November 2020 Optimizer
The Optimizer | November 2020 | Menomonee Falls Optimist Club
— In this issue —
Weekly Meeting Schedule
President’s Message
Upcoming Activities and Events
Calendar
OA5
Leaf Raking
Trivia
Optimist Meetings
MFHS Football
MFHS Girls’ Golf
Fire Chief
Students of the Month
Distinguished Young Women
Getting to Know You – Laura Ciletti
Board Meeting Minutes
This Month in Club History
How to Publish Optimist News
Patio Players Christmas Carol
— Meeting Schedule —
WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 4
Following up on donation our Club made last year, Club member Jenn Dedrick will update us on the “Resource Room” project. Jenn will have several of the project’s members join us via ZOOM.
WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 11
We are doing something we don’t believe has ever been done before, honoring our 17 Club members who served in the Armed Forces…ON VETERAN’S DAY! The program will begin with a short talk by Terry Marcou on Military Death Benefits. Each veteran will then talk briefly about some of their most memorable experiences and participate in a Q&A session. Please try to wear something Patriotic.
WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 18
It’s always one of our favorite meetings, it’s time for Students of the Month! Join us as we honor the recipients and their parents.
WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 25
Joining us will be the Falls Patio Players who will talk about the experiences and expectations surrounding the pandemic. Their annual Christmas Carol show will be transformed into a Radio Show this year! Cast members will be there to sing songs from their show.
~Jerry Mislang
For those who are not able to attend meetings in person, Shannon has set up a Zoom call. Zooms are set up for all of the November meetings.
The meeting is listed at 7:00 a.m., so you may test your equipment. The meeting will begin at the normal time of 7:15. Feel free to reach out to Shannon if you have any questions or concerns.
Topic: Menomonee Falls Optimist Club Membership Meeting
Time: 07:00 AM Central Time (US and Canada)
Please download and import the following iCalendar (.ics) files to your calendar system.
Weekly: https://us04web.zoom.us/meeting/upMrcOuupz4qHdUkHIeFsBO-0wuGVtjM2Bl5/ics?icsToken=98tyKu6vqDwoHN2QsB6GR7YEBI_Ca-7xmCVfgqdolzfMBgZAQCy7ZvVXFYRrGvWC
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us04web.zoom.us/j/77672695071?pwd=MVRvcEEydmVlZ2dkVlIwcDdrVlA4QT09
Meeting ID: 776 7269 5071
Passcode: 2BSoStrong
— President’s Message November 2020 —
“Worrying is betting against yourself.”
Fellow Optimists;
As we approach this coming holiday season, Covid 19 has changed some things. There will be no Christmas parade this year, no scheduled Optimist Christmas party and no chili dinner in January. I remain optimistic that other events will happen even if some changes will occur, for instance Distinguished Young Women (DYW) will go on but it will be virtual.
Our weekly meetings are now on Zoom and hope you have received my e-mail about this. If you haven’t and would like more information please contact me (Rick Kohl 262-402-8393). Big shout outs to Lynette Shepherd and Shannon Dederich. It was Lynette’s idea and I met with her and also thought it would be great for our members who cannot attend but would like to watch it. Shannon has made this possible. Please give us your feedback.
Leaf raking will occur for three weekends beginning November 7th. Please contact John Yusko for more information or if you want to get involved. (you do not have to rake), Thanks John.
If you have not paid your dues please get them in as soon as possible or if you are not rejoining let us know because we get charged by the district for keeping you on the roster.
The Speakers committee continues to provide informative and interesting guests.
As the weather gets colder, remember at 7:15 Wednesday mornings things heat up.
~ Stay Optimistic! Rick Kohl
— Upcoming Activities and Events —
NOVEMBER 7TH – 22ND
Leaf Raking
TUESDAY NOVEMBER 10TH
OA5 Meeting
SUNDAY NOVEMBER 29TH
Christmas Parade —CANCELLED—
SATURDAY DECEMBER 5TH
Holiday Shop N Drop
TUESDAY DECEMBER 15TH
OA5 Service Project
SATURDAY JANUARY 30TH
Trivia Contest
OA5 Meeting
OA5 will be meeting Tuesday, November 10th at Water Street Pub and Grill. We will meet for socialization at 5:45 with meeting starting at 6:00 pm. The agenda will include reviewing bags event, planning the social service project for December and looking ahead to 2021 for meeting ideas.
Senior Leaf Raking is Almost Here: November 7 – 22!
One last reminder that our annual senior leaf raking event is scheduled for Saturday, November 7 through Sunday, November 22. And bad weather won’t stop us!
If you have already volunteered, thanks for your help!
If you would still like to volunteer, please contact Jason Husslein (414-852-9634, hussjas@sdmfschools.org) or John Yusko (414-339-2637, jyusko505@twc.com).
And don’t forget to patronize Shady Lane Greenhouse!
~ Thanks for helping! John Yusko
Trivia Contest
IT IS A ????? IF WE WILL HOLD THE OPTIMIST TRIVIA NIGHT 2021. WE WOULD LIKE TO PLAN FOR JANUARY 30, 2021 BUT WITH COVID-19, WE NEED TO INVESTIGATE A NEW VENUE.
~ Chairs Todd Paulus, Karen Nelson, Sue Jeskewitz
— Optimist Meetings—
MFHS Football
On October 7, MFHS Head Coach Lutz and members of the MFHS Football team updated us on their season. L to R, Football senior captains Quentin Redding, Colin Heckman, Danny Howard. Photo by Jon Cline.
MFHS Girls’ Golf
Also, on October 7, girls’ golf team Head Coach Tony Pritchard and two team members talked about their experiences, including a historic a FIRST in the MFHS golf program. Senior Jane Yoo and Sophomore Lauren Parker Photo by Jon Cline.
New Menomonee Falls Fire Chief
We were honored to have new Menomonee Falls Fire Chief, Gerard Washington, at our October 14 meeting to share his background and vision for the future of the department.
Students of the Month
Students of the month were honored at our October 21 meeting. L to R: Daniel Otchere, Veronica Goveas, and Sirtaij Arora from Menomonee Falls High School. Macey Vuolo from North Middle School. Ava Kaczorowski from North Middle School was unable to attend. Photo by Jon Cline.
— Getting to Know You —
Laura Ciletti
I have been a member since May 2009 after Jack Strawbridge passed away. He had been an Optimist member as well as a promoter of Falls Patio Players and I became the one to keep the connection since I do the FPP publicity. I’m not sure if I (and then Ann Freudenthal) would have found the group otherwise. Because of how much time the FPP work took up, I have mostly been doing one-time events as a volunteer, but I am thankful for all of the people I have met and proud of the good we have done.
I have been active with FPP for 25 years and started doing Christmas Carol when my daughter was 8 years old. She is now married to a Kenosha Co. Sheriff and they have 2 boys, ages 5 and 3. They wear their superhero costumes everywhere. My oldest son lives in Eden Prairie MN and teaches World and AP History at Jordan HS. His wife is a nurse practitioner and they have a 4-year-old daughter (Disney Princess expert) and a son that is 18 months and waves at every single plane he hears overhead, and they live near an active small airport. My youngest son and his old dog, a Papillon, are living with me for a bit. One of my sisters lives in Pewaukee. Her husband is the Waukesha Co. Executive and my Mom is in the house where I grew up in Brookfield. Dad passed away unexpectedly in January and I miss him so much.
I have been blessed with the ability to drop my hours to just two 12-hour shifts a month. This will allow me to pursue one of my p
assions—travel. I am fortunate to have family in Munich, Germany area. I have been there and surrounding areas 7 times now. I have been to Egypt, the Caribbean, New Zealand, Vietnam, and Hong Kong (twice) as my other sister has lived there since 1998. I am almost done with all 50 states. Another passion is service. I have been to Tijuana to build homes, to Thailand twice with Lutheran Hour ministries in Bangkok to do English skill classes with kids and also an eyeglass clinic for 1000 adults. I also went on a Medical Mission to Tanzania through the Synod (LCMS). My most recent endeavor was to help with disaster (hurricane) response in Louisiana and Pensacola. I want to do and experience as much as I can while I still can. I would be happy to tell you more about opportunities to help with disaster clean up around the country if you are interested— there is so much need.
— Board Meeting Minutes from October 20, 2020 —
PRESENT
Rick Kohl, Jerry Mislang, John Yusko, Carol Schulteis, Kim Wenzel, Dan Schwind, Todd Paulus, Greg Mattson, Shannon Dederich, Jenn Dedrick
PRESIDENT’S NOTES
Thank you to Todd Paulus for guidance in a trying year. Looking forward to a somewhat fiscally responsible year recouping from missed fundraisers but also balancing with canceled events the club sponsors.
Christmas Parade, Christmas Party, Chili Dinner canceled. Trivia tentatively still on. Distinguished Young Women will be virtual. Meetings will be broadcast on Zoom, in addition to in person, going forward. Test run 10/21 meeting.
The meeting was called to order at 7:00 AM by President Todd Paulus. The approval of the agenda was motioned by Greg, seconded by Marcia and approved by all.
REVIEW OF AGENDA
Motion to approve Todd P., second Greg M.
REVIEW OF SEPTEMBER BOARD MEETING MINUTES
Approved with Agenda.
REVIEW OF TREASURER’S REPORT
Treasurer’s report will be approved electronically after further review with the former Treasurer and current.
Jerry M. announced new check policy: No checks to be written last 10 days of fiscal month to increase clearance rates for month end, with exceptions.
DONATION REQUESTS
There were no requests this month.
BUDGET APPROVALS
Speakers budget submitted, Motion to approve John Y., second Todd P.
NEW MEMBERS
No New Member Requests for October
OPEN BUSINESS
Park update (Todd), 2nd phase still on hold, to pick up after Jan. 1, 2021. BID has new committee, Menomonee Falls Downtown, Inc. with at large positions open to non-BID members, Optimist Club supporting Jeanine Dederich as representative, to be confirmed 10/27.
NEW BUSINESS
Shannon/Jenn introduced OA5 Service Project to be with Resource Room at Ben Franklin. Tentative date Dec. 8, open for club members to volunteer to sort, further information to come in weekly email.
ADDITIONAL NOTES
Sunshine committee notice, member, Matt Hakes, mother, Kay, passed away. Maxine Lane fell and in hospital. Two former governors hospitalized with COVID.
NEXT MEETING DATE
Tuesday November 17th
ADJOURNMENT
Motion to adjourn Todd P., second John Y.
— This Month in Club History —
November 2000 – (20 years ago) –
Addie Vischer becomes the fifth Optimist Club member to be named the “Citizen of the Year” by the Chamber of Commerce. Previous winners were Bob Steliga (1990), Robyn Turtenwald (1993), Sue Jeskewicz (1995) and Karen Nelson (1997).
~ 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
