The Optimist bell rang at 12:15.  President Rick McKernan called us to order.  The invocation was given by Pat Brown and an apparition looking a lot like Kevin Roberson led the Pledge of Allegiance.  It must be vacation time because we had a couple of extra forks at the dinner table this week.

GUESTS
Some wonderful guests shared lunch with us this week.  Sid Sullivan sprang for lunch for his wife, Joan Sullivan.  Rick Guilford was accompanied by his daughter Jennifer Guilford.  Visiting us from the Show Me Shape Up program of Missouri's Show Me State Games was Gretchen Carlisle.  Assisting our guest speaker was his trusty aide Kelly Schultz. 

 

MYSTERY GUEST:
Mr. Jim Beckett emerged from the shadows as this week's Mystery Guest.  The lucky winner of next week's free lunch was Rick Guilford. 

 

BIRTHDAYS/ANNIVERSARIES 
Our birthday celebrations over the next two weeks will include Rick Guilford on the 26th, Jim Harmon on the 27th, Bob Hull on the 29th, Scott Stager on July 1st, Steve Henderson on the 3rd, and Larry Fick on the 9th.  Congratulations to all!  Be sure and call these folks and let them know their presents are in the mail.

 

TAIL TWISTER:
Our tail twister Steve Henderson was AWOL - absent without laughs.

 

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

• If you show up for lunch on Monday, July 3rd, you had better bring your sack lunch, since no one else will be there because of the 4th of July holiday.  Our next meeting will be Monday, July 10th.
• We're having a fish fry at the clubhouse Wednesday, July 19th.  You will have the opportunity to sign up on July 10th.  What a great opportunity to "Just Ask" a friend, neighbor, or co-worker to come check us out! 
• The Optimist International Annual Convention will be held next week in Nashville, TN.  President-elect Bo Bossaller will be representing our club at the gathering.  The Optimist magazine has listed some of the topics that will be discussed at the convention.  If you have any particular thoughts on those topics, you may want to visit with Bo prior to his departure.

PROGRAM

Pat Kelley introduced our state representative from the 23rd District, Jeff Harris.  Jeff has been nudging along a bill in the state legislature that would ban the sale of explicit video games to minors.  Many of these games place their players in active behavioral roles that portray contempt for the laws, for decency, and for human respect.  The end result leaves these young minds desensitized to violence.  While no one can establish a definitive link, experts noted that the kids perpetrating many well-known instances of school violence were avid video game players.

 

Some other states have passed similar legislation, but the language resulted in legal challenges in those states.  Jeff has crafted the language in a more explicit fashion which he and supporters believe will pass muster if it were challenged in court.

 

Special thanks to Pat Kelley for "volunteering" as our Program Chair for the month of June.  Great job!

 

NEXT PROGRAM: Monday, July 10th

Dr. Rich Sternadori, International Medical & Educational Trust.

The primary focus is alleviating traumatic disorders in children
who have suffered from natural and man-made disasters.

Monday, June 19, 2006

President Rick McKernan rang the magic bell and called our merry band to order promptly at 12:15. The invocation was given by Brian Hudspeth, with a special prayer request for his son who was having surgery right as we were having lunch. John Sanders has rested up enough during his recent retirement that he had more than ample energy to lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance.

GUESTS 
After a houseful of guest last week, none joined us for lunch today. Give someone you respect the opportunity to help the youth in our community by acquainting them with the Optimist organization...."Just Ask."

GREETER 
When you need some money, you'll be glad you know our new member greeter Monday, Mike Moran, with Premier Bank. Mike was recruited by Red Leighton at a recent business fair arranged through the Chamber of Commerce. Mike is from Columbia and is also a Tiger Grad. Welcome Mike!

MYSTERY GUEST
The Mystery Guest this week was Ellis Havard. Ellis studied the room with the same care that he does analyzing a 7-10 split while bowling on the Optimist Bowling Team. And after a thorough review, Ellis awarded new member Don Woodson a free lunch next week. 

BIRTHDAYS/ANNIVERSARIES 
No known anniversaries this week, but several fine folks have birthdays: Ed Hampton on the 19th, and Al Jones and Mona Menezes on the 20th. Congratulations!

TAIL TWISTER
Our tail twister Steve Henderson was absent Monday. It was almost like sweet and sour pork...we didn't know whether to laugh or cry...

ANNOUNCEMENTS 
Almost 40 young golfers participated in the Optimist Jr. World of Golf district qualification tournament held June 15th at A.L. Gustin Golf Course. Winners here qualify to go to Florida to play in "The Optimist," ranked as one of the top tournaments in the world for young golfers. Winners included Boys 16-18 Division Tyler Peasel from Troy with a 72, Boys 14-15 Division Will Baylor from Rolla with a 78, Girls 16-18 Division Kelsey Meyer from Chesterfield with a 69, and Girls 14-15 Division Naomi Starr from Ashland with a 92. Project Chair Tim Elliott extends his thanks to Red Leighton, Max Miller, Bo Bossaller, Stan Sadich, and Rick McKernan for their help with the tournament. 
Further discussion of the bylaws revisions was tabled until the August board meeting. Anyone is welcome to attend. 
We're warming up the frying pans again, this time for a fish fry at the clubhouse to be held Wednesday, July 19. Get signed up early so Steve Henderson and Jess Weaver know how many fish they have to catch.

PROGRAM
Lorenzo Lawson introduced Carrie Brown, our guest speaker this week. Carrie works with the Columbia Housing Authority, and is one of the driving forces behind the development of P.R.I.D.E.(Positive Regional Impact! Diversified Enterprise), an effort to bring together many of the charitable and sports organizations working with youth and families under one roof. Plans and hopes include building a home for these programs with costs estimated in the neighborhood of $8 Million. One part of the mission is to allow the dollars to do more good by eliminating some of the overhead and the duplication in the current system of delivery. 

P.R.I.D.E. is a 501(c)3 organization and has begun accepting pledges toward their financial goals.

NEXT WEEK: Monday, June 26th
State Representative Jeff Harris discussing legislation regarding violent video games.

Monday, June 12, 2006

Our meeting this week was called to order by President Rick McKernan at 12:15. Our invocation today was also given by Rick. Assisted by a some of our shorter guests for the day, Larry Fick led the Pledge of Allegiance. 

GUESTS 
We were awash in guests this week (always wanted to be able to actually use that word in a sentence.) Pat Kelley was accompanied by guest Mary Hussmann from the Columbia office of GRO. Columbia First Ward City Councilwoman Almeta Crayton joined us as a guest of Lorenzo Lawson. Rick Guillford's daughter Jennifer was back with us today. We enjoyed a number of happy faces courtesy of Larry Fick: granddaughter Cecilia Doty, grandson Max Doty, and daughter Marita Doty all from Nebraska. Larry's other grandson, John Harre, brought his parents Ed and Valerie Harre, who are members! 

Thanks for joining us today, and please come back again.

GREETER 
The smiling face welcoming you as you came in Monday was none other than new member Paul Clark. Paul was recruited by Jim Yankee. Paul is a realtor with House of Brokers here in Columbia. Paul has been a member of our club for about three months, but he has been a member of wife Audrey's fan club for nearly 17 years.

MYSTERY GUEST:
This week's Mystery Guest this week was Jim Yankee. Jim observed this was Soap Box Derby time of year, and awarded next week's free lunch to Greg Schneider for all the work he does organizing and running the Mid-Missouri Soap Box Derby. Enjoy!

BIRTHDAYS/ANNIVERSARIES 
This week's birthdays include Jim Schwartz on the 12th, Neal Sprick on the 15th, Dave Phillippe on the 17th, Bryan Phifer on the 17th, Pete Bakutes on the 17th, and Valerie Harre on the 18th. 

Only one known anniversary this week: Paulette and Larry Fick on June 15th. Congratulations!

TAIL TWISTER:
The club is undertaking a very important research project attempting to discover where tail twister Steve Henderson comes up with his jokes. This week we had the opportunity to "Meet Pattie," to learn about the expensive places Steve takes his date, and were enlightened about what animal has four legs and an arm...

ANNOUNCEMENTS: 
Tim Elliott is looking for several volunteers to help staff the Optimist East Missouri Junior World of Golf tournament on Thursday, June 15th. A.L Gustin Golf Course all morning and early afternoon. Come on down! 
Show Me Games is coming up soon. Project chair Larry Fick is collecting volunteers and their shirt sizes. Our main participation is distributing medals to the soccer champions on July 23rd and on July 30th. 
Reports are that all enjoyed the birthday party last Saturday. Special thanks to Valerie Goodin, Red Leighton, Steve Henderson, and Luke Chase for their exceptional efforts making this event a great success. 
Final Elections were held for our club officers for the 2006-2007 Optimist year. Elected as your officers and directors were: President - Bo Bossaller; President-Elect - Bob Merriman; Vice-President - Kerry Bramon; Secretary - Jim Yankee; Treasurer - Steve Klein; New Directors for 2006-2008: Carl Scott, Denise Payne, Christine White. Congratulations to each of you, and special thanks to Garry Spotts for heading up the Elections Committee.

PROGRAM
June program chair Pat Kelley introduced us to Becky Procter. Becky encouraged us to examine closely some of the statistical data related to individuals and families living at or below the poverty level. When we look a data saying the "typical" family spends X% of their income on food, or Y% on housing, or Z% on transportation, those percentages are skewed for families below poverty levels.

Whether or not some people abuse the support systems designed to help them, there is no doubt that the children we serve are impacted adversely when families struggle just to meet life's bare necessities.

NEXT WEEK'S PROGRAM
Carrie Brown & Ellen Webber-Weise: P.R.I.D.E