UW-Whitewater/Community Optimist Club

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

Greetings Optimists,

Have you checked the SWIS District web site lately?

A “shout-out” to club member Jim McLernon!!! Jim organized a “Super Bowl Squares” event for “The Big Game” this past February 7 and was able to make a $100 donation to the club at our Tuesday, February 16 meeting. Thanks Jim!!

Easter Egg Hunt update. Easter will be Sunday, March 27, 2016. Information from the School District indicates that the Middle School is available for the Easter Egg hunt on Saturday, March 26. The building is already in use Saturday, March 19. Finally, who would be willing to chair/lead the event and who can help with the event?

Wow!!! What a great time this past Friday night at the 3rd Annual Trivia Night. 28 teams from the campus, community, and surrounding area. 22 children who participated in the children’s activities, supervised by many of the UWW Student Optimists, while Mom and Dad participated in the trivia competition. Wonderful silent auction and “bucket raffle” items.

There are many “Thanks Yous” to be shared but they need to start with Kim Adams, Jan Olson, and Lanora Heim. To Jeanine Fassl for leading much of the publicity. Thanks also to Ken & Kate Ksobiech for all their efforts managing the money received before and during the event. Thanks to Angie Alesci and Betsy Brandt for managing the Silent Auction. Thanks to Dr. Tom Drucker for writing the 80 trivia questions used for this year’s event. Thanks to the UW-W Student Optimist Club for providing so much labor.

We also had a good balance of Student Optimists, Community Optimists and other helpful volunteers at the event. The winning team was “Desire 2 Learn Y’all Some Trivia” with Corey Davis, Kelly Davis, Josh Kapfer, Jen Kapfer, Kerry Katovich, Nadine Kriska, Chris Calvert-Minor, Deilee Calvert-Minor, and Mark McGuire. Once again Kim Simes and her team are to be complimented for their many creative answers to some of the difficult questions. Some of their answers were even correct! Kim and I have been communicating with Tom Ganser who is working on an article for the Daily Jefferson Union paper with highlights of the night. Those of you who receive that paper, watch for an upcoming article about the night.

Overall, a great success with preliminary gross income of slightly over $10,000. In addition to the food pantry money raised, 388 food items were collected –a great gift to share with the pantry in the coming week.

Well done everyone, well done!

This week’s meeting will be Tuesday evening, February 23 at 5pm at Jessica’s Restaurant.

Dates for upcoming club meetings and events include:

• Tuesday, February 23, 5pm, Jessica’s Restaurant. Business meeting and Trivia Night review.
• Tuesday, March 1, Regular club meeting, 12 Noon, University Center 259A. Speaker needed.
• Tuesday, March 8, Executive Board meeting, 12 Noon.
• Tuesday, March 15, Regular club meeting, 12 Noon, University Center 259A. Speaker will be Bunny Schoen.
• Saturday, March 12 or 19 or 26 Easter Egg Hunt???????
• Tuesday, March 22? Evening meeting? This is the week of the University’s and Whitewater school district spring  break.
• 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. Speaker needed.
• Tuesday, April 26, Regular club evening meeting, 5pm, Jessica’s Restaurant.

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 next general member meeting will be tomorrow, February 16, 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. Our speakers will be Amy Edmonds, who will provide a brief update on Warhawk athletics, followed by Kristina Navarro and Kirby Mills talking about new efforts with student-athlete engagement with focus on the Warhawk Leadership Academy.

Trivia Night is this week!!!!! We are still in need of volunteers for some of the tasks that night, as well as tasks that need to be completed in advance. Here are other updates and requests:

• Online volunteer signup, use this link. Help is still needed for:
  • Packaging of Silent Auction items on February 16, starting at 5pm at Kim & Angie’s house.
  • Food for the event volunteers
  • Food for the Child Care room
  • Helping serve food in the Child Care room
  • Staffing the Food Drive table
  • Trivia room hosts
  • Child Care providers
  • Selling Raffle Tickets
  • Clean up crew
• It appears we are at or slightly over team capacity!! Woohoo! Thanks to all of you who are participating and/or helped to recruit teams for this year’s event.
• Contact Kim Adams if you or someone you know is interested in being a sponsor for this event. There are 5 different sponsorship levels. A form with more details is available upon request.
• Watch the club’s Facebook page during Trivia Night for pictures and updates during the event.

Have you checked the SWIS District web site lately?

I didn’t receive much feedback last week on this topic so I’ll ask again. Easter will be Sunday, March 27, 2016. What are people’s thoughts regarding a date for the Easter Egg Hunt? The University and Whitewater School District will be on spring break March 21-25. Should we host the hunt on March 12? March 19? March 26? Also, who would be available on which dates to help with the event?

Dates for upcoming club meetings and events include:

• Friday, February 19, 2016, Trivia Night!! 7:00 pm, University Center Hamilton Room.
• Tuesday, February 23, 5pm, Jessica’s Restaurant. Speaker needed.
• Tuesday, March 1, Regular club meeting, 12 Noon, University Center 259A. Speaker needed.
• Tuesday, March 8, Executive Board meeting, 12 Noon.
• Tuesday, March 15, Regular club meeting, 12 Noon, University Center 259A. Speaker needed.
• Saturday, March 12 or 19 or 26 Easter Egg Hunt???????
• Tuesday, March 22? Evening meeting? This is the week of the University’s and Whitewater school district spring  break.
• 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. Speaker needed.
• Tuesday, April 26, Regular club evening meeting, 5pm, Jessica’s Restaurant.

That’s all for tonight.

Share the Optimism,

Dave Halbach

UW-Whitewater/Community Optimist Club

920-650-6089 or 262-472-5749

Greetings Optimists,

With yesterday being Super Bowl Sunday, and temps in the low 40’s, it was the start of 2016 grilling season at my house. Anyone else grill out this past weekend?

No general member meeting this week. Instead, the Exec Board will meet on Tuesday, February 9 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.

Have you checked the SWIS District web site lately?

A reminder, Bev Bonge-Ganser wants to share the following info from the Whitewater Middle School JOOI Club. “The middle school Junior Optimist Club will be hosting a blood drive Friday, Feb. 12 from 1-6 at the middle school (401 S. Elizabeth St.).  You can find our drive on the Red Cross website http://www.redcross.org/blood and enter code 0324027 or our zip code 53190. Our students are always helpful and friendly and chatty so you will have a wonderful donation experience if you join us. We also decorate like crazy, so it will be festive as well.  Hope to see you on the 12th.”

Easter will be Sunday, March 27, 2016. What are people’s thoughts regarding a date for the Easter Egg Hunt? The University and Whitewater School District will be on spring break March 21-25. Should we host the hunt on March 12? March 19? March 26? Also, who would be available on which dates to help with the event?

Trivia Night is coming up soon. We are still in need of volunteers for many tasks that night, as well as tasks that need to be completed in advance. Here are other updates and requests:

• Online volunteer signup, use this link.
• We still have tables available for teams. The Trivia Team Registration form is available from our web site. Click this link. Team entries are due February 12.
• Do you have gift cards or ideas for silent auction items that could be donated to Trivia Night? If so, please contact club member Kate Ksobiech.
• Contact Kim Adams if you or someone you know is interested in being a sponsor for this event. There are 5 different sponsorship levels. A form with more details is available upon request.

Dates for upcoming club meetings and events include:

• Tuesday, February 9, Executive Board meeting, 12 Noon.
• Tuesday, February 16, Regular club meeting, 12 Noon, University Center 259A. This is a “catered lunch day” ($7.00) with “Youth of the Month” from Whitewater Middle School. Our speakers will be Kirby Mills and Kristina Navarro talking about the Warhawk Leadership Academy.
• Friday, February 19, 2016, Trivia Night!! 7:00 pm, University Center Hamilton Room.
• Tuesday, February 23, 5pm, Jessica’s Restaurant. Speaker needed.
• Tuesday, March 1, Regular club meeting, 12 Noon, University Center 259A. Speaker needed.
• Tuesday, March 8, Executive Board meeting, 12 Noon.
• Tuesday, March 15, Regular club meeting, 12 Noon, University Center 259A. Speaker needed.
• Tuesday, March 22? Evening meeting? This is the week of the University’s and Whitewater school district spring
• Tuesday, March 29? Evening meeting instead of March 22?

That’s all for tonight.

Share the Optimism,

Dave Halbach

UW-Whitewater/Community Optimist Club

920-650-6089 or 262-472-5749

Greetings Optimists,

We formally inducted our four new members at last Tuesday’s meeting; They are Jenny Musilek, Liz Hrodey, Josh Tepps, and Michele Filip. Welcome!!

Our next general member meeting will be tomorrow, Tuesday, February 2, Regular club meeting, “Bring your own lunch,” 12 Noon, University Center 259A. We’ll have two speakers. One will be Bunny Schoen about Delta Kappa Gamma, an international group of educators, and their work with youth. Our second speaker(s) will be talking about Freeze Fest/Polar Plunge. Thanks Susan Hiscox and Josh Tepps for helping arrange this week’s speakers.

A reminder, Bev Bonge-Ganser wants to share the following info from the Whitewater Middle School JOOI Club. “The middle school Junior Optimist Club will be hosting a blood drive Friday, Feb. 12 from 1-6 at the middle school (401 S. Elizabeth St.).  You can find our drive on the Red Cross website http://www.redcross.org/blood and enter code 0324027 or our zip code 53190. Our students are always helpful and friendly and chatty so you will have a wonderful donation experience if you join us. We also decorate like crazy, so it will be festive as well.  Hope to see you on the 12th.”

We still need volunteers to sign up for the various tasks for Trivia Night 2016. Use this link to volunteer.

Trivia Night is coming up soon. Here are other updates and requests:

• The Trivia Team Registration form is available from our web site. Click this link. Team entries are due February 12.
• Do you have gift cards that could be donated to Trivia Night? If so, please contact club member Kate Ksobiech.
• Do you have items or ideas for silent auction items? If so, please contact Kate Ksobiech.
• Contact Kim Adams if you or someone you know is interested in being a sponsor for this event. There are 5 different sponsorship levels. A form with more details is available upon request.

Dates for upcoming club meetings and events include:

• Tuesday, February 9, Executive Board meeting, 12 Noon.
• Tuesday, February 16, Regular club meeting, 12 Noon, University Center 259A. This is a “catered lunch day” ($7.00) with “Youth of the Month” from Whitewater Middle School. Our speakers will be Kirby Mills and Kristina Navarro talking about the Warhawk Leadership Academy.
• Friday, February 19, 2016, Trivia Night!! 7:00 pm, University Center Hamilton Room.
• Tuesday, February 23, 5pm, Jessica’s Restaurant. Speaker needed.
• Tuesday, March 1, Regular club meeting, 12 Noon, University Center 259A. Speaker needed.
• Tuesday, March 8, Executive Board meeting, 12 Noon.
• Tuesday, March 15, Regular club meeting, 12 Noon, University Center 259A. Speaker needed.

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 next general member meeting will be tomorrow, January 26, 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. Our speaker will be Linda Long.

A reminder again that Linda Kinson and I will be the contacts for the Fund Crazr Basketball Sweepstakes raffle organized for the SWIS District by Fred Dorn. If we can sell the 50 tickets I’ve requested we should receive $600 back for support of the club’s events and programs. You can find more info on the www.fundcrazr.com website.

Blood drive Jan. 27-28. UW-Whitewater ROTC and the Student Optimist Club are hosting a blood drive from noon to 5 p.m. Jan. 27-28 in the University Center Old Main Ballroom. For an appointment, call 1-800-RED-CROSS or visit redcrossblood.org.

A reminder, Bev Bonge-Ganser wants to share the following info from the Whitewater Middle School JOOI Club. “The middle school Junior Optimist Club will be hosting a blood drive Friday, Feb. 12 from 1-6 at the middle school (401 S. Elizabeth St.).  You can find our drive on the Red Cross website http://www.redcross.org/blood and enter code 0324027 or our zip code 53190. Our students are always helpful and friendly and chatty so you will have a wonderful donation experience if you join us. We also decorate like crazy, so it will be festive as well.  Hope to see you on the 12th.”

Trivia Night is coming up soon. Here are updates and requests:

• You can now signup to help out in various ways for the 2016 Trivia Night. Lanora Heim has created an online sign up form. Click this link to see the various tasks and dates that help is needed. Like the Gyro Stand and Breakfast with Santa, the more helpers, the lighter the load for each.
• Do you have gift cards that could be donated to Trivia Night? If so, please contact club member Kate Ksobiech.
• Do you have items or ideas for silent auction items? If so, please contact Kate Ksobiech.
• The Trivia Team Registration form is available from our web site. Click this link. Team entries are due February 12.
• Contact Kim Adams if you or someone you know is interested in being a sponsor for this event. There are 5 different sponsorship levels. A form with more details is available upon request.

Dates for upcoming club meetings and events include:

• Tuesday, February 2, Regular club meeting, 12 Noon, University Center 259A. Speaker is Bunny Schoen.
• Tuesday, February 9, Executive Board meeting, 12 Noon.
• Tuesday, February 16, Regular club meeting, 12 Noon, University Center 259A. This is a “catered lunch day” ($7.00) with “Youth of the Month” from Whitewater Middle School. Our speakers will be Kirby Mills and Kristina Navarro talking about the Warhawk Leadership Academy.
• Friday, February 19, 2016, Trivia Night!! 7:00 pm, University Center Hamilton Room.
• Tuesday, February 23, 5pm, Jessica’s Restaurant. Speaker needed.
• Tuesday, March 2, Regular club meeting, 12 Noon, University Center 259A. Speaker needed.
• Tuesday, March 9, Executive Board meeting, 12 Noon.
• Tuesday, March 16, Regular club meeting, 12 Noon, University Center 259A. Speaker needed.

That’s all for tonight.

Share the Optimism,

Dave Halbach

UW-Whitewater/Community Optimist Club