Marshalltown Noon Optimist Newsletter

Hello Optimists, First off a special thank you to Ken Walton for showing outstanding leadership as President Elect. Second we’ve completed another exciting Optimist project, the Iowa Sate Pedal Tractor Pull Championship, Saturday, Sept 7th. This was a great one day activity for kids and families that come from all over the state of Iowa and surrounding areas. Whether you are registering the young tractor pullers, my favorite thing to do, or helping out serving food or taking tickets, this is a neat project to be involved in. Thanks to Bob Wenner and his committee for putting on a great event

Third, make sure to get your reservation in for the installation banquet. It’s scheduled for Wednesday evening, Oct. 2^nd. It would be great if all the members and spouses or VIP’s (any family members are also welcomed) would attend to be supportive of those who have stepped forward this year to help lead our club. This is a time for giving sell deserved recognition to committee chairs, also those doing special duties behind the scenes, and last but not least, the club officers. The new leadership for next year will also be installed. A very special thanks to all of the noon optimists who have stepped forward to serve our club this year and are willing to serve in a committee chair or officer position this year.

Finally, on a more personal, yet optimistic note, John and I are finally getting possession of a house on Friday, yes that’s Friday the 13^th. The first house fell through when if failed both the septic and water inspection. We felt those were pretty important and necessary items. So we started a new house search. The new house is much smaller, cottage style, in town, yes in town. But with a large yard and an interesting address: 3813 Waldo Blvd. Manitowoc, WI 54220. No I haven’t found Waldo yet (remember those popular kids books?) Email: jmreimers@lakefield.net.

It’s also been great to find that there are active noon optimists here in Wisconsin as well. I’ll write you more about that in the future.

Schedule of Events

Board Meeting

Oct 2 – Wed, 6:30am, Country Kitchen

Programs

Sep 26 – Larry Park, Oktemberfest

Oct 2 – (Wed) – Awards and Installation Banquet

Oct 3 – NO NOON OPTIMIST MEETING

Oct 10 – Jennifer Miller, Running for County Attorney

Oct 17 – Paul Crawford, Acting County Attorney

Other Events

Oct 2 – Wed, Evening, Awards and Installation Banquet

Projects

Sep 29 – Oktemberfest (see Ken Walton if interested)

District Schedule

Oct 19 – 1^st Qtr District Meeting, Des Moines

Vickie is the Executive Director at the Embers in town. She is originally from Ft. Bennings, Georgia. Her husband is Charles and they have two adult children, Craig and Tara. She just recently celebrated their 32nd wedding anniversary and lived in Marshalltown 20 of those years. She enjoys crafts, cooking, fishing, shopping, and reading. Vickie is sponsored by Patty Lase.

Jean Campbell

Jean is the Client Service Manager with F&M Bank at their Southridge location. She is originally from the Marshall County area and has been in Marshalltown for the last 27 years. Her husband is Doug, and they have two adult sons, Jay and John. Her hobbies include reading, gardening, and watching movies. Jean is sponsored by Cyndi Barber.

Nancy Harris

Nancy is the Human Resource Manager with F&M Bank. She is originally from Fort Dodge and has resided in Marshalltown for 16 years. Her husband is Jeff, and they have two daughters, Katie who is 13 and Zoe who is 9. She enjoys reading, knitting, and board games with the family. Nancy is sponsored by Ken Walton.

Awards and Installation Banquet

Where: Best Western Regency

When: 5:30pm – Social Hour

6:30pm – Dinner

7:30pm – Program

Year End Awards, Installation of new

board members, etc.

Who: Brian Danielson will emcee and new officers

will be installed by Lt. Governor Ray Helland

Seeking ALL past and present board members, for the Year End board meeting, Wednesday, October 2^nd, Country Kitchen, 6:30am. I know it’s early, but Ken Walton is buying breakfast for all the board member, whether you are an outgoing board member, present board member, or a new incoming board member. All other members are welcomed, but breakfast is on your own. Don’t miss out.

Has everyone looked at their Passport lately? Are you ready to advance to the next level? Have you read "Of Dreams and Deeds" about the history of the Optimist Club? If you have, I don't know about it. I need to report an update to the District at the end of the year, and would be delighted to report an advance of 20 levels. Many of you have already qualified for the first 2-3 levels, and you new members can do this very quickly as well. Please let me know of your progress, so we

can get it recorded. We also get Awards points at the district for each new level achieved. Look at your cards, and let me know where I can help.

Pedal Pull

The Pedal Pull was held Saturday, September 7th. Remember to patronize the following sponsors: Central Business District, KFJB-KXIA Radio, Main Street Antique Mall, Inc, *Act II, *Bath and Kitchen Shop, *Ben Franklin, *Café.com, *Cook’s Nook, *Denny’s Hometown Appliances, Edwin Ray, Hobby Craft shop, La Cruz Mexican Market, *Main Street Quilting – Firehouse Gifts, *Pentz Appliance, *Renner’s Flowers, *Sit ‘N’ Sleep, and Sub City – Sub’s. We increased our advertising from $545 in 2001 to $790 and added in 10 new sponsers*. Way to go Bob!!

New distributions: Community Y seating, $300; Youth Foundation, $300; Anson Elementary Playground, $200.

Salvation Army, $100; M'Town Police, $250 for Safety Camp, June 18; YFU Student from Russia, $100 to attend Pres. Classroom in Washington D.C.; Youth and Shelter Services, $100; After-Prom, $100; People to People Student Ambassador trip, $50 each, to two students.; Quakerdale, $100; Fireworks, $200; Little League, $100; Child Abuse Prevention, $200.

New and Used Optimist Clothing

Former optimist, Ed Sharp, has some Noon Optimist Clothing that he would be willing to sell. He has a Polo shirt, sweatshirt, and a ball cap. I do not know what sizes they might be. Ed indicated that they are in good condition. If anyone is interested, please call Ed at 753-9571.

Bob Wenner has one of each of the Noon Optimist clothing that the club has designed - ie: polo (golf) shirt, sweat shirt (large logo), v-neck sweater, and a tee-shirt (which I had special ordered using the polo shirt design), and an club ball cap (with name on it). Dianne at In Stitches would prefer to take one large order via having members stop in and placing numerous individual orders.

9/14 – Bill Hobson, 9/16 – Vickie Bogner, 9/19 – Dawn Williams, 9/22 – Jim Grimmius, 9/24 – Bill Spencer,

We regret to inform you that following members have moved or resigned, Jeff Moorman and Carolyn Schunter. Bob Christenson has transferred to the Morning club. We will miss all these great Optimists!!

We would like everyone to sign up for at least two committees. Helping the youth is what we are all about. It’s fun and rewarding!! So by signing up for at least two committees, you will all have the opportunity to help the youth in our community. Please review the list of committees and think about which ones you would like to do.

This program is a newcomer to our group and stands for Always Buckle Children in the back seat. It is a community awareness program and will be active at various times throughout the year.

This committee is in charge of arranging to clean up our adopted mile of highway west of town 2-3 times a year.

This committee is chaired by the president-elect and is in charge of arranging and scheduling the lightening of the Christmas trees around the court house.

This committee’s charge is to dole out our community funds to appropriate sources of need. It meets throughout the year as requests accrue or until all monies are utilized.

This committee runs the essay contest with students. Contestants may qualify for the regional and national contests from this initial entry. The contest is traditionally held in December.

This social committee is intended to promote camaraderie among members and their spouses through a common activity or function. The committee decides which functions to offer.

This committee investigates new concepts for fundraising.. The goal is to introduce a new fundraising project every year or two to continue tuning ourselves to the community.

This committee is in charge of this youth golf tournament for the state of Iowa that usually happens in June. Winners qualify to play in a Florida championship tournament telecast on ESPN.

This committee promotes the non-use of drugs by our youth throughout the community. The committee determines the format of that effort.

The current life members decide which club member receives the distinguished life membership, an international club recognized honor. This is awarded to one person a year .

This committee continues to recruit new members and find ways to inspire the bringing of guests. Year long..

Marshalltown Optimist Basketball Invitational is a tournament of 32 teams for each the boys and girls of the region and often reaches beyond our state borders. The committee meets from December through March to organize these well-respected events.

This committee meets in April to determine nominees for upcoming officer elections in our club.

This committee takes on the challenge of establishing a new club in another community around us to help spread Optimism and assist in earning Distinguished Club status.

These people oversee our donations to the foundation and its many various causes. These funds include the pickle jar passed around each week.

This committee usually starts meeting in December. The local contest is usually held in March with teenagers writing and giving speeches about a specified topic. A winner can advance to the zone, regional, and district competitions.

This committee plans a family picnic day with a little bit of Optimist Park maintenance built in and a lot of fun to boot. This picnic will likely be held in May.

We sponsor a local pedal pull in July and the championship in September. The state championship is a one-day pedal tractor pull with the winners of some 60 qualifying pulls from around the state.

This group puts together a scrapbook of the year’s activities as a keepsake for the current president. These books are also judged and awarded by the overall Optimist Club.

These people establish the contacts and subjects for each of our meetings in advance. They meet throughout the year as needed.

This committee keeps the paper informed about our activities of the general club, program content, etc. This keeps our community informed about our presence and activities.

This group honors an individual for their service in law enforcement around May. Promoting the respect for law is one of the primary goals of our club.

This event happens during April or May and includes the familiar Bike Safety. We have added a focus on other wheeled recreation including roller blades and skateboards. This committee not only inspects bikes, but also promotes safety in the use of all of these modes of non-motorized transportation.

In December, this group sees that Santa visits the nursing homes for a splash of Christmas cheer. Santa’s final duty is to host a lunch for the children of our members.

This event, held in April, is the Central-Iowa qualifying event of the Special Olympics for the disabled and challenged. The rewarding event involves hundreds of youth at our local high school gymnasium and track.

Each quarter, our club visits another club to see what they are doing and bring back good ideas and input. This is also an Honor Club requirement.

In early May, this committee has a special lunch for 5^th grad students to recognize their noteworthy achievements by their teachers. Each one is recognized and given an award