November 2015 | Volume 43, No. 2
From the President…
Greetings Optimist Friends,
We are entering a new year and season for our club.
On November 11th we had a fantastic Veteran’s Day program, thanks to Robyn, Sid, Larry B and JJ. I have received emails and comments that it was the best Optimist meeting they have ever attended. Add my name to that list. Thank you Speaker’s committee for an outstanding program.
Cathy Starkey and JJ hosted a wonderful event to welcome new members and introduce them to the many great things we do for the kids in our communities. The meeting ran a little long due to the amount of events and committees. We just have a great story to tell that can’t be cut short.
There are some fun events and I would like to cover all of them, so I am asking all the committees to email me when you come up with a date, or updates.
Karen Nelson and Mary Schlumpf, have always given this club a Christmas dinner event. This year will be no exception. So save the date of December 1st, and that is a Tuesday evening.
The Jr Indians Baseball Organization is in search of a warehouse for their winter workouts. The facility would need to be leased by the Jr Indians from Feb-April and be between 7,500-12,000 square feet. If anyone knows of any possibilities or leads please contact Mark Plantier at 414-587-6305 or mplantier@enerconmail.com
On November 12th the American Legion of the Falls will have special music for our Vets.
Item: We are looking for all members to consider new events and fundraisers for the club. Your ideas can be big or small. We have an idea for a community talent show that could use your organizational or physical skills.
Our web site: https://fallsoptimistclub.org/ is up and running well. It continues to improve and represent us well. We are only using a fraction of the functionality that can benefit our club. Be a frequent visitor as we will strive to keep all of our events up to date.
I am always welcome to hearing new ideas or ways to improve the club. Just shoot me an email at ted@tedklumb.com
We are looking for a club member who would be interested in being a contact to the media for the club. This should take about 2 hrs a month. Any takers? Call me 262-389-0905
Is anybody interesting in working on a committee to have a talent show for the area in the Spring. Call me too.
Blessings and good health to you all!
Ted Klumb
Upcoming Events….
SPEAKERS SCHEDULE
18 – Student of the Month
25 – TBA
12/2/15 – NO A.M. MEETING
Events
12/1/15 Club Christmas Party
& Caroling at Linden Grove
12/5/16 Holiday Drop-n-Shop
1/22/16 Chili Dinner
1/30/16 Trivia Contest
2/24/16 Oratorical Contest
3/19/16 Distinguished Young Women
Holiday Drop and Shop…..
The 5th Annual Holiday Drop & Shop is quickly approaching. In the beginning stages of this event it took many meetings to get things in order. Because of all of you and your help in the past you have made it so easy to pull this event off. With that said it is important that we have at least one overview meeting to just go over the logistics, concerns and also welcome our new club members to the crew.
For any members interested in help out with this event there will be a Pre Event Overview Meeting on Wednesday, November 18th at the American Legion Post Bar at 6:15 pm (meeting to start at approximately 6:30 pm). The American Legion Post is located at N88W16652 Main St, Meno Falls (Main St & Church St). Parking is available on the street, limited spaces behind the building and in the public lot between Appleton Ave & Church St. Beverages and pizza will be provided. We will try to keep the meeting to about an hour however you all are welcome to stay longer and share ideas.
Hope you can make it. If not no worries please contact Dawn Mariscal and she will provide you with a meeting review by email to let you know what was discussed. Please let Dawn know if you can make it so she can prepare to have enough pizza available. Dawn can be reached by email at dmariscal@wi.rr.com or by phone or text at (262)442-4952.
If you have children, grandchildren, nieces or nephews, or neighbors who have children between the ages of 3 to 10 please encourage them to attend the 5th Annual Parent Holiday Drop and Shop. Children are dropped off for fun and recreation while adults get time to take care of the important holiday activities. Children will be able to make a gift, listen to stories read by Mrs. Claus, watch holiday movies, participate in the Young Rembrandts Drawing program, challenge themselves to the obstacle course, and visit with Santa and have their picture taken. A light lunch of hot dogs, chips, cookie & drink will be provided.
This is a FREE event and however children must be registered through the Community Ed & Rec Department in person or online at www.fallsrec.org with course code of 13162. Deadline to register is December 1, 2015. For more information please call (262)255-8460.
Dawn Mariscal
Senior Leaf Raking…
The Menomonee Falls Optimist Club’s “Leaf Raking for Seniors” took place on Saturday, November 7, 2015. Over two hundred area youth from six groups help clean yards at thirty homes in Menomonee Falls. Parents, coaches, and over twenty Optimist Club members aided the youth. Groups involved included; the Falls Angels softball team, the Junior Indians football team, Cub Scout Packs 109 and 36, and Menomonee Falls High School Junior Optimists, Student Council, and National Honor Society.
Matt Goihl, chair of the “Leaf Raking for Seniors Citizens” event, gives students, parents, coaches, and Optimist Club Members final instructions before sending the team out for a morning of raking. The folks that worked enjoyed donuts and juice at the Recreation Center.
October Students of the Month…
Menomonee Falls Optimist Club Student of the Month, for October 2015, from Menomonee Falls High School, Seniors Isabella Abbott, and Siddant Jain, from North Middle School, is sixth grader, Dylan Luckman, and Elizabeth Bjork eight grader, from St. Anthony Parish School, with Ted Klumb, Optimist Club President. Photo by Don Gorzek
The Optimist Club of Menomonee Falls welcomed leaders of the Junior Optimist (JOOI) Club from Menomonee Falls High School at the meeting on October 21st. Photo by Don Gorzek
Veteran’s Day…
Veterans from the Menomonee Falls area were saluted at the Radisson Hotel on November 11, 2015. The Optimist Club of Menomonee Falls organized the evening event. The keynote speaker of the event was Retired Air Force Captain Gerald Lee Gerndt. Gerndt was a member of the 555 TFS – “Triple Nickel” unit. While on a mission over North Vietnam, Gerndt’s plane was shot down on August 23, 1967. He was a POW for nearly six years, and was released March 14, 1973. Veterans attending the event viewed mementos of Gerndt’s Vietnam experiences.
The Menomonee Falls Police Department’s Honor Guard presented the Colors. Attendees said the Pledge and sang the National Anthem, followed by Optimist Wendysue Fluegge singing “God Bless America”.
SWIS District Officer, Larry Barbera, introduced veteran representatives from World War II and the Korean War to talk about their conflicts. Optimist Club Veterans and American Legion Members were also recognized. About 150 veterans, friends, and Optimists attended the event. Photos by Don Gorzek
