Call to order: C.O. Scheffer, Treasurer at 12:05

Invocation: Pat Brown

Pledge: Cyrilla Galbreath

Introduction of Guests  Abby Dodge, a junior with the Missouri School of Journalism  introduced herself and reason for joining the Optimists for lunch. As part of the “Columbia Missourian outreach program, she wanted to be sure we were all aware of some of the features of the paper. The Missourian has a website (www.columbiamissourian.com/) , offers an email newsletter, has news online and is actively involved with social media. The paper is in constant search for both news and the kind of news people want to hear. Anyone interested in the way news is produced can attend a weekly briefing on the ways in which news in created. Contact the School of Journalism for more information on this.

Birthdays and Anniversaries Nothing to announce

Mystery Person  – Steve Winters awarded the gift card to Mary Dewey for all the work she has done on the upcoming Bike Safety event.

Greeter   – John Sapp was today’s greeter. He recounted how happy he was to return to the Optimists luncheons after the close of tax season. The memorable events of his past week: included the graduation of both his grandson Cameron, and his wife’s grandson, Devon who graduated from Chef’s School. He mentioned sorrowfully the death of one of his clients, Charles McCutchens who died in a plane he was piloting near Booneville. On a brighter note, he was happy not to have been a passenger on the plane despite numerous offers from his client to fly with him.

Announcements

• Sign In or Pay the Pig  Carl Scott used the opportunity to pay the pig to make an announcement about the Hero Awards for Volunteerism. Both Mary Dewey and C.O. Scheffer’s wife, Rachael, were nominated. However, the award went to the Cargill Food Farm in California (MO).

 

• 2017-18 Candidate slate– Carl gave the first of three readings for next year’s slate of officers. Second reading is scheduled for May8^th with the third, final reading and vote on May15^th.
•             President:      Ed Musterman

Vice President Mary Dewey

2 year Board   Mike Hatchett

2 year board  (replacing Jim Murphy) Open

C.O. Scheffer and Sid Sullivan will continue on in their appointed positions of treasurer and             secretary.

• Notice of By-laws change vote at the May 15^th meeting. First reading
•             Carl Scott gave the First Reading  of a proposed change in the by-laws to limit a sitting president to a single consecutive one year term .(Current by-laws preclude consecutive   terms as president. The exact wording of this amendment will follow ).

New Member recruitment event – C.O.  Mike Hatchet, Jessica, Travis – May 3^rd at Logboat Brewing from 5:00 to 7:00. Address is 504 Fay St. C.O. reported he anticipates the club will get a new recruit at this meeting.

• Soap Box Derby – Rick, Chuck Planning starts today with meeting with two of the support groups.
• Scholarships – Cyrilla, Carl, Max. All is finalized . Presenters: John Sapp for Battle H.S., Scott Stager for Douglas H.S., Jim Murphy for Hickman H.S. and Ed Musterman for Rock Bridge H.S.
• Food Bank – Larry Fick, Jim Murphy, Carl Scott Still packaging cereals.
• Bike Safety  Saturday May 20^th – 9:00 ‘til noon  Mary Dewey reported additional middle school volunteers have been added to the helpers.
• Art in the Park – Harold Rowe is circulating the sign-up sheet to volunteer. The Art League has the DOC participation on their website.
• Kids First Cedar Creek Trivia contest will silent auction and dinner, May 6^th.  Cost is $30 each and Kids First requests the Downtown Club to send a team of 8.  Dinner is included and Kids First says donations of auction items are welcomed
• Hallsville Optimists’ Cinco de Mayo event in May 5^th, 7 to 11 PM.  A flyer will be attached to the DO Clubs weekly emailed newsletter.  There will be casino games and an auction as well as a taco concession.  Cost is $10/person for bottomless margaritas and beer glasses.
• 99^th Optimist International Meeting will be held in Albuquerque, July 6-8.
• District Meeting  Carl Scott reported the District Oratorical contest was held at this meeting. Ivan Bossert of Ashland-Southern Boone County H.S. took first place and will go on to the International contest.

 

Today’s Speaker

May   1 – Valerie Livingston, Executive Director, The Boys and Girls Club, and her assistant Rebecca

If there were any doubt that poverty is increasing in Columbia, Ms. Livingston dispelled that thought: over 6,000 Columbia Public School students qualify for free or reduced lunches and one local elementary school has 100% of its student on free or reduced cost lunches. She emphasized the impact B&GC having on kids in this community. Boys and Girls Club serves only a small portion of the kids in need. Last year, they served 879 kids, mostly pre-high school at 4 locations and with $150,000 state grant for at-risk kids served over 55,000 meals. The B&GC promotional video focused on kids’ pursuit of happiness.” In partnership with Columbia Public Schools the B&GC 3-7:00 pm weekday sessions brings kids in, feeds them, provides help as needed during an hour long  homework session followed by physical fitness activities. As part of a video presentation single mom, Samantha, gave testimony to the help provided her child while she was working to support her family and attending class to improve her future ability to supporter of her family.

 

Ms. Livingston spoke optimistically about the $2.5 million capital campaign to build a facility to help even more kids. The firewall separating the kitchen facility to the activity rooms is visible from the Business Loop. The steel was delivered this very day. The outer construction begins May 12. Interior construction will take place during the month of August when the club is closed for the month. Upon completion, the building will house a collegiate size basketball court, a volley ball court, a full stage for performing arts, a full culinary kitchen and a recording studio. They are on schedule for a September opening. Despite the bad news she will not be able to use the $200,000 grant from the City of Columbia as matching funds for her capital campaign and a reduced funding from United Way in her operating funding for next year, she expressed confidence she will be able to overcome these obstacles. She has 90 days to raise matching funds for the capital campaign and, as yet, no news on a reason for the reduction of funds from next year’s United Way grant..

 

One of the things that keeps her going is the belief B&GC is making a difference in Columbia. The recent shooting death of two brothers in a drug related killing had an impact on their program. It left four of the participants kids, ages 10 and younger without a father or uncle. The B&GC can provide the needed support for yet another single mother.

 

UPCOMING SPEAKERS

 

May 8 – Dr. Carol Ward, Dept. of Pathology and Anatomical Sciences, UMC

May 15 – MU Swim Coach Greg Rhodenbaugh

May 23 – Member Spotlight,  Nadia Ryakhmyatullov

May 29 – No Meeting, Memorial Day

June 5 – Welcome Home – Shelter & Assistance for homeless veterans and families.

June 12- Ashlee Smith, Director of Development, Ronald McDonald House

June 19 – Natalie Thornton, Site Director, Phoenix Family, Columbia Square & Claudell Homes