14 members gathered for breakfast at our usual Liberty location to hear our guest speaker, Bob Nelson (Operations Manager at St. Luke N.E.W. Life Center seen in above photo) recount the formation, history, and direction of this valuable community program. From humble beginnings in 2002 through altruistic nuns (still involved in the effort), this important community asset has, in just this past year, delivered food to 400 families monthly, served approximately 1200 people with visual evaluation and corrective lenses, educated 87 learners in its Literacy Center and helped students earn their GEDs, provided lawn care support for 115 acres of land, maintained a “Hoop House” for gardening and training, and shepherded 52 people through Employment Prep programs (and employ many in skilled work situations). He also told of the recent acquisition and renovation of a building to house their Industrial Sewing program (collaboration with Stormy Kromer), lawn care machinery, and their new “ramp-building” program (to help out 229 homes improve access). A new Bakery is planned for the near future, and housing and transportation are the biggest barriers for the N.E.W. (originally identified with North End Women) Life Center and its domestic violence reduction focus. In addition to welcoming monetary donations, N.E.W. Life takes donations of almost all new and used family discards (clothing “except men’s suits”, toys, linens, small appliances, furniture, etc.)
After the Pledge of Allegiance and “grace” before we ate, the regular “meat” of the meeting was served –
- Jeff Dennings reported on the checks written out to the Flushing Christian Outreach Center Food Bank, Old Newsboys, Sleep in Heavenly Peace, Thomas Smith Foundation, Whaley Children’s Center, and St. Francis Prayer Center from the Club’s money from the Summerfest fundraising.
- Governor-Elect Bill Reaves will be gone next week to Jacksonville, Florida for the Optimist International 108th Annual Convention. (He is free to leave now that his daughter, Robin, has headed west en route to her Hawaiian home.)
- Greg Hilliker updated the group on his wife’s health status and progress.
- Jeff Dennings struggled (because of the “Circle-y words”) to read a “Thank-you” card from Whaley for our recent donation to them and received fines for that and for failure to uphold the “cheerful countenance at all times” clause of the Optimist Creed. Stev Schlott was fined for missing so many fines last week. Mic Goulet was fined for vacating his seat as the speaker was just being introduced. And “King” Matt Strnad was fined for leaving his family lawn maintenance to his wife (of course , the fine was redirected to an “innocent” bystander due to Matt’s crown).
- Bill Reaves, last week’s $1512 “50/50 Progressive Pot” winner , also had the lucky ticket for today BUT…
Not only did he not draw the Queen of Diamonds, he was fined for already planning to be away and failing to sell tickets next week!
My communicative deficiencies of the last few weeks mean that I must now augment this week’s news with some of the highlights from those missing dates:
June 18 (13 present) –
- Jack Proffitt introduced Speaker Lisa Whitcomb, from The Bridge, who spoke about an upcoming event (August 29) which will feature kids’ games, a “fish pond” cornhole, an obstacle course, and backpack distribution for (they hope) at least 200 kids. Gift cards will be given away, food will be available, and this “Block Party” will serve to support the neighborhood children with school supplies and promise of aid from the church.
- Broad and enthusiastic support from many of our Club (even, or especially, those who are not frequent breakfast attendees – Natalie Fox, John Drumm, John McNally and his wife, and more) made the SummerFest event a rich and rewarding community success, with “not one issue” reported as problematic. (See tent photo below.) The local police were also enthusiastic in their applause and support for this venture and even gave good suggestions for next year! The weather, attendance, and money were all reported positively. Final numbers on the monetary receipts will be ready soon.
- Phil Holmblade, identified by some of the Summerfest as “the most Trustworthy” was able to win over the hearts and drink access of the visitors and in recognition of this, he was rewarded by our Club members with donations to his Club “cause” of OIF “Dollar-a-Day” contributions to meet our goals.
- “Stammtisch” at Vic’s Place had 8 members show for the afternoon engagement.
June 11 (18 attendees)-
- Governor-Elect Bill Reaves discussed our Club’s requirements and recognitions for Honor Club status, still within reach for this year, especially since Cindy Sullivan reports that several of her discussions with Summerfest Attendees included membership interest.
- Jeff Gauger reported that the most recent weekend’s “Build Day” for Sleep in Heavenly Peace generated 54 new beds by 1:00 p.m.. (See photo of Jim Reigle below.)
- Tom Yeager was fined for “saying the Pledge from the hallway”.
- Mic Goulet noted his own age by saying that many of the members “were not alive when I was married.”
- Robin Reaves, guest today of her father, Bill, talked about her work with “kids on the spectrum” (of autism or “Neuroatypical”).
