UW-Whitewater/Community Optimist Club

​​“Just Keep Smiling” Optimists!

 Greetings to All,

 Tuesday, October 18 there is a Noon meeting in UC 259A.  Our speaker is Angela Meldonian.  She will be talking about new features in UW-W Dining Services, including the new Food Truck coming to campus.   This is a catered lunch where we will be honoring youths of the month.

 The Student Optimists are preparing for Homecoming next Saturday, October 22.  They are in need of a vehicle and driver to pull their float.  If you are able to assist, please email Kim at adamsk@uww.edu or call at 608.201.2151.

 Tuesday, October 25 from 5:30pm – 8:00pm, Kim and Angie will be hosting a “Spooktacular Halloween Potluck Dinner.”  We are planning to provide the main entrée and beverages.  Please plan on bringing a dish to pass.  Please RSVP by October 22.  (Details are on the attached flyer.)

 Attention Optimist Board Members – Mark Your Calendars: We have a meeting scheduled for Wednesday, October 19, 5pm-6pm at Jessica’s Restaurant.  As always, we have a full agenda and your voice and support are needed for the conversation.

 Final details for Youth Appreciation Week will follow soon in an email.

 Finally, keep your eyes and ears open for Football Playoff ticket-taking information.  We are hopeful that we will be needed at the gates for post-season play!

 As Coach Kevin Bullis said–thanks for being Optimists in Action!

Enjoy your Week,

 Kim and Angie 🙂

Happy October, Optimists,

Angie and I want to kick off our Week 1 email with a sincere thanks to Dave Haibach for two great years of serving as Club President!

We also echo Dave’s thank you to Rick and Jeanine Fassl for hosting our Installation Celebration this past Monday.  It was a fun evening and a great opportunity to connect with one another while enjoying gyros, and a few other treats.  We also extend our welcome to new members Stephanie, Cort and Chloe!

Tuesday, Oct. 4 will our first club meeting of the new year, and we are excited that Dave has lined up Head Football Coach Kevin Bullis as our program speaker.  We can’t wait to hear about the hopes and highlights of the year for the team–and to learn about Kevin’s take on the nail-biting win over UW-Platteville yesterday!  Please bring your own lunch to this meeting.

Thank you to the board members who were able to attend our planning session on Friday, September 30 at Casual Joe’s.  A “Calendar of Events” was started and a draft budget was presented and voted on by the board members.  Ken and Kate will be providing a few more updates to the board, and then we will present the budget to the general membership for their vote on Tuesday, Oct. 18.  Dues letters will also be sent to club members within the next few weeks.  The board voted to maintain our current dues structure.

Our interns have a long list of projects to work on for our club.  Kate and I meet with them every Monday afternoon.  Expect some updates from Rachel and Brandon at a club meeting in the near future.

Angie and I would like to invite all members and families to attend our Optimist Halloween Social on Tuesday, Oct. 25 from 5:30pm – 8:00pm at our home (640 Stonefield Lane, Whitewater).  We had a great time the last two years, and are hoping for a “Spooktacular” time this year.  We will provide the main dish and beverages and ask that those attending bring a dish to pass.

We have included Dave’s email from this past Thursday so that you can review the other good information and dates he shared.  We are still looking for a speaker for Oct. 18, so please let Dave know of any ideas you may have.  He has agreed to coordinate speakers for this new Optimist year.

Thank you to all of you for being an active part of this great organization.

Always with Optimism,

Kim and Angie 🙂

Co-Presidents, 2016-17

UW-Whitewater/Community Optimist Club

“Just Keep Smiling!”

Greetings Optimist!!

Hope everyone got to play outside this past weekend since the weather was so nice, especially Sunday.

This week’s notes:

• This month’s evening meeting will be a social event tomorrow night, October 27, at Kim Adams’ and Angie Alesci’s home from 5:00-8:00 PM. Hope to see many of you there!
• Heard an interesting, and enthusiastic, presentation last Tuesday from Mareta Hale, Art Teacher at Washington Elementary School, regarding the plan she is developing for a very large mural on the outside of Washington Elementary School. This project may become a focus for the UW-W Student Optimist Club for this year.
• One final plea for your RSVP if you plan to attend the November 3^rd meeting at 12Noon. We are expecting 87 students from the Whitewater school district and 13 from our club. If you didn’t RSVP to Therese Kennedy a couple of weeks ago, I need to hear from your tomorrow so I can contact UW-W Catering and change the expected number for lunch if necessary.
• 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 received an email from the Whitewater Middle School Principal’s Office asking if the 2015 Miss Whitewater Queens and Court could join the Optimists at Breakfast with Santa, helping with breakfast and letters to Santa station. Any thoughts, pro or con?
• Thinking of December also reminds me of the “mitten tree.” If we want to do this project this year we need a coordinator. Please let me know if you would be interested in coordinating this project.
• Any further thoughts about when to hold November and December evening meetings? In November and December these dates fall right in front of holidays. What are your thoughts about having the evening meeting for November either the 18^th or 24^th and in December the meeting could be either December 16^th or 22^nd? Or could/should we change the 3^rd Tuesday of the Month meetings from 12 Noon meetings to 5pm evening meetings? Should we “vote” online?
• Who can help find speakers for our January and February 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.

Dates for upcoming club meetings and events include:

• 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. UC 259A. Youth of the Month from Whitewater High School. Speaker will be Shawn Werner, Young Auditorium Staff member.
• Wednesday, November 18 or Tuesday, November 24 evening meeting?
• 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.
• Wednesday, December 16 or Tuesday, December 22 evening meeting?
• 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!!

Another good weekend if you’re a Warhawks, Badgers, and/or Packers football fan!!

This week’s notes:

• Please review Therese Kennedy’s emails from earlier today asking for volunteers to staff the various locations at the schools and Hawk Bowl for Youth Appreciation Week. Please respond directly to Therese if you can help.
• Who can help find speakers for our January and February 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.
• I received and email from the Whitewater Middle School Principal’s Office (no, I’m not in trouble), asking if the 2015 Miss Whitewater Queens and Court could join the Optimists at Breakfast with Santa, helping with breakfast and letters to Santa station. Any thoughts, pro or con?
• Thinking of December also reminds me of the “mitten tree.” If we want to do this project this year we need a coordinator. Please let me know if you would be interested in coordinating this project.
• Thanks to Duane Dickens (and Al Hutchinson by default) for volunteering to lead the “Toys for Kids” program this year.
• Thanks to Duane Dickens, Jim McLernon, and Bob Sweet for putting the gyro stand into storage this past Saturday!!
• The last Wednesday of the month has become our traditional evening meeting date. However, in November and December these dates fall right in front of holidays. What are your thoughts about having the evening meeting for November either the 18^th or 24^th and in December the meeting could be either December 16^th or 22^nd? Should we “vote” with an online Doodle poll, like we used for the Gyro Stand scheduling last summer?

Dates for upcoming club meetings and events include:

• 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 a Washington Elementary School mural project.
• 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.
• Wednesday, November 18 or Tuesday, November 24 evening meeting?
• 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.
• Wednesday, December 16 or Tuesday, December 22 evening meeting?
• 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

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

Good Afternoon Optimist Members,

Our Week 4 email is a little longer.  Please take 2-3 minutes to read through the info.  Thanks–and here we go:

Tomorrow is our IMPORTANT Business Meeting.  Our agenda will include (but not be limited to) discussing the following:

• Proposed Updated Club Bylaws and Policies
• A Quick Review of the 2013-14 Proposed Budget
• Membership Dues (possible need for an increase)
• Catering for weekly meetings (possible per person increase and suggested RSVP’s for lunch)
• Commitment to the Whitewater Unified Schools’ Emergency Fund and the Whitewater Food Pantry
• Student Club Support
• Potential New Youth/Community Projects and Fund RaisersRecruitment of New Members/Younger Professionals

Please see the Optimist Halloween Invite 2013 for our Halloween Fellowship gathering scheduled for Oct. 30.

Thank you to those who signed up to help clean/organize the Optimist storage room this Friday.  So far, I have a few people on the list, but again—more hands with help the task go more quickly.  Anyone else who is able to join (even for a short time), please let me know.

Therese will be sending out a note and sign up info for Youth Appreciation Week.  Our Youth Appreciation Luncheon will be held in the Old Main Ballroom (UC 275 A & B) on Nov. 5th.  We will need to ask for members to RSVP for this meal so that we can be adequately prepared to feed members and all of our guests.

If you can’t attend the business meeting, please feel free to send questions or ideas about the proposed budget or other agenda items.  We will potentially be sending a survey to collect feedback on a few topics in the near futures.

Finally, please note that Denise has sent dues letters to all members currently on our club roster.

In Optimism,

Kim 🙂