INTRODUCTION OF GUESTS: President Elect Liz Capron introduced her guests Tom Fuller and the soon to be Mrs. Loretta Fuller. Welcome to a meeting of the Niles Noon Optimists! Maurice Nelson introduced his guest Jack Abana, who recently purchased Maurice’s former home.

BIRTHDAYS/ANNIVERSARIES: Rudy Kappe celebrates his birthday on June 27^th and President Elect Liz Capron celebrates her wedding anniversary on June 26^th. Congratulations to both.

BRAGS: Osceola Skinner bragged on John Willis who had done a wonderful job revamping the Optimist website. President Elect Capron bragged on Butch Harrison and his wife JoAnn. Seems JoAnn has been on a waiting list for a kidney/pancreas transplant for more than two years and is at this moment in surgery getting new organs. Congratulation Butch and JoAnn! John Willis bragged on Osceola Skinner and his "expertise" in following directions to use the new online calendar. Dana Trowbridge bragged on his 8 year old son’s Little League career. His team won the first game of a tournament with an 11 to 2 score.

50/50 RAFFLE DRAWING: Dana Trowbridge conducted the 50/50 raffle. President Kirtdoll took home the $12 pot! Congratulations Erika!

GUEST SPEAKER President Elect Capron introduced our guest speaker today as Tom Fuller, a forensic artist. Tom told us that he has been interested in art all of his life. He said that he had not had any formal training, but had just gotten better and better over the years. He is not only a forensic artist, but he specializes in western art work and loves to paint golfing scenes. He has a studio at the Box Factory in St. Joseph where he also teaches classes. He has been doing professional art work for 20 years now and still enjoys it immensely. Tom has a Masters Degree in Medical Examiner Investigation from Wichita State University and has taught college courses in Ohio. He has worked with William Eckhart, the eminent forensic pathologist who was a consultant for the TV show "Quincy". In his line of work he has to figure out how people sustained certain injuries by comparing details and using statistical analysis. He said that sometimes identification of deceased individuals is done through both scientific and non-scientific work. Many people are familiar with how comparisons of dental records are used to identify victims. Although he is not a trained artist, he says he is fortunate that he is able to use his gift of art in his work. He said that much of his drawings as a forensic artist is more technical work rather that art. He says that much comparison has been done in how composite artist work measures up to computer imaging. It has been found that the composite work usually shows a higher degree in similarities to the actual person than computer imaging. This is because the composite artist is able to use his interviewing skills and interaction with the subject to draw out more details that give a greater rate of success. Forensic artistry is a very viable tool for apprehending and convicting criminals. Tom went on to tell the group about two amazing cases that he has been involved in. He showed the group some of his work. It was very good. He told us how art has struck a feeling deep in his heart and soul. He said that if people don’t feel that type of deepness in their heart when they see a piece of art, then that particular project is not art to that person. He told us of the peace he feels when he is painting golf scenes and how he has done work for many companies and for golf magazines. Tom says he was never into art for the money he could make, but rather for the feeling it gives him. The Optimists offer their thanks to Tom Fuller for being our guest speaker today. We very much enjoyed his speech.

CLOSING CREED: President Kirtdoll led the group in reciting the Closing Creed at the end of the meeting.

"Respect is love in plain clothes." Frankie Byrne

"He who sings scares away his woes." Spanish Proverb

"A pessimist is one who makes difficulties of his opportunities; an optimist is one who makes opportunities of his difficulties." Reginald B. Mansell

TODAY IN HISTORY: June 24^th

1314: In the Battle of Bannockburn, the decisive victory for Scottish independence, forces led by Robert Bruce, king of Scotland, defeat the troops of English king Edward II.

1497: An English expedition led by John Cabot makes the first recorded sighting of North America by a European, landing at what may have been Cape Breton Island.

1901: Painter Pablo Picasso has his first exhibit in Paris, at the age of 19.

1922: German nationalists assassinate foreign minister Walther Rathenau, a German Jew, in response to his policy of paying reparations for Germany's role in World War I.

1947: An American pilot reports seeing objects he describes as "saucers" flying near Mount Rainier in Washington, leading to the popular term "flying saucers."

1964: The Federal Trade Commission requires that a message be placed on all cigarette packages that warn consumers that cigarette smoking is dangerous to their health.

Claude Chabrol, French motion-picture director and screenwriter (1930)

Harry Partch, composer and instrument maker (1901)

Ambrose Bierce, satirist and journalist (1842)

Horatio Herbert Kitchener, soldier and imperialist (1850)

Anita Desai, novelist (1937)

E. I. Du Pont de Nemours, industrialist (1771)

I was born on this day in 1895. During my boxing career I was known as the Manessa Mauler for my Colorado hometown and my aggressive style.

One of boxing’s best-known fighters, Jack Dempsey, seen here in 1927, did much to popularize the sport. Nicknamed the Manassa Mauler for his hometown in Colorado and his aggressive fighting style, Dempsey became heavyweight champion in 1919 and held the title until Gene Tunney defeated him in 1926. After losing a controversial rematch with Tunney in 1927, Dempsey retired from boxing.