DATELINE: Tuesday, March 18, 2003. President Erika Kirtdoll opened the meeting and asked Michel Listenberger to give the invocation and lead us in the pledge of allegiance.

INTRODUCTION OF GUESTS: Our guest today was Mrs. Marie Majerek who is the mother of Past President Tom Majerek.

BIRTHDAYS: Lloyd Phillips celebrates his birthday this week on Thursday, March 20^th. Madam President passed around cookies for everyone to enjoy to celebrate the occasion. HAPPY BIRTHDAY LLOYD!

FIRST READING: President Kirtdoll conducted a First Reading for perspective member Patricia Cardona. Patricia lives in South Bend but owns the Wren’s Nest Assisted Living facility in Niles. She and her husband Scott have three children. She is or has been a member of the Rotary Club, United Health Care and Eden Alternative Business, Inc. Her company has sponsored Optimist Soccer and would have been a sponsor again this year, but we actually had too many sponsors. Patricia was a guest speaker at our Optimist meeting last year.

SECOND READING: President Kirtdoll also conducted a Second Reading for perspective member Patricia Cardona. Again, Patricia lives in South Bend but owns the Wren’s Nest Assisted Living facility in Niles. She and her husband Scott have three children. She is or has been a member of the Rotary Club, United Health Care and Eden Alternative Business, Inc. Her company has sponsored Optimist Soccer and would have been a sponsor again this year, but we actually had too many sponsors. Patricia was a guest speaker at our Optimist meeting last year.

BRAGS: Dana Trowbridge bragged on his son who graduated to the green belt category in his karate school this past week. Congratulations Young Mr. Trowbridge! Mike Listenberger bragged on our local JOOI group who recently attended the Junior Optimist Convention and had a great time. Also, Steve Rhynard was elected the JOOI District Secretary/Treasurer this year. Congratulations Steven! John Willis bragged on Erica Kirtdoll, Sherry Bunch, Louanne Wesner, Rudy Kappe, Karen Kappe and several Buchanan coaches that Louanne brought out who helped get coaches bags together last night by sorting T-Shirts, checking and inflating balls and all the other things needed for this week’s coaches meeting. John said what usually takes 3 to 4 hours only took about 2 ½ because of all the volunteers. Thanks a lot folks! John also bragged on Jack Frost who set up the practice skill board for Optimist soccer and who will be attending a Howard Township commission meeting to convince them to allow us to use one of their soccer fields. John says that he knows Jack will be successful because they have already scheduled a game on the Howard Township soccer field. Good Luck Jack. Jack Frost bragged on David Morse who displayed true Optimist Spirit on St. Patrick’s Day. Seems that while they were out completing a water flow test at one of the water towers that Dave, in his St. Patty’s day green, accidentally got drenched with a tremendous amount of water. Jack said Dave never got angry and didn’t say a single word. Past President Tom Majerek bragged on St. Mary’s Church yearly raffle. He said that there was a $100 donation for tickets that included a great meal. The grand prize winner was none other than Optimist Robert Todd who took home the grand prize of $3,000.00. Wow Bob, Way to Go!!

ANNOUNCEMENTS: Robert Todd announced that we probably need to schedule some guest speakers, but that he had lost his little calendar so anyone who has already scheduled a guest needed to see him to tell him what the dates were. After taking some ribbing from the rest of the group it was discovered that his calendar had been "misplaced" in the President’s briefcase last week. Hmm, wonder which Optimist (Osceola Skinner) could have done that (Osceola Skinner)? John Willis announced that the Optimist Soccer Coach’s Meeting would be held tonight at Ballard School at 7pm. He encouraged Optimists who had never been to one to come out tonight just to observe what happens when 120 to 125 coaches get together at the beginning of the season. He also announced that although they were able to get the last coach needed for 6^th to 8^th graders, one of the coaches lost her assistant. He asked that if there was any Optimist who could help out and be an assistant coach this year to please contact him. There will be 87 soccer teams this year. Also The Optimist Tri Star Soccer competition is scheduled to be held on May 4^th. Volunteers will be needed. Renae Harrison is the chairman of this event. President Kirtdoll announced that we will be changing our meeting location effective April 1^st. President Kirtdoll also informed us that the Optimist Tri-Star Basketball competition had to be cancelled. It will not be held on March 22^nd.

50/50 RAFFLE DRAWING: Dana Trowbridge conducted the 50/50 raffle. Michel Listenberger was the lucky winner of the $10 pot. Congratulations Michel!

GUEST SPEAKER: Past President Majerek introduced Tim Batton, Executive Director of the Community Development Corporation. Tim explained to the group some of the functions of the Community Development Corporation. He also reminded us of their current objective in helping to renovate 5^th Street housing and the downtown area. He also told us about the Niles Revitalization Committee and told us that we were only weeks away from seeing the beginning of the removal of the facades on downtown building. He said that it was nice to see things start happening in the downtown area. Tim said that nine companies had bid on the job of doing the design consulting work before renovation began. They have chosen the Troyer Group to handle the design. Tim also said that if we wanted to see examples of what the Troyer Group had done that we should look at downtown LaPorte which was most recently completed. Last week the Troyer Group sent engineers to town to check each building. The engineers went around to each building accompanied by Juan Ganum, Community Development Director and Lisa Croteau the Downtown Marketing Director. They wanted to try to figure out how much work would need to be down behind the Kawneer fronts (facades) after they were removed. Right now the front of the buildings underneath the facades doesn’t look like they are too bad. The group was also happy to realize how many original windows were in the old, historic buildings. They will now begun preparing the specifications for the actual construction that will take place downtown. Tim said that he believes the actual façade removal will begin by May 1^st. This work is possible because of a Michigan Economic Development Grant. Tim then told the groups about the renovation of the downtown apartments. He said the money to do this project also comes from a grant. They can do 10 apartments to start with, but he is sure that if this goes well they can get the money to renovate more apartments. Tim told us that Marie Majerek has been working with contractors to estimate the cost and amount of work needed. The work will include plumbing, electrical, carpeting and much more. He said they are about a month away for the apartment renovations to begin. He said that being able to offer apartments downtown above the stores will bring a viable customer base to the downtown area and will allow the upper portions of the buildings to be utilized again. Tim then explained the combined sewer overflow program to us. This program seeks to eliminate overflow of the sanitary sewer system into the St. Joseph River and also takes place downtown. He said that engineers are already working on this project and that actual construction will begin next year. After the sewer system project is completed then the renovation of the streets will be completed. Tim said that the most important thing here is to redevelop the downtown to make it serviceable and functional so that it is marketable and draws people in to enjoy all that Niles has to offer. Our thanks to Tim Batton for being our guest speaker today.

CLOSING CREED: Jazmine Kyles led the group in reciting the Closing Creed at the end of the meeting.

"Trust but verify." Russian Proverb

TODAY IN HISTORY: March 18

1554: Princess Elizabeth, heir apparent to the throne in England, is imprisoned for suspected complicity in Wyatt's Rebellion against her half sister, Queen Mary I of England.

1922: Mohandas Gandhi, the leader of the Indian Home Rule movement, is sentenced to six years' imprisonment for civil disobedience.

1925: Thousands of people are injured and 689 killed when a tornado, the worst in United States history to date, passes through Missouri, Illinois, and Indiana.

1959: President Dwight D. Eisenhower signs a bill into law that approves statehood for Hawaii. Hawaii officially becomes a state on August 21, 1959.

1967: The Beatle's hit single "Penny Lane" goes Number One.

John Calhoun, seventh vice president of the United States (1782)

Rudolph Diesel, German engineer who invented the diesel engine (1858)

Neville Chamberlain, British prime minister (1869)

John Updike, author (1932)

Bonnie Blair, speed skater (1964)

When is it more police to pass or overtake on the inside?

Born on this day in 1837, I was the 22nd and 24th president of the United States.

On a spiral staircase where the insides are narrower and hence harder to climb.

Grover Cleveland served as the 22nd and 24th president of the United States. He was the only president to be reelected after suffering an electoral defeat between terms. Prior to his election to the presidency, Cleveland had served as the mayor of Buffalo, New York, and as the New York state governor.