UW-Whitewater/Community Optimist Club

Happy Monday Optimists,

This note is coming to you a little later than usual as we were trying to work out the details of our rescheduled Easter Egg Hunt earlier today. Unfortunately, the somewhat short-lived rain on Saturday came at just the wrong time and we were “locked out” of our Plan B at Whitewater Middle School.

So here’s the scoop: The Easter Egg Hunt will indeed take place this Saturday from 11am-12pm at the Whitewater Middle School (rain or shine). Connie will have the key ahead of time so we know we will be able to get into the school if need be. If the weather is reasonable, the hunt will be set up outside on the grounds of the school. If it is raining or too windy and cold, we will set up in the school. For those able to help set up (at 10am) and to work at the event, please “reply all” to this message indicating so.

Our meeting tomorrow includes Youth of the Month for the Middle School, as well as two guest speakers related to some fun, upcoming city events, sponsored by the Whitewater Chamber.

Please also mark your calendars for our evening meeting, which will be held at the Lakefront Pub on Tuesday, April 29 from 5-7pm.

I look forward to seeing some of you at the meeting, as well as on Saturday at the Easter Egg Hunt. The Easter Bunny will be busy this weekend!

In Optimism,

Kim 🙂

Greetings Optimists,

I am Optimistic that we will have a beautiful day on April 12 as we host our annual Easter Egg Hunt at Starin Park.  Right now, the weather forecast is for partly sunny and 62 degrees!  We do have a backup location at Whitewater Middle School.  Our intern (Seth) has distributed flyers to all of the schools, the chamber and several businesses.  Thank you to Connie and Wes for planning the event, Jeanine for helping to promote it, and to those who are helping behind the scenes, as well as at Starin Park.

At this week’s meeting, we will be stuffing Easter Egg Hunt goodie bags.  Additionally, our guest speaker will be Stacy Sherman, Assistant Marketing Director at the Young Auditorium.  Stacy will be giving us a preview of events at ILY.  Please note that our meeting will be in UC 261 this week.

At last week’s meeting, I brought up the possibility of sponsoring a fishing derby for kids on the free fishing day, which is Saturday, June 7.  Rick Fassl has shared some ideas on how we might do some outreach.  Please contact me if you are willing to help plan or work at the event.  Al is willing to help plan it, but can’t be there to facilitate the event.  In order to make the event happen, we need to have someone willing to take the lead for the day of.

Thank you to those working on some of our other spring projects!

Finally, If you need to use an email list for communicating with our club members, please work off of this one.  It includes Kate and Ken Ksobiech (our newest members)!

In Optimism,

Kim 🙂

Optimists,

We did it–we finally hit 55 degrees today! Thank you to all of you who traveled and brought back warmer weather. And…how about those Badgers?! Let’s hope for a D1 National Championship!

On to Optimist business–which in no April Fool’s joke:

* I am very excited to announce that our surprise guest speakers are going to be Men’s Basketball Head Coach Pat Miller, Assistant Coach Nick Bennett, a couple of senior players and Quardel Young. Please join us for the meeting on April 1 in UC 259A.

* We will have updates on the following, as well. For now, please mark your calendars:

– Saturday, April 12: Easter Egg Hunt; 10am set up, 11am-event start. Rain site is the Whitewater Middle School

– Saturday, May 17: City Wide Rummage Sale

– Saturday, June 7: Fishing Derby

– Saturday, June 28: Relay for Life

Regarding the Easter Egg Hunt, we could use a few more helpers. Right now, we have Wes T., Joyce H., Linda K., Kate K., Angie A., and Kim A. on the list. Please let me know if you are able to assist. It is just a two-hour commitment.

I hope to see many of you at Tuesday’s meeting. I know Pat and his crew will have many great stories to share from the 2013-14 basketball season and the road to the D3 National Championship.

Always in Optimism,

Kim 🙂

Happy Spring Break Optimists,

Spring is coming–I know it is.  I think it might even break 60 degrees on Sunday!

Please remember that we do not have a noon meeting March 25, rather we have a social meeting at the Lakefront Pub from 5pm-7pm.  Please RSVP to Jeanine and me indicating your attendance.

We will have the Easter Egg Hunt sign up sheet at the meeting to gather a few more volunteers.

April 1, we will have a surprise guest speaker–you won’t want to miss!!

On April 8, we will be putting Easter Egg Hunt goodies together.

That’s it for this week.

Enjoy,

Kim 🙂

Spring has Sprung Optimists!

Mark your calendars for the Easter Egg Hunt on April 12.  The Easter Bunny, McGruff the Crime Dog, Student Optimists and many of our members will be on hand to greet children and their families at Starin Park for the traditional event! Thank you to Wes Therrian and Connie Murray for organizing the Easter Egg Hunt.  A flyer (designed by our intern, Seth) and sign up sheet will be sent out soon.

We have two outstanding guest speakers lined up for the next two weeks.  This Tuesday, Mark Maas will present his program on “Winning is a Lifestyle,” and on March 18, two coordinators of the “Discover Whitewater Series” half marathon will give a brief review of the event.  Maybe a little bit ‘o Irish fun will also take place at our meeting on March 18.

More information will be out soon on the status of the City Wide Rummage Sale.  Committee members are in the process of meeting and evaluating next steps.

Board members, please remember our meeting this Tuesday evening.  We have many important requests to address at the meeting, as well as presenting our next $5,000 check at the Park and Rec Board meeting, Tuesday at 5:30pm at City Hall.  I will send out a separate email to board members with details and a meeting agenda.

Lastly, we have received two new member applications from Kate and Ken Ksobiech.  Their applications will be presented at our board meeting.  Thank you Ken and Kate for submitting your membership applications.  We look forward to getting to know you as we serve our community together!

GO WARHAWKS–as both men’s and women’s team advance to the next round of the NCAA DIII Basketball Tournament–Sweet 16!

Always in Optimism,

Kim 🙂