We were happily greeted by Ken Jeung and Frank Middleton this beautiful morning. Good will smiling faces were everywhere. The breakfast buffet featured perfect Eggs Benedict with Canadian bacon, home style potatoes, fresh fruit, Danish and piping hot coffee.
HOT OFF THE PRESS
As promised by Craig Eley and Tom Mauro, the secret to a one million dollar profit is here, with some new faces (and some old, redone faces. This valuable document is one of the benefits of being a MSOC member and is absolutely free and, if you stick around long enough, you can get the Spring edition in April. Anyone wanting to download the most current directory can go the link on the lower right hand side of OCMS Website (https://monacosouth.org/page/showhomepage/ ) and sign in to their page on the website to download.
Anyone needing to know their logon credentials for the website should email Greg Young, who can send them new logon information.
OPENING
President Tom Kramis gaveled the gathered at 7am sharp with enthusiastic words of welcome and optimism, urging everyone to enjoy their Easter eggs but don’t try to eat the plastic ones. Frank Ross presented the Invocation: “Let us be grateful for what we have been blessed with and share that which is good and positive in everything we do. Let our Optimism be heard by all people as we go about our business and lives.” The Pledge of Allegiance followed with a cry of Play Ball! (Especially when the bases are loaded.)
GUEST; Jon Wachter introduced his old friend of 30 years-Doug Wiermaa, a world traveler in Denver for a visit. He has been an over the road driver logging over a million miles and prides himself as an outside the box thinker. In a recent trip to Japan he discovered no interstate system existed and commercial driving was much different than in the Unite States as a profession. He has never delivered Christmas trees however.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Joe Marci: The Sullivan Scholarship review of 23 submittals will meet immediately following our breakfast session. He also has Rox tickets for rest of the week and beyond.
Michael Chavez: Asked the group if we wanted to participate in this year's MS 150 rest stop on 26th at Silver Creek H.S. Also there will be a July 31 bobble head handout for the Rockies as well.
KING SOOPERS
Frank Middleton: Opportunity is knocking. please try to get people to join the King Soopers reward card program. Has a cheat sheet explaining to sign up. To which Prez Tom said “sign me up in spite of my Costco membership!” He also explained that the “Close but no cigar” saying came from old time carnivals when you did not win at their games.
NEW CLUB BUILDING
Russ Paul: Proudly shared the news a new Optimist Club is forming in Littleton. His new residence apartment complex has over 400 residents and management is very enthusiastic with the idea of an Optimist Club. Tamarac and Monaco South will sponsor. Tamarac Co-Presidents Shermalee Eikermann and Sandy Middleton, District Foundation Rep Jeanette Thompson, Joe Marci, Russ Paul and District Club Building Chair Phil Perington met with Property Mgr. Jody Naylor and everyone agreed to start building a new Club. They will meet again 4/21 and advance the process. This is good news for everybody.
Greg Young: Announced the District 3rd quarter Conference on May 14th is rapidly approaching and will be held at Calvary Baptist Church. There will be a team Corn Hole Tournament , Speakers and winners of the Oratorial Contest plus other events. Please attend. Your lunch expense will be reimbursed as is always the case.
Robert Wardlaw: Shared dates for Super Citizen 6 assemblies in May. He thanked Joe Marci for the conducting the MPB meeting.
Ed Collins: Reported his wife Beda was apparently drinking brake fluid but said she can stop anytime, so his worries have dissipated.
On ZOOM from Texas, Randy Marcove (originally an 8 year old guitar student) was pleased and proud to introduce our Speaker-Gordon Close by offering these delightful facts: Gordon is the owner of Melody Music, as featured twice in MAD Magazine.
Gordon is the owner and Curator of the Rocky Mountain Music Museum.
The U.S Army Band organized in 1922 originally recruited him as a trumpet player.
Beloved singer and Denver native Judy Collins asked Gordon to accompany her on many albums. The beat goes on.
Gordon ran through a litany of interesting facts and sidebars on his life as a guitarist, beginning with his tutorials of an 8 year old Randy Marcove. Gordon began his career at age 13 as a volunteer in his North H.S band first playing the trumpet, then saxophone and finally by the recommendation of his dentist, the guitar. He flourished for the rest of his life. His first musical adventure began a a member of a dance band. While serving in the Army in Washington DC as a Sgt. at Arms he enjoyed the once in a lifetime opportunity to meet Senator and future President John F. Kennedy while stationed at Ft. Ord. Gordon later played back up to Bobby Darin & Stevie Wonder, and was a member of the Trio Accents playing in Central City. He was in also in great demand at all the Officers Clubs.
As a Business Grad of the University of Denver he was hired to produce the first “lead-free” advertisement for AMACO and developed the Great American Music Machine in 1973 specializing in commercial ads. He also developed a sound system for radio personality Mike Rosen. Eventually he founded a World Wide foundation that provides instruments and guitars to returning military members from oversea tours of duty. A $650 package is delivered at no cost. On a personal note, Gordon expressed concern for what the media never writes about when covering the news. All the little things that make the biggest impact in civilians lives performed by service men and women are completely ignored.
(Photo by Tom Kramis)
Denver is the 3rd largest city for music performance and Gordon has been an intricate participant on all levels during the past 50 years. His Music Store is legendary, just like Red Rocks, and he is a well identified and respected member of the musical community. He ended the presentation with an acoustical riff played on his custom maple and oak guitar featuring a suite of Greensleeves-These are a few of my favorite things and CW rendition of “fast man talking to a red headed woman”. The program could have gone on for hours and Gordon is truly a gift of magical charm and music. We hope he returns real soon!
DRAWING
Is there a Drawing?
5 diamonds for a whopping $65
Don Thomson CUP Tom Mauro- CUP Bill Litchfield-DRAW - NOPE Greg Holt-CUP Paul Stratton-Draw-NOPE Dick Nickoloff-CUP Noel Hasselgren-POKER CHIPS-NOPE
Mark Metevia closes leading the Creed
Birthdays & Anniversaries
Member Birthdays
Dick Nickoloff
April 2
Phil Perington
April 4
Cesar Camarena
April 15
Paul Stratton
April 18
John Kleinheksel
April 24
FUTURE SPEAKERS
*MSOC members
Friday Apr 22 Camaraderie Day. Officer elections
Friday Apr 29 Tamara Kirch, Creating a Mental & Emotional 1st Aid Kit
Friday May 6. Frank Rowe*, Denver Park Trust update
Friday May 13. OPEN
Friday May 20. Camaraderie Day
Friday May 27. Michael Gropper Suporting Veterans Integration Through Culinary Arts
OI Foundation Reminder: If you use Amazon to order products, you can earn money for the Foundation by signing on to http://smileamazon.com
Meetings will be held at the American Legion Hall 5400 E Yale Ave. While there be no two way communication, you may observe (and listen to) the meeting on Zoom
OCMS President Tom Kramis is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting
PLEASE NOTE: All Friday meetings will be simulcast on Zoom in “listen and watch only” mode. All members are encouraged to attend the live meeting when possible.
Optimist Club of Monaco South 2020-2021 45th Year — Chartered in 1976
2021 - 2022 Officers
President Tom Kramis 303-917-5299
Vice President Larry Pulaski 303-956-1202
Vice President Chris Dunphy 720-297-3111
Secretary Phil Perington 303-832-4578
Treasurer Pat Bush 303-750-9409
2021- 2022 Board of Directors
Stephen Avery 720-775-7700 Joe Marci 303-847-7844
George Buzick 303-803-2268 Casey Funk 720-656-2255
David Peck 925-890-2531 Dan Rodriguez 303-521-5120
Steve Kady 303-931-1470 Kent Gloor 303-880- 5444
Tom Glazier 303-522-5214
Past Presidents
Bob Rhue 1976-77
Jerry Whitlow 1977-78
Bill Kosena 1978-79
Duane Wehrer 1979-80
Curt Jefferies 1980-81
Frank Middleton 1981-82
John Young 1982-83
Pat Bush 1983-84
Bob Hugo 1984-85
Tom Mauro 1985-86
Curt Lorenzen 1986-87
Oscar Sorensen 1987-88
Lupe Salinas 1988-89
Bob Avery 1989-90
Bill Litchfield 1990-91
Bill Walters 1991-92
Kent Gloor 1992-93
Gary Strowbridge 1993-94
Mark Metevia 1994-95
Bob Safe 1995-96
Tom Overton 1996-97
Peter Dimond 1997-98
Ralph Symalla 1998-99
Cy Regan 1999-00
Stan Cohen 2000-01
Don St. John 2001-02
Jack Rife 2002-03
Karl Geil 2003-04
Bryce Slaby 2004-05
Donlie Smith 2005-06
Paul Bernard 2006-07
Greg Young 2007-08
Phil Perington 2008-09
Ron Cisco 2009-10
Ed Collins 2010-11
Randy Marcove 2011-12
Paul Simon 2012-13
Jon Wachter 2013-14
John Oss 2014-15
Michael Chavez 2015-16
Craig Eley 2016-17
Jim Easton 2017-18
Everett Gardner 2018-19
Bob Meyer 2019-20
Dan Rodriguez 2020-2021
T H E O P T I M I S T C R E E D — Promise Yourself . . . To be so strong that nothing can disturb your peace of mind. To talk health, happiness and prosperity to every person you meet. To make all your friends feel that there is something in them. To look at the sunny side of everything and make your optimism come true. To think only of the best, to work only for the best, and to expect only the best. To be just as enthusiastic about the success of others as you are about your own. To forget the mistakes of the past and press on to the greater achievements of the future. To wear a cheerful countenance at all times and give every living creature you meet a smile. To give so much time to the improvement of yourself that you have no time to criticize others. To be too large for worry, too noble for
anger, too strong for fear, and too happy to permit the presence of trouble.
FINE GREETERS
HOT OFF THE PRESS
As promised by Craig Eley and Tom Mauro, the secret to a one million dollar profit is here, with some new faces (and some old, redone faces. This valuable document is one of the benefits of being a MSOC member and is absolutely free and, if you stick around long enough, you can get the Spring edition in April. 
Kramis gaveled the gathered at 7am sharp with enthusiastic words of welcome and optimism, urging everyone to enjoy their Easter eggs but don’t try to eat the plastic ones. Frank Ross presented the Invocation: “Let us be grateful for what we have been blessed with and share that which is good and positive in everything we do. Let our Optimism be heard by all people as we go about our business and lives.” The Pledge of Allegiance followed with a cry of Play Ball! (Especially when the bases are loaded.)
GUEST; Jon Wachter introduced his old friend of 30 years-Doug Wiermaa, a world traveler in Denver for a visit. He has been an over the road driver logging over a million miles and prides himself as an outside the box thinker. In a recent trip to Japan he discovered no interstate system existed and commercial driving was much different than in the Unite States as a profession. He has never delivered Christmas trees however.
malee Eikermann and Sandy Middleton, District Foundation Rep Jeanette Thompson, Joe Marci, Russ Paul and District Club Building Chair Phil Perington met with Property Mgr. Jody Naylor and everyone agreed to start building a new Club. They will meet again 4/21 and advance the process. This is good news for everybody.
On ZOOM from Texas, Randy Marcove (originally an 8 year old guitar student) was pleased and proud to introduce our Speaker-Gordon Close by offering these delightful facts:
