Downtown Optimist Club of Columbia
Zoom/In Person Meeting Newsletter
Monday, January 24, 2022 at the Clubhouse
Members attend in person Vice President, Jerry Sullivan, Rick McKernan, Red Leighton,
John Jones, Pat Brown, Ken Oster, Steve Klein, Jim Murphy, and Mary Dewey
Zoom was Nadia
Prayer- Pat Brown and Pledge – Ken Oster
Birthday/Anniversary: John Jones 1 year anniversary with Simon Bank
The update from the board meeting that was on Thursday, January 20th
The board approved $1500 for Rick McKernan for the Soapbox Derby, which will held on Sunday, June 5th. (I am thinking that is the date for this year) We will be looking for volunteers to help that day to run this event. Rick doesn’t want to hire staff to help.
The board approved $200.00 for the Optimist Day on February 3th. This the day we will wear our Optimist Shirts, cap and anything else we have that show the community we are members of the Downtown Optimist Club. I still have shirts for sell if you need one please let me know. On this day, Rick has planned for all the Optimist President and members to join us at the clubhouse at 3:00 pm for social hour to see what all the other clubs are doing in their club.
The board approved $310.00 for the Oratorical and Essay Contest. $250.00 are the prizes and $60.00 for the medals
The board approved $2,000.00 for new white tables, and cabinets in the kitchen area. We will be waiting on the cabinets to see and get move information on the stove we want to put in. Do we want a commercial one or regular stove?
The board approved 8 high school scholarship than the 6 like we had last year. Now we have 2 for each high school and they are Battle, Douglass, Rock Bridge and Hickman.
Jack Beard made the motion to pay $800.00 a year for internet for the clubhouse. With the internet will not have any problems with the credit card machine during the tree sale? Every time the phone rang this year it knocked out the credit card machine when you are doing a sell. The machine was hook to the phone line. The board approved for us to get internet for the clubhouse.
Jack also let us know that we raise the dues $2.00 more to help pay the cost of OI.
We also have 2 new members who got approved at the meeting. They are Wiston Asberry from Snyders, and Nathan Bradigan. Let’s welcome to the club.
Mary Dewey let everyone know that 2nd quarter conference will be in St. Charles on Friday, February 25 and Saturday, February 26 at the Embassy Suites. There will be a chicken wing contest on Friday night to raise money for the OI Foundation. More detail to come.
Rick McKernan let us know that the Oratorical and Essay contest will be take place by the end of February or first of March. All the Optimist Club in Columbia will be helping with this event. Deb Swanegan has volunteered to help Rick in finding students to take place in these two contest. We know that Father Tolton High has some students in Jennifer Black’s class who will taking part again this year.
Rick McKernan talked about the Bill of Right Geocaching Hunt. This will be about $2 thousand, which will help with the bus to take the kids to Jefferson City to see the Capital, Supreme Court, and the meet the Governor. While they also have lunch in Jefferson City. Right now we have $400.00 from the Boone County Republic Group. He is still working the Boone County Democratic and Libertarian Groups for money to help with some of the cost of this event.
Deb Swanegan and Mary Dewey will be going to the CPS Art Chair soon to talk to them about the elementary school visual art contest. This is a contest for students who are the under the age 11 years old who love to paint and draw. Their theme is “Optimism “
We talked about different place to meet for our meeting on Monday. The board decided last month to have our club meeting at the clubhouse. By doing that we will be saving money that, we can give out to the youth in the community. We had move come over to the Senior Citizen where club members can get a meal that we did Monday at the clubhouse.
Saturday, January 8th started CYBA games. We sponsored 2 teams again this year. When, I get the younger kids basketballs schedule I will share with you all what time our teams play. All the games will be played at the Columbia Parks and Recreation Sports Fieldhouse.
The boys and girls club chili contest will be held on Saturday, March 5 at the Holiday Inn Executive Center. Scott Stager will not be chair for this event this year to COVID-19 and his health. Therefore, we are looking for a new person to take over the chili contest this year if you are inserted please let me or Tony know so we can let you know what you need to do.
Announcements: Kids 1st Optimist Club Trivia Night/ Chili Contest on March 12, and Cosmo Pancake Day this Saturday from 6 to 1pm.
Our speaker didn’t make it in today. Jerry had us talk about our favorite teacher.
Mary Dewey: Pat Fox who was her kindergarten and 2nd grade teacher. She helped me with my reading and writing. Jackie Glenn my 5th grade teacher. She helped me out by getting me to school after I had hip surgery done and helped me with my reading.
Pat Brown: Mersdaies Keller who pushed him hard to do the best he can do each day.
John Jones: Mrs. Moore She also told him how to learn after he was told he had a disable that why he was having a hard time in school.
Ken Oster: His math teacher in College. He had a BS degree in Math.
Rick McKernan: Mary Vargis held his feet to the fire, which pissed him off. Clark Bricken in college.
Red Leighton: Ashton Asserton from high school sports in basketball and baseball. Which helped all the players with their communication discipline. Paul Peterson his college football coach who helped him become a center on the team. He played football, basketball and baseball for 4 years and meet his wife his senior year. They both loved playing basketball together when they met.
Steve Klein: Ralph Winston at Washington University Accounting Art Carlson. He started accounting in Hawaii.
Jerry Sullivan: Melvin Dale Privet who was his Principal and his bus driver.
Closed with the Optimist, Creed by Mary Dewey
Meeting end at 12:45 pm
Jerry Sullivan – Vice President
Downtown Optimist Club 