The Weekly Bulletin

March 4, 2019

Call to order: President Dewey at 12:03 p.m.

Invocation:  Rick Mckernan

Pledge:  Ron Berg

 

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

None.

 

Birthdays and Anniversaries

None.

 

Mystery Person

President Mary Dewey awarded the mystery person to C.O. Scheffer for his efforts at planning and ordering Downtown Optimist Club (D.O. Club) Christmas Trees for next season.

 

Announcements

• Sign In or Pay the Pig:
  • President Dewey paid $0.25 to the pig to thank Rick Mckernan and other D.O. Club members and volunteers who helped prepare the computers for the computer give-away last week.
  • President Dewey paid $0.25 to the pig for her picture being taken at the parks and recreation banquet in Branson, Missouri.
  • Carl Scott paid $0.25 to the pig to thank members who helped out at the Food Bank last Monday evening.
  • Carl Scott paid $0.25 to the pig to thank Kelly Schilling and Nadia Ryakhmyatullov for their efforts in locating alternate D.O. Club meeting sites for the last meeting of each month.
  • Rick McKernan paid another $0.25 to the pig to recognize the MU Men’s Basketball team for their win this past weekend.

 

• Welcome any new or returning members: None reported.

 

• President Announcements:
  • O. Club Food Bank Volunteering on 2/25/19: Thanks to all members who participated in the Food Bank volunteering last Monday night.
  • Awesome 80’s Trivia Night: President Dewey indicated she attended the “Awesome 80’s Trivia Night” and Chili Cook-off at the American Legion Post 202 on 3/2/19.  Scott Stager also went to the Trivia Night.  It was a great time at the event and there were many chili recipe entries.
  • Basketball: We are sponsoring two Columbia Youth Basketball (CYBA) teams this year. This is the last Saturday of CYBA games for the 1^st and 2^nd grade boys and girls’ team and the 4^th grade boys’ team. The 1^st and 2^nd grade basketball team has two games this Saturday at Beulah Ralph Elementary School. Game times are 11:00 am and 3:00 pm. Our 4^th grade boys’ team only has one game at Gentry Middle School at 9:00 am. Please let’s go out and support our youth basketball teams for the last games of the season.
  • O. Club Board Meeting: We helped fund the Junior Achievement, The Food Bank for Central and Northeast Missouri Buddy Pack Program, and our Columbia Soap Box Derby.
  • Food Bank: President Dewey asked Jim Murphy to summarize Food Bank volunteering last Monday. Jim stated they worked on packing chicken fingers and packing Buddy Packs for seniors.
  • Christmas tree Ordering: President Dewey asked C.O. Scheffer to give an update on Christmas tree planning.
    • O. indicated he has sent out his recommendations for tree type and count to the D.O. Club Board and Jim Murphy. C.O. is ordering more trees this year due to fast sales this past year.  Jim responded that he agrees with C.O.’s recommendations for tree purchasing.
    • O. stated he is ordering the Fraser trees early. He spoke with the tree provider, and there is still a nation-wide shortage of the Fraser trees.  Hence, ordering early is important.  Further, with early ordering by the end of this month there is a 3.5% discount on the Fraser tree costs.  There is a slight increase in cost for the Frasers, but with the discount this should be fine.  C.O. added that he will pay 25% of the Fraser cost now, and the remaining amount is due upon delivery.
    • Other types of trees (e.g., Scotch Pines, Balsams, etc.) will be ordered in May.
  • Homes for Computers – Computer Give-Away at the D.O. Clubhouse: President Dewey asked Rick Mckernan to provide an update on the Homes for Computers event.  Rick thanked members who participated in the computer preparation and give away on 2/22 and 2/23/19 at the D.O. Club house.  Rick stated a Boone County Sheriff’s Department representative presented on internet safety for families who received the computers.  Rick added that several people did not pick up their computers, and these computers are still at the Club house.  Volunteer Action Center has identified some additional recipients to receive these computers.
  • Soap Box Derby: President Dewey asked Rick Mckernan to provide an update on Soap Box Derby planning.   Rick stated the D.O. Club 2019 Mid Missouri Soap Box Derby is Sunday, 6/9/19.  Most of the derby cars are spoken for.
  • Optimist Club Essay Contest: Rick Mckernan stated we have received entries for the local Optimist Club Essay Contest.  Ron Berg was one of the judges for the essays submitted.  Rick also requested and received assistance in judging from other volunteers locally including a bank representative and four individuals who are veterans.  Volunteers greatly enjoyed reviewing the essays.  Celena Schmolzi, a student at Columbia Hickman High School was selected as the local winner of the essay contest.  Schmolzi’s essay will now be submitted to the Eastern Missouri Optimists District Essay Contest.
  • Scholarship: President Dewey asked Carl Scott to give an update on Scholarships.  He stated he would check with Cyrilla Galbreath on updates.  The deadline for turn the information is Monday, March 18, 2019.
  • Dos De Mayo Event: President Dewey asked Steve Winters to give an update on the Dos De Mayo event.  Steve reported it is to be held Thursday, 5/2/19 at the D.O. Club house and provided a summary of meal items.  You can arrive at 5:00 p.m. and meal begins at 6:00 p.m.
  • Douglass Baseball Clinic: Please consider helping with the Douglass Baseball Clinic (Tri Star) at Douglass Park (400 North Providence) on Saturday, 4/13/19 from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
  • Bike Safety Rodeo: The Bike Safety Rodeo at Karis Church (606 Ridgeway Ave) Thursday, 6/6/19 from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. with set up starting at 4:00 p.m.  Tables and chairs will be provided.

 

• Announcements from the floor:
  • Larry Fick stated there is a Knights of Columbus, Council #1529 Fish Fry on 3/8/19 from 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Knights of Columbus Hall, 2525 North Stadium, Columbia, MO. Cost for adults is $12, and cost for children ages 5-10 is $5.  Children under age 5 eat for free.
  • Carl Scott told members there is a tornado awareness day tomorrow. Please keep this in mind how dangerous tornados can be, especially after the recent tornados in Alabama.
  • Carl Scott noted there is a 4-H Club BBQ event on 3/16/19 in Hallsville, MO.

 

 

Today’s Speakers

Today’s speakers are Christina Torbet, Program Coordinator, and Helen Crawford from Heart of Missouri Girls on the Run (GOTR).

Building Confidence, Competence, Connection, Character and Caring in Young Girls.

Ms. Torbet stated the Heart of Missouri GOTR is an independent council associated with Girls on the Run International.  In 2011 there were two sites, and now there are 22 sites serving more than 300 young ladies.

Ms. Crawford stated she has worked with Heart of Missouri GOTR since it was established in the year 2011.

GOTR serves girls from 3^rd grade through 8^th grade.

GOTR mission is to “inspire girls to be joyful, healthy and confident using a fun, experience-based curriculum which creatively integrates running”.

GOTR “envisions a world where every girl knows and activates her limitless potential and is free to boldly pursue her dreams”.

GOTR after school programming occurs over a 10-week period, two days per week, 90 minutes each day.  Volunteer coaches work with teams of 8-20 girls across Columbia and Mid-Missouri.  This is an outcomes-based curriculum written by experts in education with a focus on such areas as building self-esteem.  This all leads to a 5K running event to be held on 5/11/19 at the Columbia, MO Bear Creek Trail. This is a noncompetitive event that teaches girls how to set and achieve goals.

Over 2,000 girls have participated in Heart of Missouri GOTR since 2011.

There are greater than 600 community volunteers involved in GOTR annually.

The cost per participant is about $150.  This cost includes recruiting and training volunteers, background checks for volunteers, materials needed for teams-lesson plans and curriculum, snacks for kids at each lesson, and 5K event costs.

How can you help?

• Donate
  • Time (coaches, 5K Committee, 5K volunteers);
  • Talents – such as becoming a Board member;
  • Treasures – Give to GOTR scholarships, monthly giving.

 

For additional information you can go to the website – www.heartofmissourigirlsontherun.org.  And/or you can contact Christina at Christina.torbet@girlsontherun.org.   Christina’s phone number is 573.246.0884.   Heart of Missouri Girls on the Run office is located at 3512 I-70 Drive SE, Columbia, MO 65201.

 

UPCOMING SPEAKERS

• 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
• 4/15/19 – Kelly Hill from Heart of Missouri , CASA
• 4/22/19 – Tim Haller from Big Muddy National Fish & Wildlife Refuge
• 5/6/19 –  Kim Sringley-Werner from Missouri State Private Lands U.S Fish & Wildlife Service
• 6/3/19 – Julia Dorm and Brittany Abbott from The Food Bank for Central and Northeast Missouri

 

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

Optimistically Yours,

Ron Berg, Secretary