UW-Whitewater/Community Optimist Club

Greetings Optimist!!

Don’t you just love the ups and downs of spring weather! At least this past weekend was nice and the upcoming weekend looks pretty good also. That’s my “optimistic” outlook for today.

On to Optimist business:

• This week’s meeting is tomorrow, Tuesday, April 21 at 12 Noon.  We will meet in UC 266 due a request from the Chancellor’s Office to use our regular meeting room. Lunch will be catered, cost is $7 for club members. It will also be Youth of the Month. Our speaker will be Deb Weberpal, Senior Coordinator for the Seniors in the Park program in Whitewater.
• Duane Dickens reminded me this morning that the club is in need of a no-cost or low-cost storage location for the Gyro trailer! And we need a new site within the next week!!!! Denise Kaminski and her husband will no longer be able to store the trailer at their home. If you have a location or idea for future trailer storage please let the officers know. Thanks Denise (and Kevin) for storing the trailer for the last few years!
• Need help around the house or yard for spring cleaning? Hire a UW-W Student Optimist!
• A message from the UW-W Student Optimist Club and Kim Adam’s Service Learning Class “ We are still in need of donations for the birthday box project.  Things such as birthday cake mix, candles, streamers, wrapping paper, balloons, party hats, birthday cards, party plates, party napkins, gluten free and sugar free items. We are asking for all donations to be dropped off by April 21st to Kim (Adams).”
• The UW-W Student Optimist club is collecting children’s school playground equipment such as Kick Balls, Soccer Balls, Basketballs, Footballs, Frisbees, and Jump Ropes. If you would like to help donate please review the information flyer at our website.
• It’s that time of the Optimist Club year to begin thinking about a slate of officers for 2015-16. 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 2015-16. “Many hands make light work.”
• I have created a Club calendar using Google Calendar. It’s only useful if there is lots of information so feel free to add club related events to the calendar for the future. This includes starting dates to plan/organize club events such as Whitewater High School scholarship reviewing, food ordering for the Gyro Stand, etc.
• Have you looked for the Exec board minutes? Click the “Club Documents” link to find many of uploaded club documents, including minutes of the Exec Board.

Speakers for upcoming meetings are:

• Tuesday, April 21, Deb Weberpal, Senior Coordinator for the Seniors in the Park program in Whitewater.
• Wednesday, April 29, Judy Harms, Whitewater High School Girls Basketball Head Coach (5pm at Jessica’s Restaurant)
• Tuesday, May 5, Cameron Clapper, Whitewater City Manager.
• Tuesday, May 19, Tami McCullough, UW-W Campus Facilities Planner.
• Wednesday, May 27, Karen Wislocki, Director of the UW-W Intensive English Institute. (5pm at Jessica’s Restaurant)

Dates for upcoming club events include:

• Friday, May 8, 1:55pm, Whitewater High School Awards, the Club presents the Optimist Female Athlete of the Year.
• Saturday, May 16, City-Wide Rummage Sale.
• Wednesday, May 27, Whitewater High School Scholarship Night.
• Saturday, June 6, Fishing Derby
• Thursday, July 2-Sunday, July 5, Gyro Stand at Whitewater 4^th of July Celebration.
• Wednesday, July 8, 2015, Jefferson County Fair ticket selling.

Share the Optimism,

Dave Halbach

UW-Whitewater/Community Optimist Club

920-650-6089 or 262-472-5749

Greetings Optimists!!

How about this afternoon’s weather?

On to Optimist business:

• There is no club meeting this week. However, there is an Exec Board meeting tomorrow, April 14, at 12 Noon.
• Our next club meeting is Tuesday, April 21 at 12 Noon.  We will meet in UC 266 this day due a request from the Chancellor’s Office to use our regular meeting space that day. Please plan accordingly.
• Thanks to Therese Kennedy, Teshona Bennett, Kate Ksobiech, and Jim McLernon’s Mom, for volunteering to review the 2015 Whitewater High Scholarship applications for the annual Optimist Club Scholarships!!!
• Need help around the house or yard for spring cleaning? Hire a UW-W Student Optimist!
• A message from the UW-W Student Optimist Club and Kim Adam’s Service Learning Class “ We are still in need of donations for the birthday box project.  Things such as birthday cake mix, candles, streamers, wrapping paper, balloons, party hats, birthday cards, party plates, party napkins, gluten free and sugar free items. We are asking for all donations to be dropped off by April 21st to Kim (Adams).”
• The UW-W Student Optimist club is collecting children’s school playground equipment such as Kick Balls, Soccer Balls, Basketballs, Footballs, Frisbees, and Jump Ropes. If you would like to help donate please review the information flyer at our website.
• I have begun developing a Club calendar using Google Calendar. It’s only useful if there is lots of information so feel free to add club related events to the calendar for the future. This includes planning start dates for club events such as Whitewater High School scholarship reviewing, food ordering for the Gyro Stand, etc.
• Would a few of you please test the Club calendar link and let me know if you can see and/or edit the calendar? Thanks.
• I have updated the web site to include the Exec Board minutes Since November 2014. Click the “Club Documents” link to find many of uploaded club documents.

Speakers for upcoming meetings are:

• Tuesday, April 21, Deb Weberpal, Senior Coordinator for the Seniors in the Park program in Whitewater.
• Wednesday, April 29, Judy Harms, Whitewater High School Girls Basketball Head Coach
• Tuesday, May 5, –  Cameron Clapper, Whitewater City Manager
• Tuesday, May 19, Tami McCullough, UW-W Campus Facilities Planner.
• Wednesday, May 27, Karen Wislocki, Director of the UW-W Intensive English Institute.

Other dates coming up for club events include:

• Friday, May 8, 1:55pm, Whitewater High School Awards, the Club presents the Optimist Female Athlete of the Year.
• Saturday, May 16, City-Wide Rummage Sale.
• Wednesday, May 27, Whitewater High School Scholarship Night.
• July 2-5, 2015, Gyro Stand at Whitewater 4^th of July Celebration.
• Wednesday, July 8, 2015, Jefferson County Fair ticket selling.

Share the Optimism,

Dave Halbach

UW-Whitewater/Community Optimist Club

920-650-6089 or 262-472-5749

On Saturdays April 11and 25 and Sundays April 12, 19, and 26, the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater Student Optimist Club will be offering their time to the community from 9:00am to 4:00pm.

They will be able to come to your home to help you with any of your indoor or outdoor spring projects. Anywhere from 2-6 Optimists will be able to help you with your projects!

Your donation for their services will be used to fund youth projects in the Whitewater area.

To reserve your Optimist helpers, please return the bottom portion of this form to Kim Adams, the UW-Whitewater Student Optimist Club Advisor, at UC 250C, 800 West Main Street, Whitewater, WI 53190. You may also contact us via email at uwwstudentoptimist@gmail.com or phone at (608) 445-5604.

Bookings will be honored on a first come first serve basis.

Greetings Everyone,

Thank you to all who traveled this past week and brought back warmer weather. And…how about those Badgers (again)! Let’s hope for a National Championship next weekend!

On to Optimist business:

• Our final meeting for March will be an evening meeting on TUESDAY,  March 31 at 5pm at Jessica’s Restaurant. Our speaker will be Tom Grosinske, Washington Elementary School Principal and new Whitewater High School football coach.
• Easter Egg Hunt, Saturday, April 4 at the Whitewater Middle School , 401 S. Elizabeth Street. If you can help but haven’t contacted Connie Murray, please do so in the next day or two so Connie knows who to expect this Saturday at the event.

• Speakers for upcoming meetings are:
  • Tuesday, April 7, Kat Shanahan, UC Promotions Coordinator
  • Tuesday, April 21, Deb Weberpal, Senior Coordinator for the Seniors in the Park program in Whitewater.
  • Wednesday, April 29, – no speaker yet (perhaps a fellowship event?)
  • Tuesday, May 5, –  Cameron Clapper, Whitewater City Manager
  • Tuesday, May 19, Tami McCullough, UW-W Campus Facilities Planner.
  • Wednesday, May 27, Karen Wislocki, Director of the UW-W Intensive English Institute.

• Other dates coming up for club events include:
  • City-Wide Rummage Sale, Saturday, May 16.
  • Gyro Stand at Whitewater 4^th of July Celebration, July 2-5, 2015.
  • Jefferson County Fair ticket selling, Wednesday, July 8, 2015.

That’s all for today.

Share the Optimism,

Dave Halbach

UW-Whitewater/Community Optimist Club

920-650-6089 or 262-472-5749

LINCS Elementary School in Whitewater will appreciate your donation!

Donate any sports or recreation equipment to any drop off location by April 30^th.

For more information, contact Kim Adams at 262-472-1477.

Drop off Locations:

• Roberta’s Art Gallery (UC)
• Children’s Center (Roseman)
• UW-Credit Union (UC)
• Williams Center
• Whitewater High School
• Zingg Motors, W Main St, Whitewater

Possible Donations:

• Kick Balls
• Soccer Balls
• Basketballs
• Footballs
• Frisbees
• Jump Ropes

The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater/Community Optimist Club will be hosting the annual Easter Egg hunt on Sat. April 4^th, 2015.  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 5^th 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.

The event is free and open to all Whitewater Unified School District elementary children, family and friends.  The 2015 Optimist Club Easter Egg Hunt Flyer can be found on the Optimist Club Blog at http://blogs.uww.edu/uwwcommunityoptimist/.

For further information or questions, phone Rick at 262-473-4906 from 4-8 pm or Connie at 472-1130 before 4:30 pm.

The information provided above is not sponsored or endorsed by the Whitewater Unified School District.

Greetings Everyone,

For the sports fans in the club, what an exciting weekend we just had!! Whippets and Warhawks and Badgers, Oh My!!

• Tuesday, March 17 (tomorrow) we’ll meet at 12 Noon in UC 259A for our Youth of the Month meeting. Lunch will be catered and cost is $7.00 each.
  • FYI, I let the UW-W catering chef pick our menu for the Youth of the Month meeting dates. I’m not sure what the menu is for tomorrow. I’m hoping for an Irish theme.
  • Also at tomorrow’s meeting, there will be a short, 10-15 minute, presentation/wrap-up of Trivia Night 2015.
  • Our speaker for tomorrow’s meeting will be Dr. Beverly Kopper, UW-W Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs.
  • THERE IS NO MEETING NEXT WEEK 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 31 at 5pm at Jessica’s Restaurant. Our speaker will be Tom Grosinske, Washington Elementary School Principal and new Whitewater High School football coach.

• Speakers for upcoming meetings are:
  • Tuesday, April 7, Kat Shanahan, UC Promotions Coordinator
  • Tuesday, April 21, Deb Weberpal, Senior Coordinator for the Seniors in the Park program in Whitewater.
  • Wednesday, April 29, – no speaker yet (perhaps a fellowship event?)
  • Tuesday, May 5, –  Cameron Clapper, Whitewater City Manager
  • Tuesday, May 19, Tami McCullough, UW-W Campus Facilities Planner.
  • Wednesday, May 27, Karen Wislocki, Director of the UW-W Intensive English Institute.

•  Other dates coming up for club events include:
  • Easter Egg Hunt, Saturday, April 4 at the Whitewater Middle School.
    • Helpers are needed for this event.
  • City-Wide Rummage Sale, Saturday, May 16.
  • Gyro Stand at Whitewater 4^th of July Celebration, July 2-5, 2015.
  • Jefferson County Fair ticket selling, Wednesday, July 8, 2015.

That’s all for today.

Share the Optimism,

Dave Halbach

UW-Whitewater/Community Optimist Club

920-650-6089 or 262-472-5749

Greetings Optimists,

Wow!!! What a great time this past Friday night at the 2^nd Annual Trivia Night. 24 teams from the campus, community, and surrounding area. 33 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 live auction items. Check the Whitewater Banner web site for descriptions and pictures.

Kim has received some nice emails and face to face comments about the evening. We also had a good balance of Student Optimists, Community Optimists and other helpful volunteers at the event. Congratulations to Jan Olson and her team for winning the event this year! Kim Simes and her team are to be complimented again for their many creative answers to some of the difficult questions. Some of their answers were even correct!

There are many “Thanks Yous” to be shared but they need to start with Kim Adams. Kim once again took the lead on this event and started the planning and promotion last October. She and I have already discussed ideas for next year’s event, such as location, maximum number of teams, how to display team standings on the computer system in the venue, how to collect evaluations electronically, and on, and on. With Kim’s help, I hope to have a complete list of thank yous later this week.

Overall, a great success!! Preliminary numbers are: Gross income of approximately $8,900. Net income of approximately $7,100. More details regarding the split of proceeds between our club and the UWW Student Optimist Club will be discussed and shared with you.

This week’s meeting will be Wednesday evening, February 25 at 5pm at Jessica’s Restaurant. See our list of upcoming speakers below.

• Speaker for upcoming meetings are:
  • Wednesday, February 25 – Dr. John Chenoweth, new Dean of the College of Business and Economics at UW-W.
  • Tuesday, March 3, UW-W photographer Craig Schreiner
  • Tuesday, March 17, UW-W Provost, Dr. Beverly Kopper
  • Tuesday, March 31, Tom Grosinske, Washington Elementary School Principal and new Whitewater High School football coach
  • Tuesday, April 7, Kat Shanahan, UC Promotions Coordinator
  • Tuesday, April 21, Deb Weberpal, Senior Coordinator for the Seniors in the Park program in Whitewater.
  • Wednesday, April 29, – no speaker yet
  • Tuesday, May 5, –  no speaker yet
  • Tuesday, May 19, Tami McCullough, UW-W Campus Facilities Planner.
  • Wednesday, May 27, – Karen Wislocky, Director of the UW-W Intensive English Institute

• Other dates coming up for club events include:
  • Easter Egg Hunt, Saturday, April 4 at the Whitewater Middle School, pending approval from the school district.
  • City-Wide Rummage Sale, Saturday, May 16. (The one and only planning meeting will be Thursday, February 19.)
  • Gyro Stand at Whitewater 4^th of July Celebration, July 2-4, 2015 (based on calendar but still to be confirmed)
  • Jefferson County Fair ticket selling, Wednesday, July 8.

Share the Optimism,

Dave Halbach

UW-Whitewater/Community Optimist Club

920-650-6089 or 262-472-5749