UW-Whitewater/Community Optimist Club

Good Evening, Optimists,

Wow–what a successful Breakfast with Santa event!   Angie and I do not know where to begin with our thanks!  Please accept our heartfelt thank you to everyone who helped to plan, arrange and order items, manage the sign up sheet, promote, decorate, cook, staff, play Santa–Mrs. Claus–Frosty–or an elf, pay for items, and clean up for the event, as well as other tasks in-between!  It was great to see so many folks (including children of members, UW-W Student Optimists, and Octagon Optimists) helping to ensure that the event was a success.  The parade helpers (Student Optimists, Intern Brandon and Frosty) are greatly appreciated, as well.

I know we lost a number of our workers by the time we got around to taking the group photo–but it’s still an impressive group.  We will post more photos on the Web site this coming week.  Our numbers included serving 760 guests for the breakfast.  My best guess is that we took nearly 2000 photos (including candids and 2-4 photos per family– depending on their situation).  We were also about 8-10 goodie bags short for our last few Santa seekers.  I will share some photos and other updates at our meeting on Tuesday.

Thank you to those who scooted over to Perkins Stadium to take tickets for the Warhawks’ football playoff game.  It was disappointing for the Warhawks to not come out on top again, but we are grateful for a successful season.  It was a fun run for our Hawks in 2016!

Please note these additional tidbits:

1)  Dues were due by December 1.  Some members still need to pay for the quarter or year.  Our Club’s budget is counting on folks to pay soon in order to balance our budget and to carry out the many activities for youth in our community.  Please connect with Kate or Ken for paying dues–and THANK YOU!  We will review our progress at our next Board meeting.

2)  Caroling at Fairhaven is scheduled for Friday, December 9.  Please email Kim if you are planning to be a part of spreading holiday cheer.  We will meet in the lobby of Fairhave at 4:15pm to begin warming up our voices!  We will be done caroling by 6:00pm.

3)  “Gifts with a meaning” and the mitten tree will take place at our noon meeting on December 13.  You are encouraged to bring hats, mittens, gloves, scarves, children’s underwear or socks for the mitten tree presentation.  You are also invited to bring a gift that represents you–your interests or hobbies (e.g. music, sports, playing games, books, gardening, animals, etc.).  Participating members will guess who brought which gift.  We then bag up the gifts and they will be contributed to the toy wrapping activity for the Whitewater Food Pantry on December 19.

4)  Our next Executive Board meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, December 14 from 5:00pm – 6:00pm at Second Salem.  Board members, please let us know if you can not attend this meeting.

5)  Our last meeting of the semester will be December 20​.  Our next meeting (in the New Year) will be Tuesday, January 3 at noon in UC 69.  There will not be a catered meal for this meeting.

That’s it for now.  Hope to see many of you this week!

Just Keep Smiling,

Kim and Angie 🙂

Hello Optimists,

We hope you had a nice Thanksgiving weekend.

Please note the following 10 important notes regarding our Club and activities.

1)  Thank you to our ticket takers yesterday.  Thanks to Dick Winz who was staffing the visitor gate (and didn’t make the photo).  While it was still cool and breezy, it was a step up from the previous week.  And, of course, it was a great win for the Warhawks!  

2)  Tuesday, Nov. 29 we will stuff goodie bags for Breakfast with Santa (BWS) at 12:00pm in UC 259A.  Also, our interns will be giving a brief presentation about their highlights from the semester.

3)  Please consult the BWS list that Lanora is coordinating.  Together, let’s make sure all of the slots are filled.  Email reminders will go out  this week from Lanora.  We are grateful that James Lanouette will be serving as Santa at BWS.

4)  The Student Optimists and Frosty will be in the parade on Friday to help promote BWS.  Many flyers and candy will be distributed.

5)  Decorating at Esker for BWS will take place this Friday.  Thank you to Kate, Duane, Jan, and Wes for getting things started at 11:30am.  Many hands make light work.  If you can show up for even an hour to help decorate on Friday, that would be helpful.

6)  BWS will run from 8:00am – 11:00am on Dec. 3.  Workers should note the necessary time times for various positions.  I have sent out several press releases to local newspapers.  The story about the event is on the Whitewater Banner, dated Nov. 25.

7  Frank will be following up with folks about ticket taking for the Warhawk’s next playoff game–which will be on Saturday at 12:00pm.    A few ticket takers will be needed by 10:00am.

8)  Dues are due by December 1.  Several members still need to pay for the quarter or year.  Our Club’s budget is counting on folks to pay dues on time in order for us to balance our budget and to carry out the many activities for youth in our community.  Please connect with Kate or Ken for paying dues–and THANK YOU!

9)  “Gifts with a meaning” and the mitten tree will take place at our noon meeting on December 13.  For new members, this meeting is a fun way for members to learn more about each other.  You are encouraged to bring a gift that represents you–your interests or hobbies (music, sports, playing games, books, gardening, animals, etc.).  Participating members guess who brought in which gift.  We then bag up the gifts and they are contributed to the toy wrapping activity for the Whitewater Food Pantry on December 19.

10)  Our next Executive Board meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, December 14 from 5:00pm – 6:00pm at Second Salem.  Board members, please let us know if you can not attend this meeting.

That’s it for now.  Hope to see many of you this week!

Just Keep Smiling,

Kim and Angie 🙂

Optimist Club ticket takers at UW-W football playoff game, November 26, 2016

Greetings Optimists,

We formally inducted our four new members at last Tuesday’s meeting; They are Jenny Musilek, Liz Hrodey, Josh Tepps, and Michele Filip. Welcome!!

Our next general member meeting will be tomorrow, Tuesday, February 2, Regular club meeting, “Bring your own lunch,” 12 Noon, University Center 259A. We’ll have two speakers. One will be Bunny Schoen about Delta Kappa Gamma, an international group of educators, and their work with youth. Our second speaker(s) will be talking about Freeze Fest/Polar Plunge. Thanks Susan Hiscox and Josh Tepps for helping arrange this week’s speakers.

A reminder, Bev Bonge-Ganser wants to share the following info from the Whitewater Middle School JOOI Club. “The middle school Junior Optimist Club will be hosting a blood drive Friday, Feb. 12 from 1-6 at the middle school (401 S. Elizabeth St.).  You can find our drive on the Red Cross website http://www.redcross.org/blood and enter code 0324027 or our zip code 53190. Our students are always helpful and friendly and chatty so you will have a wonderful donation experience if you join us. We also decorate like crazy, so it will be festive as well.  Hope to see you on the 12th.”

We still need volunteers to sign up for the various tasks for Trivia Night 2016. Use this link to volunteer.

Trivia Night is coming up soon. Here are other updates and requests:

• The Trivia Team Registration form is available from our web site. Click this link. Team entries are due February 12.
• Do you have gift cards that could be donated to Trivia Night? If so, please contact club member Kate Ksobiech.
• Do you have items or ideas for silent auction items? If so, please contact Kate Ksobiech.
• Contact Kim Adams if you or someone you know is interested in being a sponsor for this event. There are 5 different sponsorship levels. A form with more details is available upon request.

Dates for upcoming club meetings and events include:

• 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. Speaker needed.
• Tuesday, March 1, Regular club meeting, 12 Noon, University Center 259A. Speaker needed.
• Tuesday, March 8, Executive Board meeting, 12 Noon.
• Tuesday, March 15, Regular club meeting, 12 Noon, University Center 259A. Speaker needed.

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!!

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!!

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!!

The Fishing Derby was this past Saturday at Cravath Lake Park. Thanks to Al & Joyce Hutchinson, Rick & Jeanine Fassl, Greg Stewart, Joe Lynch, Sue Hiscox, and Linda Kinson for organizing and/or assisting. The turnout of kids was smaller than last year but the blue gill fish were biting so it was fun for the anglers who came out to join us. I posted a few pictures on the Facebook page and will attempt to post more pictures this week on the web site. Thanks to Greg Stewart for sending me some of the photos he took.

Thanks to Lou and Don Zahn who are coordinating workers and signup for ticket selling at the 2015 Jefferson County Fair. I’ve attached the work schedule signup sheet that Lou sent me this morning. 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.

On to Optimist business:

• NO REGULAR CLUB MEETING AT 12 NOON THIS WEEK!!
• What would YOU like to do next year to contribute? It’s that time of the Optimist Club year to begin thinking about a slate of officers for 2015-16. 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 2015-16. “Many hands make light work.”
• A reminder that we are now doing Gyro Stand work shift signup online. Here is the link and instructions from Teshona.
  • http://doodle.com/mr7hq55mpzgwgncx
  • It is fairly easy to operate.
  • Type in your name.
  • Check the days/time slots you are available to volunteer your time.
  • Click Save button.
  • Tell all your friends and family/ Send them the link to participate.
  • All Done J
  • Teshona will receive emails when signup (and changes?) have been made.
  • HELPERS ARE STILL NEEDED JULY 3, JULY 4, AND, JULY 5.
• I’ve added the Doodle calendar link for Gyro Stand signup to the web site.

Speakers for upcoming meetings are:

• Tuesday, June 16, Kim Adams and Angie Alesci about their recent trip/vacation to Australia.
• Wednesday, June 24, Jessica’s Restaurant, any ideas?
• Tuesday, July 7, NO CLUB MEETING.
• Tuesday, July 21, Dr. Hank Mol and Lee Murray speaking about their respective “Honor Flight” experiences. (Thanks Hans and Carla for arranging these speakers.)

Dates for upcoming club meetings and events include:

• Tuesday, June 16, UC 259A, 12 Noon-1pm, “bring your own lunch.”
• Wednesday, June 24, Jessica’s Restaurant, 5pm, dinner on your own.
• Thursday, July 2-Sunday, July 5, Gyro Stand at Whitewater 4^th of July Celebration.
• Tuesday, July 7, NO MEETING!
• Wednesday, July 8, 2015, Jefferson County Fair ticket selling.
• Tuesday, July 21, UC 261, 12 Noon-1pm, “bring your own lunch.”
• Wednesday, July 29, Jessica’s Restaurant, 5pm, dinner on your own.
• Tuesday, August 4, UC 264, 12 Noon-1pm, “bring your own lunch.”
• 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.

Share the Optimism,

Dave Halbach

UW-Whitewater/Community Optimist Club

920-650-6089 or 262-472-5749

Optimists,

This will be a short note.

We do not have a meeting this week (July 22), but we do hope to see many of you at the summer picnic that Angie and I will be hosting on Tuesday, July 29 from 5-8 pm.  We will provide the meat and beverages, and we ask those attending to bring a dish to pass.

Thank you to those who have signed up so far.  If your name didn’t make it to the sign up list, please R.S.V.P. to me via email so that we know how to plan.

Thank you to the group who helped to paint the pavers for the orders we took through the “Relay for Life” event.  We had nine orders to fill and we collected another $105 to contribute to the American Cancer Society on behalf of our team.  I attached a few photos from our painting party!

Hope to see many of you next Tuesday!

Enjoy your week,

Kim 🙂