Downtown Optimist Club of Columbia
In Person Meeting
Monday, February 13th, 2023 at the Clubhouse
Meeting began at 12:00 pm
Prayer: Mary Dewey
Pledge of Allegiance: Carl Scott
Members in attendance: Rick McKernan, Deb Swanegan, President Jerry Sullivan, Tony Pariso Kelly Schilling/Loki , Carl Scott, C.O. Scheffer, Nadia Ryakmyatullov, Ed Musterman, Larry Fick, Mary Dewey, Steve Klein, Wesley Parks, and Ken Oster
Recognize new members and members who are back foe the first time in a while: Welcome back Wesley Parks
Special Guests: Kelly Schilling friend Tyler Miller and daughter Regan, Taylor Derritt the HR Recruitment Consultant for Mizzou guest of Rick McKernan and is De’Vion Moore the Asst. Supt. Elementary Education from the Columbia Public School.
Birthdays/Anniversaries: Bonnie Yantzi club anniversary was February 2, 2018 Regan Miller the daughter of Tyler Miller birthday was February 7th
Thank you to: Mary Dewey for note taking, Tony Pariso for helping with the set up and Ed Musterman for ordering and picking up the lunches.
Pay the pig? Mary Dewey paid a $.25 for the remark about KU, and Chiefs winning the Super Bowl, Deb Swanegan paid a $.25 for a KU remark too, Carl Scott paid $.50 for the Mizzou win over Tennessee and Kansas Chief Super Bowl win, Jerry Sullivn also paid $.50 for Mizzou win over Tennesse and Kansas City Chief Super Bowl win, and Nadia Ryakmyatullov.
Don’t forget to enter your name for the new board approved $50 drawing to be done on April 12th. Enter your name once for each time you invite a new person to a club activity. Entry forms are on the table by Jerry.
Minutes” (Ask for any corrections – Approved as presented)
Treasurer’s Report: No new report. Jerry has copy of the most recent full treasurer’s report here for anyone who wants to review it.
Old Business:
Meeting info – All meetings until Derby time will be at the clubhouse. The February 20th meeting will be here at the clubhouse at 12:00 pm. Fried Chicken or Salisbury Streak from the Senior Citizen Center is available for order through Ed Musterman. Speaker is Morgan Dennehy, District Manager, Junior Achievement
Chili Cook-off –Greg Schneider. Date is Saturday, February 25, 2023 at the Holiday Inn Executive Center. The chili cook off will benefits the Boys and Girls Club of Columbia. MO. Greg attended the orientation meeting. If you’d like to make a personal donation to this event. Jerry would be glad to take your money and give the money to Greg to add to our “Big Bowl.” We have two booths reserved and need help for setting up and working the second booth- Derby and Club information will be at that booth. Besides the prizes for the best chili, there is also prizes for best costumes, best booth decorations and most money raised in the “Big Bowl.”
Second Quarter Conference – Mary – Hilton St Louis Airport – Feb 24&25 – I have registration forms. Early registration deadline Feb 2 has passed. At the Conference they will be collecting diapers and bathroom toilets for the Forces for the Food, The Palazola Foundation Veteran’s Food Pantry. Looking for item for Silent Auction and please sign up for Dime A Day.
Committees: Kelly is now the Adopt a spot chairman. We have really good location. We just need a planting plan and workers. This activity costs the club nothing but time. Plants and mulch are provided If you want to help, let Kelly know. She plans a clean up for the spot sometime in April. Mary Dewey and Deb Swanegan will be helping her with this Adopt Spot clean up.
Welcome Committee: Kelly is also going to welcome new members and make sure they get the information he/she needs as well as follow up contact to keep them apprised of up coming activities. She will also insure that they get a club shirt or hat.
Scholarship Committee: Nadia- Deadline is march 17th Will reach out to CPS schools this week to remind them about the upcoming deadline. Has the readers she needs- could still use some help to present the scholarship at the school assemblies. Kelly, Deb and Carl volunteered to help with the reading and Kelly volunteered to present to winner their scholarship.
Board Meeting Report: Next Board meeting will be February 16th at the clubhouse at 6:00 pm. Topics will include will include 2023 Golf Classic funding, should we have 501c3? By Law changes from OI: Plans for Spring activities; Blitz Build; Everyone is welcome to attend.
Derby information: Rick – Zoom meeting for participants February 7th
There are 35 participants signed up out of 50 cars. The cars will take over the club house starting from May 9th until Derby Day in June.
Nominating Committee info: Ed Board is set Officers: President, 1st Vice President are set still looking for 2nd Vice President, Treasurer and Secretary.
Car Show info: Mike R- nothing new
Youth event – Bill of Right and Jefferson City Trip – Rick – date and help needed will be moved until the Fall
Essay Contest – Rick-deadline February 24th. Topic is “Who is an everyday hero who brings out the best in you?” He needs readers. Winner must be sent to District by February 28th
Oratorical Contest- Rick- deadline to register by March 15th – Contest is Sunday, March 19th at the Downtown Optimist Clubhouse. Viewers are Welcome to come topic is “Discovering the Optimism in me.” Will start at 2:00 pm
Board President’s Meeting: Jerry talked about that we should we have a 501c3, should we do background checks on new members, recheck by laws to be sure they include OI changes. Upcoming activities for other clubs: Hallsville is having a Cinco de Mayo taco bar and band on May 5th at their clubhouse, Midway- Cinderella’s Closet in March 3-5, Kids 1st will be having a Ham and Bean Dinner with Trivia on April 1st at the American Legion which will benefit Cedar Creek Therapy Riding Club, Chili Cook Off on February 25 to benefit Ronald McDonald House.
Bike Safety– May 20 at Karis Church from 9:30 to 11:30. Mary will be asking for volunteer to help with this event.
Membership: The Board is considering an activity for this spring that combines a social activity with a friendly competition and a cheap lunch. The set up would be something like this: Three competitions – ax throwing, corn hole and horseshoes or any other events we can come up with. A hot dog/hamburger lunch with chips and a drink. Cost will be $10.00 entry fee covers meal and entry of all 3 contest. $50 prizes for each contest winner. Free entry for guests of members who are prospective members. This is still in the early planning stage. Would be interested in members’ ideas and thoughts. If we decide to try this we will pick a date and outline help needed at the next Board meeting.
New Business
Publicity – Ed – We meant with Sydeny Bearden from the U of MO School of Journalism. She gathered information about the club to begin the process of helping us design a marketing plan a improve our publicity and increase membership.
Service Clubs Meeting: Rick Celebrate Community Group- Service club leaders to meet at the clubhouse on February 9th at 7:00 pm to discuss a group project for this year. Like a Habitat Project. Tentative plan for a joint project for Columbia services clubs is helping Habitat for Humanity with a “Blitz Build” of four houses in 10 days, September 18-19. Ashley Switzer from Habitat will be our Speaker on February 27th to talk about Habitat and the “Blitz Build.” We also discussed developing a common web page and community calendar. Next meeting of this group will be on May 3th at 7:00 pm
Upcoming activities from other clubs in Zone 2: Hallsville , Cinco de Mayo will be on Saturday, May 5th (Taco bar and band), Midway will be having a Cinderella’s Closet on March 3, 4 and 5th, and Kids 1st Optimist Club will be having Ham and Beans with Trivia night on Saturday, April 1st at the American Legion for Cedar Ridge Therapy Riding Club. Mary will have 2 tables for Trivia and looking for team members.
Carl Scott is hosting a Basketball Pool for the 32-team bracket for only a $1.00. All the money will go toward Children Hood Cancer.
Speaker for the Day: De’Voin Moore, Asst. Supt. Elementary Education of the Columbia Public Schools. See Attachment about his presentation.
Optimist Creed was recited and meeting adjourned at 1:00 pm by Larry Fick
Jerry Sullivan, President
573-701-4122
jsulliva@mineralarea.edu
Downtown Optimist Club 