August 2021 Optimizer

The Optimizer | August 2021 | Menomonee Falls Optimist Club

 

— In this issue —

Weekly Meeting Schedule

President’s Message

Upcoming Activities and Events

Calendar

Optimists at Village Beer Garden

Football Crazr Raffle

Distinguished Young Woman of Wisconsin

Optimist Club Picnic

Dave Petroff Memorial Celebration

Packer Raffle

Past Events

Optimists at Lavender Fest and Boom Fest

Optimist Meetings

Menomonee Falls Police Department

MFHS Military Wall of Honor

Membership and Executive Board Info

2021-22 Optimist Club Dues

Event Documentation: We Need Captains’ Help!

July Board Minutes

OI Foundation Dime-a-Day

Correction

Thank You Notes

This Month in Club History

How to Publish Optimist News

Waukesha County FCAST

 

— Weekly Meeting Schedule —

Meetings are held at 7:15 a.m. at the Community Center unless otherwise noted.

WEDNESDAY AUGUST 4
Club member and author Dr. Carolyn Anderson will be our guest speaker.  The topic of her talk is “Your Mind Matters”, (subheading) ‘Did you know that there’s a connection between Mind, Brain, Optimism and one’s wellbeing?’ This has all the earmarks of a very interesting meeting.

WEDNESDAY AUGUST 11
We’re pleased to welcome back former Distinguished Young Woman winner Kailee Dohertyto talk about her exciting experiences and opportunities at Belmont University.

WEDNESDAY AUGUST 18
This meeting will be devoted to discussion, funding and voting for the Optimist Village Park. Great time to get all your questions asked….AND ANSWERED!!! Club members have to be in attendance in order to have their vote.

WEDNESDAY AUGUST 25
Optimist Club Picnic! See article below for details.

~Jerry Mislang

— President’s Message —

The weather has been hot just like the popcorn wagon. It appears we are on track for a record year. Thanks to all who have volunteered to help.

As an additional note the Farmers Market is open from 2:00-6:00pm every Wednesday and our wagon from 6:00-9:00pm. The market is run by the Greater Menomonee Falls Foundation (a friend of our Optimist club). There is a vendor at the market that sells popcorn and Kettle corn. Let me say that is not a problem. We work together and if the vendor sells some kettle corn after 6:00pm, it is no big deal. The wagon is doing great. Both organizations are doing outstanding work.

On August 18th Don Eisenhauer will present financial figures on the “Optimist Village Park.” The members will vote afterwards on a proposed donation.

August 25th the Club picnic will be held at the Shepherd’s Waters. More info to follow. Many thanks to Dan & Lynette.

Football Crazr is wrapping up and I would like to thank Larry Hebbring for running it again.

The Packer Raffle has also started, so please sell your tickets! We do plan on selling all 350 of them. See Ed Schlumpf or Dan Schwind for any information.

Please read the rest of this newsletter for more interesting information going on with your club.

~ Yours in optimism, Rick

 

— Upcoming Activities and Events —

Calendar

FRIDAY AUGUST 6TH, WEDNESDAY AUGUST 18 & SUNDAY AUGUST 22
Optimists at Village Beer Garden

WEDNESDAY AUGUST 11TH
Deadline for Football Crazr Raffle tickets.

SATURDAY AUGUST 14TH
Distinguished Young Women of Wisconsin State Finals streamed virtually.

WEDNESDAY AUGUST 25TH
Club Picnic at Shepherd’s Waters. See article below.

SATURDAY AUGUST 29TH
Dave Petroff Memorial Celebration. See article below.

EVERY EVENING DURING THE SUMMER
Optimist Popcorn Wagon at Village Park

SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 25TH
OA5 Bags Tournament. More details in next month’s newsletter.

Visit the Optimists Working at the Beer Garden

Thank you to all of our members who volunteered to serve in the new Beer Garden at Village Park.  Optimists will be working on the following dates. Stop in and visit!

Friday, August 6   5:00 – 9:00 pm

Wednesday, August 18   5:00 – 9:00pm

Sunday, August 22 (Art in the Park) 10:00 am- 4:00pm

~ Jeanine Dederich

 

 

Football Crazr Raffle

All ticket stubs and monies for the Crazr Raffle must be turned in to Larry Hebbring by August 11th.  I’ll need all unsold tickets also, but there shouldn’t be any!

~ Larry Hebbring

 

 

Distinguished Young Women of Wisconsin State Finals

High school girls from across Wisconsin will join together for the Wisconsin Class of 2022 State Finals to be held on Saturday, August 14^th, 2021 at 7:00 pm. and streamed virtually. Participants will compete for cash scholarships and the opportunity to represent the State as the Distinguished Young Woman of Wisconsin at the National Finals in Mobile, Alabama June 23, 24 and 25, 2022. The 2022 Wisconsin State representative, along with 49 other high school winners, will seek the opportunity to acquire some of the $125,000 in cash scholarships and hundreds of thousands of dollars of college granted scholarships at the National Finals Program.

Siya Mahajan, Menomonee Falls High School incoming Senior will participate at the Class of 2022 Distinguished Young Woman State Finals Program seeking out cash and college granted scholarships. She is the daughter of Nidhi and Abhay Mahajan. Siyas’ interests, honors and awards are: Piano, HOSA, FBLA, Student Council, Bharatnatyam/Indian Classical Dance, Debate, Speech, Math Club, Spanish Honor Society, Make A Wish Awareness Week and Tutoring.

The Optimist Club, sponsor of the Menomonee Falls program, wishes Siya the best of luck at the competition!

~ Cathy Sharkey

 

Club Picnic

FINALLY, we can celebrate us.  Our club picnic is Wednesday August 25th at Shepherd’s Waters thanks to Lynette and Danny Shepherd.

We will be ready for you.  Food and beverages will be provided on behalf of the club by the picnic committee.  All you need to bring is yourself, your significant other, and a friend that may be interested in joining our club.  As in the past and for those that are new to our club, this is a beautifultime and place to relax and enjoy the comradery.  No cost is involved and no dish to pass please.  I would like to get an approximate count so if you could email Marcia Hebbring at mrchebbring@aol.com and give me a number that may come.  I would like to know by August 20th.

Here are the specifics:

4:30 appetizers and beverages.

5:30 dinner and desserts to follow.

You may also bring fishing gear as the pond is stocked with fish.

I will get a map from Danny to help those who forgot where his land is.  10 minutes from Menomonee Falls and I believe it’s in Colgate.

Thanks again and continue to safely enjoy your summer.

ps:  a gentle reminder, no children please as alcoholic beverages will be served.

~ Marcia Hebbring

 

Dave Petroff Memorial Celebration 

There will a “Celebration of Life” for 1999/2000 Optimist Club President Dave Petroff on Sunday, August 29, at North Hills Country Club from 2:00 pm to 6:00 pm (4:00 pm Celebratory remarks).

Dave courageously passed away on December 10, 2020. Our good friend was a very active member in our Club for 22 years.  Please come and celebrate the life of a loving husband, father, grandpa, friend, mentor, avid Badger fan and Optimist Club Member. Please feel free to pass this along for anyone who knew Dave.

Memorial Celebration of Life for Dave Petroff’
Sunday, Aug. 29 2:00-6:00 p.m.
Celebratory remarks at 4:00 p.m.
North Hills Country Club

~ Jerry Mislang

 

Packer Raffle Is Underway

The 25th Annual Packer Raffle, our club’s largest fundraiser has resumed its usual format with the big Tailgate Party and drawing set for Monday, Sept,13 at Village Bowl. However, several factors make this year’s effort a bigger challenge than usual.

First of all, we as a club are considering a gift of $50,000 to the park fund and a successful Packer Raffle could help towards that gift.

Secondly, our membership has continued to drop so that we have about 70 fewer people to do what we did just 10 years ago.  As a result, we now have 16 teams, not 17 as in the past, and each team has fewer members.  Teams have been given 22 tickets to sell, not 20 as before.  (See complete rosters printed elsewhere in this issue for your team assignment and captain.)

Thirdly, we have experienced another raise in price for our Village Bowl Tailgate Party.  It isn’t huge, but it impacts our bottom line.

Thus, it’s imperative that every club member be responsible for at least two tickets.  They need not be purchased by members, but can be easily sold once buyers recognize the odds of winning (one in 20) that are offered.

HERE’S A NEW TWIST – I have hung a flyer on the popcorn wagon and left several flyers inside when my wife and I worked there last week.  One couple, upon noticing the flyer and hearing a short pitch from me, decided to buy a ticket right on the spot!  If you are working the wagon (or the beer garden) in the month of August, why not print up a few flyers and see if you can move a ticket or two?  Every year we need to find NEW entrants.  This is a good opportunity to do so.

A few basic reminders:  Do not exchange tickets with people on other teams.  Work through your captain.  Print your name on the stub of each ticket you sell.  Only ONE person’s name on the front of each stub (even though tickets can be purchased by groups of 2,4,6,8 etc.)  We will provide limo service from ANYWHERE in Wisconsin.  If your buyer in Eau Claire wins, we’ll get them to Lambeau from there.  For each ticket sold, one person receives free admission to the Tailgate Party with beer, food and 100 door prizes provided.  Additional entrants pay a nominal $10 entry at the door.

The deadline for turning in ticket stubs and money is Wednesday, Sept. 1.  Let’s heat up August with a blazing effort again this year!

~ Ed Schlumpf

 

— Past Events —

Optimists at Lavender Fest and Boom Fest

~ photos by Jon Cline

 

 

— Optimist Meetings —

 

Respect for Law

 

Menomonee Falls High School site visit

Principal Bob Vitale led us through the school on with a stop to admire the Military Wall of Honor on July 21st.

photo by Jon Cline

 

— Membership and Executive Board Info —

2021-22 Optimist Club Dues

It is time to renew your membership in the Optimist Club of Menomonee Falls.  Invoices will be emailed in August. Please pay your dues by September 15. If you decide that you will not be renewing your membership, please contact Cathy Sharkey at csharkey224@yahoo.com.

PAY YOUR DUES ONLINE WITH A CREDIT CARD!! Visit the club website here:  https://fallsoptimistclub.org/. Scroll to the bottom of the page and click on the link that takes you to a secure pay site.

Remit checks to:

OPTIMIST CLUB OF MENOMONEE FALLS
P.O. Box 671
Menomonee Falls, WI 53052-0671

**CLUB MEMBERSHIP DUES ARE NOT TAX DEDUCTIBLE.

~ Cathy Sharkey

 

Event Documentation – We Need Captains’ Help!

Over the past few months, we’ve been emphasizing the need to document required tasks, key contacts, and budget information for the various events we tackle every year.  Our goal is to make a transition as easy as possible if a current captain is no longer able or willing to lead the activity so that we don’t lose out on fund-raising opportunities!

Many captains have stepped up and provided information.  Thanks to all of you who have helped us make a good start.

As of the end of July, the following events are in pretty good shape.  We need a few minor things and/or concurrence that we have things right, but someone new could probably figure things out with just a bit of effort:

• Christmas Party
• Distinguished Young Women
• Leaf Raking
• OA5, Bags
• Oratorical Contest
• Packer Raffle
• Scholarship Committee
• Tri-star Soccer

We have some information that needs to be formatted better or completed for the following events, but someone new could probably take over with moderate effort and a few questions:

• Christmas Parade (need phone numbers and budget)
• Independence Day Parade (need budget information)
• Scholarship Golf Outing (need contacts and budget)
• Trivia (format, contacts, budget)
• Tri-star Basketball (contacts)

This means we have a good start on about 40% of the activities.

Unfortunately, we still have about half of our activities that need some basic documentation in order to ease a transition if required.  While we have some commitments to getting these done, we don’t have close to enough data for the activities listed below.

• Adopt a Highway
• Chili Dinner
• Club Picnic
• Do the Right Thing
• Essay Contest
• Fishing Derby
• Football Crazr
• Holiday Drop n Shop
• Junior Golf
• Meat Raffles
• Popcorn Wagon
• Post-prom
• Tri-Star Baseball

If you are a chair or co-chair of an event that still has incomplete documentation, please take the time to organize your thoughts and put them into the spreadsheets by the end of August.  If you work on an event and can help the chairperson with the documentation, please volunteer to do so.  If you need more time, please let us know a realistic date that works for you.  Our goal is to have all the events in a good spot by the end of Rick’s term in September.  If you need help, you can contact Shannon Dederich, Rick Kohl, Dan Schwind or John Yusko.

~ John Yusko

 

 

July 2021 Board Minutes

Unapproved: to be approved at the next board meeting.

PRESENT
Dan, Fred, Shannon, Greg, Don, Kim, Todd, Jerry, Carol, John, Jenn

REVIEW OF AGENDA
Moved to approve by Jerry, seconded by Kim, approved
Booster Club donation approval added

REVIEW OF MINUTES
Moved to approve by Todd, seconded by John, approved

REVIEW OF TREASURER’S REPORT
Moved to approve by Todd, seconded by Carol, approved

DONATION REQUESTS

Menomonee Falls High School Booster Club: $300 for hole sponsorship for their golf outing
Moved to approve by Jerry, seconded by John, approved

BUDGET APPROVALS
None

NEW MEMBERS
None

OPEN BUSINESS

Event Documentation: still missing several committee chair information with deadline of September 30th

Park: logo approval, no new items, Don recommended the Board look at MFOC donation figure, full club review to happen in August

NEW BUSINESS

Motion to bring $50,000 for Park Project to vote at August 18th meeting.
Moved to approve by Greg, seconded by Jenn.
Notes: Don will supply information to the club at the August 18^th meeting.  Will include information on breakdown of payment over 3 years, benefits of the donations and question forum

NEXT MEETING DATE

August 17, 7:00 am, Menomonee Falls CEREC building

ADJOURNMENT
Moved to adjourn by Greg, seconded by Jerry, approved

~ Shannon Dederich

 

Optimist International Foundation Dime-a-Day
50th Anniversary Edition

Optimist International Foundation (OIF) was established in 1971 exclusively for the charitable, literary and educational purposes of Optimist International (OI). The Foundation has grown steadily since 1971 and is recognized as a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

An easy way for individual members to support the foundation is through the Dime-A-Day program. With just one dime a day, you can become part of the movement of “Helping Optimists Help Kids” and become part of a large group of Foundation supporters who realize what a difference they make every day in the lives of children. A donation form is included at the end of the newsletter. By contributing a gift of $50 in celebration of the Foundation’s 50th Anniversary, you will receive special edition Dime-A-Day Pin.

www.oifoundation.org/individuals/dime-a-day-form.pdf

Jerry Mislang and Cathy Sharkey are the club OIF representatives. Please feel free to contact them if you have questions about the Foundation.

~ Cathy Sharkey

 

New Member Correction

Sarah France was sworn in as a new member last month. Her name was not spelled correctly in the July newsletter.

 

 

— Thank You Notes (excerpts) —

Emma Schoenauer, Scholarship Winner
“You are all so amazing! Thank you for supporting me throughout my years in the Menomonee Falls Community…I hope to live positively and abundantly serving others much like you all do.””

~ Jerry Mislang

 

 

— This Month in Club History —

August 17, 2005 (16 years ago) – What appeared to be a record turnout (80+) attends the Club Picnic at Rotary Park.  Once again Hal and Yvonne Rosene teamed up with Jerry and Karen Scholz and Ron Pinkepank to serve the usual scrumptious fare. John Stacy wins the golf competition with a net score of 56 and Bob Marcou comes in first in Mini-Golf at the Ranch carding a 48.

~ Submitted by Jerry Mislang from the 40 Year History Program, courtesy of Ed Schlumpf

 

— How to Publish Optimist News –-

There are multiple venues for publishing Optimist news and events the community and to the Optimist members. It is important to get the word out so everyone is aware of the events we sponsor to benefit the youth of the community. Committee chairs are responsible for writing the articles and sending them via email to the people listed below:

NEWSLETTER  Jerry Mislang or Barb Schmit no later than the 27th of each month – jerry.mislang@prodigy.net or schmitbarb@gmail.com

NEWSPAPERS  Shannon Dederich three or more weeks prior to your event, as quickly as possible after an event shannon.dederich@gmail.com

FACEBOOK  Cathy Sharkey, Dawn Mariscal or Lynette Shepherd – csharkey224@yahoo.com, dmariscal@wi.rr.com, llshep4ma@gmail.com

WEBSITE  Beth Saunders –  bethjsaunders@gmail.com

 

 

— Waukesha County FCAST —

Waukesha County FCAST (Faith Coalition Against Sex Trafficking) fcastwaukcty.org is reaching out to all organizations in our county with an appeal to have them send this information out to all of their members and families. As a member of FCAST and Menomonee Falls Optimist Club, I am asking for this information to be sent out to all of our members and also to be placed in the August newsletter.

This presentation will be held on the evening of September 8^th at St. James Catholic Church in Menomonee Falls, from 6:30-8.

The program that will be viewed, has been approved by the Dept of Child & Family Services of WI. and sponsored by Childrens Hospital WI. to be added as an instructional unit made available to teachers in all Middle and High Schools in the state of Wisconsin.

People will need to register to attend as space is limited. If procedure changes for indoor activities by the time of the presentation, attendees will be sent a Zoom link.

Registration and more information is available at:

www.ConvTrafficking.Org

Thank you for your consideration in this matter.

~Meg Latus