INTRODUCTION OF GUESTS: David VanStrien introduced his guest Tom Rasler from AAA in Niles. Tom has completed an application to become an Optimist member. Way to go Tom!

BIRTHDAYS/ANNIVERSARIES: Past President Erika Kirtdoll, Don Boyer, Paul Crouch and Jack Frost will all celebrate their birthdays in the month of January. Happy Birthday to all the older Optimists.

FIRST READING: President Capron performed a First Reading for prospective new Optimist Tom Rasler. Tom is married and his wife’s name is Ann. They have three children. Tom is a past charter president of the Coldwater Optimist Club. He is currently a member of Civitan and the Niles Riverfest Committee. He is also in charge of organizing the Classic Car Show during Riverfest. Tom rebuilds old trucks and cars and is a former youth softball and baseball coach. He is very much involved in church activities and is looking forward to working with area youth.

BRAGS: Rick Schpok bragged that Tom Majerek has invited him to attend the largest bluegrass festival in the country this April. Rick is really looking forward to it. Gerald "Butch" Harrison bragged that there was an opening for the Howard Township supervisor position and that the township Democratic committee had chosen him to run on the Democratic ticket. Congratulations Butch! Diane Bass bragged on a good picture of Butch in the South Bend Tribune. The article announced his selection as candidate. President Capron bragged that she was "happy to be seen" after a scary 24 hour stay in the hospital. She initially thought her body was rejecting its new organs, but thankfully the problem was only dehydration and nothing real serious. President Capron also bragged that she had received a packet of Optimist Soccer information at her place of business that contained a picture of the team she sponsored last year. She said it was a great picture and really made her feel good. She also said that receiving the entire package at once prompts business owners to write the sponsorship check right then and there. She said the pictures are great motivation for the sponsors.

50/50 RAFFLE DRAWING: Past President (and currently Treasurer) Erika Kirtdoll conducted the 50/50 raffle. Nancy Kulesia took home the pot! Congratulations Nancy! Also, a Loser’s Drawing was held for a box of Thin Mint Girl Scott cookies. (YUM!) The winner was Don Boyer! Congrats Don and don’t eat those cookies too fast. They only come once a year.

GUEST SPEAKER: David Morse introduced our guests who he called REAL HEROS. Optimists welcomed Firefighters Scott Crouch and William McAllister. They spoke to the group today about the Public Education program that both Niles City and Niles Township Fire Departments have going. Scott explained how both the township and city fire departments work together to stretch their resources. He also told us how companies and individuals in the area donate their time, supplies and other equipment to help bring about the education program that teaches children fire safety. Not only that, the firemen themselves donate thousands of hours of their spare time to find ways to make learning interesting and different so that they can keep the attention of the young ones. During fire prevention month both fire departments usually sponsor an open house where they use all the tools at their disposal to train the children. But in addition to that, they go from school to school in the Niles/Brandywine school system. Each year more than 4,000 kids are exposed to the Fire Education program. Firefighters put on programs that use many methods to get the child’s attention including videos, flashing lights, sirens, a mini-fire truck that talks, moves and interacts with the kids, puppets, and a host of other things. Scott and Bill said that kids must practice fire safety in order to improve their chances of getting out of a fire. Everyone will panic during a fire, but those who know what to do and who have practiced fire escape routes and drills have a much better chance of living through it. They also talked about how important it is for children to know their home address and how to dial 911 and ask for help. The firefighters teach all fire safety methods including: Stop, Drop, Cover and Roll, feeling the door for heat before opening it, staying close to the floor in a smoke filled room so that you can breathe and see more, the EDITH drill (fire exit drills at home), the need to change batteries in smoke detectors and so much more. Scott said that as they age of the child increases they add more and more safety measures to their teaching curriculum. Scott and Bill showed us a video of a presentation done at Ballard School. It was fun watching the kids interact with FLICKER the Puppet, FLASH the Fire Engine and all the other audio/visual aids. You could hear how excited and happy the kids were to have the firemen there. Optimists were very impressed with the state of the art training program that the Niles City and Niles Township firefighters had created. Scott asked the Optimists to consider donating to this worthwhile project. Most Optimists agreed that it was definitely something we should do and the matter will be discussed in the next board meeting. Optimists offer their thanks to Scott Crouch and William McAllister for talking to us about the public education program for the fire departments.

CLOSING CREED: Nancy Kulesia led the group in reciting the Closing Creed at the end of the meeting.

TODAY IN HISTORY: January 13^th

1854: Anthony Faas of Pennsylvania patents the accordion.

1930: The comic strip "Mickey Mouse" debuts in American newspapers.

1966: Robert C. Weaver becomes the first African American Cabinet member by appointment of Lyndon B. Johnson.

1986: The Wall Street Journal prints a photograph on the cover for the very first time in its history.

1990: Virginia elects Douglas L. Wilder, making him the first African American governor in the United States.

Horatio Alger, writer (1832)

Mike Tyson, boxer (1966)

Sophie Tucker, entertainer (1906)

I know this is past the season but was just browsing through some mail I received at Christmas and couldn't resist sending this one along.

Don't know if this is true but it’s pretty funny! And APPROPRIATE, if >you know what I mean! > >According to the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, while both male and >female reindeer grow antlers in the summer each year, male reindeer drop their >antlers at the beginning of winter, usually late November to mid-December. >Female reindeer retain their antlers till after they give birth in the >spring. >Therefore, according to every historical rendition depicting Santa's >reindeer, every single one of them, from Rudolph to Blitzen, had to be a female. We >should've known. Only women, while pregnant, would be able to drag a fat man in >a red velvet suit all around the world in one night and not get lost." > >

I was born on this day in 1808. I was the 6th chief justice of the Supreme Court.

American statesman and jurist Salmon Portland Chase, a leading spokesman against slavery, assisted in the foundation of the Republican Party. Appointed Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court by President Abraham Lincoln in 1864, he presided over the impeachment trial of Andrew Johnson.