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CALL TO ORDER: President Liz Capron
opened the meeting and Brent Braaksma gave the invocation and then led us in the pledge of allegiance.
INTRODUCTION OF GUESTS: Jon Martin introduced his guest and wife Andie Martin. Andie was looking great carrying her first child and guess what? . . . it’s a girl. President Capron introduced guest Heidi Leneway, the president’s "right hand lady". Butch Harrison introduced his guest, Mark Burnham, Branch Manager at the new Teacher’s Credit Union. Mike Listenberger introduced his guest Holly Pomaranka, who is interested in beginning a Boys and Girls Club in the city. Welcome to all of our guests. Please join us again!
BIRTHDAYS/ANNIVERSARIES: John Willis, Robert Todd, Amy McKean and Sue Cipares will each celebrate their birthday this month. Happy Birthday to All!
SECOND READING: President Capron performed a Second Reading for prospective new Optimist Scott Crouch. Scott is a Niles City firefighter. He enjoys fishing, camping, bird watching and anything else that deals with the great outdoors. He is very active in his church and is in charge of the public safety education programs for children at the fire department. Scott is interested in being an Optimist because he likes working with youth.
BRAGS: President Capron bragged that she and husband Dee won $900 in a football pool over the weekend. Lucky Liz Strikes Again!!. She also bragged about the soccer meeting held in her building over the weekend. She said that the group had lots of fun. John Willis bragged that there was a lot of help for the soccer work session and he appreciated all the help. He said there were people who came in to do a couple of hours or stayed for the whole time. It worked out great and the job went fast. It was the first time he did not have to take it all home and finish it up. Rudy Kappe bragged that he got to attend today’s meeting. He also bragged that he and his wife had established a scholarship fund through the Gateway organization. The scholarship will go to a Buchanan student and it is in the amount of $500.00! Way to Go Rudy and Karin!! Also, everyone remarked on the return of District Lt. Governor Tom Majerek, who came in sporting a Florida tan in 10 degree Michigan weather. Mike Listenberger said that Tom was the #1 Lt. Governor in Michigan.
ANNOUNCEMENTS: Butch Harrison announced that there was a benefit last Saturday for the family of Michelle Lundy. More than $8,500.00 was raised. Sgt. At Arms Andrew Plym announced that members are to wear
RED on Tuesday, February 9th in honor of Valentines Day. Past President Erika Kirtdoll announced that next quarter billings will be out on time. She also announced that she still has puppies that need homes. Please contact her. Craig Krassow announced that member Don Boyer would be having surgery tomorrow and asked everyone to keep him in their prayers. John Willis announced that there is a lot going on with soccer right now. Now that we have the more than 800 kids split into teams, it is time to get more sponsors and coaches and to order the t-shirts for the kids. He said that Past President Kirtdoll had already offered to help count t-shirts. President Capron announced an upcoming district meeting in Mt. Pleasant. She also announced that the Optimist Board meeting will be held next Monday, February 9th at 5:30 at Riverfront Café. She also announced the Chamber of Commerce’s After Hours event would be held on February 11th at the new TCU building on 11th Street. Lt. Governor Tom Majerek announced that Lisa Croteau has already began working on the Optimist Youth Festival to be held Mother’s Day weekend. He said the purpose of the festival is to promote performances by the youth of our area and said that there would be lots of dancing, singing and even said that Jetta and the Jelly Beans would be performing again this year for the little ones. The JOOI club will also be running a concession stand. Tom also announced that we had attained both Honor Club and Distinguished Club status for the 2002-2003 year. Out of 3,500 clubs in the nation we were only one in 198 to attain Distinguished Club status and one of 628 to obtain Honor Status. In Michigan District we were only one of four to obtain Distinguished Club status and one of 19 to obtain Honor status. Tom said that an award would be given to our club at the regional meeting on February 21st in Mt. Pleasant. He invited any members who could attend to do so. He said it is the third year in a row that we made Distinguish Club status. Also, Tom himself earned both Outstanding and Distinguish Lt. Governor status for the 2002-2003 year.
50/50 RAFFLE DRAWING: Past President Erika Kirtdoll conducted the 50/50 raffle. Paul Crouch took home the $18 pot! Congratulations Paul!
STUDENTS OF THE WEEK: Our Students of the Week were from Niles High School. Betty Perkins, High School Principle introduced them as:
Laura Martin is daughter of Bill and Glenda Martin of Niles. Laura recently finished her last season with the Young Americans after being involved with them since the third grade. She is also a member of Counterpoints the Honors Choir at the high school. She is currently enrolled in Shakespearian class and would like to major in musical theater and minor in Shakespeare and dance. She is active in the choir at her church and works part time at Riverfront Café. Laura says she also writes a lot and in the spring she will be in the school musical "Joseph".
Evan McCullough is the son of Patrick and Diane McCullough. He is on the Youth Advisor Council for the Michigan Gateway Foundation. He is also a DECA student and likes to play soccer. He intends on attending either Olivet University in Illinois or Grace University in Indiana. He would like to major in sports management and business.
Dontral (Sam) Blakemore attended today’s meeting with his mother, Rita Blakemore. Dontral likes to play football and is on the student council. He is a member of DFP (Drug Free Players) and has always been influenced by the ministry. He intends to go to Bethel College for his degree.
CLOSING CREED: President Capron got the group to play a little game in reciting the Closing Creed. Each member said only one line at a time and then "passed the baton" to another member who completed another portion of the Creed. We had lots of fun. When it was over, Paul Crouch led the group in reciting the Optimist Pledge in its entirety.
If you’d like to see previous issues of the Optizette visit our site at
www.nilesoptimist.org or visit the international site at www.optimist.org. Don’t forget the Niles JOOI Club’s site is www.jooi.org .
TODAY IN HISTORY: February 3rd
1870: The 15th Amendment to the United States Constitution, guaranteeing
African American voting rights, becomes law.
1959: Buddy Holly, along with Richie Valens (who had a number one hit on
the charts), and the Big Bopper perish in a plane crash near Clear Lake, Iowa.
1969:
Yasar Arafat is appointed chairman of the Palestine Liberation Organization.
1994:
President Bill Clinton ends the trade embargo with Vietnam.
FAMOUS BIRTHDAYS: February 3rd
Felix Mendelssohn, German composer (1809)
Elizabeth
Blackwell, physician (1821)
James
A. Michener, writer (1907)
Horace
Greeley, journalist (1811)
Norman
Rockwell, painter and illustrator (1894)
Fran
Tarkenton, football player (1940)
DAILY JOKE:
Dog w/o Wheels
Where do you find a dog with no legs?
Where you left it.
WHO AM I?
Born on this day in 1874, I shared an apartment in France with fellow contemporary writer Alice B. Toklas and wrote an opera based on Susan B. Anthony.
WHO AM I ANSWER:
A poet, novelist, and critic, American Gertrude Stein lived much of her life in Paris at the center of a thriving literary and artistic community. Stein coined the phrase "Lost Generation" to describe the disillusioned American expatriate writers living in Paris after World War I (1914-1918). Renowned as much for her stylistic innovations as for encouraging and nurturing various young talents, Stein helped such figures as Pablo Picasso, Ernest Hemingway, and Henri Matisse gain recognition. This selection (recited by an actor) comes from Stein’s "Susie Asado," a poem often thought to describe either a flamenco dancer Stein knew or Alice B. Toklas, Stein’s longtime companion
.
