August 2017 Optimizer
The Optimizer August 2017
Menomonee Falls Optimist Club
—- August Meeting schedule —-
All meetings are at 7:15 am at the Community Center except as noted.
- August 2: Club Picnic, 3:00 pm @ Shepherd’s Waters, N104 W21677 Willow Creek Rd in Germantown
- August 9: To be announced
- August 16: MFHS Football Dan Lutz and players
- August 23: Rabbit out of a Hat
- August 29: MFHS / NMS sports team or activity
—- Message from the President —-
Presidents Thoughts for August 2017
Our Club as a group has made a real difference through the many ways we have helped the youth in our community.
“One man can make a difference and every man should try.” ~ Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis
We should always be thinking of new and additional ways to serve our youth who are in need of us more than ever. To aid us in providing help to our youth and community we also must take care of ourselves by expanding our knowledge, leadership, and support networks. Our Club’s Program Committee has been providing our members some exciting, informative, and entertaining programs at our Club meetings. Should you have missed some meetings, you have short-changed yourself on some excellent growth opportunities.
The knowledge shared by any of the outstanding presenters can provide you with great resources as you are helping the youth of the community.
To ensure that our Club will survive into the future, we need to be open to try new things. We all need to work at adding new members every year. As new members join our Club, they will bring new ideas and new energy.
Your challenge should be to find and recruit your successor. As you do this, you will help ensure our Club’s ability to serve our youth into the future.
All the Best to You,
Don Gorzek
Optimist Club of Menomonee Falls President 2016-17
—- Upcoming Events —-
- Sat. Aug. 5: Distinguished Young Women Wisconsin State Program
- Mon. Sept. 11: Packer tailgate at Village Bowl
- Mon. Sept. 25: Installation Banquet
Liquor, Tickets needed for Packer Raffle Tailgate
Somewhere out there is a member who could help our Packer Raffle continue its long-standing position as our #1 fundraiser, netting nearly $22,000 last year.
What we need specifically is a couple of donated Packer game tickets and somebody to sponsor our liquor basket in our in-house raffle.
For the past two years, Ted Klumb had generously donated some Packer tickets, and last year we raised $750 for the cause by selling raffle chances at the Tailgate Party in September. He will be unable to do so this year, so we are looking for someone or company to step up and help out. Anyone know of a source?
The liquor basket was originally given by Don Galle and Kindy Optical, and with his passing, Donna Bosch stepped up last year and donated some of her private stash. Is there someone or company out there that could fill that need this year? A donation of $100 could do it, as I could augment the basket with some of those bottles that I purchase each year as door prizes for the event.
Call me at 262-538-4024 (H) or 262-617-4024 (C) if you can help.
Ed Schlumpf
Packer Raffle
Team rosters and flyer were sent on July 24. They are also attached to the email with this newsletter in case you missed them. This is our big fundraiser, so give it your best. Last year’s event netted a record $21,659.16 to be used for the youth of our community.
Football Crazr
It’s time to take the selling of the Football Crazr tickets into high gear. Remember you have until August 14th to sell all your tickets. Bring the money and correctly filled out stubs to our meeting or contact Jan Barbera or Larry Hebbring.
Larry Hebbring
Distinguished Young Women
Priyanka Ramanathan, Distinguished Young Woman of Menomonee Falls for 2018, will represent Menomonee Falls at the Wisconsin State Program on Saturday, August 5, 2017. Priyanka is the daughter of Abirami and Subbu Ramanathan of Menomonee Falls and attends Brookfield East High School. She will perform a classical form of Indian dance known as Bharatanatyam for her talent.
Tickets for the 60th Distinguished Young Women of Wisconsin showcase which will be held at the South Milwaukee Performing Art Center at 2 pm are currently on sale. The box office is open Monday-Thursday from 10 am – 4 pm. Closed Fridays. Tickets are for general admission. Doors will open at 1 pm on August 5th with show time at 2 pm. Presale prices are $22 for adults and $5 for students 18 and under. 4-years-old and under are free. Tickets at the door are $27 for adults and $15 for students 18 and under.
Distinguished Young Women of Menomonee Falls for 2019 is scheduled for Saturday, March 10, 2018.
Cathy Sharkey
Theater Tickets
Attention all Optimists! The email for this newsletter included another attachment which is a flyer naming all of the Broadway shows that will be at the Marcus Center for the Performing Arts this coming season. Optimists get a great deal through John Barnes, an Optimist member. Reservations are open to friends and family. Sign up today and don’t miss some great entertainment.
JJ Selland and John Barnes
—- Executive Board —-
Board Meeting Minutes
Board Briefings – July 18 2017
President Don Gorzek led the Board meeting on Tuesday, July 18, 2017.
Guests attending were Jim Foster, Kathryn Hoff, Barb Schmit, Kim Wenzel
Meeting synopsis is as follows:
Donation requests: none to report
Treasurer’s report:
- Jim Foster and Larry Podolske reported – all accounts reconciled to 6/30/17
Committee Reports and Budgets:
- OI Junior Golf- Todd Paulus is finalizing with SWIS district contact
Unfinished Business / Informational Items:
- Magic Show: A letter to cease is being sent certified mail to fundraising group; schools will be contacted to not book auditorium; an article will be submitted to local news media stating magic show will not continue
- MFHS stadium upgrade: Per Athletic Director Ryan Anderson, the project is anticipated to be complete in 2018; the pledge from the Optimist Club will remain
- Future of Evening Meetings: a simple survey will go to all members about night meetings; results will be compiled and presented at the August Executive Board meeting.
New Business:
- New Members: Shannon Dederich, sponsored by Jeanine Dederich; Elizabeth Streubel, sponsored by Don Gorzek
- Heitman family fundraiser: Sunday July 30 popcorn sale proceeds will go to the family, as approved at June Executive Board meeting
- Parade committee: Many thanks to the parade committee for their hard work for another great July 3rd parade; the committee will have a follow up meeting with a few Board members attending
- Leadership Menomonee Falls: Kim Wenzel presented her request and was approved to participate in Leadership Menomonee Falls for the 2017-2018 program year, sponsored by the Optimist Club.
The Board meets the third Tuesday of every month at 7:00 a.m.
Members include:
- Don Gorzek, President
- Lynette Shepherd, 1st Vice President
- Jeanine Dederich, 2nd Vice President
- Larry Podolske, Treasurer
- Ted Klumb, Past President
- Dan Schwind, Past Presidents Council
- Board Members: Sue Carney, Tom Dueppen, Len Kimmel, Chris O’Reilly, Todd Paulus, Rose Schwartz
Jeanine Dederich
—- This Month in Club History —
August 5, 1981 (36 years ago) – A last minute withdrawal by defending champ Ross Pleiger allows John Stacy and Ron Bretl to tie for medalist honors with a score of 44 in the 4th Annual Golf Outing. Walt Wyczawski wins the white bowling ball with a 75. After hitting five balls in the water on the first four holes, Walt borrows a ball and keeps track of it the rest of the way. However, he cannot keep track of the bowling ball at Etzel’s afterward where dinner, liar’s dice and general merriment prevail. The bowling ball was never seen again.
(40 Year History Program – Ed Schlumpf)
—- Past Events —-
Scholarship recipients
Photo by Don Gorzek
The Optimist Scholarship recipients were honored at the May 31 meeting.
Row 1 L to R: Carli Carini, Madison Grzesiak, Allison Schultz, Katelyn Macholl, Lauren Baumhardt Row 2 L to R: Cathy Hazzard (scholarship chair), Marissa Igunbar, Signe Mattson, David Koier, Andrew DeLuka, Hailey Richards, Barb Schmit (co-chair)
Parade – Thank You to Volunteers
The July 3rd parade was a huge success once again. I want to thank each and every volunteer who helped at any level. It is always hard to get so many volunteers to give of their free time on a holiday. But once again, club members stepped up and brought their spouses, friends, family members and others with them to volunteer. Thanks to all!
If anyone has suggestions for improving the parade, the committee would love to hear them. Please send me an email and I will bring them up for discussion at the parade wrap up meeting.
I think another big thank you should go to Mother Nature. We could not have asked for better weather that night.
Thanks again to all the great volunteers!
Ann Freudenthal annfreudenthal@gmail.com
Meteorologist
Our Guest Program Speaker on July 19, 2017 was Tim Halbach, Warning Coordination Meteorologist for the National Weather Service in Sullivan, WI.
Frauds and Scams
At our July 26, 2017 Club meeting, Heather Stoskoph, presented a program on methods to “S.T.O.P” senior frauds and scams. Her program described method to help seniors recognize and respond to frauds and scams, take action, and S.T.O.P. Stoskoph, represents ERAs Senior Network (engaging generations, supporting seniors).
—- Thank You Notes —-
The club received thank you notes from the following:
- St. Mary Christian Formation – Youth Mission Trip to Dulce, NM, $2,700.
- John Taylor Park Memorial improvements on behalf of the Menomonee Falls Police Department, $1,250.
- Menomonee Falls HS FBLA, $2,500, to cover part of the costs for members to compete at nations held in Anaheim California.
- Menomonee Falls Food Pantry sent a thank you note for our Club’s July cash donation of $123.
- Katelyn Macholl sent a thank you note for the scholarship money she received from the Club.
—- Chili Supper Donor – Schmit Farm Produce —
This is a little shout out for Schmit Farm Produce. Buddy Schmit is a local farmer who has stands around the area. There’s one on County Line Rd, just east of Fleet Farm in the parking lot of A Cut Ahead Salon. Buddy is a supporter of the Optimist Club. Every year he donates produce to be used to make the chili for our Chili Dinner. If you’re in the area stop and think about buying something for dinner.
Kirsten Sperl
—- Next Newsletter Deadline —-
Articles for the September newsletter are due August 29. Please email your articles to Jerry Mislang. jerry.mislang@prodigy.net Page 7