UW-Whitewater/Community Optimist Club

Greetings Everyone,

Hope you’re staying warm today! I see that Saturday’s forecast is “Mostly cloudy. Highs in the mid-30s and lows in the upper 20s.” Should be an ok day for Breakfast with Santa, ticket taking at the Warhawk football playoff game in the early afternoon, and the UW-W Gala Holiday Concert in the evening.

We will be meeting tomorrow, December 2, at 12 Noon, in the University Center, room 259A. It will be a “bring your own lunch” meeting day. While you are enjoying lunch, our two interns for the fall semester, Alix Thornton and Amanda Kuspa, will be our presenters about their internship with the club and all that they did on our behalf. After Alix and Amanda are done, we’ll use the rest of the hour to stuff the goody bags for Breakfast with Santa. Mills dropped off the boxes of goodies in my office today. Come and help us out tomorrow.

I’ve attached the latest Breakfast with Santa helper signup sheet. Please review it. If you haven’t already signed up to help, please consider it. There are still a number of areas that could use more helpers. Decorations and equipment moving begin at 11:30 am on Friday, December 5 and decorating in Esker begins at 1:00 pm.

Our Warhawk Football Team continues to have success, so we will indeed need those football ticket takers who signed up for this Saturday, as well.  Kickoff against #5 ranked Wartburg College (my undergraduate alma mater) will be at 12:00 pm.

Next week there will be a Board meeting at 12 Noon on December 10. Our monthly evening meeting will also be December 10 at 5:00 pm at Jessica’s Restaurant. We had a great turnout at the November evening meeting and hope to see many of you on the 10^th.

Monday, December 15 will be our annual “Toys for Kids” work evening. There will be more information to share with you this week.

Tuesday, December 16 will be our “Youth of the Month” lunch at 12 Noon, on campus in the University Center. Lunch will be catered and cost will be $7 per club member. Also, please bring mittens, gloves, hats, and/or scarves to this meeting as these items with be presented to school officials for our local children.

Share the Optimism,

Dave Halbach

UW-Whitewater/Community Optimist Club

920-650-6089 or 262-472-5749

Happy Thanksgiving Week, Optimists!

Thanksgiving week always seems to go too quickly.

• A reminder, there is NO MEETING this week.

• Football ticket taking will continue for our group as our UW-Whitewater Warhawks claimed a victory over Macalester College this past Saturday. We will be hosting Wabash College (of Indiana) this Saturday for a 12:00pm kickoff.  Ticket Takers, be sure to dress warmly for the upcoming November 29 game!!

• On Tuesday, Dec. 2 during our 12:00pm meeting, we will be stuffing goodie bags for Breakfast with Santa.  Santa, Mrs. Claus, Frosty and all of their helpers will be on hand on Saturday, Dec. 6 at Esker Hall for the big event.  Breakfast will be served from 8:00am – 11:00am.  Tickets are $1.00 for children and $5.00 for adults.  Many tickets will be available through the Whitewater Food Pantry.

• We could still use help with equipment pickup on Friday, December 5, in the kitchen on December 6 and with cleanup on December 6. If you’ve been waiting with signing up to see where help is still needed, now you know so please let me know.

• Lastly–mittens, gloves, scarves and hats are needed for the children in our community.  We will be arranging for school officials to come to our club meeting on Dec. 16 for our annual mitten tree presentation.  Please bring any contributions of these types no later than the 16th.  A tree will be set up outside of our meeting room for the presentation.  I believe several other trees will be set up throughout the community.

• Please continue to invite  friends, colleagues, neighbors, etc., to our meetings.  It would be great to add some new faces and willing hands to our club’s membership roster.

Share the Optimism,

Dave Halbach

UW-Whitewater/Community Optimist Club

920-650-6089 or 262-472-5749

Greetings Everyone,

The latest signup sheet for helpers for Breakfast with Santa on December 6 is here BWS Sign UP 20141118 merged.

Regarding Warhawk Football playoff ticket taking, we are good for this week (November 22) but still need some help for the other three (3) games.  Please let us know if you can cover any of the open shifts!  Thanks!!

Trivia Night 2015 will be February 20, 2015. Check the flyer for further details.TriviaNight

That’s all for this update.

Share the Optimism,

Dave Halbach

UW-Whitewater/Community Optimist Club

920-650-6089 or 262-472-5749

http://blogs.uww.edu/uwwcommunityoptimist/

http://www.optimist.org/

http://www.swisdistrict.org/

http://uwwstudentoptimist.blogspot.com/p/uw-w-student-optimist-club.html

Greetings Everyone,

I’m confused… the calendar says it’s November but it feels like the middle of January outside!

For football fans in our little part of the world, this past weekend was pretty good, except for the down-to-the-wire comeback of the Warhawks, that was nerve racking!

We had a very nice turnout for last week’s evening meeting with 17 club members attending. Thanks everyone for attending. Our next evening meeting will be Wednesday, December 10 at 5pm at Jessica’s Restaurant in downtown Whitewater.

As a follow up to Therese Kennedy’s email from earlier today:

• Ticket takers are still needed for this Saturday’s football playoff game at Perkins Stadium.
• Our club meeting this week is tomorrow, November 18, at 12:00 Noon in the UC. We will be in the lower level of the UC, not our usual meeting room. Join us at rooms 068 & 069. It will be Youth of the Month and our program will be the drummers from LINCS (Lincoln Elementary school) under the direction of Christine Hayes. Lunch cost is $7.

Remember, no meetings the week of November 24.

Denise Kaminski has been coordinating Breakfast with Santa for the last couple of weeks but is now out of commission for around 6 weeks. Many of you have already stepped up to help with tasks for December 6^th  (THANKS!). Additional help is still needed and always appreciated. I’ve attached the signup sheet that Denise sent out last week. If you haven’t already signed up to help, please consider doing so and send the document back to me. WE COULD REALLY USE A “POINT PERSON” FOR SATURDAY MORNING, DECEMBER 6!

Our December 2 noon meeting on campus will include our two club interns speaking about their experience this semester AND we’ll be stuffing goody bags for Breakfast with Santa.

That’s all for the moment!

Share the Optimism,

Dave Halbach

UW-Whitewater/Community Optimist Club

920-650-6089 or 262-472-5749

http://blogs.uww.edu/uwwcommunityoptimist/

http://www.optimist.org/

http://www.swisdistrict.org/

http://uwwstudentoptimist.blogspot.com/p/uw-w-student-optimist-club.html

Hi Everyone,

The Board members will meet tomorrow, Tuesday, November 11 at Noon in the University Center, room 260. I’ll provide a recap of the meeting at our Wednesday evening meeting, along with Breakfast with Santa and Trivia Night updates.

A reminder that this week’s meeting will be Wednesday evening, November 12, 5pm at Jessica’s Restaurant.

Next week’s Tuesday meeting will be something out of the ordinary. I have moved the lunch for the Optimist Club on November 18 to University Center rooms 068 & 069 in the lower level. That will give us enough space for the drummers from LINCS, the Youth of the Month students, guests, and staff from the WMS (I think it’s WMS, or else WHS), and the expected 12-16 club members. Lunch will begin at 12:00 PM, served from a buffet line in room 069. Guests and members can disperse between the two rooms to eat at the 8 tables shared between the rooms.

At about 12:20 I’ll ask everyone to move to the Summers Auditorium for the program.

1. We’ll begin with the Pledge of Allegiance.
2. Then I’ll have club related announcements.
3. We’ll introduce the two Youth of the Month and their guests and take a few pictures.
4. About 12:30-12:35 the drummers from LINCS, under the direction of Christine Hayes, will begin.
5. 12:55, wrap up and saying of the Club creed.
6. Dismissal by 1:00pm.

With the Warhawk football team at least earning the automatic NCAA playoff bid, the campus will likely be hosting one or more playoff games. Be on the lookout for ticket taking signup info coming out this week or early next week.

That’s all for now.

Share the Optimism,

Dave Halbach

UW-Whitewater/Community Optimist Club

920-650-6089 or 262-472-5749

Hi Everyone,

• This week I’d like to thank Kim Adams and Angie Alesci for hosting our evening meeting/social for October. There was a nice group of club members that gathered last Thursday night. Beside the socializing, we were able to formally initiate Kate & Ken Ksobieck and Teshona Bennett. Welcome to the Club (formally speaking)!
• This week is Youth Appreciation Week. I found the following on the OI web site about the program.

“In 1957, Optimist International celebrated the first observance of Youth Appreciation Week on an international basis to recognize and commend children and teenagers who are too often given a bad rap.

Youth Appreciation Week was created by late Optimist T. Earl Yarborough, who developed the program after recognizing the fact that youngsters are almost never publicly praised and commended. With the help of two fellow Optimists, Yarborough worked to promote the idea of a Youth Appreciation Day. His efforts paid off and his home state of North Carolina observed the very first Youth Appreciation Day on May 22, 1955.

The following year, Optimist International scheduled a Youth Appreciation Week program on a pilot basis in five states and one Canadian province. Acceptance and enthusiasm of the program led to the first international Youth Appreciation Week in fall 1957.

Because of Earl Yarborough’s many community efforts and his work in creating Youth Appreciation Week, a lifetime achievement award in Optimist service was named in honor of him.”

•  We have approximately 70 students and staff from the Whitewater schools and 13 Optimist club members planning to attend tomorrow’s luncheon. If you want to attend but haven’t notified Therese Kennedy already, please RSVP me ASAP so I can work catering in the morning to adjust the final numbers for lunch.
• As you probably noticed last week, planning for Breakfast with Santa is underway. Thanks to all those who’ve indicated when/where/how they can help. At this point we still need someone to help coordinate the event over the next month! Many of the tasks are already being worked on so that will help. Please consider being the planner/co-planner for this year’s Breakfast with Santa.
•  And having Santa on site would be good for that day also!!
•  Next week there WILL NOT be a Tuesday lunch meeting. Instead, we will have an evening meeting Wednesday, November 12 at 5pm at Jessica’s Restaurant.
•  Board Members, please remember that we’ll have our monthly meeting at 12:00 PM on Tuesday, November 11.

That’s all for the moment.

Share the Optimism,

Dave Halbach

UW-Whitewater/Community Optimist Club

920-650-6089 or 262-472-5749

http://blogs.uww.edu/uwwcommunityoptimist/

http://www.optimist.org/

http://www.swisdistrict.org/

http://uwwstudentoptimist.blogspot.com/p/uw-w-student-optimist-club.html

Hello Everyone!

What spectacular weather this past weekend! Hope your were able to enjoy time outside.

There is no Tuesday Noon meeting this week BUT we’ll have a social gathering/party at Kim Adams and Angie Alesci’s home, 640 Stonefield Lane, Whitewater, Thursday October 30, 5-8 pm. Please RSVP to either Kim or Angie if you will attend (you can copy their email address from the list of recipients of this email) Please bring a dish to pass. Thanks Kim and Angie for hosting!!

Next week, November 3-7, is Youth Appreciation Week. Earlier today Therese Kennedy sent out a signup list asking for helpers at the various events next week. Please review the signup form and reply directly back to Therese if you can help. If you didn’t receive the email with the signup sheet, contact me directly.

As part of Youth Appreciation Week, and since November 4^th is the first Tuesday of the month, we’ll have our club meeting at 12 Noon in the UC and have lunch with the Whitewater School District student leaders from all 5 schools. The location with be UC 275, Old Main Ballroom on the 2^nd floor. UW-W Catering will be providing lunch, cost is $7.00 per club member attending. Please RSVP Therese Kennedy if you’ll be attending the meeting that day.

Denise Kaminski is working with Carol and Jim Miller and Connie Murray to gather and write the instructions/guidelines for Breakfast with Santa. Yes, it’s time to start thinking and planning for Breakfast with Santa 2014. It’s also time to start recruiting replacements for Carol, Jim, and Connie, our longtime planners of this event. We also need a  replacement for Santa himself!! If you’re interested in assuming the role of Santa please let Denise Kaminski or Jim Miller know.

We also need someone to lead the planning process this year for the annual Gyro Stand that Barb and Duane Dickens have guided for many years.

The next Board meeting will be November 11. If any club members have an item for the Board to discuss please let me know.

A reminder that membership dues are due this month.

At the October board meeting we finalized our evening meeting schedule through September 2015. Evening meetings will be held on Wednesdays at 5:00pm. The format will be social, plus a little business and/or speaker. Jeanine Fassl is checking with Jessica’s Restaurant to see if they could host the meetings and allow individuals to order off the menu if they want.

The dates are:

o             For October 30, Kim and Angie will host a social at their home

o             November 12

o             December 10

o             January 28

o             February 25

o             March 18 or 25 (final decision to be made in January or February)

o             April 29

o             May 27

o             June 24

o             July 29

o             August 19

o             September 29 – banquet

That’s all for now!

Share the Optimism,

Dave Halbach

UW-Whitewater/Community Optimist Club

920-650-6089 or 262-472-5749

Greetings Optimist,

It was a pretty good weekend for Warhawk and Packer football fans I’d say.

We have a 12:00pm meeting tomorrow, October 21, in the University Center, room 259A. We’ll welcome the Youth of the Month and our guest speaker will be Michelle Dujardin from the Whitewater Parks & Rec Department. Lunch will be provided by UWW Catering. Lunch cost is $7.00 per member attending.

Next week we’ll have a social gathering/party at Kim Adams and Angie Alesci’s home, 640 Stonefield Lane, Whitewater. Thursday October 30, 5-8 pm. Please bring a dish to pass. Thanks Kim and Angie for hosting!!

Denise Kaminski is working with Carol and Jim Miller and Connie Murray to gather and write the instructions/guidelines for Breakfast with Santa. Yes, it’s time to start thinking and planning for Breakfast with Santa 2014. Thanks Denise!! We’ll need someone to lead the planning process this year as our fearless leaders turn over the reins to someone else. We also need to begin a similar transition for the annual Gyro Stand that Barb and Duane Dickens have guided for many years.

Other events to put on your calendar include:

• Youth Appreciation Week, November 3-6.
• Club Meeting Tuesday, November 4, UC 275, lunch with Whitewater School District student leaders.
• Board Meeting Tuesday, November 11.
• Club meeting Tuesday, November 18 with Youth of the Month.
• Club Meeting Tuesday, Dec. 2, Stuffing Breakfast with Santa Bags (most likely)
• Dec. 5, Decorating for Breakfast with Santa at Esker Hall (most likely)
• Dec. 6, 8am-11am, Breakfast with Santa at Esker Hall (most likely)
• Dec. 8, “Gifts with a Meaning” at Club Meeting (most likely)
• Dec. 15, Wrapping Gifts at Armory (most likely)

Also, a reminder that annual dues for the club are due this month. Be watching for an email reminder from Kate & Ken, club co-treasurers.

Share the Optimism,

Dave

UW-Whitewater/Community Optimist Club

920-650-6089 or 262-472-5749

• http://blogs.uww.edu/uwwcommunityoptimist/
• http://www.optimist.org/
• http://www.swisdistrict.org/
• http://uwwstudentoptimist.blogspot.com/p/uw-w-student-optimist-club.html