OPTIZETTE
December 13, 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
Note: December Board Meeting Moved to Monday, December 19th
Note: No formal lunch meetings December 27th or January 3rd
Note: Cassopolis Club Meetings have moved. Cassopolis meetings starting December 15th are at Noon at the High School.
Call to Order:
President-Elect Diane BassInvocation and Pledge:
Rudy KappeBrags:
Rudy Kappe bragged on his entertaining feathered friends. Two groups of wild turkeys regularly visit Rudy's home - a group of 9 toms and another group of 13 hens. They devour sunflower seeds before taking flight across the river, landing or crash-landing into trees dependant on their particular skill level.
Robb Morse bragged on a successful and productive first Optimist Soccer meeting of the 2006 season. We also had a good turnout from Cassopolis. Cassopolis is rejoining our league this year and the Cassopolis High School principal, Athletic Director, and Soccer Coach all attended our meeting.
Michel Listenberger just returned from the Doral Golf Resort, home of the Blue Monster golf course and site of the Optimist Tournament of Champions. There were 90 Champions participating in the tournament this year, and the top golfer is a young man from the Phillipines who will be attending Notre Dame in the fall.
Kathy Joyce, our program guest, bragged on the Homeschool Hub being named the client of the year by the Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE)
John Willis bragged on being on the Lego Pirates team, the homeschool Lego Robotics team that he has been working with.
Program Guests:
Kathy Joyce of the Homeschool HUB.
Tara Joyce, Homeschool HUB Lego Robotics Team.
Logan Runyon, Homeschool HUB Lego Robotics Team, and his father Kevin.
Program:
Kathy Joyce from the Homeschool HUB. The Homeschool HUB provides information to over 750 area homeschooling families with over 2000 homeschooled kids. The mission of the Homeschool HUB is to organize programs and field trips, and provide a communication network for homeschooling families.
Resources available from the HUB include:
a library of homeschooling books, magazines, and games
information on teaching methods, curricula, and homeschooling issues
Computer lab
information on special interest classes and achievement testing
local and regional educational field trip opportunities
Kathy encourages everyone to become a supporting member of the Homeschool Hub for just $15 a year (tax deductible). For more information visit their website at hshub.org or email
homeschoolhub@yahoo.comMembers of the Lego Pirates (Homeschool HUB Lego robotics team) then treated us to a manual run-thru demonstration of the tasks their robot had to perform in the events they have recently competed in. The demonstration was impressive, and they came up with some truly ingenious solutions to difficult problems. Their robot had to perform a number of separate tasks in under 2.5 minutes. Two by two, teammates attach various manipulators to the robot and activate their specific program, which is designed to complete a specific task or tasks. As soon as the robot returns to base, 2 more teammates take over and go thru it all over again. All in a TOTAL of 2.5 minutes. I'm sure it gets hectic and crazy, especially when you consider that absolutely no glue or tape or anything else non-Lego can be used to hold these machines together!
Announcements: * = New
December Board Meeting Moved to Monday, December 19th.
No official meeting Tuesday following Christmas (Dec 27th) No official meeting Tuesday following New Year's (January 3rd). Chances are good that some members will still be having lunch at Riverfront Cafe at Noon on these days so feel free to join them.
Cassopolis Club Meeting Time and Location Change: As of Thursday December 15th the Cassopolis Club meets in the media center at Cassopolis High School at Noon.
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.
Dr. Todd is always in need of Programs, please get hold him if you have a program for us.
50/50:
$10, won by Osceola Skinner.Curious the Monkey:
Charles Zanayed brought us some interesting facts about Time in Indiana, but I get to go home now so I'm sending this out as-is. Hope that's okay with everybody!The Monkey goes to... Dennis Middleton!
Next Week's Program:
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.