Monday, April 25, 2005

     President Pat struck gavel to bell at about 23 minutes past noon on Monday, April 25, and some 39 faithful DOC members rose for the invocation, given by Bob Merriman, and for the Pledge, led by Greg Schneider.

     There was a paucity of guests, none having been invited by any Optimist present, but more of that later.

     Bo Bossaller was the mystery man and he awarded a free lunch to Buck Rikli.

     The tail twister, Steve Henderson made an appearance, and delivered of himself a tasteless joke that was well received, judging from the laughter in the room. 

     President Pat had several announcements.  The club’s board of directors met last Thursday and voted to support the Douglass baseball program, and also to support the Youth Bound, a venture of Advent Enterprises, which addresses the problem of student drop outs.  Pat thanked a group of DOC for working on the salt sacking project, providing salt for our sister city in the Ukraine.  They were: Meredith Donaldson, Connie Howe, Brenda Gibbs Brown, Sid Sullivan, and Pres Pat.

     Red Leighton had some last minute reminders for participants in the May 2 Food Bank golf tourney, and Jess Weaver reminded all that a big feed, baby back ribs and all the fixin’s will be May 11 at 6;30 at a cost of $7 per each.  Our very own tail twister will lend his talents in preparation of the main dish.  You’d better get your money to Jess if you want to be there.

     Meredith introduced the program, presented by Judy Knudson.   Judy is a well-known cyclist and health enthusiast.  She is one of the outstanding promoters of the Mayor’s Challenge.  The Mayor encourages Columbians to cycle or walk during the program beginning May 7 and extending to May 14.  Nine events will be held during that time at various locations in the city.  Judy passed entrance blanks for any who wish to take part.

     We closed with the Creed.

Monday, April 18, 2005

     President Pat rang the bell at about 12:20 on Monday, April 18 for the meeting of DOC club members, of whom 35 attended.  Jim Beckett gave the invocation and Joe Sestak led the Pledge of Allegiance.

     Karen Aulisa brought a guest.  She was Amelia Williamson.  Amelia is not employed right now and Karen assured the club that she is reliable and a hard worker.

     Brenda Gibbs brown was the mystery person and she gave the free lunch to Red Leighton. 

     Our hard tail twister, Steve Henderson, announced that Kerry Bramon has won the statewide old timers handball competition.  He followed that with a series of jokes of low quality.

     Rick McKernan opined that Val Goodin should possibly part with a quarter because she was mentioned favorably in a new brochure published by the Center for Citizens Initiatives.  Those are the PEP folks.  Another mention of PEP later.  Val coughed up the quarter.

     President Pat announced that our club scored highest in Achievement and Awards competition during the last quarter.  Pat accepted a prize of a set of souvenir mugs from District Governor Eric Pahl during the East Missouri District Third Quarter Conference held this past weekend in St. Louis.   He also announced that DOC was the big winner in the Community Projects Awards competition last year with our PEP project, the visit of a dozen medical professionals from Russia.  He says that our Board will meet this Thursday at 7 p.m. and that there will be another meeting prior, at 6 p.m., to discuss holiday sales.   In addition, DOC will be taking an active part if the Memorial Day Air Show.

     Jay Creasy, Bike Safety chair, announced that the event will be held May 21 at the State Farm Insurance parking lot.  The Ashland and Midway clubs will also participate.

     Christine White, who has been in charge of selecting our club’s high school  recipients of scholarships, announced that both Hickman and Rock Bridge recipients have been selected, and asked for help in selecting the Douglass recipient. 

     Bo Bossaller expressed his appreciation for all those who are wearing the ‘Just Ask’ badges as part of our current campaign to gain new members.

     Rick McKernan announced that there will be a meeting in Centralia Saturday at the Community Center.  Community leaders will be there, as will Eric Pahl, EMO Governor, and Erwin Neighbors, governor elect.  Purpose of the meeting is to take further steps in establishing a new club in Centralia.

     Be careful  Val is shooting mug shots of all club members.

     Brenda Gibbs Brown introduced the program speaker.  She was Darla Arni, a professional speaker, who has energized and motivated thousands duriong the past 20 years.  She is author of the book, Sharing Creativity at Home.  She has been featured on MSNBC’s online magazine and on the Fox 4 Morning Show in Kansas City.

     President Pat closed the meeting with the reading of the Creed.

Monday, April 11, 2005

     On Monday, April 11, President Pat rang the bell at about a quarter past noon and some 40 faithful Optimists braved the rain and stood as Bo Bossaller gave the invocation and Spence Turner led the Pledge of Allegiance.

     Bo Bossaller brought a guest, Amanda Bergmann, assistant manager at Panera Bread Co.  Red Leighton’s guest was Brett Burri, regional president for Regions Bank.

     Jim Beckett was the Mystery Man.  He confessed that his birthday will be on Thursday, the 14^th, and he went into some detail about 14 hand shakers, etc., and he finally awarded the fee lunch to Jess Weaver.

     There were a number of important announcements.  Pat announced that the East Missouri District Third Quarter Conference will be held in St. Louis this upcoming weekend, on April 16, at the Crowne Plaza Hotel. 

     Steve Henderson, our esteemed Tail Twister, announced that there will be a Baby Back Rib Dinner at the Club House May 11, beginning at 6 p.m., cost $7 each.  Jess Weaver will be collecting and reserving for that event next week.

     Pat also announced that DOC Board meeting will be held April 20, and that a meeting will be held just prior to that to discuss holiday sales.  Also there will be a meeting in Centralia April 23 at the Community Center there to further our efforts in building a new club. 

     Val Goodin reminded the club that our Jewelry Sales promotion will be April 12 at the Club House.  She also pointed out that our club’s slate of new officers is in the making.  Election to be held next month.

     Glenn Robertson, program director at the Intersection announced that a fund raising Pig Rosast will be held April 23 at the Kemper Arena

     Connie Howe announced a need for volunteers April 20 to man a phone bank from 6 to 11 a.m. to benefit the drive for salt for our Sister City in Georgia, former of  USSR.

     Bo Bossaller had some things to say about our new member campaign, “Just Ask.”  A number of our members are wearing the Just Ask badges to generate interest in joining.

     President Pat presented Christine McGraw with a certificate from Optimist International in recognition for her work as Secretary of our club as it attained Honor Status.

     Mark Stevenson informed the club that he and President Pat have been in training for the past months to get ion shape for the St. Louis Half-Marathon.  Both competed in the 2005 run April 10 and each gained a medallion for finishing.

     Marilyn Bohanan announced a bunch of birthdays: Max Miller, Yuriko Yokum, Jim Beckett, all April 14, and Shannon Bruns, Jerry Carrington, and Jim Dyer on the 15^th.

     Brenda Gibbs Brown introduced our speaker.  She was Brenda Russell, marketing director at the Lyceum Theatre.  She said that the Lyceum is the oldest professional theater in Missouri and spoke briefly about the upcoming lineup of performances.   She left with each member a colorful catalog listing those performances.

     The meeting ended with the reading of the Optimist Creed.

Monday, April 4, 2005

    President Pat opened the April 4 meeting with a ring of the bell just past the quarter hour.  Rick Guilford gave the invocation and Bob Merriman led the Pledge.  There were about 38 Optimists present, along with a goodly number of guests.

     Kevin Quinn, past guest of Brenda Gibbs, returned as a joiner.  Roy Robinson, brought wife Barbara as his guest.  Barbara was one of the judges in our essay contest.  David Jones, Minister of Parish Visits for the Missouri Methodist Church accompanied Phil Harrison, father of one of the contestants.  Rick McKernan’s guest was David Horner, Jr.

     Rick was also the mystery man and he awarded a fee lunch to Bob Bellinghausen, who has agreed to participate in our new member recruitment program.

     Bo Bossaller announced our new member program by providing lapel badges bearing the words, ‘Just Ask,’ to all who are willing to wear those badges for a couple days, or more, each week, as a means to stimulate inquiries into joining our club,

     Rick McKernan reported that a group from our club conducted a meeting of community leaders in Centralia last Thursday, with a view toward establishing a new club there.  Another meeting will be held in the Community Center April 23.

     The East Missouri District Third Quarter Conference will be held April 16 at the Crowne  Plaza.   Any club member who would like to attend this meeting should tell Pat before April 8.

     Pat also announced that the club’s board meeting April 21 will discuss holiday sales.  Be there, if you have some good ideas.

     Christine McGraw reminds all of our ongoing spring bulb sales and the Latasia Fashion Jewelry sale to be held at the clubhouse April 12, 5 to 7 p.m.  Great time to buy Mother’s Day gifts.

     Meredith Donaldson told us of Friends of Rock Bridge State Park hosting a meeting April 9, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Room 226 Stanley Hall, MU Dept of Architectural Design for the purpose of reviewing a design for a Discovery Center at the Park.  RSVP - 815 9255.

      Our Day with Wildlife, held this past weekend, was a great success, according to chair Spence Turner.  About 1,500 enthusiasts attended and a good number of club members helped to stage the event.  Spence credited Al Buchanan for much of the success of the day.

      New member Wes Brown gave his introductory speech.  He is employed with the Culligan folks and he is one of Red’s new members.  Wes says he looking forward to participating in club activities.

     Sid Sullivan  presented the program, winners in our annual Essay Contest.  All contestants are seniors at Hickman High School.  Winner is Seth Warren.  Seth’s parents, Henry and Helen attended.  First runner is Joel Schilb.  Second runner up is Meredith Harrison.  Her father, Phil, attended.  Seth was awarded a $100 Savings Bond, and counselor Carol Kieninger a $100 Barnes and Noble certificate.