The Weekly Bulletin

February 4, 2019

 

Call to order: President Dewey at 12:07 p.m.

Invocation:  Pat Brown

Pledge:  Steve Winters

 

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

Jerry Sullivan has submitted his application for the D. O. Club membership.

Jim Murphy introduced Gary Uppinghouse, who is interested in joining the D. O. Club.  Welcome Jerry and Gary.

 

Birthdays and Anniversaries

Linda Karl, one of the volunteers/speakers from Be the Change Volunteers program, celebrated her 26th marriage anniversary this past January 23.  Congratulations Linda.

 

Mystery Person

President Mary Dewey awarded the mystery person to Cyrilla Galbreath for all the work she has done with the D.O. Club high school scholarship program.

 

Announcements

• Sign In or Pay the Pig:
  • Carl Scott paid $0.25 to the pig to thank Nadia Ryakhmyatullov and Kelly Schilling for arranging for the Tiger Hotel as a location for D.O. Club weekly meeting last week.
  • Carl Scott paid another $0.25 to the pig in appreciation for D.O. Club sponsoring Columbia Youth Basketball teams. He went to first and second grade games two weeks ago.  He encouraged members to go to the CYBA games.  Carl states we need to continue to support CYBA.
  • President Dewey paid the pig $0.25, stating that her picture is in the current issue of the local Senior Citizen Talker magazine.

 

• Carl Scott stated Loretta Kelly had previously been involved in the Optimist Club. Her husband Tom recently passed away.  As per Loretta – Visitation for Tom will be at the Bopp Chapel, 10610 Manchester Road, Kirkwood, MO on 2/21/19 from 3-7 p.m.  Funeral will be Tuesday morning at 11 a.m. at St. Clements of Rome Church, off Bopp Road north of Manchester.  Burial will be at Jefferson Barracks Cemetery at 12:45 p.m.

 

• President Announcements:
  • Tri-District Optimist (West Missouri, East Missouri and Kansas 2^nd Quarter Conference): On Friday, 2/15/19 and Saturday, 2/16/19 at the Adam’s Mark Hotel (9103 East 39^th Street, Kansas City, MO).  If anyone is interested please let President Dewey know as soon as you can.  Registration deadline is Friday, 2/8/19.  Rick Mckernan is planning on attending.
  • O. Club is sponsoring two CYBA teams this year. We are sponsoring a first and second grade team, coached by Shannon Bahadori and Wendell Coonce; and a fourth grade boys’ team coached by Kevin Pistole.  The first and second grade team is playing Battle Elementary at noon this coming Saturday.  The fourth grade team is playing this Saturday at 10:00 a.m. at Gentry Middle School.  If you have time this Saturday please go out and support our teams.  If you want a copy of the schedules please let President Dewey know and she can get these to you.
  • Midway Optimist Club Pancake Breakfast is on Saturday, 2/9/19 at the Midway Elementary School (8130 US Highway 40 West) from 7:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Cost is $7/adults and $4/kids (K-fifth grade).
  • Kids First Optimist Meeting on 2/5/19 at G and D Pizza Restaurant (Crossroads Shopping Center), Columbia, MO, and beginning at 6:00 p.m. We are invited to participate.  There will be representatives from the Lyceum Theatre coming to the meeting.
  • On 3/2/19 there is an “Awesome 80’s Trivia Night” and Chili Cook-off at the American Legion Post 202. Doors open at 5:45 p.m., with Chili at 6:00 p.m.  Cost is $10 for the Chili Supper.  Trivia contest starts at 7:00 p.m. Cost is $160 per Trivia Team.  Event benefits go to the Cedar Creek Therapeutic Riding Center.  For tickets or registration for the chili contest, please contact Liz O’Connell at tizzieo@hotmail.com (phone 573.303.2077), or Tom Luckenbill at tom@missourilegacy.com (phone 573.808.1615).
  • February is Black History Month. Please join the Columbia Parks and Recreation for its celebration of diversity during this important month.  All are welcome and all events are free.  Contact Jay Bradley at 874-6379 or email Bradley@como.gov for more information about these events.

 

 

• Food Bank:
  • Larry Fick and Jim Murphy. Larry stated they packed chicken this last week.  He indicated they need more help at the Food Bank.  He can arrange for you to come to the Food Bank and volunteer in the evenings as well.
  • Carl Scott added that the Kids for Kids volunteering is at the Food Bank this Saturday.

 

• O. Club Chili Cook-off:
  • Steve Winters reported they had the Chili Cook-off at the D.O. Clubhouse on 1/22/19. Twenty-six people attended.  Rebecca Winters won the chili contest.

 

• Upcoming events:
  • Steve Winters reminded members of the following events:
    • Dos De Mayo – Thursday, 5/2/19 at the D.O. Club house. Social hour 5:00 p.m. to include fresh sopapillas.  Dinner at 6:00 p.m.  $10/adult.  Kids eat free.
      • Raffle for a $25 gift certificate to Las Margaritas Restaurant. $1/ticket, $5/6 tickets – Benefits go to Childhood Cancer research.
    • Summer Games and BBQ – Thursday, 7/11/19.
    • Annual Shrimp Feed – Tuesday, 11/5/19.

 

 

 

 

 

• Boys and Girls Club of Columbia Annual Rootin’ Tootin’ Chili Cook-off:
  • Scott Stager reported on the planning for D.O. Club for the Chili Cook-off is scheduled for 2/15/19 and 2/16/19.
    • O. Club has a double booth reserved. Scott Stager is asking please for more help at the event.  Friday, 2/15/19, volunteers are needed to help with set-ups from 5:00 – 8:00 p.m.  Saturday, 2/16/19 volunteers are needed to help with cooking chili from 8:30-1:00 p.m. and for passing out chili samples and clean up from 1:00 – 7:30 p.m.
    • President Dewey had asked if we can sell Koeze Nuts during this event and give the money collected from these sales to the Boys and Girls Club. It is okay to sell the Koeze nuts at this event.
    • Scott Stager has tickets he can sell anyone interested in attending. He also has posters for the event he can distribute.  He will place one in the window of the D.O. Clubhouse.

 

• Homes for Computers – Computer Give-Away at the D.O. Clubhouse:
  • Rick Mckernan indicated the computer give-away is slated for 2/20-2/23/19. We are looking for members to help with this event. Computers will be coming to the clubhouse on Wednesday, 2/20/19, and Thursday, 2/21/19.  At 4:00 p.m. 2/21/19 we will be putting the computers together. Rick McKernan would like the Board Members who are available to please help with this before our Board meeting at 6:00 pm the evening of 2/21/19. On Saturday, 2/23/19 the computers will be distributed to persons who qualified through the Voluntary Action Center.
• Soap Box Derby:
  • Rick Mckernan stated the D.O. Club 2019 Mid Missouri Soap Box Derby is Sunday, 6/9/19. Con Agra and Columbia Ready Mix are Gold Sponsors.  He added that the four Bronze Sponsors have been determined.  They are still looking for Silver Sponsors.  Rick talked about the Program Advertising.  If anyone is interested in advertising in the program to please contact Rick.  He will go see them to talk about getting an advertisement placed in the program.
• Scholarships:
  • Cyrilla Galbreath stated she has taken the D.O. Club scholarship applications over to the Columbia high schools. She got the names of all the counselors at the schools.  Columbia Hickman has a new counselor.
• Announcements from the floor:
  • No additional announcements.

 

Today’s Speakers

As per the BTCV website, Be The Change Volunteers (BTCV) “is a development aid non-profit with a mission to improve education opportunities worldwide.  This is done through infrastructure, equipping and training for project partners.  We operate primarily in developing-world countries serving remote communities with a demonstrated need for educational facilities.  Our organization is unique because we do not only send funding to these communities,  we go as a team of self-funded volunteers who are willing to work as partners with the local community to provide sustainable solutions.”

 

Debbie Waggoner and Linda Karl are from Be the Change Volunteers here at the local chapter in Columbia, MO. and presenting on BCTV today.

 

Focus is on education.  Why education?  It is a solution to issues around the world.  Building and renovating educational buildings.  It is about working side-by-side to foster change.

 

Be the Change Volunteers – Build – Educate – Change.

 

BTCV was founded by Jimi and Cristi Cook who are in Columbia, Missouri.  There are seven members of the Board of Directors and 15-member Advisory Council.

 

Linda stated there is an extensive application process for communities in various countries to receive supports through BTCV.  BCTV works on about 4-5 builds per year.  Buildings have been constructed in countries such as Puerto Rico, Peru, India, and Uganda.  Since 2007 there have been 46 educational buildings constructed.  Structures are consistent with the building standards of each community where it is located.  It is a coordinated effort between the BTCV and participating agencies.

 

School structures are built in phases.  As per a handout distributed, in 2019, for example, a school was completed in Puerto Rico.  In 2020 and 2021 there are plans to go back and build a playgrounds.  In Peru, there is work to complete a classroom in 2019, and roofing additional classrooms in 2020 and 2021.  These are just examples of multiple building projects occurring or in planning. In Uganda they built a vocational center, for such training as building trades, sewing, tailoring.

 

In building the school in Peru, they had to build it about ¼ mile off the river due to flooding issues.  They also built a walkway so kids and staff can get to the school without having to wade through the river to access it.

 

Volunteers range in age from 16 into 80’s.  BCTV does partner with the Columbia Independent School to send teams to, for example, Peru to assist with building schools.

 

So why is BCTV program here?  There is a need for changers to support the BCTV efforts.  Other reasons include need for more funding for students, more scholarships, continue accountability and sustainability.

 

What can we do?

• Get involved in 2019/20 projects, scholarships, volunteer.
• Raise awareness through BCTV website, Face Book, Newsletter, Presentations.
• Donate time, money, resources.
• Be the Change!

 

There is an excellent video on the BCTV website called “Hand Delivering Hope – Be the Change Volunteers.”  Here is a link to this 9 and 1/2 minute video:  https://youtu.be/QQ5AD5ZXo_U

 

For additional information you can go to the website www.bethechangevolunteers.org.  And/or you can contact Debbie Waggoner, Senior Intern of Change, at debbie@bctv.us.  Debbie’s office number is 573.673.2845.  Linda Karl can be reached at lindakarl1@gmail.com.

 

UPCOMING SPEAKERS

• 2/11/19 – Jessica Taylor from The Central Missouri Foster CARE Adoption Association
• 2/18/19 – Valerie Zumwalt from Show Me Leaders
• 3/4/19 – Christina Torbet from Girls on the Run
• 3/11/19 – Nikki McGruder from Inclusive Impact Institute
• 3/18/19 – Annelle Whitt from CPS MAC Scholars
• 3/25/19 – Steve Smith from Job Point
• 4/1/19 – Aaro Froese from Boy Scouts of America
• 4/8/19 – Susan Shaffer from the Special Olympics
• 4/22/19 – Tim Haller from Big Muddy National Fish & Wildlife Refuge

 

Adjourn with the Creed: 1:04 p.m.

Optimistically Yours,

 

Ron Berg,

Secretary