The Weekly Bulletin

December 10, 2018

Call to order: President Dewey at 12:06 p.m.

Invocation:  Red Leighton

Pledge:  Scott Stager

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

Guest today is Haley Mckernan, Rick Mckernan’s granddaughter.

 

Birthdays and Anniversaries

None reported.

 

Mystery Person

C.O. Scheffer awarded the mystery person to Rick Mckernan.  Rick volunteered additional time at the Christmas tree lot last Saturday. He was helping the volunteers out on lot that evening.

 

Greeter

Rick Mckernan stated his son had moved to Hawaii.  His son had participated in the Hawaii Marathon Race and completed it.  It was his first marathon race.

 

Announcements

• Sign In or Pay the Pig:
  • Rick Mckernan paid the pig.
  • Carl Scott paid the pig.
    • Carl indicated he had brought in a card for John Sapp and passed it around for members to sign. He had recently visited John who indicated he is doing well.
    • Carl also mentioned there was an entry in the Columbia Tribune Talk last Saturday from someone who had a positive experience getting a Christmas tree at the D.O. tree lot.
    • He added In the Tribune there is Readers Choice awards. He noted two of D.O. members received top insurance agent awards – Congratulations for first place for Phyllis Nichols and third place for Mike Hatchett.
  • President Announcements:
    • President Dewey stated:
      • Ken Oster, Carl Scott and Mary Dewey went to the Zone Meeting on 12/8/18. There was a person at the meeting who is interested in joining the D.O.  Her name is Laurie Shellehert  is a nurse at MU Orthopedic Insitute.  President Dewey and Carl reminded members of an upcoming Optimist Conference in Kansas City, MO on 2/16/19 and 2/17/19 where all three districts will be represented (East MO, Western, MO and KS);
      • The Sunrise Optimist Supper will be Monday, January 7, 2019 at the Sunrise Optimist Clubhouse the cost is $ 12.00 in advance. Happy Hour from 6 to 7 pm and Dinner starts at 7:00 p.m.
      • Cedar Creek Therapeutic Riding Group will be having its 30^th annual Volunteer, Rider and Donor Appreciation Party this coming Sunday, 12/16/18, for 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. at Murry’s Restaurant in Columbia, MO.

 

• Welcome to any new or returning members:

None reported.

 

• Food Bank:

Larry Fick stated he worked at the Food Bank last week and couldn’t remember what he was bagging that day. But, he does know it wasn’t hotdogs.

                       

• Christmas Trees:
  • President Dewey would like to thank everyone who came out and work this past weekend at the tree lot. We had a great crowd of people who came out to buy their trees, candy, wreaths and supporting our Optimist Club.
  • President Dewey is asking everyone who is able to work at the Christmas tree lot to please sign up to help out. The more members and volunteers we have the less we will have to pay people to work.  We can then save more money and be able to pay for the different youth organizations in Columbia.
  • O. Scheffer stated as of today there are only three Christmas trees left to sell.
  • Jack Cruise noted that tree sales as of this date is at about $89,000.
  • Carl Scott wanted to thanks to D.O. members and other volunteers who helped at the Christmas tree lot.

 

• Koeze Nuts/Restaurant Gift Certificates:
  • Steve Winters indicated he will have the total numbers for Koeze Nuts/Restaurant Gift Certificates sales by next Monday at the Holiday Luncheon. He added Koeze Nuts orders are prepared and members can come pick up their orders.  Gift certificates are available as well.
  • Red Leighton mentioned that we need to find a way to arrange for people to purchase the additional Koeze Nuts that are available for sale. There is about $3,900 in Koeze Nuts still for sale.
    • Group discussion occurred to consider ways to promote/advertise the Koeze Nuts. Carl Scott recommended put this on Facebook, and indicated days the club house will be open for sales.  Rick Mckernan added that perhaps we can make this a news event – trees have been sold and we still have Koeze Nuts for sale.  Steve Winters also added that in the past we have accessed the radio to provide tree sales updates.  O. Scheffer suggested, as a summary, we can place the Koeze Nuts advertisement on Facebook and through the radio.  It was decided to do the aforementioned advertisement and have the club house open 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. for the remaining weekdays this week to have the nuts for sale.  Members can also look to buy Koeze Nuts at the D.O. Christmas Social next Monday during our luncheon.

 

• O. Club Social:

President Dewey stated the Holiday luncheon is at the D.O. Club house on Monday, December 17 with a cost of $­­­­11.00/person.  Hy-Vee will catering the luncheon. Please pay Larry Fick for the luncheon by 12/12/18.  Larry added that as of this date 43 people have committed to attending the Social.  We are having fried chicken, herb-roasted pork loin, white cheddar macaroni, garden salad, apple Waldorf salad, and rolls.  Mary said “There will be drawing for door prizes $1.00 a ticket  and with all the money going  to the Children’s Cancer Fund.

 

Announcements from the floor:

No additional announcements.

 

Today’s Speaker

Jeff Nichols, Director of Safety and Security, provided an overview of Rainbow House.

 

Rainbow House, located in Columbia, Missouri, has a mission to keep children safe and support families in crisis through prevention, assessment, and intervention in child abuse and neglect (website is www.rainbowhousecolumbia.org).

 

Rainbow House program started in 1986 in Columbia, when the founder of the program saw a need for a facility to provide a foster placement for a child with no home and/or experienced abuse and/or neglect.  This facility would provide a safe, supportive environment until the child’s aforementioned issued are resolved.

 

Rainbow House serves Boone County and 11 surrounding counties.

 

Rainbow house offers services such as a Children’s Emergency Shelter and Regional Child Advocacy Center. The Emergency Shelter, open 24 hours a day seven days a week, serves an average of about eight children per day.  There are currently 10 children receiving Shelter services.  The Shelter has 14 beds.  On average, in 2017 a child would stay at the Shelter 18 days.  Overall about 102 children were served in the Shelter in 2017.  The Regional Child Advocacy Center provides a safe, caring environment and services for children who may have experienced abuse.  Services include forensic assessment/interviews, counseling, and medical exams.  In 2017 there were 363 forensic interviews conducted.

 

Rainbow House has 12 staff.  This includes the agency Director, marketing staff, financial staff, staff in Shelter operations, and staff with the Child Advocacy Center.  There are three forensic interviewers and one therapist.  There is a physician who volunteers time for medical exams on site.   Mr. Nichols indicates he has a number of roles and responsibilities at the Rainbow House, such as public relations activities, house maintenance, grant writing and giving presentations in the community.   Rainbow House welcomes and appreciates volunteers.

 

Mr. Nichols thanked the Downtown Optimist Club for all we do for the community.  He indicated about 43% of their budget comes from local support. They also have other funding sources and conduct fund raising events to help support Rainbow House programs and services.  Rainbow House receives donations.  This may also include in-kind donations such as clothing for children.

 

UPCOMING SPEAKERS

Monday, December 17 – Holiday luncheon at the D.O. clubhouse

Monday, December 24 and December 31 – No Meeting

Monday, January 7, 2019 – Tim Haller – Big Muddy, National Fish and Wildlife Refuge

 

Adjourn with the Creed: 12:58 p.m.

Optimistically Yours,

 

Ron Berg,

Secretary