July 2020 Optimizer
The Optimizer | July 2020 | Menomonee Falls Optimist Club
— In this issue —
Meeting Schedule
President’s Message
Message
Meeting Update
Club Elections
Upcoming Activities and Events
Calendar
Scholarship Golf Outing
Big Changes in 2020 Packer Raffle
Wheeling and Heeling
Club News
Getting to Know You – Lenny & Deb Kimmel
Past Events
Board Meeting Minutes
Thank You Notes
This Month in Club History
How to Publish Optimist News
— Meeting Schedule —
7:15AM on WEDNESDAY JULY 1 @ DJ’s Goalpost
2016 MFHS graduate Ty Weber, who played and won two straight MFHS WIAA State Baseball Championships, will be our guest Speaker. Ty was drafted by the Cincinnati Reds, played Big 10 Baseball for the University of Illinois for four years and signed a baseball contract with the San Francisco Giants this past Spring.
7:15AM on WEDNESDAY JULY 8 @ Knights of Columbus
Unknown speaker at this time. Please read Todd’s weekly email for confirmation of the speaker.
WEDNESDAY JULY 15
Time, location and speaker not yet confirmed when the July Newsletter was published
WEDNESDAY JULY 22
NO MEETING! Optimist Scholarship Golf Outing at Ironwood!
WEDNESDAY JULY 29
Time, location and speaker not yet confirmed when the July Newsletter was published
— President’s Message July2020 —
Well, the year is already half over, and the way 2020 is acting, the end cannot come soon enough. With that said, we have weathered the storm pretty well. Our club has been able to keep in contact and shift gears on the go. As things begin to return to a “new normal”, opportunities exist for our club. The golf outing will take place in 3 short weeks. We decided to delay rather than cancel it, and our committee has been hard at work planning for it. Check out the article later in the newsletter for more details. The NFL Fundcrazr sales are also underway. Larry Hebbring has our allotment of tickets for this year, so please see him to get your tickets to sell. Our club gets back about $10 for each ticket sold. The newly renamed Packer raffle is also about to get started. With the season still in question and not knowing if fans will be allowed to attend, their committee has decided to make the raffle a full cash raffle this year. A captain will be contacting you shortly in regards to tickets available for sale. Tickets cost $100 each with the grand prize being $5000.00. Eighteen (18) places total will be paid out, so you have a 1 in 20 chance of winning. While all this planning continues, the popcorn wagon is blowing the lid off the popper. Records fell early in the year for nightly sales, and just this past week, we had a night top $400, so the bar has been set even higher. That’s a lot of popcorn being popped for the night. Let’s keep things rolling as we continue through the rest of summer.
Meeting Update
As of print time for the newsletter, we are still awaiting confirmation as to when and if we will be able to get back into the Community Center. As soon as I hear from Jason Husslein on the plans, I will relay them to everyone. At this time though, we do have 2 alternate sites set up. On July 1, we will be meeting at DJ’s Goal Post at 7:15 AM for our meeting. The following week, July 8, we will be meeting at the Knights of Columbus Hall for our 7:15 AM meeting. I’d like to thank both places for allowing us to host our meetings there in the morning. Back on June 17, we held our first actual meeting since the pandemic started at the Hot House restaurant. Please help support these places as a thank you for allowing us to meet there until we get back to the Community Center. If we cannot return to the Community Center by July 15, I will get an alternate site set up. There will not be a meeting on July 22, as the Golf Outing is that day.
Club Elections
With the Optimist year winding down, club elections for our 2020-2021 board needs to be held. Elections for board members will be held July 8 at our meeting at the Knights of Columbus Hall.
Our candidates for next year’s board are:
PRESIDENT
Rick Kohl
PAST PRESIDENT
Todd Paulus
1ST VICE PRESIDENT
Dan Schwind
2ND VICE PRESIDENT
Shannon Dederich
TREASURER
Jerry Mislang
NEW BOARD MEMBERS (2 year term)
Jenn Dedrick
John Yusko
Kim Wenzel
RETURNING BOARD MEMBERS
Greg Mattson
Carol Schulteis
Fred Blanke (filling the final year of Shannon’s term)
~Todd Paulus
— Upcoming Activities and Events —
EVERY EVENING
Popcorn Wagon open 6:30 – 9:00 pm
FRIDAY JULY 10TH
Deadline for Wheeling and Heeling sign-up in order to get Optimist logo on shirt
TUESDAY JULY 21ST
Packer Raffle teams decided. Ticket sales start.
WEDNESDAY JULY 22ND
Scholarship Golf Outing
SATURDAY AUGUST 8TH
Wheeling and Heeling
WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 2ND
Packer Raffle ticket sales end.
MONDAY SEPTEMBER 14TH
Packer Raffle prize drawing
Scholarship Golf Outing
Yes, the 30th Annual Scholarship Golf outing will take place on July 22, 2020 at Ironwood Golf course in Sussex. The start time for golf has been moved up to 11:00 AM, with registration starting at 9:30 AM. Our committee is doing our best to plan this event in the safest way possible, with social distancing and food prep for all those attending. Sal and Trysting Place Pub will be providing a boxed lunch of a sub and chips for all golfers for lunch. Afterwards, he will have servers at the food stations to serve golfers. We will not be hosting an auction afterwards to cut down on a group gathering, but heavy hors d’oeuvres will be provided to fill your appetite after golfing. We will have various raffle prizes and 50/50 raffles for golfers to take part in. We are hoping you will support the event by buying tickets for these additional raffles. While golfers are on the course, tickets will be drawn and numbers posted for people to check on when they return to the barn after golf. The next 3 weeks, we will be hosting “Golf Ball Wednesdays”. If you would like to donate a new dozen of golf balls to our outing to be used as hole prizes for the event, please bring them along and give them to me at a meeting. If you cannot make a meeting, please contact me and I’ll pick them up or you can drop them off at my house. There is still room and time to sign up. Please do not wait. If you will have a foursome but don’t have it filled yet, please let me know ASAP, so I reserve a spot for you. I will need the names once you know them. At this time, we are halfway to our goal of golfers, so please come out and join us for a fun day.
~ Todd Paulus, Golf Outing Chair
Big Changes in 2020 Packer Raffle
In the 24 years that the Packer Raffle has been sponsored by our club, numerous changes have occurred. From sending winners out of state to games, to the number of tickets sold, to the number of winners covered by the winning ticket, to the venue for the Tailgate Party. But one thing always stayed the same…..the winners got Packer tickets as their prize. This year that won’t happen.
Because of the continued uncertainty as to what the 2020 NFL season will look like, 14 of the 18 Packer Raffle captains decided at a lengthy meeting in late June to make this year’s raffle a strictly cash prize event. And, the usual Tailgate Party at Village Bowl will be a no-go in September. Captains voted to print 350 tickets to sell again, although there was considerable discussion as to whether that many would actually be purchased. Regardless of the number sold, 18 prizes will again be awarded including a $5,000 first place prize.
To make the drawing open to the public, the club is investigating the possibility of holding the Sept. 14 prize drawing on local cable TV.
If this year’s winners are interested in attending a Packer game, the committee will help them get in touch with the ticket broker and limo owners who have served us in the past, so they can negotiate a deal to the game of their preference.
Further details will be forthcoming in the August newsletter, including the listing of all 17 teams that will be decided upon at the next captains’ meeting on Tuesday, July 21. Ticket sales will run from that date until Wednesday, Sept. 2.
~ Ed Schlumpf, Packer Raffle Chair
Wheeling & Heeling
Looking for something fun to do this summer with family and friends where social distancing won’t be a concern? Join the Optimist Club team for the Wheeling and Heeling for Cancer event on August 8th. You can choose to walk, run, bike or just rest that morning. The team will meet at the Popcorn Wagon at a designated time to hear a few words from the 2020 Co-chairs of the event – Dan and Kathy Schwind. Choose your route to ride/walk/run the distance you choose. We even have rest areas as in the past. Afterwards, we will meet at DJ’s, for beverages and door prizes. Everyone who joins the team will be registered for a prize.
If you don’t care to participate that day, please make a donation to the Cancer Care Center at Froedtert Menomonee Falls Hospital. Everyone who makes a donation for the Optimist Club team will also be registered to win a prize. And, of course, if you join the team and make a donation, you will get two entries for the door prizes.
Donations and registration is at events.froedtert.com/menomoneefallsfoundation-wheeling. Click on Join a Team and you will see the Optimist team listed there.
Important reminder – If you want a t-shirt with the Optimist Club logo, you must register by July 10.
Thanks so much for your support of the Cancer Center. Looking forward to seeing you on August 8th. Any questions, please let me know. annfreudenthal@gmail.com or 414-881-6804.
Optimists held a practice from the popcorn wagon. Walkers include; co-chairs Dan and Kathy Schwind, Meg and Bill Latus, Ann Freudenthal, Fred Blanke, and Jeanine Dederich. Front row on bikes are Bill and Jane Hathaway, back row are Sharon and Jerry Ellis. (photo by Don Gorzek)
~ Ann Freudenthal
— Club News —
Getting to Know You: Lenny and Deb Kimmel
Lenny has been an Optimist member since 2009, when he retired as a special education teacher from the high school. Deb joined in 2011, when she retired as a special education teacher from Steffen Middle School in Mequon. Lenny has been on the board twice and both Debbie and Lenny have worked at Tri-star soccer and baseball, as well as helped with parade line-up, land grab, oratorical contest, scholarship committee etc. We are also Packer raffle captains. Lenny enjoys the golf outing every year and we both enjoy Trivia night, esp. trying to win the “Best Theme” every year.
We moved to Menomonee Falls from Milwaukee in 1992. It was an excellent move because both of our boys thrived academically and athletically here. Our introduction to the Optimist Club was because of the many appearances by our boys on teams and as students of the month. We knew when we retired that we wanted to be part of a club that was so dedicated to our youth.
Both of us are originally from Pennsylvania. Lenny lived in Somerset, PA and Deb lived in Erie. We met in college where we were both studying to be special education teachers. We married in 1977 and both taught in New Oxford, PA (near Gettysburg) We moved to Milwaukee in 1979, after visiting Deb’s brother and sister-in-law here and Len getting the opportunity to teach year- round at St. Mary’s Psychiatric Hospital. He taught there 5 years and then moved to teach at Custer High School. Deb taught most of that time at Craig Alternative School in Milwaukee, working with emotionally disturbed middle and high school students. We wanted better schools for our sons so we changed jobs, sold our house and moved. Deb landed in Mequon, Len in Menomonee Falls and we moved just in time for Brian, our oldest, to start 6th grade at North Middle School.
Len coached both of our sons in soccer and baseball which led to his refereeing soccer and baseball and eventually wrestling, while teaching and now in retirement. He began summer house painting while at Custer and has been doing that ever since, eventually doing it full time after retiring from teaching. Deb has worked part-time at the Menomonee Falls Curves in retirement, but most of her time is spent babysitting grandchildren, now ages 8, 5, 5 and 3.
We love to travel, in our RV trailer, and also flying and cruising to new places. We are looking forward to an end to this “pandemic” so we can begin traveling again.
— Past Events —
Board Meeting Minutes from June 16, 2020
PRESENT
Todd Paulus, Ann Freudenthal, Rick Kohl, Greg Mattson, Carol Schulteis, Joanne Wanner, Jeanine Dederich, Shannon Dederich, Steve Fleming, and Don Eisenhauer
The meeting was held at the Hot House restaurant and was called to order at 10:03 AM by President Todd Paulus. The approval of the agenda was motioned by Jeanine, seconded by Ann and approved by all.
REVIEW OF MAY BOARD MEETING MINUTES
A motion was made by Greg, seconded by Carol and approved by all to accept the minutes.
REVIEW OF TREASURER’S REPORT
It was suggested that the club look for a better interest rate on our account. Motion was made by Greg, seconded by Joanne and approved by all to accept the treasurer’s report.
BUDGET APPROVALS / FUNDRAISERS
Ed Schlumpf presented a report on the Packer Raffle. The captains met and decided that the best way to proceed with this fund raiser was to change it to all cash prizes for this year only. There will be no tailgate party. Prizes will be one prize each at $5000, $2000, $1000, $750, $500 and 12 prizes of $250 each. The live drawing would be broadcast. They will still sell 350 tickets at $100 each as in the past. Ed is still looking for a name to call the fundraiser for this year. A motion was made by Greg, seconded by Carol and approved by all to accept the new format.
Jerry Mislang presented a proposal to add members to the club by soliciting small business owners to join. They would be recognized in the newsletters or the weekly emails. They would also have an opportunity give a five minute presentation at 1 – 2 meetings a year to talk about the products and/or services they offer. There was a motion made by Steve and seconded by Ann, and approved by all to go forward with this.
NEW BUSINESS
Shannon Dederich presented information on the Special Project, which is a Resource Fair to help families with special needs children. Because of the COVID-19 restrictions, she is looking into having a virtual solution or move it to a later date.
Todd announced that he has the list of candidates for the 2020-2021 Board. They are as follows: Rick Kohl – President, Dan Schwind- 1st VP, Shannon Dederich – 2nd VP, Jerry Mislang – Treasurer, and John Yusko, Kim Wenzel, Jenn Dedrick and Fred Blanke as at large board members. Todd will schedule the elections to be done before September 1st.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
Park Project Update – There is no new information on the Park Project.
PRESIDENT’S COMMENTS
The newsletter articles are due by Tuesday, June 24th.
NEXT MEETING DATE
Tuesday July 21
A motion was made by Ann, seconded by Jeanine and approved by all to adjourn the meeting at 11:20 AM.
~ Ann Freudenthal
— July Thank Yous (excerpts) —
COPS AND KIDS FOUNDATION (Robert Kraemer )
“We greatly appreciate your generous donation…of $750. Since 2010, over 3,000 kids and 10 law-enforcement have agencies have participated…(and) this would not have been possible without you and the support of your fellow donors.”
CARBORNE CANCER CENTER (Howard H Bailey, MD)
“Thank you for your donation in the memory of Kenneth Newman to the Greatest Need Fund at the University of Wisconsin Carborne Cancer Center.”
~ Submitted by Jerry Mislang
— This Month in Club History —
July 14, 1993 – (27 years ago) – Because of our donation to the Welcome Signs at 14 Village Entrances, the club is given the Community Improvement Award for 1993 by the Chamber of Commerce.
~ 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
