white teeth.  I learned better how to organize my own work and that of my staff from American dentists. Very important. I think about 30% of Russian citizens can afford private dentists.  I am eager for the day when all citizens can take proper care of their teeth.  While in the US I video filmed everything. After returning I invited my dentist friends to see the films and then I published information about PEP and training in newspapers and magazines.
   Last March the Optimist Club of Lawrence, KS hosted a group of pharmacists, and their story was written up in the most recent issue of The Optimist magazine. Please read it. PEP information is available which gives an overview of this project. In the Bulletin we will also include the web site for PEP, which tells even more.
   Next week, Valerie will share some of the more humorous aspects of this project. In the meantime, she met a local Russian entrepreneur, Natasha. She owns Natasha’s European Delicatessen and serves some of the best sandwiches around! So, if you’re up for a delicious new experience, please try Natasha’s at 705 H Vandiver Dr.

GREETER --  Pat Brown was our greeter.  He joined the club 5 – 6 years ago.  Growing up in Columbia, he as always associated the Christmas Tree lots with the Optimists.  He enjoys working at the tree lots and the air show, a good 2-day fundraiser for our club and a fun patriotic activity.  He likes to work at the Food Bank and claims he is the worst Koeze Nut salesman.  He is glad to be a member and feels it is a great way to serve the community.  
*Next Week’s program --  KOPN 30^th Anniversary – Christine Gardiner
PROGRAM:    Susan Long introduced Peggy Kirkpatrick, Executive Director of the Central Missouri Food Bank by telling us that since Peggy became the Executive Director, the Food Bank has gone from distributing 2 million pounds of food each year to over 15.5 million pounds last year.  She was also instrumental in eliminating any fee to get food. Of the 196 food banks in our country, only 3 don’t charge for food.
     Peggy went on the tell us that over 90,000 people in the service area of the Central Missouri Food Bank live in poverty.  Over half of them are children.  That, she says, is the face of hunger.  The Food Bank is partnering with Granny’s House, Olivet Church, Bethel Church, and several civic groups in Moberly to supply food for an evening meal in a setting called “Kids’ Café”.  Not only do these places feed children an evening meal, they provide an opportunity to reach out and interact with the kids.
           The Central Missouri Food Bank feeds 52,000 people per month.  Their budget is $1.4 million.  About 69% of their fundraising comes from Boone County.  For every dollar donated, they can buy 20 pounds of food.  They receive food locally from Con Agra, General Mills, Tyson, Bungee, Premium Standard, Quaker and Columbia Foods.

August 11, 2003

Valerie rang the bell at 12:15 PM.      Attendance  =72                                                          *Invocation  Joe Reardon                      
*Pledge    Sam and Sydney Merriman, Bob Merriman’s grandchildren
GUESTS:  Rick McKernan introduced Beth Starnes who just starting working in his office.  By the way, she is an MU grad!
MYSTERY PERSON:    Brian Hudspeth was the mystery person.  Since this is the eleventh of August, he chose the eleventh person who shook his hand.  Congratulations, Ed Hampton.
TAIL TWISTER: Steve Henderson – The Word of the Week is “days”.  He reminds us that some days you’re the pigeon and some days you’re the statue.  We held a raffle for a gift basket, donated by KOPN.  Rick McKernan was the lucky winner.
FELLOWSHIP:  Marilyn Bohanan  - There were no birthdays to announce this week and no one volunteered any anniversary information.
ANNOUNCEMENTS:  
*Mentoring  Pete Bakutes announced that the next training session for mentors for the Front Door will begin next Tuesday, August 19, from 6 – 7 PM at the Boys and Girls Town offices in the Parkade Center.  The training will continue on Tuesday, Aug 26 and Tuesday, Sept. 2 at the same time and location.
*East Missouri District Meeting, August 23 in St. Louis. If you would like to attend the Club will pay your registration, which includes lunch. Aug. 15^th is the deadline for registering. Please let Joe Reardon know before then that you would like to attend. So far, we have Luke and Joann Chase, Red and Dorcas Leighton and Valerie Goodin.
*Club Out Hunger Luncheon - It's time again for the annual CLUB OUT HUNGER LUNCHEON with Coach Gary Pinkel and the Missouri Tigers Score Against Hunger campaign.  Luncheon is Friday August 22, 2003 Noon - 1 p.m. (serving line open at 11:30)- Hearnes Field House  Cost - $7 
   Valerie asked for a show of hands for attendance.  If you were not at the meeting and plan to attend, please contact Valerie Goodin. This year it will be Pinkel's Pigskin Trivia contest - with a twist!  Here's how it works:
*          Each club fields a contestant to compete in the trivia challenge
*          Here's the twist - with every $500 in donations or pledges the contestant has upon entering the game, they will receive 1 BS (bad sport) penalty flag.  A BS flag may be thrown at any time at any other contestant causing that player to LOSE 10 yards.  So this is not only a game of intelligence but strategy!
 *          No one will know how many penalty flags you have until the game starts.  However, several clubs have recently made (or pledged) donations to the Score campaign and they will count toward penalty flags.  ***The money we donated for the "Will Golf for Food" tournament will count for Downtown Optimist Club flags!!!  :-)   We need a contestant.  Please contact Valerie if you would like to participate.
*Productivity Enhancement Program – Three weeks ago we introduced the PEP project that would bring 11 industry-specific, Russian entrepreneurs to Columbia for 21 days.  The purpose of this project, supported by our government is to help Russians transition to a free market economy. The program is administered by a private agency [CCI] in San Francisco and delivered through civic organizations across the country. There are 4 major components of the project. They are home hosting, training, transportation, and socialization.  The group we are considering hosting are private medical clinic managers.
   Thanks to a member, Valerie realize that she had not shared HOW THIS FITS WITH OUR CLUB’S PURPOSES.  Good Point! The following quote from Mr. Joe Shreve, Caldwell Idaho Optimist Club President, whose club hosted a group of small grocery store managers helps to explain this “dilemma”.    These are his words:

“How does this help the kids? Doesn't sound like much of a youth project, does it? When I first began
talking to club members about this PEP idea, one said "sounds like a Rotary project." Man, that really
galled me and, therefore, became one of my chief sources of motivation. I was out to prove him wrong, wrong, wrong.
  When you read the PEP literature supplied by CCI, it appears to be a small-business training project - a very "adult" kind of thing. And, of course, it is. That is to say, that is CCI's purpose in running the PEP program.
   Our club's purpose in hosting a delegation was quite different, however. If you take a look at the Purposes of Optimist, you will find buried in the middle the line about promoting international friendship. That is where this project fits. The Statement of Purposes of Optimist allows wide latitude for Optimist Clubs to engage in a variety interesting and innovative projects.
   Under the umbrella of promoting international friendship, our purpose was to expose the delegates to as much Optimist style and American style volunteerism and can-do spirit as we could fit into the schedule. Volunteerism as we know it is pretty much an unknown commodity in former Communist countries where everything was done for you and your kids were taken care of too. These folks are just learning and we aimed to teach!
   By having them be "volunteers" at one of our youth projects we achieved the dual purposes of exposing
our kids to people from half way around the world and showing our foreign guests how to be a volunteer
and how volunteering with youth can be so rewarding.
  By adding visits to schools we achieved similar objectives. Getting a school principal to agree to such visits is no sweat. They love this kind of stuff. Between the two school visits and our own youth project, the Russians got to interact with and/or meet roughly 700 kids and visa-versa. Not too shabby for an "adult" project. Who knows, you might just interest one or two of them in starting Optimist Clubs in Russia, then you could really impact kids. Club building is one of those "adult" projects with "kid" consequences.
   You see, the very structure of PEP has as one of its goals the imparting of the spirit of "volunteerism" and American civic mindedness. If all CCI wanted to do was teach American business practices, they could hole the delegates up in a hotel in a major city and bring in speakers and have seminars all month long. But, by keeping the delegations small and arranging to "farm" them out to civic clubs all across America, so much more can be achieved.”

*Next Week’s program --  Centro Latino – Eduardo Crespi
GREETER --    Our newest member, John Foster, was our greeter.  He arrived in Columbia in 1979 as US Air Force recruiter.  He was a member of the Sunrise Optimist Club for 14 years.  After retiring from the Air Force, he stayed in Columbia and has worked primarily in manufacturing with Square D and 3M.  He prefers our meeting time to the early mornings of the Sunrise Club.  Given the current economic climate, he says you have to be an Optimist if working in manufacturing.
PROGRAM:    KOPN Anniversary - Margot McMillan
            KOPN, 89.5 FM is celebrating its 30^th anniversary.  Licensed in 1973, it is one of the few surviving community stations.  Although their programming includes some national shows, from 3PM through 8AM the programming is all community voices – music, news and discussion shows.  The signal for KOPN is available for approximately 50 miles around Columbia.  They employ 4 part time staff but nearly all functions from technicians to on air personalities are volunteers from our community.  They depend on fundraising including pledge drives, gift baskets and a concert series held at the Windsor Auditorium at Stephens College on the first Sunday of the month from September through December.  Contact KOPN at www.kopn.org or by phone at 874-1139. The request line is 874-5676 or and the talk line is 443-talk.

August 18, 2003                                                          

Valerie rang the bell at 12:20 PM.   *Invocation  = Bo Bossaller    *Pledge =   Al Jones                Attendance  = 48
GUESTS:  Steve Hudson brought his boss Lance Bell (can we say ‘brown nose’?) and fellow employee Josh Thornington (just kidding, Steve!); Cynthia Baker brought her young (and shy!) friend, Elizabeth; Dottie Stoerker-Peters brought her husband, E. J.; Wayne Taylor brought his adorable grandson, Cody; Karen Aulisa brought Jackie Le Rocke, and Rick Guilford brought his pretty daughter, Jennifer.  An honorable mention was given for the attendance of Scott Smith, a long time member brought in by Red Leighton.
MYSTERY PERSON: Jim Beckett said he pondered a mystery solution for a while, then gave up and chose the most enthusiastic member he met today, which was Cynthia Baker!   He said she was so enthusiastic that she shook his hand once, then came back again and shook his hand again.  So, Cynthia gets a free lunch next week!
TAIL TWISTER: Steve Henderson did not appear in court …err… at the meeting today.
FELLOWSHIP:  Marilyn Bohanan announced four birthdays this time!  Harold Hinshaw on 08/21; Lili Vianello on 08/22; plus Tony Aulisa and Gary Greenlee both on 08/24.  Happy Birthday, guys and guyettes!
ANNOUNCEMENTS:  
*Club Out Hunger Luncheon - It's time again for the annual CLUB OUT HUNGER LUNCHEON with Coach Gary Pinkel and the Missouri Tigers Score Against Hunger campaign.  Luncheon is Friday, August 22, 2003 Noon - 1 p.m. (serving line open at 11:30) Hearnes Field House (Cost - $7).   Steve Hudson will represent DOC in the Trivia Contest and will report his success at our next meeting.  We’re rooting for ya, Steve!
* Fall Picnic – features the Wayne, Max and Jess crew!  Steak fry (with some chicken thrown in) on September 17^th at the Clubhouse.  Tickets are $10 and sign up sheets will be at the next meeting.
*Holiday Sales Committee will meet at 6:00 PM Thursday August 21^st in the Clubhouse. All members who have had leadership roles last year are invited to attend and review the plans for this year, and Board members meeting that same night are welcome to attend.
*DOC Board meeting will follow the Holiday Sales meeting at 7:00 PM.
* We have the opportunity to participate in a fund-raiser, selling tickets to the Charity Day opening of Famous*Barr.  We need a chairman for this event. The chairman will need to attend a luncheon on Friday, Sept. 5^th. If anyone would like to chair this for our Club, please contact Valerie after this luncheon. Everyone who wants admission for the Charity Day opening, Oct. 20, has to have a ticket. If they do not buy one from a charity that is pre-selling them, they can buy one at the door. The tickets are sold for $5/each and our Club gets to keep ALL the MONEY we raise from the sale of tickets. However, to participate we must have a chairman who can attend the Sept. 5^th luncheon AND work in the store on Charity Day [Oct. 20].  This ticket sales program might package well with our KOEZE sales, which will be going on at nearly the same time.  So, when you buy your KOEZE goodies, maybe you’d like to buy some tickets and give them to your daughter, your spouse or a deserving employee for the pre-opening of Famous*Barr?? Now that’s called Power Shopping!
*Next Week’s program -- Mid- Missouri Mavericks – Pat Daly
GREETER --  no greeter today
PROGRAM:    Centro Latino de Salud, Educacion y Cultra – Eduardo Crespi, RN,  Director
Eduardo Crespi and his daughter Nicole have an informative presentation on the Centro Latino program.  It is a not for profit organization/referral center that has four centers in Missouri: Columbia, Milan, Marshall and Lake of the Ozarks.  Their objectives are to help the Hispanic newcomers to Missouri with their health, education, cultural and social services needs to empower them to become self sufficient. We closed with the Creed, led by Nicole Crespi.

August 25, 2003

Valerie rang the bell at 12:15 PM.  Invocation  = Jay Creasy  Pledge = Karen Aulisa   Attendance  = 63

GUESTS:  Tom Stemmons brought Don Miller; Christine White brought Sarah Mentor; Jessica Boyer brought Emily Williams; Valerie Goodin brought her hubby Richard; and Jay Creasy brought his son Jack, after his first day of kindergarten!
MYSTERY PERSON: Spence Turner mentioned that the college football games started this Friday, August 30^th and rather than pick the 30^th person to shake his hand, he made it simpler and chose the 3^rd person, which was Valerie Goodin! Valerie than graciously passed the free lunch on to Jay Creasy for bringing the youngest guest today, his son Jack!  Jay, lunch on the 8^th is on DOC!
TAIL TWISTER: Steve Henderson – is in Russia!
FELLOWSHIP:  Marilyn Bohanan had on her list the birthdays for this week’s meeting and next week’s since we will not have a meeting due to Labor Day holiday: Don Moellering and Dawn Thurnau on 08/30; Bob Bellinghausen on 09/02; Tim Schade on 09/03; Brenda Gibbs-Brown on 09/03; Karen Aulisa on 09/05; and Jerry Jeffries on 09/06.
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
*Club Out Hunger Luncheon – REPORT – Susan Long mentioned that the event was at the Hearnes Center for the Central MO Food Bank and that Steve Hudson represented DOC. Steve said he ‘came from behind’ to win and gave Valerie Goodin the autographed MU football for DOC.  Valerie thanked Steve for his efforts, then presented Steve with the ‘Score Against Hunger” plate.
*Holiday Sales Program Meeting, we reported that Raul Walters Properties, Inc has generously donated the use of space on the K-Mart Parking Lot for our West Lot location. The committee heard a presentation from IB Nuts & Fruits for 5 additional product lines to consider selling. We announced that two new leadership roles have been added to the Holiday Sales Program. We announced that this year, BOTH lots will close at 8:00 PM, and we are studying the schedule with regard to hiring workers on each of the lots. We will discuss this in more depth at Program meetings before Board meetings as we get closer to the opening of the lots and welcome you to attend the Program meetings with your thoughts!
*DOC Steak & Chicken Cookout – Jess reminded us that the date had been re-scheduled for Wed. Sept. 24^th at 6:00 PM at the Clubhouse. Cost is $10/person ~ $15/at the door! Jess sez if you wait to pay at the door, you better bring your own steak!  Sign up on sheets and give your money to Jess or Max.
*DOC Board meeting last Thursday resulted in these actions: Board voted to fund these requests:
$500 for the Children’s Processional at First Night Columbia
$1,200 to Mid-Missouri Basketball Club for national entry fee for two teams
$3,000 to Camp Quality, the Missouri Camp for kids with cancer
$2,000 for the children’s milk program through the Central Missouri Food Bank

              In other matters, the Board voted to host a group from Russia next May. The group will include 11 private medical clinic managers and 2 interpreters. The Board also voted to prepare business cards that also include a membership application. These will be available later this fall for all members to use.
           The Board also learned that Internet access has been installed in the Computer Lab.  Classes for members who will mentor kids from the Columbia Campus of Boys and Girls Town of Missouri began Tuesday, August 19^th with two more on 08/27 & 09/02.  Not too late to become a mentor!  Call Pete Bakutes for more info! And, we also talked about the possibility of selecting a Twin Club. That would be another Optimist Club, outside Missouri, with whom we could share communications, support and ideas. And, if any of us had the chance to visit that Club, so much the better!
*A new Optimist Club is forming in Holts Summit, Missouri. The Charter Banquet is Wednesday, Sept. 17^th. Tickets are $15/advance and $20/at the door. I am inviting you to join me for this very special event. It will be at Key West Café & Wine Bar, 275 Karen Drive in Holts Summit. Please check your calendars for that date and on Sept. 8^th we will take reservations and I will turn your names in to the Lt. Governor. That way will get the “advance” price. However, we will be able to “Pay at the door.” Your Board voted to present this new Optimist Club with a gift.
* National Multiple Sclerosis Society - Gateway Area Chapter - help at the Boone County Fairgrounds for the MS 150 Bike Tour on Sept. 6 & 7. Anyone who would like to help, please see me following this meeting.
*InterClub Visitation with the Hallsville Optimist Club will be Saturday, Sept. 20, 7:00 AM, and coincides with their SECOND anniversary as an Optimist Club. Please check your calendars and try to join us for this one! Remember our Club started the Hallsville Club 2 years ago and these folks COOK their breakfast. So, in a few weeks, we’ll take a count, so they will be sure to have enough biscuits and gravy!!!
* Shannon Bruns has volunteered to attend luncheon for our Club to obtain tickets to sell for the Charity Day opening of Famous Barr. (You Go, girl!)  She will attend the luncheon on Sept. 5^th, and we will have tickets to give out Monday, Sept. 8^th at Club.  Remember, all the money we collect from this project remains with our Club!   
*Next Week’s program -- NO MEETING Monday, September 1st – it’s Labor Day holiday!  On September 8^th our program will have TWO parts: Cedar Creek Therapeutic Riding Center and our introduction to the KOEZE Gift selling part of our Holiday Sales Program, starring Jess Weaver!
GREETER -- Christine White mentioned that she had been the Greeter before and she still works at the Lutheran Family & Children’s Services.  She announced that she is Scholarship Chairperson this year and needs volunteers to make it a good program! 
PROGRAM:    Pat Daly – Mid Missouri Mavericks! He mentioned that their record is now 30 and 53 and they are currently in last place BUT they have more games to play!  Mid Mo Mavs are part of the Frontier League, which is independent, versus an affiliated league.  The Frontier League is in its 11^th year and made up of 12 teams.
   Pat said that Mid MO Mavs have gone through some managerial changes, and are now on their 3^rd manager. Despite their record, he said “they hustle, they take the extra bases, and then get their uniforms dirty”.  They also have 4 team members on the All Star Team.  The team members can play to the age of 27. They have averaged 1,800 people a game this year, which puts them in the middle of the pack.  Their focus is to build a solid base this year.  Their website is www.midmomavs.com and cost of tickets for 45 home games are $4.00 general admission or $200 for the season; $5.00 reserve seating or $240 for the season; and $6.00 Club seating or $320 for the season.  After Pat took questions, Valerie thanked him and presented him with an OI Speaker’s pen.
We closed with the Creed at 1:00 pm.