UW-Whitewater/Community Optimist Club

Greetings Optimists,

We DO have a general member meeting tomorrow, January 5^th. See the time and location information below.

I’m kind of missing those springtime temperatures of early December…

Hope all of you had time to spend with family and friends over the past two weeks!

I haven’t yet heard if anyone is willing to coordinate a possible “Basketball FundCrazr” for the SWIS District that would also benefit our club, like the “NFL FundCrazr” that we sold 50 tickets for last summer.

Here is part of the email we received:

“This is how it would work.  A ticket would have four (4) teams covered over with a scratch off film.  If your ticket has a team or teams that do not qualify for the tournament, your ticket would be given the next highest seed to replace them, which can be found on the www.fundcrazr.com website. Those four teams would then be your teams for the entire weeks of madness.  If a team loses, you get to keep the score from that team, and you would continue on with the remaining teams on your ticket.  We would add up the final score for each ticket at the end of the final four week, and that would then determine the winners.

The ticket would have a crazrsaver discount code like the football tickets and the cost is the same at $20.00 per ticket. The prize money would be broken down as such:

Highest Score:    $600.00     Second Highest:   $400.00   Third Highest:   $300.00

Fourth Highest:   $200.00     Fifth Highest:        $175.00    Sixth Highest:   $150.00

Lowest Score:     $100.00    Second Lowest:     $75.00

In case of a tie, the prizes are combined and split.  All results are final.”

So, Fred Dorn is asking each club in the SWIS District if they would be willing to participate, like we do for the football raffle. Would one of you be willing to serve as the contact for our club, like Connie M has done for the football raffle? Please let me know by January 10 if you would be willing to coordinate this fund raiser

A reminder again that the annual club dues notification was sent out to our membership list (which is not the exact same as this email list). Hopefully active members can submit dues soon so Ken, Kate and I can update the club roster at the OI web site.

So… Is anyone willing to coordinate this fund raiser? I need to respond by January 10 if we want to participate. Thanks!

Dates for upcoming club meetings and events include:

• Tuesday, January 5, Regular club meeting, 12 Noon, University Center 068 (basement level of the UC). This is a “bring your own lunch” meeting. No speaker yet but it’s also a VERY lightly attended meeting.
• Tuesday, January 12, Executive Board meeting, 12 Noon.
• Tuesday, January 19, Regular club meeting, 12 Noon, University Center 068 (basement level of the UC). This is a “catered lunch day” ($7.00) with “Youth of the Month” from Whitewater High School. Our speaker will be Jim Mead from the UW-W University Housing Cable TV Office.
• Tuesday, January 26, evening meeting, 5pm, Jessica’s Restaurant. No speaker yet.
• Tuesday, February 2, Regular club meeting, 12 Noon, University Center 259A. Speaker is Bunny Schoen.
• Tuesday, February 9, Executive Board meeting, 12 Noon.
• Tuesday, February 16, Regular club meeting, 12 Noon, University Center 259A. This is a “catered lunch day” ($7.00) with “Youth of the Month” from Whitewater Middle School. Our speakers will be Kirby Mills and Kristina Navarro talking about the Warhawk Leadership Academy.
• Friday, February 19, 2016, Trivia Night!! 7:00 pm, University Center Hamilton Room.
• Tuesday, February 23, 5pm, Jessica’s Restaurant.

That’s all for tonight.

Share the Optimism,

Dave Halbach

UW-Whitewater/Community Optimist Club

920-650-6089 or 262-472-5749

• Tuesday, January 5, Regular club meeting, 12 Noon, University Center 068 (basement level of the UC). This is a “bring your own lunch” meeting. No speaker yet but it’s also a VERY lightly attended meeting.
• Tuesday, January 12, Executive Board meeting, 12 Noon.
• Tuesday, January 19, Regular club meeting, 12 Noon, University Center 068 (basement level of the UC). This is a “catered lunch day” ($7.00) with “Youth of the Month” from Whitewater High School. Our speaker will be Jim Mead from the UW-W University Housing Cable TV Office.
• Tuesday, January 26, evening meeting, 5pm, Jessica’s Restaurant.
• Tuesday, February 2, Regular club meeting, 12 Noon, University Center 259A.
• Tuesday, February 9, Executive Board meeting, 12 Noon.
• Tuesday, February 16, Regular club meeting, 12 Noon, University Center 259A. This is a “catered lunch day” ($7.00) with “Youth of the Month” from Whitewater Middle School. Our speakers will be Kirby Mills and Kristina Navarro talking about the Warhawk Leadership Academy.
• Friday, February 19, 2016, Trivia Night!! 7:00 pm, University Center Hamilton Room.
• Tuesday, February 23, 5pm, Jessica’s Restaurant.

Greetings Optimists,

Another new member application has been received!!!! Michele Filip, a new staff member in the University Center at UW-Whitewater, has submitted her application to join our club. Michele’s application will be reviewed at the January board meeting.

No club meeting this week, December 20-26, or next week, December 27-January 2.

A reminder again that the annual club dues notification was sent out to our membership list (which is not the exact same as this email list). Hopefully active members can submit dues soon so Ken, Kate and I can update the club roster at the OI web site.

I’m sure there will be many unspoken thanks to you and the local churches, offices, and businesses who all combined with the Whitewater Pantry to make Christmas a little brighter and happier for families in our community who suffer from economic disadvantages. I just want to add my thanks to all of you for all you do for the club and the community.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Years to all of you!

Dates for upcoming club meetings and events include:

• Tuesday, January 5, Regular club meeting, 12 Noon, University Center 068 (basement level of the UC). This is a “bring your own lunch” meeting. No speaker yet but it’s also a VERY lightly attended meeting.
• Tuesday, January 12, Executive Board meeting, 12 Noon.
• Tuesday, January 19, Regular club meeting, 12 Noon, University Center 068 (basement level of the UC). This is a “catered lunch day” ($7.00) with “Youth of the Month” from Whitewater High School. Our speaker will be Jim Mead from the UW-W University Housing Cable TV Office.
• Tuesday, January 26, evening meeting, 5pm, Jessica’s Restaurant.
• Tuesday, February 2, Regular club meeting, 12 Noon, University Center 259A.
• Tuesday, February 9, Executive Board meeting, 12 Noon.
• Tuesday, February 16, Regular club meeting, 12 Noon, University Center 259A. This is a “catered lunch day” ($7.00) with “Youth of the Month” from Whitewater Middle School. Our speakers will be Kirby Mills and Kristina Navarro talking about the Warhawk Leadership Academy.
• Friday, February 19, 2016, Trivia Night!! 7:00 pm, University Center Hamilton Room.
• Tuesday, February 23, 5pm, Jessica’s Restaurant.

That’s all for tonight.

Share the Optimism,

Dave Halbach

UW-Whitewater/Community Optimist Club

920-650-6089 or 262-472-5749

Greetings Optimists,

The annual Toys for Kids project will be wrapping and sorting gifts tonight, Monday, December 14th at 5:30pm at the downtown Armory located on North Street. Please join us to get the toys ready for distribution by the Whitewater Food Pantry.

Our Tuesday, December 15 regular club meeting, will be at 12 Noon, UC 259A. This is a “catered lunch day” ($7.00) with “Youth of the Month” from Whitewater Middle School, presentation of the “Mitten Tree” donations to Lanora, Mary, and Shirley from the Whitewater School District, and a video presentation by Connor O’Malley, a UW-W student, showing the LINCS hallway project from spring 2015 that the UW-W Student Optimist Club supported.

At last week’s December Exec Board meeting, the minutes of the November board meeting were approved. They are available on the club web site for your reading at this link.

Another new member application has been received!!! Joshua Tepps, a new staff member at UW-Whitewater and former UW-W Student Optimist Club member, has submitted his application to join our club. His sponsor is Kim Adams. Josh’s application will be reviewed at the January board meeting.

This week’s other notes:

• A reminder again that the annual club dues notification was sent out to our membership list (which is not the exact same as this email list). Hopefully active members can submit dues soon so Ken, Kate and I can update the club roster at the OI web site.
• No club meetings the week of December 20-26 or December 27-January 2.

Dates for upcoming club meetings and events include:

• Monday, December, 14, 5:30pm. Toys for Kids wrapping and sorting, Whitewater Downtown Armory, 146 W North St.
• Tuesday, December 15. Regular club meeting, 12 Noon, UC 259A. This is a “catered lunch day” ($7.00
• Tuesday, January 5, Regular club meeting, 12 Noon, University Center 068 (basement level of the UC). This is a “bring your own lunch” meeting.
• Tuesday, January 12, Executive Board meeting, 12 Noon.
• Tuesday, January 19, Regular club meeting, 12 Noon, University Center 068 (basement level of the UC). This is a “catered lunch day” ($7.00) with “Youth of the Month” from Whitewater High School. Our speaker will be Jim Mead from the UW-W University Housing Cable TV Office.
• Tuesday, January 26, evening meeting, 5pm, Jessica’s Restaurant.
• Tuesday, February 2, Regular club meeting, 12 Noon, University Center 259A.
• Tuesday, February 9, Executive Board meeting, 12 Noon.
• Tuesday, February 16, Regular club meeting, 12 Noon, University Center 259A. This is a “catered lunch day” ($7.00) with “Youth of the Month” from Whitewater Middle School. Our speakers will be Kirby Mills and Kristina Navarro talking about the Warhawk Leadership Academy.
• Friday, February 19, 2016, Trivia Night!! 7:00 pm, University Center Hamilton Room.
• Tuesday, February 23, 5pm, Jessica’s Restaurant.

That’s all for tonight.

Share the Optimism,

Dave Halbach

UW-Whitewater/Community Optimist Club

920-650-6089 or 262-472-5749

Greetings Optimists,

A huge THANK YOU to the nearly 50 people, club members, UW-W Student Club members, High School Octagon member, etc., who helped with this past Saturday’s “Breakfast with Santa.” Carol and Jim Miller counted 611 people served, 326 children and 285 adults. I would encourage all of you who helped to look back for any special moments from Friday or Saturday, write them down and share them with us. I would like to share your stories about the day on our web site and Facebook page.

A huge THANK YOU to a club member, who wishes to remain anonymous, who donated $500 to Breakfast with Santa in honor of Don Zahn. The donor specified that the money was to be used to pay for ALL of the children who attended Breakfast with Santa.

While Santa may have been the main attraction this past Saturday, Frosty the Snowman was VERY popular also. Thanks Jim McLernon!

Nearly 700 photos from Breakfast with Santa were uploaded to the Club’s Flickr page. To see the photos, follow these instructions:

• Access the photos at: https://www.flickr.com
• Upon entering the website search “optimist bws” in upper right hand corner
• Click People in upper left hand corner
• Click “optimist bws”
• Click Albums
• Select BWS 2015

Our next Exec Board meeting is tomorrow, December 8, 12 Noon, in UC 260.

There is NO GENERAL MEMBER MEETING THIS WEEK.

The annual Toys for Kids project will be wrapping and sorting next Monday, December 14th at 5:30pm at the downtown Armory located on North Street. Please join us for the wrapping and sorting of the toys to get them ready for the distribution by the Whitewater Food Pantry. Helpers are also needed during the early afternoon for toy/gift pickups. If you can help at that time, contact Duane Dickens.

Our Tuesday, December 15 regular club meeting, will be at 12 Noon, UC 259A. This is a “catered lunch day” ($7.00) with “Youth of the Month” from Whitewater Middle School and presentation of the “Mitten Tree” donations to Lanora, Mary, and Shirley from the Whitewater School District.

This week’s other notes:

• A reminder again that the annual club dues notification was sent out to our membership list (which is not the exact same as this email list). Hopefully active members can submit dues soon so Ken, Kate and I can update the club roster at the OI web site.
• Who can help find additional speakers for our January and February meetings? A couple of ideas/speakers have been forwarded to me but more are needed. All speaker ideas are welcome and appreciated. I/we just need to confirm who, when, and where for the next couple of months.

Dates for upcoming club meetings and events include:

• Tuesday, December 8. Executive Board meeting, 12 Noon, University Center 260.
• Monday, December, 14. Toys for Kids wrapping and sorting, Whitewater Downtown Armory, 146 W North St.
• 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 and presentation of the “Mitten Tree” donations to Lanora, Mary, and Shirley from the Whitewater School District.
• No club meeting the week of December 20-26.
• Tuesday, January 5, Regular club meeting, 12 Noon, University Center 069 (basement level of the UC). This is a “bring your own lunch” meeting.
• Tuesday, January 12, Executive Board meeting, 12 Noon.
• Tuesday, January 19, Regular club meeting, 12 Noon, location to be determined. This is a “catered lunch day” ($7.00) with “Youth of the Month” from Whitewater High School. Our speaker will be Jim Mead from the UW-W University Housing Cable TV Office.
• Tuesday, January 26, evening meeting, 5pm, Jessica’s Restaurant.
• Tuesday, February 1, Regular club meeting, 12 Noon, location to be determined.
• Tuesday, February 9, Executive Board meeting, 12 Noon.
• Tuesday, February 16, Regular club meeting, 12 Noon, location to be determined. This is a “catered lunch day” ($7.00) with “Youth of the Month” from Whitewater High School. Our speaker will be Bunny Schoen.
• Friday, February 19, 2016, Trivia Night!! 7:00 pm, University Center Hamilton Room.

That’s all for tonight.

Share the Optimism,

Dave Halbach

UW-Whitewater/Community Optimist Club

920-650-6089 or 262-472-5749

Greetings Optimist!!

I see this coming Saturday’s forecast is “Sunny, low of 28, high of 47.” Should be a great day for Breakfast with Santa, the Warhawk football playoff game at UW-Oshkosh, and the UW-W Gala Holiday Concert in the evening.

Thanks to Rick & Jeanine Fassl for spending time today in the Club’s storeroom checking out Christmas trees and lights for this Saturday’s Breakfast With Santa!!

Our club will be meeting tomorrow, December 1, at 12 Noon, in the University Center, room 259A. It will be a “bring your own lunch” meeting day. We’ll use most of the hour to stuff the goody bags for Breakfast with Santa. Hope to see you there!

Please review the BWS signup web site. We can still use some helpers this week, Friday afternoon, and Saturday morning. If you haven’t already signed up to help, please consider it. Decorations and equipment moving begin at 11:30 am on Friday, December 4. Decorating in Esker begins at 1:00 pm.

Thanks Duane and Barb for working on the Toys for Kids program! Duane sent me the following message this afternoon.

“We are all set for Monday, December 14, 2015 for the wrapping and sorting of all the toys at the Whitewater Food Pantry. The Whitewater Food Pantry is located in the old Armory on North Street across from Ketterhagen Ford Dealer. We will start the wrapping and sorting around 5:30pm. If you have any additional Student Optimist Club members that would like to help please be sure to invite them.”

This week’s other notes:

• A reminder again that the annual club dues notification was sent out to our membership list (which is not the exact same as this email list). Hopefully active members can submit dues soon so Ken, Kate and I can update the club roster at the OI web site.
• Who can help find additional speakers for our January and February meetings? A couple of ideas/speakers have been forwarded to me but more are needed.  All speaker ideas are welcome and appreciated. I/we just need to confirm who, when, and where for the next couple of months.

Dates for upcoming club meetings and events include:

• 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.
• Monday, December, 14. Toys for Kids wrapping and sorting, Whitewater Downtown Armory, 146 W North St.
• 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 and presentation of the “Mitten Tree” donations to Lanora, Mary, and Shirley from the Whitewater School District.
• No club meeting the week of December 20-26.
• Tuesday, January 5, Regular club meeting, 12 Noon, University Center 069 (basement level of the UC). This is a “bring your own lunch” meeting.
• Tuesday, January 12, Executive Board meeting, 12 Noon.
• Tuesday, January 19, Regular club meeting, 12 Noon, location to be determined. This is a “catered lunch day” ($7.00) with “Youth of the Month” from Whitewater High School. Our speaker will be Jim Mead from the UW-W University Housing Cable TV Office.
• Tuesday, January 26, evening meeting, 5pm, Jessica’s Restaurant.
• Tuesday, February 1, Regular club meeting, 12 Noon, location to be determined.
• Tuesday, February 9, Executive Board meeting, 12 Noon.
• Tuesday, February 16, Regular club meeting, 12 Noon, location to be determined. This is a “catered lunch day” ($7.00) with “Youth of the Month” from Whitewater High School. Our speaker will be Bunny Schoen.
• 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!!

Thanks to Kim Adams and Allison Langenkamp for posting the tribute and pictures of Don Zahn on our web site and Facebook page. I haven’t found any other words to express my sorrow on Don’s passing so suddenly. Please keep Lou and her family in your thoughts this week.

This week’s notes:

• I’ve attached the updated Breakfast with Santa task list that I sent out the last two weeks. Thanks to many of you for volunteering for tasks that need to be completed now (or very soon) in order to keep the event on track and on time. This list is different from what Lanora created due to the earlier timeline for some tasks. Please review again to see where you can help.
• If you haven’t already signed up to help with Breakfast With Santa, please do so at this website. This form can also be used by the Whitewater Middle School Junior Optimist Club, Whitewater High School Octagon Club, and UWW Student Optimist Club. No need for multiple paper signup sheets that need to be merged together.
• Remember to mark your calendar for Monday evening, December 14 for the “Toys for Kids” night to help with sorting and wrapping.
• A reminder that the annual club dues notification was sent out to our membership list (which is not the exact same as this email list). Hopefully active members can submit dues soon so Ken, Kate and I can update the club roster at the OI web site.
• Who can help find additional speakers for our January and February meetings? A couple of ideas/speakers have been forwarded to me but more are needed.  All speaker ideas are welcome and appreciated. I/we just need to confirm who, when, and where for the next couple of months.

Dates for upcoming club meetings and events include:

• 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.
• Monday, December, 14. Toys for Kids wrapping and sorting, Whitewater Downtown Armory, 146 W North St.
• 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 and presentation of the “Mitten Tree” donations to Lanora, Mary, and Shirley from the Whitewater School District.
• No club meeting the week of December 20-26.
• Tuesday, January 5, Regular club meeting, 12 Noon, University Center 069 (basement level of the UC). This is a “bring your own lunch” meeting.
• Tuesday, January 12, Executive Board meeting, 12 Noon.
• Tuesday, January 19, Regular club meeting, 12 Noon, location to be determined. This is a “catered lunch day” ($7.00) with “Youth of the Month” from Whitewater High School. Our speaker will be Jim Mead from the UW-W University Housing Cable TV Office.
• Tuesday, January 26, evening meeting, 5pm, Jessica’s Restaurant.
• Friday, February 19, 2016, Trivia Night!! 7:00 pm, University Center Hamilton Room.

That’s all for the moment. Enjoy the holiday and hug your family.

Share the Optimism,

Dave Halbach

UW-Whitewater/Community Optimist Club

920-650-6089 or 262-472-5749

Greetings Optimist!!

Welcome to our newest club member, Liz Hrodey, Whitewater High School Assistant Principal!!! The Board voted and accepted her membership application last week at our November meeting.

Great news for Warhawk football fans, we will host the opening round playoff game this Saturday!!  See Therese Kennedy’s email from earlier today regarding ticket takers.

Also from last week’s Board meeting, we voted to NOT have evening meetings for November or December. Use that time to enjoy with family and friends (or, in reality, time to get last minute holiday tasks completed!).

Tuesday, November 17, noon meeting. UC 259A. Youth of the Month from Whitewater High School, with catered lunch, $7.00 for club members. Speaker will be Shawn Werner, Young Auditorium Staff member.

This week’s notes:

• Thanks again to Lanora Heim for creating the online signup form for December 4^th & 5^th for the many tasks related to Breakfast with Santa . If you haven’t already signed up, please do so at this website. This form can also be used by the Whitewater Middle School Junior Optimist Club, Whitewater High School Octagon Club, and UWW Student Optimist Club. No need for multiple paper signup sheets that need to be merged together.
• I’ve attached the updated Breakfast with Santa task list that I sent out last week. Thanks to many of you for volunteering for tasks that need to be completed now (or very soon) in order to keep the event on track and on time. This list is different from what Lanora created due to the earlier timeline for some tasks. Please review again to see where you can help.
• Remember to mark your calendar for Monday evening, December 14 for the “Toys for Kids” night to help with sorting and wrapping.
• A reminder that the annual club dues notification was sent out to our membership list (which is not the exact same as this email list). Hopefully active members can submit dues soon so Ken, Kate and I can update the club roster at the OI web site.
• Who can help find additional speakers for our January and February meetings? A couple of ideas/speakers have been forwarded to me but more are needed.  All speaker ideas are welcome and appreciated. I/we just need to confirm who, when, and where for the next couple of months.

Dates for upcoming club meetings and events include:

• Tuesday, November 17, noon meeting. UC 259A. Youth of the Month from Whitewater High School, with catered lunch. 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.
• Monday, December, 14. Toys for Kids wrapping and sorting, Whitewater Downtown Armory, 146 W North St.
• 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