UW-Whitewater/Community Optimist Club

Enjoy these pictures from the 2016 Easter Egg Hunt, sponsored by our Club. The event was held at the Whitewater Middle School.

Greetings Optimists,

Our next general member meeting will be tomorrow night, March 29, at 5:00 PM, Jessica’s Restaurant. I’m still searching for a speaker. Otherwise we’ll discuss the Easter Egg Hunt and City-wide Rummage Sale.

Easter Egg Hunt update. Many, many thanks to Kim Adams, Connie Murray, Rick Fassl, Jeanine Fassl, Jan Olson, Susan Hiscox, Lanora Heim, Jenny Musilek, Michele Filip, Josh Tepps, Linda Kinson, Hans Hahn, Carla Cheek, and Angie Alesci (and any others I’ve missed) for quickly putting together last Saturday’s Easter Egg Hunt!!!

City-wide Rummage Sale. We are in need of a co-chair/co-leader for this event. Michele Filip has volunteered to co-chair/co-lead. Would we do this Saturday May 14 or 21? Therese Kennedy has already received a call wondering when the event would be. Please let me know ASAP if you’re willing to co-chair/co-lead this event.

A Call for 2016-17 Club Officers. It’s time to begin planning for the slate of officers for 2016-17. What would YOU like to do next year to contribute? How about an Exec Board position? Perhaps one that you’ve not held  in the past? Please begin thinking about volunteering to be an officer for 2016-17. “Many hands make light work.”

The February Exec Board Minutes were approved at the last Exec Board meeting. I’ve posted them on the web site for your reading.

Dates for upcoming club meetings and events include:

• Tuesday, April 5, Regular club meeting, 12 Noon, University Center 259A. Speaker needed.
• Tuesday, April 12, Executive Board meeting, 12 Noon.
• Tuesday, April 19, Regular club meeting, 12 Noon, University Center 259A. Youth of the Month presentation. Speaker needed.
• Tuesday, April 26, Regular club evening meeting, 5pm, Jessica’s Restaurant. Speaker needed.
• Tuesday, May 3, Regular club meeting. Speaker needed.
• Tuesday, May 10, Executive Board meeting, 12 Noon.
• Saturday, May 14 or 21, City-wide rummage sale?????????
• Tuesday, May 17, Regular club meeting. Youth of Month presentation. Speaker needed.
• Tuesday, May 24, Regular club evening meeting, 5pm, Jessica’s Restaurant. Speaker needed.
• Tuesday, May 31 (5^th Tuesday of the month). Fellowship Meeting? Other type of meeting? When/where?
• Saturday, June 4, Fishing Derby??
• July 1-4, 2016, Gyro Stand at Whitewater 4^th of July Celebration.
• Jefferson County Fair ticket selling, Wednesday, July 6, 2016.

That’s all for tonight.

Share the Optimism,

Dave Halbach

UW-Whitewater/Community Optimist Club

920-650-6089 or 262-472-5749

UW-Whitewater Student Optimists and a service-learning student, along with Angie Alesci and Kim Adams presented a $3,000 check to Washington Elementary Art teacher Mareta Hale on Wednesday, March 16.  The money donated is on behalf of the UW-Whitewater Student Optimist Club and is from part of their portion of the proceeds raised at the Third Annual Optimist Trivia Night held on February 19, 2016.

The Student Optimist Club is hoping that they will be able to donate additional monies towards to project, but the club and school are also asking for additional assistance for the large-scale project.  The mural painting will begin yet this spring and will continue into the summer.  The children at Washington Elementary will be (and already have been) involved with the project.  Ms. Hale has worked with them from the beginning in researching landmarks, native plants and overall themes for the mural.  The hope is to get children, teachers, parents and other community members involved with the project.

Anyone wishing to donate to the mural project can send a tax deductible donation to Washington Elementary.  Checks can be made out to Washington Elementary School and indicate Mural Project in the memo line.  For more information, contact Kim Adams (UW-W Student Optimist Co-Advisor) at adamsk@uww.edu or 608-201-2151, or art teacher Mareta Hale at Washington Elementary.

Save the Date:  The 4th Annual Optimist Trivia Night is planned for February 17, 2017.

Trivia Night Check Present Photo1 March 16 2016

Trivia Night Check Present Photo2 March 16 2016

Flowers Example from Washington Elementary students, January 2016

Washington Elementary Outdoor Mural Wall

Greetings Optimists,

Our next general member meeting will be tomorrow, March 15, at 12 Noon, University Center 259A. This is a “catered lunch day” ($7.00). There WILL be a Youth of the Month presentation at this meeting. We’ll have two shorter presentations, one from Bunny Schoen speaking about Delta Kappa Gamma, an international group of educators.  This group does a lot for kids, and the teachers who teach them, similar to Optimists.  The other speaker will be Whitewater High School Principal Doug Parker speaking about the alternative graduation program.

City-wide Rummage Sale. We are in need of a co-chair/co-leader for this event. Michele Filip has volunteered to co-chair/co-lead. Would we do this Saturday May 14 or 21? Therese Kennedy has already received a call wondering when the event would be. Please let me know ASAP if you’re willing to co-chair/co-lead this event.

A Call for 2016-17 Club Officers. It’s time to begin planning for the slate of officers for 2016-17. What would YOU like to do next year to contribute? How about an Exec Board position? Perhaps one that you’ve not held  in the past? Please begin thinking about volunteering to be an officer for 2016-17. “Many hands make light work.”

THERE IS NO MEETING NEXT WEEK, MARCH 21-25 OF ANY KIND for the club. UW-W and the Whitewater School District are on spring break which will mean some/many people will be on vacation, including me.

Our final meeting for March will be an evening meeting on TUESDAY,  March 29 at 5pm at Jessica’s Restaurant. I’m still looking for a speaker.

The February Exec Board Minutes were approved at last week’s Exec Board meeting. I’ve posted them on the web site for your reading.

Dates for upcoming club meetings and events include:

• Tuesday, March 15, Regular club meeting, 12 Noon, University Center 259A. Youth of the Month presentation. Speakers will be Bunny Schoen and WHS Principle Doug Parker.
• Saturday, March 26, Easter Egg Hunt???????
• Tuesday, March 29, Evening meeting, 5pm at Jessica’s Restaurant.
• Tuesday, April 5, Regular club meeting, 12 Noon, University Center 259A. Speaker needed.
• Tuesday, April 12, Executive Board meeting, 12 Noon.
• Tuesday, April 19, Regular club meeting, 12 Noon, University Center 259A. Youth of the Month presentation. Speaker needed.
• Tuesday, April 26, Regular club evening meeting, 5pm, Jessica’s Restaurant.
• Tuesday, May 3, Regular club meeting
• Tuesday, May 10, Executive Board meeting, 12 Noon.
• Saturday, May 14 or 21, City-wide rummage sale?????????
• Tuesday, May 17, Regular club meeting
• Tuesday, May 24, Regular club evening meeting, 5pm, Jessica’s Restaurant.
• Tuesday, May 31 (5^th Tuesday of the month). Fellowship Meeting? Other type of meeting? When/where?
• Saturday, June 4th, Annual Fishing Derby????? (DNR Free Fun Weekend)
• July 1-4, 2016, Gyro Stand at Whitewater 4^th of July Celebration.
• Jefferson County Fair ticket selling, Wednesday, July 6, 2016.

That’s all for tonight.

Share the Optimism,

Dave Halbach

UW-Whitewater/Community Optimist Club

920-650-6089 or 262-472-5749

It was a sad day for the Whitewater community, UW-Whitewater and the Optimist organization, as we lost one of the greats—Jim “Mills” Miller on March 9.

Mills was a great friend, neighbor, coach, mentor, worker, leader, and especially—A

DEDICATED WARHAWK!

He was a walking history book of the community, baseball, and of Breakfast with Santa (BWS)—which has been hosted by the UW-Whitewater/Community Optimist Club since 1992.  Mills served the community as Santa for 20 years at BWS, Optimist caroling at Fairhaven, Whitewater holiday parades, and a few other holiday events.   In fact, he joined the club in October 1992, and two months later was serving as the first BWS Santa.

He was a pillar of the UW-Whitewater/Community Optimist Club—serving as the sixth president of the club, in several other positions on the board, and chairing numerous project committees over the years.  Mills was recognized as a lifetime member of the club in September 2000.

He always enjoyed the photos taken at Optimist events, and yet was one of the happiest members to see us move from film to digital photography—in order to save on the film budget.

Here is our photo tribute to Mills—who had so many creative answers to “where is your sleigh parked?”

—With sadness and gratitude to an amazing role model,

Kim Adams

Picture of First 6 Presidents, 1996

Optimist Group Caroling, 1998

“Santa Mills”

Whitewater High Schools Girls Basketball Team with Santa.

Mills and Carol participating with others at a Club Meeting activity.

Mills and Carol at the stadium naming ceremony.

Mills letting club members know about Breakfast with Santa.

Mills congratulating a Whitewater High School student for being one of the “Youth of the Month.”

Greetings Optimists,

After hiding in Phoenix, AZ, last week for a conference, I have been forced back to reality this week.

No general member meeting this week. Instead, the Exec Board will meet on Tuesday, March 8 at 12 Noon, in the University Center, room 268. If you have any topics for the Exec Board to consider tomorrow, please contact me so I can include the item/topic on the agenda.

Easter Egg Hunt update. We are in need of a chair/leader for this event! The Whitewater Middle School is reserved for the Easter Egg hunt on Saturday, March 26. We still need to order items for the “goody bags” and Connie Murray has information she can share regarding what has been ordered in the past. Also, Rev. Wendt in interested in coming and saying a few words.

For our new members, here is a basic description of the event from last year. “The event is scheduled to take place at 11 am at The Whitewater Middle School grounds, 401 S. Elizabeth Street, weather permitting.  Inclement weather will move the event into the WMS building, so the event will be held rain or shine on April 4th.  There will be a short invocation, with the arrival of the Easter Bunny and McGruff the Crime Dog aboard a Whitewater Fire Dept. truck before the signal to start the hunt is given.  Children through 5th grade are welcome and will be grouped as follows:  Ages 2 years and under; Ages 3 & 4; Kindergarten & grade 1; grades 2 & 3 and grades 4 & 5.  Children are encouraged to bring a basket or bag to collect the eggs.  The plastic eggs they find will be returned in exchange for a small bag of treats.  Several “special” eggs will earn the finder a special basket of treats.”

City-wide Rummage Sale. Another event in need of a chair/leader. Would we do this Saturday May 14 or 21? Therese Kennedy has already a call wondering when the event would be.

For our new members, here is a basic description of the event from last year. “The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater/Community Optimist Club, in cooperation with the Whitewater Chamber of Commerce, will be hosting a City-Wide Rummage Sale on Saturday, May 16, 2015.  Registrations are now being accepted.  All proceeds from this event help fund activities to support youth programs throughout the year.  Last year saw over 60 families benefit by having their rummage sale on the same day.  More sales draw more people and that means more items you don’t have to store anymore!

The cost to participants will be $10 per household, which guarantees each seller a spot on the master rummage sale locator list, a sign for their yard, and a brief, 10-word description of the most attractive items available for sale.  This is a community service project offered by the UW-W/Community Optimist Club and we appreciate persons registering with us as the very reasonable registration fee gives them better publicity at a  cost savings over running a separate ad.  Funds raised cover the costs for the project and any money in excess of costs goes to fund other youth service projects throughout the year.”

2016-17 Club Officers. It’s time to begin thinking and planning for the slate of officers for 2016-17. What would YOU like to do next year to contribute? How about an Exec Board position? Perhaps one that you’ve not held  in the past? Please begin thinking about volunteering to be an officer for 2016-17. “Many hands make light work.”

Dates for upcoming club meetings and events include:

• Tuesday, March 8, Executive Board meeting, 12 Noon, UC 268.
• Tuesday, March 15, Regular club meeting, 12 Noon, University Center 259A. Youth of the Month presentation. Speaker will be Bunny Schoen.
• Tuesday, March 22? Evening meeting? This is the week of the University’s and Whitewater school district spring  break.
• Saturday, March 26, Easter Egg Hunt???????
• Tuesday, March 29? Evening meeting instead of March 22?
• Tuesday, April 5, Regular club meeting, 12 Noon, University Center 259A. Speaker needed.
• Tuesday, April 12, Executive Board meeting, 12 Noon.
• Tuesday, April 19, Regular club meeting, 12 Noon, University Center 259A. Youth of the Month presentation. Speaker needed.
• Tuesday, April 26, Regular club evening meeting, 5pm, Jessica’s Restaurant.
• Tuesday, May 3, Regular club meeting
• Tuesday, May 10, Executive Board meeting, 12 Noon.
• Tuesday, May 17, Regular club meeting
• Saturday, May 14 or 21, City-wide rummage sale?????????

That’s all for tonight.

Share the Optimism,

Dave Halbach

UW-Whitewater/Community Optimist Club

920-650-6089 or 262-472-5749