OPTIZETTE

November 15, 2005

A Publication of the Niles Noon Optimist Club
Meetings every Tuesday at Noon
Riverfront Cafe on Front Street in downtown Niles, MI
Zone 4, Michigan District
Editors: Michelle and Robb Morse

NOTICE: NO official meeting this Tuesday November 22, although some members will still be meeting at Riverfront Cafe for lunch and you're welcome to join them.

Call to Order: Dave VanStrien

Invocation and Pledge: Jeff Whittaker

Brags:
Dave VanStrien bragged on seeing John Willis and Robb & Michelle Morse at the Michigan District Optimist Convention. Dave bragged that Michelle won the "dealers and players" game for first-time attendees, and that John Willis won a Tiffany lamp.

John Willis bragged that he won the lamp by putting the George Nicholson Kink on his entry, giving his ticket a little bend to make it stand out.

Rudy Kappe bragged that he's excited that soccer season preps are right around the corner.

Robb Morse bragged on having a great time at the District Convention in his hometown of Flint. Michelle and he both attended a JOOI club workshop and are looking forward to helping bring a new JOOI club to Ring Lardner. Michelle attended Secretary's training but didn't really need to because Erika did such a great job teaching her the ropes already! Robb attended a membership / New Optimists Wanted workshop. He also bragged on being lucky enough to get an alternator replaced on a SUNDAY!

Liz Capron bragged on Tom Majerek's great presentation at the New Member Orientation on Monday, and that Justin Panczak made up his mind to join our club after attending the orientation.

Guests:

Liz Capron brought soon-to-be-a-member Justin Panczak.
Jeff Whittaker brought program guest Lafo Robbins.

Announcements:

No official meeting Tuesday due to Thanksgiving week. Some members will still be having lunch at Riverfront Cafe at Noon on Tuesday so feel free to join them.

Cassopolis Club Meeting Time and Location Change: As of Thursday December 15th the Cassopolis Club will be meeting in the media center at Cassopolis High School at Noon.

Bell Ringing for Salvation Army at Walmart November 25th and 26th December 2nd and 3rd 9am-?

Optimist International Foundation Raffle tickets on sale. True 50/50, tickets are $20 each and are on sale at District meetings. Michelle and Robb are taking a collection to buy tickets on behalf of our Youth Fund.

Regional Optimist Meeting February 4th in Kalamazoo. Tom Majerek is in charge of this meeting and would like to see good attendance from Niles.

Trivia Contest to benefit Big Brothers Big Sisters at St. Mark's Parish Hall Saturday January 14. $150 per table of up to 10 players, $250 first prize.

Congratulations and Best Wishes to Osceola on his 55th anniversary November 23rd, and to Jeff Whittaker on his birthday November 26th.

The King and His Court 4-man softball team is coming to Niles in early April.

Dr. Todd is need of Programs, please get ahold him if you have a program for us.

Welcome New Member JoAnn Krueger, officially inducted today. Sponsored by her daughter Liz Capron.

50/50: $18, won by Don Boyer.

Curious the Monkey: Dennis Hinsey is back, and he's got the monkey! Dennis says he's been googling the answer to the following question for three weeks without coming up with a definitive answer: Why do all gas prices end in nine-tenths of a cent? Dennis' curious facts: Michigan's total area is 58,827 square miles. Michigan was admitted to the Union in 1837 as the 26th State. Also, Tuesday was Judge Wapner's birthday.
Dennis picked his own number out of the jar but we cut him some slack and let him draw again, so John Willis now has curious the monkey!

Program: Lafo Robbins from Polly's Place.

Polly's Place is a battered women's shelter. Their maximum capacity is officially 15, though they are currently full with 13 women and children at the facility. Their program is based on a 60-day stay, during which the women get four group counseling sessions and two 1-on-1 counseling sessions per week. Polly's Place provides help finding housing and jobs, as well as teaching self-improvement, nutrition, and parenting skills. The women are also allowed to come back for up to 6 weeks following their stay for additional counseling and support. 60% of the women they serve come from Berrien County, though women also come to the program from places like Ohio, Tennessee, and Florida.

Polly's Place is attempting to grow their endowment fund. They have served 30 ladies and their children, and only three have returned to abusive situations. This compares very favorably with other programs,which see as many as 70% of their women return to the abusive situation. Without intervention 90% of women return to their abusers.

Lafo credits much of their success to their faith-based approach. They require attendance at daily morning devotions, as well as weekly bible study. This also means their program gets no federal funding. Polly's Place is currently accepting monetary donations, as well as donations of household items such as TP, soap, dishsoap etc. Call 687-9822 to make a donation.

Next Week's Program: No official meeting.

Shirt Orders: If anyone is interested in ordering polo shirts like those awarded at the optimist banquet, please see Tom. The minimum order is 15 shirts, so we will take down names and contact people for payment if enough interest is generated to support an order. White polo shirts with the optimist logo are currently available from Tom for $10 each.