UW-Whitewater/Community Optimist Club

The Optimist Club needs help!!! We have many work shifts at the 2018 Gyro Stand to fill but not enough available members for this year’s event.

Can you, the Whitewater public, help?

There will always be a club member at the stand to “lead the way.” If you can handle a kitchen utensil to put gyro meat, tomatoes, onions, or sauce on a pita, or wrap the pita, or take tickets and hand out made gyros, then you can help! (And we would greatly appreciate it!!)

Use this link to sign up and help us help Whitewater.

Greetings Optimists,

April showers bring May flowers. We are hopeful that May will bring some Spring-like experiences, including warmth!

There is a Club meeting on Tuesday, 5/2/2017 at 12:00 PM in UC 259A. It is with great excitement that will induct both Robin Fox and Lori Heidenreich as new members. Let’s have a terrific turnout and demonstrate that “Optimism” is alive and well. Also, Dave has lined up Kristine Wallace of the Rock River Free Clinic as our guest speaker. It is always good to hear about community-based services.

At our Wednesday evening meeting this past week our two interns shared their goals and the progress they made in their personal learning as well as highlights from their experience as Optimist interns. Thank you Anne and Kayla for your great work! Announcements about summer and fall interns will be made later this week. At our Wednesday meeting, we discussed at least five other topics—the Fishing Derby, the Gyro Stand, Baseball Playoffs, Jefferson County Fair, and upcoming Optimist scholarships/awards.

Al is requesting help from our membership for the Fishing Derby. Shopping for hot dogs, chips and soda as well as staffing the event are among the tasks. Please check in with Al and let him know how you would like to be involved. (I, Angie, have signed up to grill the hot dogs and to make sure participants get fed. Rick has contacted the DNR for fishing pamphlets, etc. Mike will assemble our participant “Goody bags.” Our intern Anne designed our flyer. Thanks one and all!).

The Gyro Stand will be staffed by our Club at the Fourth of July community celebration. Thank you Duane, Rick and Dave for launching the ordering, sign-ups, etc. We now have the dates and hours for the event. Please watch for details soon. It’s not too early to check your schedules! Thank you to Jan and Jeanine for working on a news release about our Club and the Gyro Stand.

We have been asked to staff the Baseball Playoffs held at UW-Whitewater in May. Signup sheets will be made available soon. Mark your calendars for May 17-21. This is an unexpected opportunity to raise funds to assist with our youth programming. “Take me out to the ballgame . . . “ See you there! Therese is also asking for Optimist Award/Scholarship presenters for May 15 at 8:25am (at WHS) and May 23 from 6:30pm – 8:00pm (also at WHS). Can anyone help out?

Our Club has agreed to staff the Jefferson County Fair on Wednesday, July 12 for “Kids’ Day.” Watch emails for further details—and again, make your calendars.

One other item of discussion this past Wednesday was Club officers. Are you willing to serve in a leadership role? Who could you invite to join our Club—or to take a leadership role in the Club? In the film “The American President,” the character Lewis says to his president: “People want leadership . . . They’re so thirsty for it, they’ll crawl through the desert toward a mirage, and when they discover there’s no water, they’ll drink the sand.” It is a strong statement about what happens in the absence of leadership. Would you consider taking a role in our Club leadership? We are still looking for a president for 2017-18. That said, we are very excited that Janay Alston has agreed to serve as President Elect in 2017-18! Thank you, Janay!

That is “This week in Optimism.”

Angie & Kim 🙂

Greetings Optimists,

Remember, NO GENERAL MEMBER MEETING this week!

The Exec Board will have their final 2015-16 meeting tomorrow, Tuesday, September 13, 2016 at 12 Noon in UC 268.

Our next general member meeting will be Tuesday, September 20, 2016. The meeting will feature “Youth of the Month” with catered lunch at $7 for each club member. Speakers will be Mark Elworthy (New School District Administrator) and Nathan Jaeger (Business Manager) regarding the upcoming Whitewater Unified School District referendum.

I’ll be bringing a guest/potential new member to our September 20 meeting. Will anyone else bring a guest? Let me know for catering purposes.

Current events needing helpers:

Warhawk Football Ticket Taking. There are still a few time slots (two?) needing workers. Check the Google spreadsheet, “2016 Football Ticket Taking,” for the last few remaining slots. Hopefully, you can use the link in the spreadsheet title in the previous sentence to edit the spreadsheet and add you name in the appropriate cells. If you have trouble entering your name, let me know and I’ll help.

*** Do you have a topic you would like to present to the club? Do you know someone who could speak to the club? Job related? Travel related? Sports related? Youth related? Let me know if you, or someone you know, would like to present. See the dates below where we need speakers. ***

Dates for upcoming club meetings and events:

• September 13, Exec Board meeting.
• September 20, 12:00pm, speakers will be Mark Elworthy (New School District Administrator) and Nathan Jaeger (Business Manager) re: the upcoming school district referendum.
• September 24, football ticket taking
• September 26; Installation Banquet hosted by Jeanine and Rick Fassl.
• October 4, 12:00pm, speaker will be Kevin Bullis, Warhawk Football coach.
• October 8 & 22; football ticket taking
• October 11, Exec Board meeting.
• October 18, 12:00pm, speaker TBD.
• October 25, 5:00 pm. Speaker TBD.
• November 1, 12:00pm, speaker TBD
• November 5; Football ticket taking
• November 7, Exec Board meeting. (New date to avoid conflict with the Presidential election on November 8)
• November 15, 12:00pm, UC 259, Youth Appreciation Luncheon.
• November 22, 5:00 pm. Speaker TBD.
• November 29, 12 Noon, UC 259A, stuff goody bags for Breakfast with Santa.
• December; Mitten tree, Toys for Kids
• December 3; Breakfast with Santa
• December 6, General member meeting, 12:00pm
• December 13, Executive Board meeting
• December 17, General member meeting, 12:00pm

That’s all for tonight.

Share the Optimism,

Dave Halbach

UW-Whitewater/Community Optimist Club

920-650-6089 or 262-472-5749

Greetings Optimists,

No general member meeting this week. However, the Exec Board WILL be meeting at 12 Noon in the University Center, room 268. Does anyone have an agenda item for tomorrow’s Exec Board meeting? If so, please contact me ASAP.

Our next general member meeting will be next week, Tuesday July 19 at 12 Noon.

!!! A Call for 2016-17 Club Officers. Seriously, who’s willing to be President for 2016-17, or President-elect for 2017-18, or Vice-President for 2016-17? That’s really all we need for new officers at this time.

I have received word from two club members they would be willing/able to be on the board as an officer or general board member next year, depending upon what time of day the monthly board meetings are held. Also, Jan Olson, Kate Ksobiech and Ken Ksobiech have all indicated they would be willing to continue on the board in their current officer roles. I WILL continue on the board as past-president and will be more than willing to assist with weekly emails, web site updates and Facebook postings.  So…what would YOU like to do next year to contribute? We only need three new people. Perhaps one that you’ve not held in the past? Please begin volunteering to be an officer for 2016-17. Contact me or Kim Adams if you’re willing to be an officer for next year. “Many hands make light work.”!!!

***Gyro Stand.*** This will be one of our topics at the Exec Board tomorrow. Many ideas have been shared with me such as: Precook the gyro meat to reduce staffing by one for each shift; share the stand with another service club who could provide additional labor and then share the expenses and profits with that group; change the layout of the stand to bring the beverage coolers inside so we can reduce staffing by one or two people; rent the gyro cookers to another service club; sell the gyro cookers to another service club; sell the entire trailer and gyro related equipment to another club; try to use the gyro stand at a few of the Tuesday night “City Market” events instead of the July 4^th Festival; try to use the gyro stand at a few of the Tuesday night “City Market” events before and after the July 4^th Festival.

What other ideas do you have?

***Jefferson County Fair Ticket selling.*** Thanks to those who worked at the ticket booths for the Jefferson County Fair. We had most of the slots covered last Wednesday, July 6, at the Fair. We had a good weather day and everything went smoothly. Thanks especially to those who worked two shifts. It is greatly appreciated.

Upcoming events needing helpers:

NFL “FUND CRAZR” RAFFLE TICKETS!! We have sold (or are still selling) all 150 of the first 150 tickets we received. We’ve received money for almost 50 of the tickets so far. Please return any money for sold tickets, and the ticket stubs, to me as soon as possible.  If you can’t sell all the tickets you presently have, I will be able to give them to other club members who have “sold out” their own set(s) of tickets. I’ve also asked Fred Dorn for an additional 50 tickets and hope the additional tickets will be here this week. All sold ticket stubs and unsold tickets must be returned to the SWIS District before August 28. 100 sold tickets will net the club $1,200. 150 sold tickets will net the club $1,800. 200 tickets sold will net the club $2,400. If you haven’t bought one for yourself yet, contact me to do so. There are about 20 club members who could simply buy one ticket each and we would have nearly half of the next bundle of tickets sold.

Warhawk Football Ticket Taking. I’m hoping we’ll once again be asked to provide workers at the gate at Perkins Stadium on Warhawk football game days. The dates for 2016 home games are: September 3 (12:00pm kickoff), September 10 (1:00pm kickoff), September 24 (1:00pm kickoff), October 8 (1:00pm kickoff, Family Fest), October 22 (1:00pm kickoff, Homecoming), and November 5 (2:00pm kickoff, Shriners/Seniors Day).

Dates for upcoming club meetings and events:

• Tuesday, July 12, Executive Board meeting, 12 Noon.
• Tuesday, July 19, Regular club meeting. Speaker needed. Bring your own lunch.
• Tuesday, July 26, Regular club evening meeting, 5:00 PM, Jessica’s Restaurant. Speaker needed.
• Tuesday, August 2, Regular club meeting. Speaker needed. Bring your own lunch.
• Tuesday, August 9, Executive Board meeting, 12 Noon.
• Tuesday, August 16, Regular club meeting. Speaker needed. Bring your own lunch.
• Tuesday, August 23, Regular club evening meeting, 5:00 PM, Jessica’s Restaurant. Speaker needed.
• Tuesday, August 30, 5^th Tuesday of the month. Should we meet? Fellowship meeting?

That’s all for tonight.

Share the Optimism,

Dave Halbach

UW-Whitewater/Community Optimist Club

920-650-6089 or 262-472-5749

Greetings Optimists,

There is no general member meeting this week.

!!! A Call for 2016-17 Club Officers. Seriously, who’s willing to be an officer for 2016-17? It’s time to create the slate of officers for 2016-17. I have received word from two club members they would be willing/able to be on the board as an officer or general board member next year, depending upon what time of day the monthly board meetings are held. I also want to let everyone know that I WILL continue on the board as past-president and will be more than willing to assist with weekly emails, web site updates and Facebook postings.  So…what would YOU like to do next year to contribute? Perhaps one that you’ve not held in the past? Please begin volunteering to be an officer for 2016-17. Contact me or Kim Adams if you’re willing to be an officer for next year. “Many hands make light work.”!!!

***Jefferson County Fair Ticket selling.*** Sign for ticket selling is going very well. There are still 5 slots that could be filled. Please review the signup sheet at https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1SDeuVZwl_Z75zxa8SxXP8PkcJTJoZetuZbEczlfXcnQ/edit?usp=sharing.  The Club receives payment from the Jefferson County Fair for each hour that we have a club member working at the various gates. One day of work with all of the shifts filled can really help the club budget. If you have trouble opening this spreadsheet, let me know what shifts you can work and I’ll add your name.

NFL “FUND CRAZR” RAFFLE TICKETS!! Sales appear to be going well. We have distributed all 100 of the first 100 tickets we received. I’ve also received an additional 50 tickets, but only 33 of those tickets are still available. We’ve received money for 41 of the tickets so far. Who still needs tickets? How about buying one for yourself?

For those of you who have picked up tickets for sale, please return any money for sold tickets, and the ticket stubs, to me as soon as possible.  If you can’t sell all the tickets you presently have, I may be able to give them to other club members who have “sold out” their own set(s) of tickets. All sold ticket stubs and unsold tickets must be returned to the SWIS District before August 28. 100 sold tickets will net the club $1,200. 150 sold tickets will net the club $1,800. Selling all 150 tickets will help make us some of the lost revenue from the Gyro Stand.

Our Exec Board message to the public about canceling the Gyro Stand for this past weekend has generated interest from at least one member from the community about possibly joining the club. I also spoke with two of my neighbors this past weekend about the club and they both expressed interest in possibly joining. I’ll continue to follow up with all three, plus a UW-W staff member.

Dates for upcoming club meetings and events:

• Tuesday, July 5, NO MEETING!
• Wednesday, July 6, Jefferson County Fair ticket selling/taking.
• Tuesday, July 12, Executive Board meeting, 12 Noon.
• Tuesday, July 19, Regular club meeting. Speaker needed. Bring your own lunch.
• Tuesday, July 26, Regular club evening meeting, 5:00 PM, Jessica’s Restaurant. Speaker needed.
• Tuesday, August 2, Regular club meeting. Speaker needed. Bring your own lunch.
• Tuesday, August 9, Executive Board meeting, 12 Noon.
• Tuesday, August 16, Regular club meeting. Speaker needed. Bring your own lunch.
• Tuesday, August 23, Regular club evening meeting, 5:00 PM, Jessica’s Restaurant. Speaker needed.
• Tuesday, August 30, 5^th Tuesday of the month. Should we meet? Fellowship meeting?

That’s all for tonight.

Share the Optimism,

Dave Halbach

UW-Whitewater/Community Optimist Club

920-650-6089 or 262-472-5749

Dear Whitewater Community:

The UW-Whitewater Community Optimist Club regrets that we are unable to staff the gyro stand for the Fourth of July Festival this year. This would have been the 35th year of operation, and we know that many of you will be sorely disappointed!  As you might know, our Club has used the proceeds of this fundraiser to provide opportunities for the youth of the area through events such as Breakfast with Santa, the Easter Egg Hunt, a fishing derby, scholarships, youth grants, the school district emergency fund, the Whitewater Food Pantry, and much more.

We appreciate the support that the community provides through participation in our fundraisers throughout the year, but our membership has dwindled as potential new members have found themselves pulled in many directions and participation in civic groups has declined in the City of Whitewater and throughout society, in general. We welcome new members who are interested in reversing the trend and who would actively participate in helping our Club serve the youth of Whitewater.  Membership is not restricted to UW-Whitewater staff; “Community” is an important word in our Club name!  At one time, there were two Optimist clubs in Whitewater (University and Community) and we merged several years ago.

We hope to return to making gyros and seeing your happy faces next year, but we need your support through participation in our Club. Let’s keep our “Friend of Youth” motto alive and thriving in our community!  If you’re interested in being a part of the solution, please contact me for information about joining the UW-Whitewater Optimist Club.

Share the Optimism,

Dave Halbach, Club President

UW-Whitewater/Community Optimist Club

920-650-6089 or 262-472-5749

Greetings Optimists,

Our general member meeting this week will be Tuesday night, June 28, at 5:00pm at Jessica’s Restaurant!! See you there.

!!! A Call for 2016-17 Club Officers. Seriously, who’s willing to be an officer for 2016-17? It’s time to create the slate of officers for 2016-17. I have received word from two club members they would be willing/able to be on the board as an officer or general board member next year, depending upon what time of day the monthly board meetings are held. I also want to let everyone know that I WILL continue on the board as past-president and will be more than willing to assist with weekly emails, web site updates and Facebook postings.  So…what would YOU like to do next year to contribute? Perhaps one that you’ve not held in the past? Please begin volunteering to be an officer for 2016-17. Contact me or Kim Adams if you’re willing to be an officer for next year. “Many hands make light work.”!!!

***Gyro Stand.*** While we have canceled the stand for 2016, I don’t want to say it’s totally dead and gone. A couple of you have already shared ideas regarding how we might be able to streamline operations in the future to try and get staffing down to 4 per shift or even 3 people per shift during slower times. Any and all ideas are worth discussing. We’ll do more brainstorming tomorrow night at the evening meeting.

I want to share with you part of the message the exec board received from Duane Dickens last Friday after I announced the cancelation of this year’s Gyro Stand. “I was thinking the other day that this year would have been the 35th year of the Gyro Stand at the 4th of July event.  I want to thank all the folks that have been involved and have worked the Gyro Stand over all those years.  Maybe this year I can actually watch the complete parade.” Duane & Barb, I hope you can enjoy the entire parade also this year.

Upcoming events needing helpers:

***Jefferson County Fair Ticket selling.*** Sign for ticket selling is going very well. 33 of the 38 slots have been taken. Please review the signup sheet at https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1SDeuVZwl_Z75zxa8SxXP8PkcJTJoZetuZbEczlfXcnQ/edit?usp=sharing.  The Club receives payment from the Jefferson County Fair for each hour that we have a club member working at the various gates. One day of work with all of the shifts filled can really help the club budget. If you have trouble opening this spreadsheet, let me know what shifts you can work and I’ll add your name.

NFL “FUND CRAZR” RAFFLE TICKETS!! We have sold (or are still selling) all 100 of the first 100 tickets we received. We’ve received money for 33 of the tickets so far. Please return any money for sold tickets, and the ticket stubs, to me as soon as possible.  If you can’t sell all the tickets you presently have, I may be able to give them to other club members who have “sold out” their own set(s) of tickets. I’ve also asked Fred Dorn for an additional 50 tickets and hope the additional tickets will be here by next week. All sold ticket stubs and unsold tickets must be returned to the SWIS District before August 28. 100 sold tickets will net the club $1,200. 150 sold tickets will net the club $1,800.

Dates for upcoming club meetings and events:

• Tuesday, June 28, Regular club evening meeting, 5:00 PM, Jessica’s Restaurant. Club discussion about future of Gyro Stand.
• Tuesday, July 5, NO MEETING!
• Wednesday, July 6, Jefferson County Fair ticket selling/taking.
• Tuesday, July 12, Executive Board meeting, 12 Noon.
• Tuesday, July 19, Regular club meeting. Speaker needed. Bring your own lunch.
• Tuesday, July 26, Regular club evening meeting, 5:00 PM, Jessica’s Restaurant. Speaker needed.
• Tuesday, August 2, Regular club meeting. Speaker needed. Bring your own lunch.
• Tuesday, August 9, Executive Board meeting, 12 Noon.
• Tuesday, August 16, Regular club meeting. Speaker needed. Bring your own lunch.
• Tuesday, August 23, Regular club evening meeting, 5:00 PM, Jessica’s Restaurant. Speaker needed.
• Tuesday, August 30, 5^th Tuesday of the month. Should we meet? Fellowship meeting?

That’s all for tonight.

Share the Optimism,

Dave Halbach

UW-Whitewater/Community Optimist Club

920-650-6089 or 262-472-5749

Greetings Optimists,

< No club meeting of any type this week due to “Plan-it Purple” (again) in the UC utilizing all available meeting rooms! >

!!! A Call for 2016-17 Club Officers. It’s time to create the slate of officers for 2016-17. I have received word from two club members they would be willing/able to be on the board as an officer or general board member next year, depending upon what time of day the monthly board meetings are held. I also want to let everyone know that I WILL continue on the board as past-president and will be more than willing to assist with weekly emails, web site updates and Facebook postings.  So…what would YOU like to do next year to contribute? Perhaps one that you’ve not held in the past? Please begin volunteering to be an officer for 2016-17. Contact me or Kim Adams if you’re willing to be an officer for next year. “Many hands make light work.”!!!

NFL “FUND CRAZR” RAFFLE TICKETS!! You can still pick up tickets for selling. We have sold (or are still selling) 90 of the 100 tickets we received. Selling all 100 tickets will earn the club $1,200. I’m keeping a list, by ticket number, of who has picked up tickets to sell. I’ll bring the tickets with me to our next meetings until they are gone. If you know you can sell tickets but can’t be at the next meeting, let me know and I’ll set aside whatever number you want/need to sell. All sold ticket stubs and unsold tickets must be returned to the SWIS District before August 28.

Upcoming events needing helpers:

***Gyro Stand.*** I’m still waiting to see how work shift signup goes over the next 2-3 days. If you have trouble opening this spreadsheet, let me know what shifts you can work and I’ll add your name. I’ll keep you posted what is decided this week.

***Jefferson County Fair Ticket selling.*** Sign for ticket selling is going very well. 32 of the 38 slots have been taken. Please review the signup sheet.  If you can’t help with the Gyro Stand, perhaps this is the event you can help with. The Club receives payment from the Jefferson County Fair for each hour that we have a club member working at the various gates. One day of work with all of the shifts filled can really help the club budget. If you have trouble opening this spreadsheet, let me know what shifts you can work and I’ll add your name.

–> If we don’t do the Gyro Stand could/should we sell more NFL “Fund Crazer” raffle tickets? <–

Dates for upcoming club meetings and events:

• Tuesday, June 21, No meeting due to UW-W “Plan-it Purple” use of entire University Center for the day.
• Tuesday, June 28, Regular club evening meeting, 5:00 PM, Jessica’s Restaurant. Speaker needed.
• Friday-Monday, July 1-4, 2016, Gyro Stand at Whitewater 4th of July Celebration.
• Tuesday, July 5, NO MEETING!
• Wednesday, July 6, Jefferson County Fair ticket selling/taking.
• Tuesday, July 12, Executive Board meeting, 12 Noon.
• Tuesday, July 19, Regular club meeting. Speaker needed. Bring your own lunch.
• Tuesday, July 26, Regular club evening meeting, 5:00 PM, Jessica’s Restaurant. Speaker needed.

That’s all for tonight.

Share the Optimism,

Dave Halbach

UW-Whitewater/Community Optimist Club

whitewater.optimist.club@gmail.com

920-650-6089 or 262-472-5749