INTRODUCTION OF GUESTS: There were no guests today other than our guest program.

BIRTHDAYS: Sherry Bunch celebrated her birthday yesterday, on March 15^th. Lloyd Phillips will have a birthday this Saturday, March 20^th. John Armitage will celebrate his birthday on Friday, March 26^th. Happy Birthday goes out to all our Optimist youngsters.

MEMBERSHIP INDUCTION: President Capron conducted Membership Inductions for Jennifer Williams and Heidi Leneway. Congratulations and Welcome to the Niles Noon Optimists ladies!

PRESENTATION: Mike Listenberger presented Tom Majerek with an award for the Top Lt. Governor in the Michigan District. Tom placed first out of a long list of Lt. Governors. His award was a gold engraved clock that highlights Tom’s achievement of being both a Distinguished Club Lt. Governor and an Honor’s Club Lt. Governor. Way to Go Tom!!

BRAGS: Dana Trowbridge bragged on his 12-year old son because he recently graduated from a green stripe to a black stripe belt in his karate class. Rick Schpok bragged on President Liz Capron and the great job she is doing as president. He said that he really appreciates the time and effort she puts in for the Optimists. Betty Perkins bragged on the Varsity Band, which recently received a #1 rating. She also bragged on Ms. Niles/Brandywine who took home the Ms Congeniality crown at the recent Ms. Blossomtime competition. Tom Rasler bragged on Ms. Cindy McCall, who he has been mentoring and helping to further her career at his agency. He says Ms. McCall moved into a sales position just six months ago and was recently named just one of four (out of more than 525) named to the President’s Council. Tom was also named Mentor of the Year for his efforts to help her. He also bragged on Bill Gaideski a life insurance agent who has been named top in his field every year for the past ten years. This year Bill placed second, but what a long-running achievement for him to be named top in the state for so many years! John Willis bragged on all those who came out to help sort, inventory and stuff coaches’ bags Monday night at Ballard School. He said for the first time in years, we completed what is a huge process in just about two hours. John said that we also need just a few people to come out tonight for the coaches’ meeting to help carry the coaches bags from their storage area. He also announced that Optimist Soccer has just over 1,200 kids this year on 81 teams with more than 150 coaches, assistant coaches and referees helping. WAY TO GO OPTIMIST SOCCER! John also bragged on Diane Bass for sending out such great notices, which he thinks helped to bring out more volunteers. Congratulations to all those who have achieved milestones this year.

ANNOUNCEMENTS: President Capron announced that there would be a N.O.W. meeting on Tuesday, March 30^th in the old Bell telephone building. There will be prizes, games and free pizza and pop. The JOOI kids will also be inviting young people to the membership drive. It is a time to let our club shine and bring in new members. The event promises to be a fun one and will be held from 6 to 9 pm that evening. She also reminded members to wear their JUST ASK buttons this month. She also announced tonight’s Coaches Meeting at Ballard School at 7pm. The president then announced that Tri-Star Basketball would be held at the YMCA this Saturday from 8 am to 11am. President Capron said that the race trailer now has new windows and air conditioning. Our thanks go out to Dee Capron for his efforts to help the timing crews. Thanks Dee! John Willis also announced that the first timing race of the year will be held this Sunday, March 21^st at Battel Center. Please come out to help with the race. Volunteers should be on site by 12:30 pm. The race starts at 1:00 p.m. Dennis Middleton announced that Bob Rhynard was recuperating after surgery last week. Seemed Bob’s horse got a little spooked at Dennis’ horse being so close that he bucked or kicked out and caught Bob right across the leg. Bob of course wound up with a broken leg, but it wasn’t really the horse’s fault so the horse got his round of oats anyway that day. Tom Majerek announced that a sign-up sheet was going around for volunteers to sign up for the Tri-Star Basketball event on Saturday. He explained what volunteers would be doing on that morning and reminded the group that no skills were required for volunteers. He said that the awards ceremony would begin at 11 am and that most volunteers would be able to leave at that time. Come out and help the kids have fun.

50/50 RAFFLE DRAWING: Secretary/Treasurer Erika Kirtdoll conducted the 50/50 raffle. Diane Bass took home the $18 pot! Congratulations Dee!

GUEST SPEAKERS: Betty Perkins introduced to us kids from the Niles High School Japanese class and their teacher Ms. Kim Knolls. Also among them was a year-long Japanese exchange student who is acting as interpreter. Her name is Kana Ochia (not sure of spelling). Joining with them today were eight students and two teachers visiting our city from Japan. The Japanese visitors are living with host families during their week-long stay. Betty Perkins talked about how hard the Japanese class and their teacher had worked to bring the Japanese students to our city. The visiting students have been touring the city, including the museum and Chapin Mansion. They have visited Norte Dame and will be taking a trip to Chicago also. The Japanese students will be honored by the City of Niles tonight at a dinner and still have much left on their itineraries before they leave on Saturday. Four of the visiting students gave a demonstration of Kendo-style martial arts during our meeting. They did a wonderful job and looked great in their traditional Japanese outfits.

The names of our visiting Japanese students are: Ami Tsukiyama, Haruka Kakude, Shintaro Kawabata, Kitawaki Toru, Hideaki Kano, Toru Kitawaki, Tatsuya Yamamoto, and Suguru Takeda. Toshio Yamamoto is the assistant principal of the Chuzu Junior High School in Shiga, Japan and Kiyoshi Yoshida is a history teacher at the school.

The Niles Noon Optimists would like to thank our visitors from Japan for honoring us with their presence.

CLOSING CREED: Diane Bass led the group in reciting the Optimist Pledge at the close of the meeting.

Recently, I was diagnosed with A. A. A. D. D. - Age Activated Attention Deficit Disorder.

This is how it manifests: I decide to wash my car.

As I start toward the garage, I notice that there is mail on the hall table.

I decide to go through the mail before I wash the car.

I lay my car keys down on the table, put the junk mail in the trash can under the table, and notice that the trash can is full.

So, I decide to put the bills back on the table and take out the trash first.

But then I think, since I'm going to be near the mailbox when I take out the trash anyway, I may as well pay the bills first.

I take my checkbook off the table, and see that there is only one check left

My extra checks are in my desk in the study, so I go to my desk where I find the can of Coke that I had been drinking.

I'm going to look for my checks, but first I need to push the Coke aside so that I don't accidentally knock it over.

I see that the Coke is getting warm, and I decide I should put it in the refrigerator to keep it cold.

As I head toward the kitchen with the coke a vase of flowers on the counter catches my eye--they need to be watered.

I set the Coke down on the counter, and I discover my reading glasses that I've been searching for all morning.

I decide I better put them back on my desk, but first I'm going to water the flowers.

I set the glasses back down on the counter, fill a container with water and suddenly I spot the TV remote. Someone left it on the kitchen table.

I realize that tonight when we go to watch TV, I will be looking for the remote, but I won't remember that it's on the kitchen table, so I decide to put it back in the den where it belongs, but first I'll water the flowers.

I splash some water on the flowers, but most of it spills on the floor.

So, I set the remote back down on the table, get some towels and wipe up the spill.

Then I head down the hall trying to remember what I was planning to do.

At the end of the day: the car isn't washed, the bills aren't paid, there is a warm can of Coke sitting on the counter, the flowers aren't watered, there is still only one check in my checkbook, I can't find the remote, I can't find my glasses, and I don't remember what I did with the car keys.

Then when I try to figure out why nothing got done today, I'm really baffled because I know I was busy all day long, and I'm really tired.

I realize this is a serious problem, and I'll try to get some help for it, but first I'll check my e-mail.

Don't laugh -- if this isn't you yet, your day is coming!

GROWING OLDER IS MANDATORY.

GROWING UP IS OPTIONAL

LAUGHING AT YOURSELF IS THERAPEUTIC!

Just when you think you've seen all the great clocks of the world,

some programmer comes along with a new one.

Click on the word below and you will see the time, day, date, year,

and month. Right to the second hand. Then keep your mouse in the

center of the screen for a few moments.