UW-Whitewater/Community Optimist Club

Greetings Optimists,

At our Tuesday evening meeting last week, August 23, we discussed:

• Receiving the plaque at the “Golf Fore! Whitewater Kids” on behalf of the club from the Whitewater Unified School District as 2016 “Friend of Whitewater Kids.” Pictures from the event are on the Whitewater Banner web site, about halfway down the page.
• We met our two new UW-W student interns for fall 2016, Rachel Sullivan and Brandon Lindholm.
• Reviewed the discussion from the Exec Board meeting on August 9 regarding plans for the 2016 Installation Banquet.
  • Rick and Jeanine Fassl have offered to host this year’s banquet at their home on Monday, September 26.
  • Rick suggested having gyros as part of the evening’s meal which received MANY positive responses and affirmative head-nods.
  • Social time will begin about 5:30.
  • Dinner will begin about 6:30.
  • The program will end about 8:00pm
  • Watch for more info in the upcoming weeks.
• Reviewed the Trivia Night planning meetings held this summer.

NFL “FUND CRAZR” RAFFLE TICKETS!!  Ticket sales were concluded on Thursday, August 25. In all we sold 192 tickets, returning only 8 unsold tickets. Eighteen club members sold between one and 32 tickets each!! The top sellers were Kim Simes (32 tickets), Dave Halbach (29), Jim McLernon (28), Hans Hahn (16) Duane Dickens (13), Lanora Heim (12), Jan Olson and Kate Ksobiech (10 each).  Thanks to everyone who bought and/or sold one or more tickets. As mentioned many times, the proceeds from this raffle will help our community.

Current events needing helpers:

Warhawk Football Ticket Taking. There are still a few time slots (two?) needing workers. Check the Google spreadsheet, “2016 Football Ticket Taking,” for the last few remaining slots. Hopefully, you can use the link in the spreadsheet title in the previous sentence to edit the spreadsheet and add you name in the appropriate cells. If you have trouble entering your name, let me know and I’ll help.

*** Do you have a topic you would like to present to the club? Do you know someone who could speak to the club? Job related? Travel related? Sports related? Youth related? Let me know if you, or someone you know, would like to present. See the dates below where we need speakers. ***

Dates for upcoming club meetings and events:

• September 3, 10, & 24; football ticket taking
• September 6, NO MEETING!
• September 13, Exec Board meeting.
• September 20, 12:00pm, speakers will be Mark Elworthy (New School District Administrator) and Nathan Jaeger (Business Manager) re: the upcoming school district referendum.
• September 26; Annual Banquet hosted by Jeanine and Rick Fassl.
• October 4, 12:00pm, speaker will be Kevin Bullis, Warhawk Football coach.
• October 8 & 22; football ticket taking
• October 11, Exec Board meeting.
• October 18, 12:00pm, speaker TBD.
• October 25, 5:00 pm. Speaker TBD.
• November 1, 12:00pm, speaker TBD
• November 5; Football ticket taking
• November 7, Exec Board meeting. (New date to avoid conflict with the Presidential election on November 8)
• November 15, 12:00pm, UC 259, Youth Appreciation Luncheon.
• November 22, 5:00 pm. Speaker TBD.
• November 29, 12 Noon, UC 259A, stuff goody bags for Breakfast with Santa.
• December; Mitten tree, Toys for Kids
• December 3; Breakfast with Santa

That’s all for tonight.

Share the Optimism,

Dave Halbach

UW-Whitewater/Community Optimist Club

920-650-6089 or 262-472-5749

Greetings Optimists,

Our meeting this week will be Tuesday evening, August 23, at 5:00pm at Jessica’s Restaurant. Items on the agenda include:

• Sharing the plaque I accepted yesterday at the “Golf Fore! Whitewater Kids” on behalf of the club from the Whitewater Unified School District as 2016 “Friend of Whitewater Kids.”
• Meeting our two new UW-W student interns for fall 2016.
• Collecting the last of the NFL Crazr raffle tickets.
• Selling the last of the NFL Crazr raffle tickets?
• Review the discussion at the Exec Board meeting on August 9 regarding plans for the 2016 Installation Banquet.
• Review the Trivia Night planning meetings held this summer.
• Other topics any of you have for discussion.

The proposed slate of officers and board members for 2016-17, listed below, was voted on by email and/or in-person last week. As announced in last Monday’s email, all voting ended at the Tuesday, August 16 meeting. There were 12 voted cast by club members, 5 by email and 7 in person. All 12 votes that were cast by club members were in favor of the slate of officers!! Therefore, meet your club executive board for 2016-17.

• Co-Presidents: Angie Alesci & Kim Adams
• Vice-President: Lanora Heim
• Secretary: Jan Olson
• Treasurer(s): Kate & Ken Ksobiech
• Immediate Past President: Dave Halbach
• Board Members: Linda Kinson, Susan Hiscox, and Joyce Hutchison.

President Elect for 2017-18: To be determined. (Nominations are open for this position)

Thanks to members above for agreeing to be the leadership team for 2016-17.

Current events needing helpers:

NFL “FUND CRAZR” RAFFLE TICKETS!!  Please return any money for sold tickets, ticket stubs, and any unsold tickets to me ASAP!  All sold ticket stubs, money, and unsold tickets must be returned to the SWIS District before August 28.

Warhawk Football Ticket Taking. There are still a few time slots (two?) needing workers. Check the Google spreadsheet, “2016 Football Ticket Taking,” for the last few remaining slots. Hopefully, you can use the link in the spreadsheet title in the previous sentence to edit the spreadsheet and add you name in the appropriate cells. If you have trouble entering your name, let me know and I’ll help.

*** Do you have a topic you would like to present to the club? Do you know someone who could speak to the club? Job related? Travel related? Sports related? Youth related? Let me know if you, or someone you know, would like to present. See the dates below where we need speakers. ***

>>> Note that our installation banquet will be MONDAY, September 26. <<<

We had a nice gathering of members last Tuesday, August 16 for our noon meeting. Our presenter was Tracy Wilson regarding “Working for Whitewater’s Wellness.” You can learn more at the W3 web site.

There will NOT be a club meeting next Tuesday, August 30.

Dates for upcoming club meetings and events:

• September 3, 10, & 24; football ticket taking
• September 6, NO MEETING!
• September 13, Exec Board meeting.
• September 20, 12:00pm, speakers will be Mark Elworthy (New School District Administrator) and Nathan Jaeger (Business Manager) re: the upcoming referendum.
• September 26; Annual Banquet
• October 4, 12:00pm, speaker will be Kevin Bullis, Warhawk Football coach.
• October 8 & 22; football ticket taking
• October 11, Exec Board meeting.
• October 18, 12:00pm, speaker TBD.
• October 25, 5:00 pm. Speaker TBD.
• October or November; Youth Appreciation Week
• November 1, 12:00pm, speaker TBD
• November 5; Football ticket taking
• November 8, Exec Board meeting.
• November 15, 12:00pm, speaker will be Dr. Greg Cook, re: LEAP initiative at UW-W.
• November 22, 5:00 pm. Speaker TBD.
• December; Mitten tree, Toys for Kids
• December 3; Breakfast with Santa

That’s all for tonight.

Share the Optimism,

Dave Halbach

UW-Whitewater/Community Optimist Club

920-650-6089 or 262-472-5749

Greetings Optimist!!

Thanks to Kim Adams and Allison Langenkamp for posting the tribute and pictures of Don Zahn on our web site and Facebook page. I haven’t found any other words to express my sorrow on Don’s passing so suddenly. Please keep Lou and her family in your thoughts this week.

This week’s notes:

• I’ve attached the updated Breakfast with Santa task list that I sent out the last two weeks. Thanks to many of you for volunteering for tasks that need to be completed now (or very soon) in order to keep the event on track and on time. This list is different from what Lanora created due to the earlier timeline for some tasks. Please review again to see where you can help.
• If you haven’t already signed up to help with Breakfast With Santa, please do so at this website. This form can also be used by the Whitewater Middle School Junior Optimist Club, Whitewater High School Octagon Club, and UWW Student Optimist Club. No need for multiple paper signup sheets that need to be merged together.
• Remember to mark your calendar for Monday evening, December 14 for the “Toys for Kids” night to help with sorting and wrapping.
• A reminder that the annual club dues notification was sent out to our membership list (which is not the exact same as this email list). Hopefully active members can submit dues soon so Ken, Kate and I can update the club roster at the OI web site.
• Who can help find additional speakers for our January and February meetings? A couple of ideas/speakers have been forwarded to me but more are needed.  All speaker ideas are welcome and appreciated. I/we just need to confirm who, when, and where for the next couple of months.

Dates for upcoming club meetings and events include:

• Tuesday, December 1, Regular club meeting, 12 Noon, University Center 069 (basement level of the UC). This is a “bring your own lunch” meeting. Stuffing of “Goody Bags” for Breakfast with Santa.
• Saturday, December 5, Breakfast with Santa!! Esker Dining Hall, UW-W.
• Tuesday, December 8. Executive Board meeting, 12 Noon.
• Monday, December, 14. Toys for Kids wrapping and sorting, Whitewater Downtown Armory, 146 W North St.
• Tuesday, December 15. Regular club meeting, 12 Noon, UC 259A. This is a “catered lunch day” ($7.00) with “Youth of the Month” from Whitewater Middle School and presentation of the “Mitten Tree” donations to Lanora, Mary, and Shirley from the Whitewater School District.
• No club meeting the week of December 20-26.
• Tuesday, January 5, Regular club meeting, 12 Noon, University Center 069 (basement level of the UC). This is a “bring your own lunch” meeting.
• Tuesday, January 12, Executive Board meeting, 12 Noon.
• Tuesday, January 19, Regular club meeting, 12 Noon, location to be determined. This is a “catered lunch day” ($7.00) with “Youth of the Month” from Whitewater High School. Our speaker will be Jim Mead from the UW-W University Housing Cable TV Office.
• Tuesday, January 26, evening meeting, 5pm, Jessica’s Restaurant.
• Friday, February 19, 2016, Trivia Night!! 7:00 pm, University Center Hamilton Room.

That’s all for the moment. Enjoy the holiday and hug your family.

Share the Optimism,

Dave Halbach

UW-Whitewater/Community Optimist Club

920-650-6089 or 262-472-5749

Greetings Optimist!!

Welcome to our newest club member, Liz Hrodey, Whitewater High School Assistant Principal!!! The Board voted and accepted her membership application last week at our November meeting.

Great news for Warhawk football fans, we will host the opening round playoff game this Saturday!!  See Therese Kennedy’s email from earlier today regarding ticket takers.

Also from last week’s Board meeting, we voted to NOT have evening meetings for November or December. Use that time to enjoy with family and friends (or, in reality, time to get last minute holiday tasks completed!).

Tuesday, November 17, noon meeting. UC 259A. Youth of the Month from Whitewater High School, with catered lunch, $7.00 for club members. Speaker will be Shawn Werner, Young Auditorium Staff member.

This week’s notes:

• Thanks again to Lanora Heim for creating the online signup form for December 4^th & 5^th for the many tasks related to Breakfast with Santa . If you haven’t already signed up, please do so at this website. This form can also be used by the Whitewater Middle School Junior Optimist Club, Whitewater High School Octagon Club, and UWW Student Optimist Club. No need for multiple paper signup sheets that need to be merged together.
• I’ve attached the updated Breakfast with Santa task list that I sent out last week. Thanks to many of you for volunteering for tasks that need to be completed now (or very soon) in order to keep the event on track and on time. This list is different from what Lanora created due to the earlier timeline for some tasks. Please review again to see where you can help.
• Remember to mark your calendar for Monday evening, December 14 for the “Toys for Kids” night to help with sorting and wrapping.
• A reminder that the annual club dues notification was sent out to our membership list (which is not the exact same as this email list). Hopefully active members can submit dues soon so Ken, Kate and I can update the club roster at the OI web site.
• Who can help find additional speakers for our January and February meetings? A couple of ideas/speakers have been forwarded to me but more are needed.  All speaker ideas are welcome and appreciated. I/we just need to confirm who, when, and where for the next couple of months.

Dates for upcoming club meetings and events include:

• Tuesday, November 17, noon meeting. UC 259A. Youth of the Month from Whitewater High School, with catered lunch. Speaker will be Shawn Werner, Young Auditorium Staff member.
• Tuesday, December 1. Regular club meeting, 12 Noon, University Center 069 (basement level of the UC). This is a “bring your own lunch” meeting. Stuffing of “Goody Bags” for Breakfast with Santa.
• Saturday, December 5, Breakfast with Santa!! Esker Dining Hall, UW-W.
• Tuesday, December 8. Executive Board meeting, 12 Noon.
• Monday, December, 14. Toys for Kids wrapping and sorting, Whitewater Downtown Armory, 146 W North St.
• Tuesday, December 15. Regular club meeting, 12 Noon, UC 259A. This is a “catered lunch day” ($7.00) with “Youth of the Month” from Whitewater Middle School.
• Friday, February 19, 2016, Trivia Night!! 7:00 pm, University Center Hamilton Room.

That’s all for the moment.

Share the Optimism,

Dave Halbach

UW-Whitewater/Community Optimist Club

920-650-6089 or 262-472-5749

Greetings Optimist!!

Lots of short notes for this week.

• Thanks again to Connie Murray, Jeanine Fassl and Teshona Bennett for organizing last Tuesday’s Installation Banquet at 841 Brew House!!
• Please welcome our newest Optimist Club member, Jenny Musilek! Jenny is the Promotions Coordinator in the UC. We’ll find an upcoming meeting to formally induct Jenny.
• Warhawk Football ticket takers were busy this past Saturday when a record crowd of 15,287 showed up at Perkins Stadium.
• No club meeting tomorrow, October 6!!! (This is due to the UW-W Faculty Emeriti lunch being held at 841 Brew House)
• Instead, the Exec Board will have its first meeting of the year. One of the agenda items will be discussing the budget for 2015-16. I’ll keep you posted.
• October is the start of the new Optimist year. Watch your email later this month for the annual dues notification.
• Who can help find speakers for our October and November meetings? All speaker ideas are welcome and appreciated. Members have shared ideas with me, we just need to confirm who, when, and where for the next couple of months.
• Allison Langenkamp has posted more pictures on the web site from the Installation Banquet and I’ve added them to the Facebook page. Check them out when you have time. Use the links at the bottom of the email to quickly go to those sites.
• Maggie Winz was a Football Crazr winner for NFL week number 2. Congratulations Maggie!!
• I’ve begun adding some of our upcoming events to the SWIS District web site calendar. This morning I added Breakfast with Santa and Trivia Night.
• Speaking of Breakfast with Santa, who would like to help organize this event for December 5^th ? (Yes, it’s only two months away)? A lot of work was done last year writing down the various actions and timelines needed to complete this event so that will help get things started.

Dates for upcoming club meetings and events include:

• Tuesday, October 6, Exec Board meeting, 12 Noon, University Center 260.
• Tuesday, October 13, regular club meeting, 12 Noon, University Center 069 (basement level of the UC)
• Tuesday, October 20, noon meeting. Youth of the Month from Whitewater Middle School, UC 259A.
• Tuesday, October 27 evening meeting/social event at the home of Kim Adams and Angie Alesci.
• Tuesday, November 3, noon meeting, Youth Appreciation Luncheon with student leaders from all 5 Whitewater School District buildings. UC 259 A&B.
• Week of November 2-6, Youth Appreciation Week.
• Tuesday, November 10, Exec Board meeting, 12 Noon, University Center 260.
• Tuesday, November 17, noon meeting. Youth of the Month from Whitewater High School. UC 259A
• Saturday, December 5, Breakfast with Santa!! Esker Dining Hall, UW-W.
• Friday, February 19, 2016, Trivia Night!! 7:00 pm, University Center Hamilton Room.

That’s all for the moment.

Share the Optimism,

Dave Halbach

UW-Whitewater/Community Optimist Club

920-650-6089 or 262-472-5749

Greetings Optimist!!

The Packers won, the Badgers won, and the Warhawks won their respective football games this past weekend. No wonder the sun was shining today!! (Repeated from last Monday’s message, may it continue!)

Tomorrow, Tuesday, September 22, WILL BE a regular club meeting day. One business topic is voting on the “Slate of Officers” for 2016-17. Hopefully all of you received and reviewed the emails from Jeanine Fassl about voting. In addition, we will honor our Youth of the Month from Whitewater High School. Our speakers will be Lauren Hageman, outgoing Club Intern, Allison Langenkamp and Callie Watry, fall semester club interns, speaking about what they learned (Lauren) and what they will be doing and hope to learn (Allison & Callie). We will also likely be hosting 4-5 potential new club members!! Please come and join us in UC 261 for the meeting at 12 Noon. Lunch will be from UW-W Catering. Lunch cost is $7.00 each.

Once the executive board is approved for 2016-17, they will establish their monthly meeting dates and times. Once those dates are known, we’ll let all club members know in case you have any business items for board consideration.

The Trivia Night 2016 committee continues to meet regularly. Kim Adams will provide an update at our meeting tomorrow.

I have begun working with one of the fall semester interns, Allison, to provide more messages per week about our club and its work. These new, additional messages will be posted on the web site and then automatically reposted on the Facebook page. One of the first things Allison pointed out to me was the lack of a new member application link on our web site. I fixed that! If you look at our web page, you will find a link on the right hand side labeled “Membership Application Brochure.” If potential new members (or you) click this link, it will open the document from the Optimist International web site that includes an application for membership. Changes and updates such as this will enhance our web site and Facebook sites and hopefully get our message out to more people. I’m looking forward to more ideas such as this from Allison and Callie this fall.

Our Facebook page has 98 “Likes” now, 1 more than last week.

Dates for upcoming club meetings and events include:

• Tuesday, September, 29, Installation banquet at 841 Brew House. Social hour begins at 5pm. Dinner begins at 6pm.
• Tuesday, October 6, noon meeting.
• Tuesday, October 20, noon meeting. Youth of the Month from Whitewater Middle School.
• Tuesday, October 27 evening meeting/social event at the home of Kim Adams and Angie Alesci.

That’s all for the moment.

Share the Optimism,

Dave Halbach

UW-Whitewater/Community Optimist Club

920-650-6089 or 262-472-5749

Greetings Optimist!!

The Packers won, the Badgers won, and the Warhawks won their respective football games this past weekend. No wonder the sun was shining today!!

• There is NO REGULAR CLUB MEETING this week.
• The current Exec Board will have our final meeting of the Optimist Year tomorrow, September 15 at 12 Noon in UC 268. Agenda items will include the 2015-16 Exec Board members and budget. Let me know if you have any agenda items.
• Be sure to RSVP for the September 29 Installation Banquet. I sent the invitation last week. Social Hour begins at 5:00pm, Dinner at 6:00pm, Program/Installation at 7:00 pm. Please respond by the Friday, September 18. Let me know if I need to resend the Installation Banquet invitation.
• Our Facebook page has 97 “Likes” now, 2 more than last week’s email. Inching closer to 100!

Dates for upcoming club meetings and events include:

• Tuesday, September 15, Executive Board meeting. Noon-1pm.
• Tuesday, September 22, UC 261, 12 Noon-1pm. Catered lunch and Youth of the Month. Our outgoing and incoming interns will be our speakers.
• Tuesday, September, 29, Installation banquet at 841 Brew House.
• Tuesday, October 6, noon meeting.
• Tuesday, October 20, noon meeting.
• Tuesday, October 27 or Wednesday, October 28 evening meeting.

That’s all for the moment.

Share the Optimism,

Dave Halbach

UW-Whitewater/Community Optimist Club

920-650-6089 or 262-472-5749

Greetings Optimist!!

Well, another busy week! You might have heard of a little group of meetings being held on campus, mostly in the University Center, Thursday and Friday called the UW System Board of Regents. Or maybe you heard of the small event Friday afternoon called the Chancellor’s Inauguration?

Heard an interesting presentation at the September 8 meeting from Dr. Katie Heyning and Dr. Robin Fox about Whitewater Leads. The Whitewater Leads web site is presently “under construction” but should be very helpful and insightful once the content is added.

Kim Adams, Lauren Hageman (current Optimist Club intern), and I interviewed two UW-W students late yesterday afternoon for the Fall Optimist Intern position. After reviewing each candidate, strengths and interests, and the needs of the club for the fall, we are pleased to announce that both candidates were offered, and accepted, intern positions for this fall. The interns are Allison Langenkamp and Callie Watry. Both will be working 150 hours for the club this semester. With Youth Appreciation Week, Trivia Night, Breakfast with Santa, and social media updates, we felt there are plenty of tasks for them to complete on behalf of the club. We hope to have all three of the interns at the September 22 meeting to talk about their experiences and expected learning outcomes from the internships.

In other Optimist business:

• Our Facebook page has 95 “Likes” now. Inching closer to 100!

Speakers for upcoming meetings are:

• Tuesday, September 22, UC 261, 12 Noon-1pm. Youth of the Month presentation and catered lunch. Summer and Fall 2015 UW-W Interns.
• Tuesday, October 6, 12 Noon-1pm. Any ideas? This will be the first meeting of the new Optimist Year!
• Tuesday, October 20, 12 Noon-1pm. Youth of the Month. Any ideas?

Dates for upcoming club meetings and events include:

• Tuesday, September 15, Executive Board meeting. Noon-1pm.
• Tuesday, September 22, UC 261, 12 Noon-1pm. Catered lunch and Youth of the Month.
• Tuesday, September, 29, evening banquet, date/time/location to be determined.
• Tuesday, October 6, noon meeting.
• Tuesday, October 20, noon meeting.

That’s all for the moment.

Share the Optimism,

Dave Halbach

UW-Whitewater/Community Optimist Club

920-650-6089 or 262-472-5749