Marshalltown Noon Optimist Newsletter

We’re off to a good start this year. At the Awards and Installation Banquet, I said that I wanted to emphasize enthusiasm and involvement this year. I’m pleased to say that I’m seeing more of both. Our committee signup’s are complete and the committees are starting to act (with enthusiasm).

The Program Committee, in particular, hit the ground running and has provided us with some great programs at the Thursday meetings.

The Christmas Tree Lighting Committee, headed by President-elect Pete Peterson, has the Courthouse Square ready to light for the Holiday Stroll. This fundraiser will bring in more than $7,000 this year for youth projects. Pete will need some volunteers to make sure the lights are looking good each evening and to turn them on for the weekends and upcoming holidays.

The Just Say No Committee got red drug prevention bookmarks to the Marshalltown schools for Red Ribbon Week in coordination with the Morning and Evening Optimist Clubs.

The MOBI Committee addressed envelopes and sent event information and signups out to over a hundred teams. The signups are already coming back.

Although we haven’t had a formal membership recruitment program yet this year, we have added two new members and have another three about ready to join. The newest members are Vicki Bogner and Jami Smoldt. Jami has her application in and we’re expecting applications shortly from Aimee Cline and Jim Weires. Aimee actually has a potential member she’s bringing to the next meeting.

Schedule of Events

Board Meeting

Dec 4 – Wed, Noon, DIB’s

Programs

Nov 21 – Bev Hinshaw, Dinosaurs Dig

Nov 26 – TUESDAY NOON, Rev. Rich King, Thanksgiving

Nov 28 – NO NOON OPTIMIST MEETING (see above)

Dec 5 – Missy Sharer, MHS Girls Basketball

Dec 19 – St. Mary’s kids chorus

Other Events

Projects

Nov.22 – Holiday Stroll – Food Stand, 5:15 - 8:30, Gildners

See Carlton Peterson – if you can help

District Schedule

Feb 8 – 2^nd Qtr meeting, Des Moines

May 17 – 3^rd Qtr meeting, Des Moines

Awards and Installation Photos

Do you have pictures from the Awards and Installation Banquet? If you do, please get copies to Rachel Iverson. She’s ready and eager to get going on the President’s Scrapbook. She’ll take photos from other events, too. Just remember Rachel’s Rules. Put the name of the event, the date, and the names of the people in the picture on the back.

Win Ken’s Money

President Ken is continuing the $8 weekly drawing he started during Mary’s year because it has increased attendance of members and guests and helped to bring in several new members. In case you’ve missed the rules, you need to:

Bring a guest or an Optimist that didn’t make it to a noon meeting in the previous month. Fill out an entry slip at the meeting. Winners of Ken’s Money have been Cyndi Barber (twice), Patty Lase (twice), Maureen Devine, Larry Park, Pete Peterson, Ken Walton, and Dawn Williams.

Paul Beals, Chris Brodin, Mark Byer, Carrie Dunn, Steve Kloberdanz, Mary Reimers, Craig Lindholm, Ken McClenathan, Gail Miller, Tim Mills, Jon Pierce, Val Ruff, Terry Schillinger, Julie Schreve, Eugene Taylor, Dan Terrones, Jann Thompson, Tracy Troutner, Heather Van Pelt, Jill Voights and Bev Worden

Optimist Reporter Needed

Our club hasn’t had regular reports of meetings and activities in the T-R since our last reporter, Val Ruff; took a job in Ames.

The report to the T-R can be sent by FAX, email, regular mail, or hand delivered. Contact Ken if you’re interested. Our club needs and deserves the publicity.

How to Purchase New Optimist Clothing

Bob Wenner is taking orders for New Optimist Clothing. If you would like a polo (golf) shirt, sweat shirt (large logo), V-neck sweater, a tee shirt, or a club ball cap (with name on it), please see Bob Wenner.

New Members needed!

We recently have lost a few members as people's situations change. The fix for this problem is actually an easy one. Throw more people at it! We need some new members, since we typically lose about 15% of our membership each year.

There has been some confusion in what fees are used for. Hopefully this description will assist everyone.

As an initiation fee, the new member pays $30. Half of this goes directly to Optimist International to establish a new mail account among other expenses. The club uses the rest to establish an account to pay for meals each month while waiting to bill for meals at the end of each quarter.

The initiation fee is separate from the quarterly dues that are charged on the first day of each quarter from both the International Club and the District. The club sends a bill at the beginning of the quarter to cover these expenses. That is why the bills always say that these expenses have already been paid on your behalf.

If there are ever any questions about bills or the process, please feel free to ask them over the phone or at a meeting. I always say that there no stupid questions, just stupid answers! I endeavor to be as open as possible about the club's finances.

In case you don't realize it, the accounting for our club keeps all monies completely separate. One account is used exclusively for fund-raising & community service. The other is used for only the club functions for meals, dues, awards, etc. This policy boils down to the statement that "100% of all funds raised are put back into our community for the service to our youth". This knowledge is crucial as each and every one of you sell the benefits of Optimist involvement in our

The Essay Contest is for sophomores-juniors-seniors in high school. The title of the 400-500 word essay is “When Our Freedom is Threatened”. The Club entry must be received by February 28, 2003. The District winner will receive a $650 college scholarship. The winning entry will be submitted to International Competition with a chance to win a $ 5,000, $3,000 or $ 2,000 college scholarship. Work with your high school, church group, FFA group, or Home School Advisor.

The Oratorical Contest is for youth that have not yet reached the age of 16 by January 1, 2003. The 4 to 5 minutes speech will have the topic of “United We Stand in Optimism”. Work with the Middle School or the Home Schooling Advisor to get the program in your school. The District Winner for the boy’s and girl’s contests will each receive a $1,500 college scholarship. The Club Contest is to be completed around April 1. The Zone Contest around April 15, and the Regional Contest around May 1. The Iowa District Finals will be held at the Third Quarter Board Meeting on May 17 in Des Moines.