UW-Whitewater/Community Optimist Club

Greetings Optimists,

PLAY BALL!! Any club members go to the Brewers home opener today?

Our next general member meeting will be tomorrow, Tuesday, April 5, 12 Noon, University Center 259A.

We had some great discussions at our March 29, meeting at Jessica’s Restaurant. Topics included City-wide rummage sale and Gyro stand. We’ll discuss those further at tomorrow’s meeting.

City-wide Rummage Sale. We had discussed whether or not we should continue this project. Many people in the community take advantage of the event but don’t pay the $10 fee to be included on the locations listing. Over the past few years we’ve seen paid participation dropping while overall number of sales in the community seems to be the same. Is the effort worth it? Would we do it Saturday May 14 or 21?

In case we don’t sponsor a city-wide rummage sale this year, here is a comment Jan Olson just shared with me from Palmyra via Facebook (that we might receive also).  “For anyone in Palmyra looking to join the Village wide rummage sale coming up. I was informed at village hall the Chamber of Commerce has chosen not to do the work and advertise this year. This is a HUGE inconvenience to us all. If you would like to call the Chamber of Commerce president I have his name and phone number.” As Rick Fassl pointed out, an event like this doesn’t benefit the Chamber of Commerce members so that’s why they don’t get involved. It seems that it takes someone else, like our club, to organize these events.

A Call for 2016-17 Club Officers. It’s time to begin planning for 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. “Many hands make light work.”

Dates for upcoming club meetings and events include:

• Tuesday, April 12, Executive Board meeting, 12 Noon.
• Tuesday, April 19, Regular club meeting, 12 Noon, University Center 259A. Youth of the Month presentation. Speaker will be Jeremy Reed, UW-W Director of Admissions.
• Tuesday, April 26, Regular club evening meeting, 5pm, Jessica’s Restaurant. Speaker needed.
• Tuesday, May 3, Regular club meeting. Speaker needed.
• Tuesday, May 10, Executive Board meeting, 12 Noon.
• Saturday, May 14 or 21, City-wide rummage sale?????????
• Tuesday, May 17, Regular club meeting. Youth of Month presentation. Speaker needed.
• Tuesday, May 24, Regular club evening meeting, 5pm, Jessica’s Restaurant. Speaker needed.
• Tuesday, May 31 (5^th Tuesday of the month). Fellowship Meeting? Other type of meeting? When/where?
• Saturday, June 4, Fishing Derby??
• Friday-Monday, July 1-4, 2016, Gyro Stand at Whitewater 4^th of July Celebration.
• Wednesday, July 6, Jefferson County Fair ticket selling/taking.

That’s all for tonight.

Share the Optimism,

Dave Halbach

UW-Whitewater/Community Optimist Club

920-650-6089 or 262-472-5749

Greetings Optimists,

Our next general member meeting will be tomorrow night, March 29, at 5:00 PM, Jessica’s Restaurant. I’m still searching for a speaker. Otherwise we’ll discuss the Easter Egg Hunt and City-wide Rummage Sale.

Easter Egg Hunt update. Many, many thanks to Kim Adams, Connie Murray, Rick Fassl, Jeanine Fassl, Jan Olson, Susan Hiscox, Lanora Heim, Jenny Musilek, Michele Filip, Josh Tepps, Linda Kinson, Hans Hahn, Carla Cheek, and Angie Alesci (and any others I’ve missed) for quickly putting together last Saturday’s Easter Egg Hunt!!!

City-wide Rummage Sale. We are in need of a co-chair/co-leader for this event. Michele Filip has volunteered to co-chair/co-lead. Would we do this Saturday May 14 or 21? Therese Kennedy has already received a call wondering when the event would be. Please let me know ASAP if you’re willing to co-chair/co-lead this event.

A Call for 2016-17 Club Officers. It’s time to begin planning for the slate of officers for 2016-17. What would YOU like to do next year to contribute? How about an Exec Board position? Perhaps one that you’ve not held  in the past? Please begin thinking about volunteering to be an officer for 2016-17. “Many hands make light work.”

The February Exec Board Minutes were approved at the last Exec Board meeting. I’ve posted them on the web site for your reading.

Dates for upcoming club meetings and events include:

• Tuesday, April 5, Regular club meeting, 12 Noon, University Center 259A. Speaker needed.
• Tuesday, April 12, Executive Board meeting, 12 Noon.
• Tuesday, April 19, Regular club meeting, 12 Noon, University Center 259A. Youth of the Month presentation. Speaker needed.
• Tuesday, April 26, Regular club evening meeting, 5pm, Jessica’s Restaurant. Speaker needed.
• Tuesday, May 3, Regular club meeting. Speaker needed.
• Tuesday, May 10, Executive Board meeting, 12 Noon.
• Saturday, May 14 or 21, City-wide rummage sale?????????
• Tuesday, May 17, Regular club meeting. Youth of Month presentation. Speaker needed.
• Tuesday, May 24, Regular club evening meeting, 5pm, Jessica’s Restaurant. Speaker needed.
• Tuesday, May 31 (5^th Tuesday of the month). Fellowship Meeting? Other type of meeting? When/where?
• Saturday, June 4, Fishing Derby??
• July 1-4, 2016, Gyro Stand at Whitewater 4^th of July Celebration.
• Jefferson County Fair ticket selling, Wednesday, July 6, 2016.

That’s all for tonight.

Share the Optimism,

Dave Halbach

UW-Whitewater/Community Optimist Club

920-650-6089 or 262-472-5749

Greetings Optimists,

Our next general member meeting will be tomorrow, March 15, at 12 Noon, University Center 259A. This is a “catered lunch day” ($7.00). There WILL be a Youth of the Month presentation at this meeting. We’ll have two shorter presentations, one from Bunny Schoen speaking about Delta Kappa Gamma, an international group of educators.  This group does a lot for kids, and the teachers who teach them, similar to Optimists.  The other speaker will be Whitewater High School Principal Doug Parker speaking about the alternative graduation program.

City-wide Rummage Sale. We are in need of a co-chair/co-leader for this event. Michele Filip has volunteered to co-chair/co-lead. Would we do this Saturday May 14 or 21? Therese Kennedy has already received a call wondering when the event would be. Please let me know ASAP if you’re willing to co-chair/co-lead this event.

A Call for 2016-17 Club Officers. It’s time to begin planning for the slate of officers for 2016-17. What would YOU like to do next year to contribute? How about an Exec Board position? Perhaps one that you’ve not held  in the past? Please begin thinking about volunteering to be an officer for 2016-17. “Many hands make light work.”

THERE IS NO MEETING NEXT WEEK, MARCH 21-25 OF ANY KIND for the club. UW-W and the Whitewater School District are on spring break which will mean some/many people will be on vacation, including me.

Our final meeting for March will be an evening meeting on TUESDAY,  March 29 at 5pm at Jessica’s Restaurant. I’m still looking for a speaker.

The February Exec Board Minutes were approved at last week’s Exec Board meeting. I’ve posted them on the web site for your reading.

Dates for upcoming club meetings and events include:

• Tuesday, March 15, Regular club meeting, 12 Noon, University Center 259A. Youth of the Month presentation. Speakers will be Bunny Schoen and WHS Principle Doug Parker.
• Saturday, March 26, Easter Egg Hunt???????
• Tuesday, March 29, Evening meeting, 5pm at Jessica’s Restaurant.
• Tuesday, April 5, Regular club meeting, 12 Noon, University Center 259A. Speaker needed.
• Tuesday, April 12, Executive Board meeting, 12 Noon.
• Tuesday, April 19, Regular club meeting, 12 Noon, University Center 259A. Youth of the Month presentation. Speaker needed.
• Tuesday, April 26, Regular club evening meeting, 5pm, Jessica’s Restaurant.
• Tuesday, May 3, Regular club meeting
• Tuesday, May 10, Executive Board meeting, 12 Noon.
• Saturday, May 14 or 21, City-wide rummage sale?????????
• Tuesday, May 17, Regular club meeting
• Tuesday, May 24, Regular club evening meeting, 5pm, Jessica’s Restaurant.
• Tuesday, May 31 (5^th Tuesday of the month). Fellowship Meeting? Other type of meeting? When/where?
• Saturday, June 4th, Annual Fishing Derby????? (DNR Free Fun Weekend)
• July 1-4, 2016, Gyro Stand at Whitewater 4^th of July Celebration.
• Jefferson County Fair ticket selling, Wednesday, July 6, 2016.

That’s all for tonight.

Share the Optimism,

Dave Halbach

UW-Whitewater/Community Optimist Club

920-650-6089 or 262-472-5749

Greetings Optimists,

After hiding in Phoenix, AZ, last week for a conference, I have been forced back to reality this week.

No general member meeting this week. Instead, the Exec Board will meet on Tuesday, March 8 at 12 Noon, in the University Center, room 268. If you have any topics for the Exec Board to consider tomorrow, please contact me so I can include the item/topic on the agenda.

Easter Egg Hunt update. We are in need of a chair/leader for this event! The Whitewater Middle School is reserved for the Easter Egg hunt on Saturday, March 26. We still need to order items for the “goody bags” and Connie Murray has information she can share regarding what has been ordered in the past. Also, Rev. Wendt in interested in coming and saying a few words.

For our new members, here is a basic description of the event from last year. “The event is scheduled to take place at 11 am at The Whitewater Middle School grounds, 401 S. Elizabeth Street, weather permitting.  Inclement weather will move the event into the WMS building, so the event will be held rain or shine on April 4th.  There will be a short invocation, with the arrival of the Easter Bunny and McGruff the Crime Dog aboard a Whitewater Fire Dept. truck before the signal to start the hunt is given.  Children through 5th grade are welcome and will be grouped as follows:  Ages 2 years and under; Ages 3 & 4; Kindergarten & grade 1; grades 2 & 3 and grades 4 & 5.  Children are encouraged to bring a basket or bag to collect the eggs.  The plastic eggs they find will be returned in exchange for a small bag of treats.  Several “special” eggs will earn the finder a special basket of treats.”

City-wide Rummage Sale. Another event in need of a chair/leader. Would we do this Saturday May 14 or 21? Therese Kennedy has already a call wondering when the event would be.

For our new members, here is a basic description of the event from last year. “The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater/Community Optimist Club, in cooperation with the Whitewater Chamber of Commerce, will be hosting a City-Wide Rummage Sale on Saturday, May 16, 2015.  Registrations are now being accepted.  All proceeds from this event help fund activities to support youth programs throughout the year.  Last year saw over 60 families benefit by having their rummage sale on the same day.  More sales draw more people and that means more items you don’t have to store anymore!

The cost to participants will be $10 per household, which guarantees each seller a spot on the master rummage sale locator list, a sign for their yard, and a brief, 10-word description of the most attractive items available for sale.  This is a community service project offered by the UW-W/Community Optimist Club and we appreciate persons registering with us as the very reasonable registration fee gives them better publicity at a  cost savings over running a separate ad.  Funds raised cover the costs for the project and any money in excess of costs goes to fund other youth service projects throughout the year.”

2016-17 Club Officers. It’s time to begin thinking and planning for the slate of officers for 2016-17. What would YOU like to do next year to contribute? How about an Exec Board position? Perhaps one that you’ve not held  in the past? Please begin thinking about volunteering to be an officer for 2016-17. “Many hands make light work.”

Dates for upcoming club meetings and events include:

• Tuesday, March 8, Executive Board meeting, 12 Noon, UC 268.
• Tuesday, March 15, Regular club meeting, 12 Noon, University Center 259A. Youth of the Month presentation. Speaker will be Bunny Schoen.
• Tuesday, March 22? Evening meeting? This is the week of the University’s and Whitewater school district spring  break.
• Saturday, March 26, Easter Egg Hunt???????
• Tuesday, March 29? Evening meeting instead of March 22?
• Tuesday, April 5, Regular club meeting, 12 Noon, University Center 259A. Speaker needed.
• Tuesday, April 12, Executive Board meeting, 12 Noon.
• Tuesday, April 19, Regular club meeting, 12 Noon, University Center 259A. Youth of the Month presentation. Speaker needed.
• Tuesday, April 26, Regular club evening meeting, 5pm, Jessica’s Restaurant.
• Tuesday, May 3, Regular club meeting
• Tuesday, May 10, Executive Board meeting, 12 Noon.
• Tuesday, May 17, Regular club meeting
• Saturday, May 14 or 21, City-wide rummage sale?????????

That’s all for tonight.

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!!

Tomorrow, Tuesday, September 29, will be the annual Installation Banquet!! Social hour begins at 5pm at 841 Brew House.

At last week’s meeting, we had one business topic, voting on the “Slate of Officers” for 2016-17. Those in attendance voted unanimously in favor of the slate of officer put forward from the board and emailed to all of you last week. Combined with the votes emailed back to Jeanine before the meeting, we have an Executive Board for 2015-16!!!!!

I’m working with the incoming Exec Board members to confirm our monthly board meeting. At this time it looks like the 2^nd Tuesday of each month, starting at 12 Noon, will continue to be our meeting time. Please remember that any club member can submit an agenda item.

I’ll keep you posted this week whether or not we have an general member meeting or board meeting next week, October 6. There might be a possible conflict with a campus Faculty Emeriti event that might draw away quite a number of our regular Tuesday members.

Who can help find speakers for our October and November meetings? All speaker ideas are welcome and appreciated.

Be sure to check the “Photos” page here on the web site for new photos posted today. You’ll also be able to find them on our Facebook page.

Our Facebook page reached 100 “Likes” last week!! The pictures that were added last week have been quite popular also.

Any Football Raffle Crazr winners 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.
• Tuesday, November 3, noon meeting, Youth Appreciation Luncheon with student leaders from all 5 Whitewater School District buildings.
• Week of November 2-6, Youth Appreciation Week.
• Tuesday, November 17, noon meeting. Youth of the Month from Whitewater High School.
• Saturday, December 5, Breakfast with Santa!!
• Friday, February 19, 2016, Trivia Night!!

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