February 3, 2003

Valerie rang the bell at 12:15 PM.                                      Total number in attendance: 78
Invocation: Buck Rikli                                                     Pledge:  Chuck Pease

On a note of Optimism: Prez Valerie mentioned the basketball game tonight at 8:00 pm between the Tigers and the Jayhawks…
MYSTERY PERSON -- Spence Turner, who observed that since today was the 4^th, he picked the fourth person to shake his hand and that was Ed Helm.  When he discovered today was really the 3^rd, he decided to stay with Ed, so Ed gets a free lunch.
GUESTS: none today, Prez Valerie said ‘we’re preaching to the choir’
TAIL TWISTER
Steve Henderson asked about a Chili cook off this Saturday and it was decided to have one in March, so DOC Chili Chefs can refine recipes and be ready!!  Steve also shared the W.O.W.
FELLOWSHIP
Marilyn Bohanon announced birthdays for Dennis Funk on Feb 4^th; Kevin Roberson on Feb 4^th; and Don Copenhaven on Feb 8^th.
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
*East Missouri District meeting will be in St. Louis the 14-15. Tomorrow is too late to register, so let Joe Reardon TODAY if you would like to attend. The Club will pay your registration, including meals.
*Note from Steve   – To all of our very good friends in the Downtown Optimist Club,
  Your recent donation to the University Hospital NICU ward in the name of our late son Wesley Winters is greatly appreciated.
I can tell you that many of the instruments and monitors in Wesley's room had labels on them indicating that they were made available through donations.  Wesley's life, though much too short, depended on these machines to sustain life.
While many of the 26 days Wesley was with us were very taxing both physically and mentally, I will tell you that each day was a wonderful day and I treasure all 26 of them.  Wesley showed us great love while he was with us and will be remembered in our hearts and minds forever.
I know from being on the board for a few years that these kinds of donations do not happen often.  Thank you for your continued thoughts and prayers, and for remembering Wesley with this gift.
We, and many parents yet to come thank you for the extra days you will help to give them and their child.  Warmest regards, Reng and Steven Winters
*Oratorical Contest  -- 27^th of February.  Information and the application is on the DOC website. *Essay Contest – Information is also on DOC website.  Essays can be submitted by email.
*Next week’s program:  Brenda Lee, Boone County Director, Retired & Senior Volunteer Program
GREETER 
Susan Clark, who was inducted last week, said she really didn’t have much to add to what we heard about her last week.  Since today was Red Leighton’s first day back, Prez Valerie thanked him for the many fine members he has brought to the Club, including Susan.  
PROGRAM   
Leigh Nutter introduced former Mayor, Mary Anne McCollum, and the two spoke about the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Restoration Project.  They recapped the current state of the memorial, the type of water damage and outlined the plans of the restoration project. The Memorial is only one of two in the state of Missouri. More than 500 citizens collected $55,000 and that, along with a grant from the City provided the construction.  The memorial itself, consists of a terraced seating area and several columns, each containing quotes from Dr. King.  It was dedicated on August 28, 1993, the 30^th Anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr’s “I have a Dream” speech.  It is a much-used site – 10 to 12 weddings are performed there per year, plus many other events.  Contributions are tax deductible and can be sent to City of Columbia New Century Fund, Inc. P.O. Box 6015, Columbia, MO 65205.  For more information please call 573-874-7504 or go online at www.newcenturyfund.org

President Valerie presented Mary Ann McCollum with a Speaker’s Pen as a thank you.

February 10, 2003                                                              

Valerie rang the bell at 12:10 PM.                                                Total in Attendance:     65         Invocation:   Rick Guilford                                                         Pledge: Joe Sestak 

GUESTS: no guests today.  Must be family day, said Prez Valerie.
MYSTERY PERSON: Max Miller mentioned that it was the 14^th win of the Tigers, and the 14^th person to shake his hand was John Sanders BUT he said, “Jim Schwartz came close”.  Better luck next time, Jim!
FELLOWSHIP- Marilyn Bohanon said that Todd Mackey has a birthday on Feb 15h

ANNOUNCEMENTS:
*GOOD news for next year!  Koeze is giving us a $654.13 credit toward next year's nut purchase, due to Red Leighton’s work in getting other clubs involved in selling Koeze products.  Thanks, Red! And, thanks to all DOC members who helped make almost $30,000 in sales for our youth programs.
**March 10^th we will host a N.O.W. meeting. New Optimists are Wanted in our Club, so please take this opportunity to introduce someone you know to our Club. 
*Oratorical Contest  -- Brian Hudspeth could not speak (yes, the desserts ARE that good!) so Dawn Thurnau reminded us that the Club’s contest is at the Club House on Feb. 27^th at 7:00 pm.
*Essay Contest – February 20^th is the deadline.  Instructions are on our website.  Essays can be emailed to Chairman Valerie Fick, vfick@columbia.k12.mo.us        
*Next week’s program: How Boone County Will Respond to a Smallpox Outbreak, Columbia/Boone County Health Department
GREETER – Rick McKernan has been in Columbia for more than 10 years.  However, he did admit to a ‘sordid’ past - he is from Kansas and is a Jayhawk!  He’s been in the insurance business for 32 years- 10 years of that was selling insurance in Europe and he said after 10 years, he finally earned enough to return to the U.S., specifically to Corpus Christy, Texas which really made him appreciate the trees in Missouri!  He’s been married for “20 some” years to his wife Susie and they have 2 children and 1 granddaughter.  Rick has been a DOC member for about 3 years, and knows what a difference in the community DOC makes and is “proud to be associated with such a fine group”.
PROGRAM   
Leigh Nutter introduced Retired and Senior Volunteer Program Director, Brenda Lee. She told her delightful story about “gradually” moving to Columbia from St. Louis, where she was involved with the Oasis Program.  She said she “had to be with people and had to serve the community”, so being Director of R.S.V.P. is a good match for her.  R.S.V.P. is sponsored by Boone County council on Aging and recruits, interviews and trains volunteers for different organizations in the community. She said that people who volunteer live longer, and are happier.  They have 246 volunteers in the Columbia area who put in 60,000 hours of volunteer work in 2002, and over 1 million nationwide.  They are partially funded with Federal grants, and so has ‘matching fund’ requirements.  She encouraged us to contribute both time and money, especially to “Santa’s Gift Shop 2003”. President Valerie presented her with a DOC Speakers pen.

February 17, 2003

Valerie rang the bell at 12:15 PM.                                                            
Dottie Stoerker-Peters gave the invocation.
Steve Hudson led us in the Pledge of Allegiance       

On a note of Optimism, Valerie Goodin asked all past presidents of our club to stand and be honored on this Presidents’ Day.   
Steve Hudson introduced his guests, Jessica Boyer, Ben Peck, and Scott Caldwell.  Also joining us for lunch were Jonathon Sanders, grandson of John Sanders and, who accompanied his mentor Neal Sprick.  Ernie Wren, Lt. Governor and Tom Semmens, Lt. Governor Zone 8 who has just moved to Columbia also joined us.  Red Leighton introduced Brenda Lee, last week’s speaker who has submitted her application for membership. Welcome to all our guests!
*Brenda Gibbs-Brown chose Dottie Stoerker-Peters to receive a free lunch next week.  Dottie was sporting an Optimist T-shirt as an accessory to her outfit.   
Marilyn Bohanon was also absent today, so President Goodin asked “who would confess that it was their birthday this week?”  No answers – so we’ll tell on you Susan Long (2/17) and Ellis Havard (2/23).

ANNOUNCEMENTS --
*East Missouri District Optimist meeting Report. At the meeting Saturday, Valerie Goodin was privileged to accept awards on behalf of several members who actually earned them!
Red Leighton           [Net+3 individual winner]
Garry Spotts             [Net+3 club winner; Honor Club Prez]
DOC                            Community Service Involvement Award-1^st time!
Patches, dots Friend of Youth Award – 1^st time!
Community Project Award – 1^st place – on to International!
*Ernie Wren, Lt. Governor offered several more awards to our club and its members on behalf of the zone. He encouraged members who are concerned about the unsolicited receipt of cards and calendars to let Optimist International know how they feel about this type of fundraising. He also mentioned that fundraising overhead of 58% for the Foundation was very high. 
*Thursday evening we will have a Tree Lot meeting at 6:00 PM at the Clubhouse.  Following the Tree Lot Committee meeting, we will have our monthly Board meeting at 7:00 PM at the Clubhouse.
*Thursday of this week is the deadline for getting essays in for the Essay Contest. They can be emailed to Valerie Fick.
*Remember! March 10^th we will host a N.O.W. meeting during lunch. New Optimists are Wanted in our Club, so please bring prospective members to lunch that day.    
*Brian Hudspeth announced that the Oratorical Contest will be held at our clubhouse on Feb. 27, and the Zone contest will be at the Ashland Clubhouse on March 22.
*Pete Bakutes honored Neal Sprick with a plaque to recognize his role as a mentor for the Front Door.
PROGRAM   
Leigh Nutter introduced Chris Coffman of the Columbia/Boone County Health Department to tell us  “How Boone County Will Respond to a Smallpox Outbreak”.  He offered interesting information about the National Pharmaceutical Stockpile program designed to ensure the availability and rapid deployment of life-saving pharmaceuticals, antidotes and other medical supplies, and equipment necessary to counter the effects of nerve agents, biological pathogens and chemical agents.
   Volunteers with and without medical experience are needed to assist with this program should a deployment be needed.  An orientation for volunteers will be held Friday, March 14 from 7 am to 6 PM and Saturday, March 15 from 8 am to noon at the Activity & Recreation Center located at the corner of Clinkscales and Ash.  The orientation will be brief (approximately ½ hour).  Volunteers are asked to come at a time convenient to their schedule on either day. 

For more information, contact:
Chris Coffman
Columbia/Boone County Health Dept.
P.O. Box 6015
Columbia, MO 65205-6015
Phone: 573-874-6403
Email: jccoffma@GoColumbiaMO.com
Web: http://www.gocolumbiamo.com/Volunteer/Opportunities/nps.html

February 24, 2003

Valerie rang the bell at 12:20 PM.                                                                                         
Invocation: Bo Bossaller          Pledge:   Dave Murphy            Total in Attendance: 56

MYSTERY PERSON:  Lora Honey said she was thinking about using a number from the winning score of the Tiger basketball game, but since they lost she said she went with the number ‘three’ and the third person to shake her hand was Bob Merriman.  

TAIL TWISTER: Steve Henderson shared some thoughts from bumper stickers and the w.o.w was ‘timber’ … I think … he had this noisy duck that kept quacking and quacking, so hard to tell.

FELLOWSHIP  - Marilyn Bohanon said Roy Robinson’s birthday is Feb. 27th

ANNOUNCEMENTS:
*Dave Murphy was presented with his 3^rd place Lt. Gov. award for achieving a “Net+3 last quarter” in membership, during his term as Lt. Gov. of Zone 2.  Congratulations, Dave – and thanks!           

*Board meeting Thursday, we voted to provide support for: The S.O.A.R. program through Big Brothers Big Sisters; the Mid-Missouri Soap Box Derby; 3 teams for the Diamond Council, transportation for a Youth Mission this summer to build a youth center in Mexico; a young woman to participate in the People to People program this summer; and transportation for a local family while they child has life saving surgery in Arizona.  This info is also listed on our website.

We voted in 3 new members. They are Greg Schneider, Kelly Buxton, and Brenda Lee. Their initiation will be March 30^th. 

In addition, the Board approved a proposal to make web space available through the DOC website for non-profit organizations to publish their newsletters. This fundraising opportunity affords the chance to provide a needed service to those who do not need or want a Web site, but would save money by having their newsletters posted online. This opportunity is available now only to members of our club who may also be members of other nonprofit organizations.  If you are interested in details, please contact Valerie Goodin. 

The Board also voted to host a spring fundraiser, by selling flower bulbs. We did this a couple of years ago, and it was very successful. The flower bulbs are pre-sold and arrive in time to be planted yet this year.  They are guaranteed, and VERY affordable. Our Club earns ½ of each sale.  Literature was provided for members to use in selling.  The deadline for orders to be back in our Club is March 28.

Tree Lot Meeting: Garry Spotts said they defined goals, started working on job descriptions and welcomes any input from DOC members.  The committee will continue to meet one hour before the DOC Board meeting on the third Thursday for the rest of the year.  Come and give input!

*Bike Safety Clinic – Jay Creasy said the date is May 17^th at State Farm on South Providence.  Next Bike Safety Meeting is this Thursday Feb. 27^th at the DOC Clubhouse at 5:30 pm. 

*Essay Contest – We had 7 entries and we are sending our winning essay in today for the District Contest! Details soon, from our chairperson, Valerie Fick.

* Remember! March 10^th we will host a N.O.W. meeting during lunch. New Optimists are Wanted in our Club, so please bring prospective members to lunch that day.    

*Oratorical Contest: Brian Hudspeth said it is this Thursday at 7:00 pm at DOC Clubhouse.  Set up will be from 5:00 to 6:00 and Front Door youth will help.  Brian also mentioned he ordered munchies from Jack’s Gourmet Restaurant, so come, help set up, listen to the contestants and bring your appetite!

*Next week’s program:  Will be the winners of our Oratorical Contest.  Be sure to join us!

GREETER:   Jack Cruise mentioned that he is married to Jackie who is retired from Rock Bridge High School and has attended many DOC meetings with him.  They have three boys: one in Kentucky, one in Texas and one in Kansas City, MO.  In 1978 they moved from Excelsior Springs and transferred his Optimist club membership to DOC.  He was impressed with the number of members and the good work DOC does for the community.

PROGRAM: Leigh Nutter introduced the program: Danny Grant, Sgt with the Columbia Police Dept., Community Services Unit, who talked about the latest on safety inspections with regard to local bar establishments.  His informative talk included an update of the Columbia Police Dept, The Citizens Academy and our national concerns of terrorism and what we can do to help.  He encouraged us to participate in the many volunteer programs, and to receive more info, please call 874-7405. 

A lot of discussion came about regarding terrorism. Sgt Grant said that terrorism is the “new cold war of the 50’s and 60’s”.  That the fundamental Islamic terrorists are focused on the U.S. and he quoted U.S. President George Bush by emphasizing that we must be “the eyes and ears” and to report anything suspicious to any legal authority.  He encouraged us to call ‘911’ and ,when reservations were raised about using the emergency number, he suggested we use 442-6131.

President Valerie then presented him with the OI Creed plaque. We closed with the creed at 1:00 pm