UW-Whitewater/Community Optimist Club

Greetings Optimist!!

Warhawk football ticket takers, remember, this week’s game is a Friday night game. And we all need to help them start a new winning streak!!

This week’s notes:

• A budget item for discussion at the October 13 (tomorrow) meeting. How many “NFL Football Crazr” raffle tickets could/should our club commit to for 2015-16? We sold 50 of them quickly this past summer and received back $12/ticket for a total of $600. One thing great about this fund raiser is there are no costs. Sell the tickets, turn in the money by the specified time, receive a portion of each ticket’s price back for the budget. So…. Can we commit to 100 tickets for 2015-16?  150 tickets?  200 tickets?
• Who can help find speakers for our December and January meetings? All speaker ideas are welcome and appreciated. Members have shared ideas with me, we just need to confirm who, when, and where for the next couple of months.
• Speaking of December, who would like to help organize Breakfast with Santa for December 5^th ? A lot of work was done last year writing down the various actions and timelines needed to complete this event so that will help get things started. I have already reserved Esker Dining Hall for that morning with the campus reservations office and notified campus Dining Services staff.
• Thinking of December also reminds me of the “mitten tree” and “Toys for Kids.” Again, who would like to help lead these projects?

Dates for upcoming club meetings and events include:

• Tuesday, October 13, regular club meeting, 12 Noon, University Center 069 (basement level of the UC). This is a “bring your own lunch” meeting. Speakers will be Tonia Harvel, UC Information Services/Warhawk Alley Coordinator, and Chris Clapper from the Elkhorn Area Chamber of Commerce speaking on behalf of the Walworth County Leadership (WCL) group about a new YOUTH Leadership Development program for Walworth County high school students.
• Tuesday, October 20 regular club meeting, 12 Noon, UC 259A. This is a “catered lunch day ($7.00) with “Youth of the Month” from Whitewater Middle School. Speakers will be Mareta Hale, Art Teacher at Washington Elementary School, and Tom Grosinske, Principal at Washington Elementary School. They will be speaking about
• Tuesday, October 27 evening meeting/social event at the home of Kim Adams and Angie Alesci. See the attached invitation.
• Tuesday, November 3, noon meeting, UC 259 A&B. This is a “catered lunch day” ($7.00) and Youth Appreciation Luncheon with student leaders from all 5 Whitewater School District buildings. The youth leaders will be our speakers.
• Week of November 2-6, Youth Appreciation Week.
• Tuesday, November 10, Exec Board meeting, 12 Noon, University Center 260.
• Tuesday, November 17, noon meeting. Youth of the Month from Whitewater High School. UC 259A. Speaker will be Shawn Werner, Young Auditorium Staff member.
• Tuesday, December 1. Regular club meeting, 12 Noon, University Center 069 (basement level of the UC). This is a “bring your own lunch” meeting. Stuffing of “Goody Bags” for Breakfast with Santa.
• Saturday, December 5, Breakfast with Santa!! Esker Dining Hall, UW-W.
• Tuesday, December 8. Executive Board meeting, 12 Noon.
• Tuesday, December 15. Regular club meeting, 12 Noon, UC 259A. This is a “catered lunch day” ($7.00) with “Youth of the Month” from Whitewater Middle School.
• Friday, February 19, 2016, Trivia Night!! 7:00 pm, University Center Hamilton Room.

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!!

Lots of short notes for this week.

• Thanks again to Connie Murray, Jeanine Fassl and Teshona Bennett for organizing last Tuesday’s Installation Banquet at 841 Brew House!!
• Please welcome our newest Optimist Club member, Jenny Musilek! Jenny is the Promotions Coordinator in the UC. We’ll find an upcoming meeting to formally induct Jenny.
• Warhawk Football ticket takers were busy this past Saturday when a record crowd of 15,287 showed up at Perkins Stadium.
• No club meeting tomorrow, October 6!!! (This is due to the UW-W Faculty Emeriti lunch being held at 841 Brew House)
• Instead, the Exec Board will have its first meeting of the year. One of the agenda items will be discussing the budget for 2015-16. I’ll keep you posted.
• October is the start of the new Optimist year. Watch your email later this month for the annual dues notification.
• Who can help find speakers for our October and November meetings? All speaker ideas are welcome and appreciated. Members have shared ideas with me, we just need to confirm who, when, and where for the next couple of months.
• Allison Langenkamp has posted more pictures on the web site from the Installation Banquet and I’ve added them to the Facebook page. Check them out when you have time. Use the links at the bottom of the email to quickly go to those sites.
• Maggie Winz was a Football Crazr winner for NFL week number 2. Congratulations Maggie!!
• I’ve begun adding some of our upcoming events to the SWIS District web site calendar. This morning I added Breakfast with Santa and Trivia Night.
• Speaking of Breakfast with Santa, who would like to help organize this event for December 5^th ? (Yes, it’s only two months away)? A lot of work was done last year writing down the various actions and timelines needed to complete this event so that will help get things started.

Dates for upcoming club meetings and events include:

• Tuesday, October 6, Exec Board meeting, 12 Noon, University Center 260.
• Tuesday, October 13, regular club meeting, 12 Noon, University Center 069 (basement level of the UC)
• Tuesday, October 20, noon meeting. Youth of the Month from Whitewater Middle School, UC 259A.
• Tuesday, October 27 evening meeting/social event at the home of Kim Adams and Angie Alesci.
• Tuesday, November 3, noon meeting, Youth Appreciation Luncheon with student leaders from all 5 Whitewater School District buildings. UC 259 A&B.
• Week of November 2-6, Youth Appreciation Week.
• Tuesday, November 10, Exec Board meeting, 12 Noon, University Center 260.
• Tuesday, November 17, noon meeting. Youth of the Month from Whitewater High School. UC 259A
• Saturday, December 5, Breakfast with Santa!! Esker Dining Hall, UW-W.
• Friday, February 19, 2016, Trivia Night!! 7:00 pm, University Center Hamilton Room.

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!!

The Packers won, the Badgers won, and the Warhawks won their respective football games this past weekend. No wonder the sun was shining today!! (Repeated from last Monday’s message, may it continue!)

Tomorrow, Tuesday, September 22, WILL BE a regular club meeting day. One business topic is voting on the “Slate of Officers” for 2016-17. Hopefully all of you received and reviewed the emails from Jeanine Fassl about voting. In addition, we will honor our Youth of the Month from Whitewater High School. Our speakers will be Lauren Hageman, outgoing Club Intern, Allison Langenkamp and Callie Watry, fall semester club interns, speaking about what they learned (Lauren) and what they will be doing and hope to learn (Allison & Callie). We will also likely be hosting 4-5 potential new club members!! Please come and join us in UC 261 for the meeting at 12 Noon. Lunch will be from UW-W Catering. Lunch cost is $7.00 each.

Once the executive board is approved for 2016-17, they will establish their monthly meeting dates and times. Once those dates are known, we’ll let all club members know in case you have any business items for board consideration.

The Trivia Night 2016 committee continues to meet regularly. Kim Adams will provide an update at our meeting tomorrow.

I have begun working with one of the fall semester interns, Allison, to provide more messages per week about our club and its work. These new, additional messages will be posted on the web site and then automatically reposted on the Facebook page. One of the first things Allison pointed out to me was the lack of a new member application link on our web site. I fixed that! If you look at our web page, you will find a link on the right hand side labeled “Membership Application Brochure.” If potential new members (or you) click this link, it will open the document from the Optimist International web site that includes an application for membership. Changes and updates such as this will enhance our web site and Facebook sites and hopefully get our message out to more people. I’m looking forward to more ideas such as this from Allison and Callie this fall.

Our Facebook page has 98 “Likes” now, 1 more than last week.

Dates for upcoming club meetings and events include:

• Tuesday, September, 29, Installation banquet at 841 Brew House. Social hour begins at 5pm. Dinner begins at 6pm.
• Tuesday, October 6, noon meeting.
• Tuesday, October 20, noon meeting. Youth of the Month from Whitewater Middle School.
• Tuesday, October 27 evening meeting/social event at the home of Kim Adams and Angie Alesci.

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!!

The Packers won, the Badgers won, and the Warhawks won their respective football games this past weekend. No wonder the sun was shining today!!

• There is NO REGULAR CLUB MEETING this week.
• The current Exec Board will have our final meeting of the Optimist Year tomorrow, September 15 at 12 Noon in UC 268. Agenda items will include the 2015-16 Exec Board members and budget. Let me know if you have any agenda items.
• Be sure to RSVP for the September 29 Installation Banquet. I sent the invitation last week. Social Hour begins at 5:00pm, Dinner at 6:00pm, Program/Installation at 7:00 pm. Please respond by the Friday, September 18. Let me know if I need to resend the Installation Banquet invitation.
• Our Facebook page has 97 “Likes” now, 2 more than last week’s email. Inching closer to 100!

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. Our outgoing and incoming interns will be our speakers.
• Tuesday, September, 29, Installation banquet at 841 Brew House.
• Tuesday, October 6, noon meeting.
• Tuesday, October 20, noon meeting.
• Tuesday, October 27 or Wednesday, October 28 evening 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 will have a general business meeting tomorrow, Tuesday, August 18, at 12 Noon-1pm, UC 069 (lower level of the UC, near the UW Credit Union).

In other Optimist business:

• The Board met last week, Tuesday, August 11. Jan Olson has sent me the minutes to review. Once the Board has reviewed and approved, I’ll post them on the web site. I did add the April, May, and July Board meeting minutes for your review.
• Lou Zahn forwarded me an invitation from the Jefferson County Fair Park Committee inviting all volunteers of the fair to an appreciation dinner on Thursday, August 20 at 5:30pm in the Activity Center on the fair grounds. If someone would like to attend on behalf of the Club, please feel free to do so.
• I could still 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.
• Kim Adams and I have been working with the summer intern, Lauren Hageman, on the Club’s Policies and Procedures manual. Jeanine Fassl got us started on reviewing and updating the manual. Lauren has helped insert new sections related to Trivia Night, the intern program, and other sections that needed to be added and updated. We (the four of us working on this) hope to have an updated manual to present to the Exec Board, and all members, soon. We’ll keep you posted.
• 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.”
• Our Facebook page still has 92 “Likes!” So close to 100.
• I added a link to the Club’s Facebook page to the web site last week. Kim Adams, Lauren Hageman, and I discussed how to better use the Facebook site and came up with the following ideas: “Through Back Thursday” pictures from past events, periodic “Save the Date” announcements about Trivia Night 2016, and uploading of many more of the pictures that have been taken at past events.

Speakers for upcoming meetings are:

• Wednesday, August 26, 2015, 5pm at Jessica’s Restaurant. Any ideas?
• Tuesday, September 8, Esker Hall room 119, 12 Noon-1pm. Any ideas?
• Tuesday, September 22, UC 261, 12 Noon-1pm. Any ideas?
• Tuesday, October 6, 12 Noon-1pm. Any ideas?
• Tuesday, October 20, 12 Noon-1pm. Youth of the Month. Any ideas?

Dates for upcoming club meetings and events include:

• Tuesday, August 18, 12 Noon-1pm. Business meeting
• 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.

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!!

Well, after vacation the week of July 20 and business travel the first half of last week, it’s time for me get back in the Optimist mode.

We WILL have a regular club meeting  August 4, 12:00 PM, in the University Center, room 264. (Our normal meeting room is closed for carpet cleaning.) This will be a “bring your own lunch” day. Our speaker will be Warhawk Football Head Coach Kevin Bullis!! Hope to see many of you there.

In other Optimist business:

• 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. How about 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.”
• 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.
• Did you see the SWIS district email announcement about Optimist Day at Miller Park! Saturday, August 15th Brewers take on the Phillies – 6:10PM. Again check your email or the SWIS district web site for details.
• Minutes from the May 2015 Board meeting have been posted. Here is the link.

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??? Youth of the Month??
• Tuesday, September, 29, evening banquet, date/time/location to be determined.

Also, the University Center is hosting the 3^rd and final “Summer on the Mall” event Thursday, August 6 from 11:00 am – 1:00pm outside the UC. More details can be found on the UC web site. The philanthropy project is the Whitewater Food Pantry. The public is welcome!

That’s all for the moment.

Share the Optimism,

Dave Halbach

UW-Whitewater/Community Optimist Club

920-650-6089 or 262-472-5749