The Weekly Bulletin

November 12, 2018

Call to order: President Dewey at 12:08 p.m.

Invocation:  Pat Brown

Pledge:  Scott Stager

Introduction of Guests and New and Old Members (who have been gone):

• Victoria Van Order attended the meeting as a guest. She had been a member of the Optimist Club in her community about 25 years ago.  She has not been a member for over 20 years.  She is interested in joining the Downtown Optimist Club.  Van Order moved to Columbia about 2 months ago.

 

Birthdays and Anniversaries

Steve Winters has a birthday on 11/16/18.

 

Greeter

Larry Fick is today’s greeter.  He reported having an exceptional week, traveling to Lincoln, NE to visit his daughter and her family.  He stated his newest granddaughter is two months old.

 

Mystery Person

President Dewey recognized Chuck Boots for his help with the Soap Box Derby and Christmas tree planning assistance.

 

Announcements

• Sign In or Pay the Pig.
  • Carl Scott paid the pig to recognize Jim Murphy for all the work he is doing with the Christmas tree planning.
  • Chuck Boots also paid the pig.
• President Dewey extended her thanks to all the members and other volunteers who helped on Saturday, November 10 with unloading Christmas trees from the trucks. Thanks also to C.O. Scheffer and Chuck Boots for grilling hamburgers and bratwursts; to Steve Winters for arranging to have the MU Baseball team assist with unloading trees; and Jim Murphy for leading the Christmas tree arrangements in the Clubhouse yard. President Dewey also wanted to thank everyone who helped this morning to unload another truckload of trees and tagging trees.
• Food Bank – Larry Fick and Jim Murphy worked at the Food Bank this week.
• Christmas Trees:
  • President Dewey is asking everyone who is able to work at the Christmas tree lot to please sign up to help out.
  • Jim Murphy stated the MU Baseball team did a great job unloading Christmas trees and assisting with tree drilling. The 8-9 foot and 9-10 foot Fraser trees are unloaded and drilled to date.
  • O. Scheffer stated the Sign-up Genius calendar is available on line for persons to sign-up to volunteer with Christmas tree sales. He also brought in a hard copy of the calendar sign-up today to the meeting.  C.O. stated we need lots of help that first weekend of tree sales.  There will be tree sales cashier training this Thursday, 11/15/18 at 5:15 p.m. at the DO Clubhouse.
• Koeze Nuts/Restaurant Gift Certificates:
  • Steve Winters stated a truck with Koeze Nuts with 1-2 pallets of orders will be arriving at the DO Clubhouse this coming Thursday, 11/15/18, at noon. Filling the orders will occur from Thursday through Sunday.  Anyone wishing to help out is welcome.
• President Dewey stated there will be a DO Board meeting this Thursday, 11/15/18, at the DO Clubhouse beginning at 6:00 p.m.
• President Dewey stated there will be a Zone meeting and Holiday Party 12/1/18 at the Sunrise Optimist Club here in Columbia. Cost is $15/person. She will send the time for this event to members soon.  Time is from 5:45 to 9:00 pm
• President Dewey stated the 2018 DO Christmas Party will be on 12/17/18 at noon. It will occur at the DO clubhouse.  Hy-Vee will do the catering. She is meeting with Hy-Vee this week to plan the menu.   ( Will let you all know Monday the cost)
• Announcements from the floor.
  • Carl Scott stated Food Bank food drives on 11/20/18 and 12/5/18.

 

 

Today’s Speaker

Mike Flanagan – Columbia Youth Wrestling Club

Mike stated he has been a coach with the club for 28 years.  The club is sponsored through USA Wrestling, and has no affiliation with any of the local schools.  The program serves kids in 8^th grade and earlier grade level, and runs from the middle of November until the end of March each year.  Last year the program served about 105 participants.  This year the number of kids in the program is about the same amount. Kids representing about every school in Columbia, and other areas such as Hallsville, Fulton, etc. are represented.

 

Mike thanked DO for being an annual sponsor for the Wrestling program, with the latest donation of $750.  These funds help with such expenses as equipment and uniforms for the wrestlers.

 

Columbia Youth Wrestling prides itself on making this an affordable sports options for kids.  It is less expensive than any other sports program out there.  Total cost per child in the program is about $125.  This does not include the cost of tournament entry fees (about $12-$15 on average per tournament per participant).  Kids in the Wrestling club have opportunities to participate in about 10 tournaments a year, and these are all near Columbia.  Mike stated they offer scholarships to any child/family that asks to be considered for one.

 

The goal of the program is to encourage kids to develop a passion for the sport of wrestling and to continue wrestling at the high school level.

 

Mike stated the kids practice at the MU Hearnes Center.  The program has a great working relationship with the MU wrestling coach.

 

The wrestling program has volunteers who help out with administrative functions (5-6 persons) and coaching (about 15 coaches who assist in coaching duties).

 

 

 

 

 

UPCOMING SPEAKERS

Monday, November 19 – John Korte – Medal 4 Mettle

Monday, November 29 – No Speaker Right now

Monday, December 3 – Dan Nunez-Requeiro – FACE of Boone County

Monday, December 10 – Jeff Nichols – Rainbow House

Monday, December 17 – Holiday Party Luncheon at the Club House

Monday, December 24 and 31- NO MEETING (Happy Holiday to All)

 

 

 

 

 

Adjourn with the Creed: 12:50 p.m.

Optimistically Yours,

 

Ron Berg,

Secretary