Invocation and Pledge: Carol Zackary

News of the Day by Rob Clingaman: Coretta Scott King passed away Monday.  The widow of the late Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. was 78 years old.  She spearheaded the drive to make her late husband's birthday a national holiday, finally succeeding in 1986. 

Welcome Back: extended by Dave to Rick Schpok

Note:  I failed to thank Erika and the Optimists for the wonderful baby gifts we received last week.  So... Thank You!         -Robb

Brags:

Rudy Kappe bragged on the Lakeland Tennis program.  He volunteered Saturday and says it was really nice to watch the 110 kids that participated enjoying the sport of tennis.

John Willis bragged on Lyle and JoAnn putting in 3.5 hours Saturday at the YMCA signing up kids for soccer. They checked in 55 kids, and also got caught up on the incoming soccer mail. We have around 45 team sponsorships in; we expect around 90 total teams this year.

Rick Schpok bragged on Mike, the Optimist King.

Dave VanStrien bragged on Diane Bass for covering last week's meeting for him on short notice.  Dave also bragged that the Cassopolis branch of United Federal Credit Union is now open for business.

Michel Listenberger bragged on Diane for wearing her "Just Ask" button.

Dave Morse, who helped Erika collect for lunch, bragged that the till balanced.


Announcements: * = New

Dr. Todd is always in need of Programs, please get hold him if you have a program for us.  February 21st is still open.

*Optimist Soccer Player registration deadline was Wednesday.  All incoming player registrations are now late registrations.  Soccer Team Sort is this Sunday 1-5pm at the Bell Building - show up and help out! 

*Optimist Soccer Sponsorship registration deadline has also passed, but we're still taking sponsorships.

Cassopolis After Hours is this upcoming Tuesday.

50/50: $14, won by Dave VanStrien

Curious the Monkey: MIA

Program: Youth of the Month was MIA, so Rudy Kappe told us a tale of his recent cruise.  24 Michiana Folks booked thru Edgerton Travel flew from O'Hare to Miami.  Rudy lost his digital camera on this leg of the trip.  (Perhaps it's optimistic to comment that at least he didn't lose all the trip photos he took this way?)  They boarded their cruise ship, which was built in Germany.  Their first stop was Aruba, two days sail past Cuba, where Rudy joined a tradition of piling stones into a pyramid and wishing upon them, doing so for the health of his daughter.  Another stop was Panama, where they saw the canal and rode the Canal train to Panama City and the Pacific Ocean.  They also stopped in Costa Rica, where their tour bus guide told them that they "laugh at the gringos who eat the huge bananas".  The large bananas are generally used as animal feed in Costa Rica, while the smaller (and sweeter) bananas are consumed by people.
 

Next Week's Program: Niles head football coach Dave Janicki and one of his players.