UW-Whitewater/Community Optimist Club

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

Greetings Optimist!!

UW-W students moved into the Residence Halls on Sunday, August 30. You can really tell the difference in traffic volume, among other things, that change when they arrive each year!

Our Wednesday, August 29 evening meeting featured members Dick and Maggie Winz speaking about the volunteer efforts to help rebuild Bay St. Louis, MS after Hurricane Katrina hit there 10 years ago. We forget that even today, rebuilding efforts are still going on along the Gulf Coast to recover from the hurricane. Thanks Dick and Maggie (and other from the club and community) who continue to help the residents of that region recover!

Thanks to the latest club members who have volunteered to help take tickets at upcoming Warhawk Football games!

I had good meeting with Greg Stewart, Whitewater High School Teacher and advisor to the Octagon Club, last night. We discussed some ideas how the Octagon members can help our club at certain events each year, debating the issue of Octagon members attending regular meetings vs. contributing to service projects, and other ideas. As we talk about these items more, we’ll keep you posted. I indicated to Greg that one idea I have is to better promote the Octagon events and accomplishments to our club, and the community, in the future through the web site and Facebook.

No progress since last week regarding a complete slate of officers for 2015-16, we’re still in need of a President and President-elect. Or perhaps we are in need of Co-Presidents?! Either way, please contact me if you are willing to be President, President-Elect, or Co-President for 2015-16. It would be really good for the club to have the exec board in place before the banquet on September 29.

In other Optimist business:

• Our Facebook page has 93 “Likes” now. So close to 100.
• Progress continues on updating the club’s Policies and Procedures. Thanks to Kim, Jeanine, and Lauren for continuing work on the document.
• Kim Adams and I will be interviewing UW-W students to determine who will be our fall semester intern(s). We need to have our decision made by September 9 which is the last day for students to add a class for the fall semester.

Speakers for upcoming meetings are:

• Tuesday, September 8, Esker Hall room 119, 12 Noon-1pm. Robin Fox and Katy Heyning from the UW-W College of Education and Professional Studies will speak about “Whitewater Leads.”
• Tuesday, September 22, UC 261, 12 Noon-1pm. Youth of the Month presentation and catered lunch. Any speaker ideas?
• 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 8, Esker Hall room 119, 12 Noon-1pm, “bring your own lunch.”
• 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

Greetings Optimist!!

Remember, this week’s meeting is Wednesday night, August 26, at 5pm at Jessica’s restaurant!!

UW-W students move into the Residence Halls on Sunday, August 30. Plan your shopping at Sentry and Walmart accordingly for that weekend!! Also, remember that traffic increases dramatically in town.

Today was the “Faculty & Staff Involvement Fair” at UW-W, a time for new faculty and staff to learn about various offices on campus and opportunities to become involved in campus and community. Kim Adams represented our club at the fair and talked to many of the individuals who came to the event. She reports that 11 people signed the interest sheet, 6 of whom expressed a strong interest in the club. Furthermore, one new staff member completed an application for membership and returned it to Kim today. A couple of the new staff members live in Whitewater and indicated to Kim they are looking for ways to meet people and get involved. I’ll work with Kim to have follow up conversations with the staff members who indicated an interest in the club. Thanks Kim for your recruitment efforts!!

We are slooowwwllly getting a slate of officers put together for 2015-16. However, we’re still in need of a President and President-elect. Or perhaps we are in need of Co-Presidents?! Either way, please contact me if you are willing to be President, President-Elect, or Co-President for 2015-16. It would be really good for the club to have the exec board in place before the banquet on September 29.

In other Optimist business:

• Our Facebook page still has 92 “Likes!” So close to 100.
• Progress continues on updating the club’s Policies and Procedures. Thanks to Kim, Jeanine, and Lauren for continuing work on the document.
• Jeanine Fassl has been in contact with two UW-W students who are interested in possible fall semester internships with the club. This program has really helped our club in the last 2-3 years. The energy and ideas the interns bring is very refreshing.

Speakers for upcoming meetings are:

• Wednesday, August 26, 2015, 5pm at Jessica’s Restaurant. Dick and Maggie Winz will speak about the Gulf Coast recovery from Hurricane Katrina that hit 10 years ago this week.
• Tuesday, September 8, Esker Hall room 119, 12 Noon-1pm. Robin Fox and Katy Heyning from the UW-W College of Education and Professional Studies will speak about “Whitewater Leads.”
• Tuesday, September 22, UC 261, 12 Noon-1pm. Any ideas?
• 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:

• Wednesday, August 26, 2015, 5pm at Jessica’s Restaurant.
• Tuesday, September 8, Esker Hall room 119, 12 Noon-1pm, “bring your own lunch.”
• 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. Catered lunch and Youth of the Month.

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!!

Hope everyone is doing well this week!!

We had a nice turnout last Tuesday for our first meeting of August. Our speaker was Warhawk Football Head Coach Kevin Bullis and I think he left us feeling very positive about the path and direction of the program and the upcoming Warhawk football season.

Connie Murray and Teshona Bennett volunteered to help with the upcoming End-of-Year Banquet (or should we call it the Beginning-of-the-Year banquet?) Anyway, it would probably help to have one more person assist with planning. Please contact me if you can be that “one more person.”

It’s customary at the Annual Banquet to introduce/induct the next Exec Board. With that in mind, it’s time to organize the slate of officers for 2015-16. At this time no one has yet volunteered for any of the exec board positions. Can you volunteer for an Exec Board position? Perhaps one that you’ve not held in the past? Please consider volunteering to be an officer for 2015-16. “Many hands make light work.”

This week there is NO GENERAL CLUB MEETING. However, the Exec Board will hold its August meeting tomorrow at 12 Noon in UC 260. If anyone has any items for me to include in the agenda please contact me ASAP.

The next SWIS District meeting is this week, August 14 & 15 in Brookfield, WI. The general meeting is Saturday, the 15^th, from 9:00-3:30pm. If anyone is interested in attending let me know.

In other Optimist business:

• I could use help contacting possible speakers for the next 2-3 months. If you have speaker ideas or would be willing to make calls for the club, please let me know.
• Our Facebook page still has 92 “Likes!” So close to 100. Check the new cover photo with a picture of Al Hutchinson at the Fishing Derby.

Speakers for upcoming meetings are:

• Tuesday, August 18, 12 Noon-1pm. Any ideas?
• Tuesday, September 8, Esker Hall room 119, 12 Noon-1pm. Any ideas?
• Tuesday, September 22, UC 261, 12 Noon-1pm. Any ideas?

Dates for upcoming club meetings and events include:

• Tuesday, August 18, 12 Noon-1pm, location to be determined.
• Tuesday, September 8, Esker Hall room 119, 12 Noon-1pm, “bring your own lunch.”
• 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.

That’s all for the moment.

Share the Optimism,

Dave Halbach

UW-Whitewater/Community Optimist Club

920-650-6089 or 262-472-5749

Good Evening, Optimists (even though it is after midnight)!

As I wind down from this beautiful weekend, I close this chapter of weekly Optimist emails. I do so with gratitude for the past twelve months and great enthusiasm for the next year.

First—gratitude for your dedication to our cub and to the youth of our community. Together, we have dedicated hundreds of hours to our group’s purpose–and to bringing smiles to many faces.

Second—enthusiasm for the possibilities we have for greater service for 2014-15.

I want to thank our small planning group and ALL of our members who helped with the “Back to School Rally”/NOW Meeting at the high school. It was a great success this past Wednesday. Six applications have resulted from the meeting. It is exciting to add all of these new members to our club. I have copied those who have turned in applications and those who committed to turning in applications very soon.

I am also excited that our club has two hard working and talented student interns (Alix and Amanda) who will assist our club this fall semester. They will be joining us for the banquet.

I look forward to seeing many of you at our installation banquet this Tuesday at the Cold Spring Inn. This is a reminder that the social begins at 5:30pm and the dinner and program will start at 6:00pm. Governor Elect Jeff Kuchenbecker will also be joining us.

We will have a noon meeting on Tuesday, October 7 in UC 259A. Please bring your own lunch. There will not be a club meeting the second week in October. On October 21, we will again have a noon meeting (which will be a Youth of the Month meeting). Lunch will be provided on this day. From here, our new president–Dave Halbach will be in touch!

For now, I will sign off…

With gratitude and Optimism,

Kim 

Optimists,

It’s hard to believe that we are in week 50 of our Optimist year already. The time has gone quickly. I have just a couple of quick notes for this week.

Please remember that we are done with noon meetings for the rest of this month. We are looking forward to good attendance and participation in the “Back to School Rally/NOW Meeting” this Wednesday from 4:00-5:30pm at Whitewater High School. Thank you to those who have agreed to bring food, help set up, cook and serve food, attend the event, and help greet potential new members! I have updated a slide show of photos/events from this past year to show all of the great programs our club sponsors.

This past Friday, Connie sent out the invitation to our club’s Installation Banquet for Tuesday, Sept. 30 at the Cold Spring Inn. Please RSVP to her in a timely manner to ensure your attendance and to indicate your menu choice. Our Governor Elect (Jeff Kuchenbecker) will be joining us for the evening.

Dave and I completed the three interviews for the student interns who applied for helping our club this fall semester. After also visiting with Jeanine, we agreed to offer positions to all three of the students. The three of us will each supervise one of the interns. We are looking forward to making some great progress with promotions and membership recruitment this fall!

I will be setting up a planning meeting for Trivia Night for the first week in October. There are several Student Optimists who are interested in helping out with the event. There were 30 potential new members at the Student Optimist meeting this past Wednesday–yeah!

Thanks for reading–and see some of you this Wednesday.

Kim 🙂