MYSTERY PERSON:     
Our Sergeant-at-Arms turned party host and placed a winning ticket under one of the chairs.  Joe Reardon won movie tickets and a free lunch next week.  Valerie Goodin threw in free babysitting so the new parents can enjoy the night out.

TAIL TWISTER: 
Steve Henderson tried to fine Max Miller but Max managed to find his badge.  We were treated to some Old Chinese Proverbs.

FELLOWSHIP: 
Marilyn Bohanon brought fellowship announcing the following birthdays: Larry Fick and Daniel Harder will celebrate their birthdays before our next meeting.

ANNOUNCEMENTS:
*Show Me State Games – Joe Sestak reminded the club that our participation is needed at the Show Me State Games on July 27 with the busiest times between 1 - 5 PM.  Sign up sheets were passed around the room.
*The Holiday Sales Committee will meet at 6:00 PM on Thursday, July 17^th at the Clubhouse and the Board will meet that same day at 7:00 PM.
*Luke Chase told the members that he had gone to KC for dinner theatre and had his car stolen.  He then proceeded to tell us that his three sons and some colleagues from the Tribune had published a book of his poetry and he was offering it for sale.  Luke paid a fine for his advertisement and Steve Henderson wondered aloud how many books he needed to sell to afford a new car.
*Stan Sadich asked for volunteers to sell programs at the Horse Show at the Boone County Fair on July 23 – 26.
 
PROGRAM:
Charlie Langreder introduced our program featuring our own Dave Murphy, new Executive Director of the Missouri Conservation Federation. http://www.confedmo.com/ Formed in 1935, the Federation is a non-political watchdog for the natural resources and wildlife in our state.  We watched an informative video before Dave answered questions.

Valerie rang the bell at 12:15 PM.  Jake Jolley gave the invocation and Bob Merriman led us in the Pledge of Allegiance.  56 attended.

On a Note of Optimism: Through donations and time volunteered, our club as touched the lives of more than 2,615 kids in Mid-Missouri this year.

GUESTS: 
Pat Brown introduced Tim Drennan.  Chris Brewer was a guest of Marilyn Bohanon.  Dottie Stoerker-Peters introduced Dona Sue Cool.  John Foster accompanied Connie Howe again and submitted his application.

MYSTERY PERSON:    
Barry Williams was the mystery person and decided to choose the first person to greet him.  Bo Bossaller wins a free lunch next week for being first.

TAIL TWISTER:
Steve Henderson gave us some of his typical words of wisdom, some of which had to be explained!

FELLOWSHIP:  Marilyn Bohanan  
There are no birthdays to be announced this week, so Valerie asked for anyone with an anniversary to “fess up”.  Barry Williams and his wife are celebrating 18 years this week.  Congratulations.

ANNOUNCEMENTS:  
*The Board Report – Valerie Goodin  - Board supported 2 fall softball teams of the Diamond Council and made a donation to the Hickman Debate Team. 

In addition the Board has been considering participation in an Optimist International Program called PEP – Productivity Enhancement Program. This program is actually promoted by our government and administered through a private agency. PEP asks clubs to sponsor a small group of industry-specific Russian entrepreneurs for 21 days.  Several of you have participated in the Board’s research of this project locally, and you all have received the OI magazine which featured the group of pharmacists that was sponsored by the Lawrence, KS Optimist Club last March.  While the Board is supportive of the project to host a group – and we have been considering a group of private medical clinic managers – we felt the next step is to present the idea to the Club. With that in mind, she gave a brief idea of the project.  There are four components to the project. They are:
Home hosting – The Club, through a chairperson, would advertise to identify families that would host a guest in their home. Several have already expressed an interest in hosting.

Training – for 15 days – The Club, through an identified chairperson would approach various businesses, agencies, and individuals to provide a day or ½ day of training on a specific agenda for the guests.

Transportation to training – The Club would obtain donated bus or van transportation that would take the guests to training each day. This donation has already been arranged.

Socialization/civic activities – The Club, through another chairperson would develop two weekend or evening activities.  

The cost of such a program is minimal, since the entire project is designed to get these components donated.  Next time, Valerie will share the information we have obtained so far with regard to the Training component.

*Show Me State Games – Larry Fick thanked the volunteers who participated on Sunday.  Over 1500 medals were handed out.  More volunteers are needed for the coming Sunday.  Max Miller modeled the T-shirt that volunteers received and Valerie Goodin encouraged members to join in and get good club gossip!

 *International Convention in KCMO - Valerie Goodin – 661 Clubs, with more than 838 delegates, cast 1251 votes at the recent convention in KCMO.  Delegates voted to raise dues $4/person, beginning in October. Our Board is studying what effect this may or may not have on our local collection. 
            She will bring information to the Board next month regarding a new concept called Twin Clubs!  At the East Missouri District dinner, hosted by Governor Barrett Glascock, he challenged all members to bring in one new member each, by October 1.  With that in mind, we have planned our next new member initiation for Sept. 22.

*Our annual meeting and installation of new Club leaders will be Sept. 29^th.  Mark your calendars and invite your spouses to join us for this special event, during lunch on that Monday.

July 28, 2003

Jake Jolley rang the bell at 12:10 PM.                                        (Prez Valerie was out of town)

Invocation  =    Christine McGraw                  
Pledge =          Barry Williams
Attendance  = nine full tables! What a crowd! 72 members and guests!

On a Note of Optimism: Jake Jolley mentioned that his daughter went to preschool this morning wearing a t-shirt that says, “My daddy is an Optimist” … what an adorable way to get the word out!

GUESTS:  Rick McKerman brought in Miles Hinkle; Marilyn Bohanon brought Chris Brewer for another visit and she submitted her application; Dottie Stoerker-Peters brought in Meredith Donaldson for another visit and she submitted her application; Red Leighton brought in Hal Warren of Warrens Funeral Homes and Red handed him an application (of course!).  We also had the Lt Governor of Zone 8 who brought with him members of the Sweet Springs Optimist Club.

MYSTERY PERSON: Rick McKerman came up with the number 3 and the third person to shake his hand was Spence Turner, who gets a free lunch next week.

TAIL TWISTER: Steve Henderson could not be here – sez he’s stuck at work. I know that feeling!

FELLOWSHIP:  Marilyn Bohanan said we have no birthdays this week, but she won’t be here next week so she announced Pat Brown’s birthday on August 9^th!

ANNOUNCEMENTS:  
*Show Me State Games – Larry Fick – reported that despite the ‘warm day’, the Show Me Games Soccer Program was a great success and thanked “everyone who braved the heat!”  Jake Jolley then asked everyone who participated to stand and be recognized with a big round of applause!

*Next Week’s program -- Peggy Kirkpatrick of the Central Missouri Food Bank

GREETER:  Jessica Boyer was the Greeter last week, but didn’t get a chance to speak AND didn’t get a chance to speak THIS week either!  We’ll fix that!

PROGRAM:    Joe Reardon introduced the program – Mid Missouri Basketball Club with Mark Holly. Also with Mark Holly was his wife, Dalynne Holly, and Juanita Washington who help with the program and two students, Turrell Turner and Mitch Erdle.  Mark Holly founded the Mid Missouri Basketball Club in 1999.  They started out with two teams and now has four teams for boys and for girls. They teach the skills of basketball, plus teach them to become respectful youth and responsible citizens.  Besides playing basketball in tournaments nationwide, they also perform community services like working with Habitat for Humanity.  They are trying to get the kids into college by taking them to play where the college coaches and scouts are.  They have players as far away as Springfield and they practice twice a week from March until August.  The age range now if from 7^th grade to seniors in high school, but would like to get more coaches so they can expand to 3^rd graders as well.  If you are interested in becoming a basketball coach and mentor please contact Mark Holly at 474-4117 or by email at dalynne@ci,columbia.mo.us

We closed with the creed at 12:45pm