After a brief wait for more people to join the meeting, President Dan Rodriguez called the Zoom meeting to order.  After reading the invocation regarding "development of youth", Dan also led us in reciting the pledge to our Flag. Since several people had not received a link to Zoom, it was decided that, in the future, George Buzick would put out the announcement, since Dan already has enough on his plate. Dan  read us some tidbits on "This Day in History" including:

2005 -  John Paul II, history’s most well-traveled pope and the first non-Italian to hold the position since the 16th century, dies at his home in the Vatican.

1917 - Jeannette Pickering Rankin, the first woman ever elected to Congress, takes her seat in the U.S. Capitol as a representative from Montana.

1512 - Near present-day St. Augustine, Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de León comes ashore on the Florida coast, and claims the territory for the Spanish crown.

1982 - Argentina invades the Falklands Islands, a British colony since 1892 and British possession since 1833.

 

Regarding the Sullivan Scholarships, Joe Marci said we currently had eight applicants for the four $1,000 scholarships available this year. Joe is looking for a few judges to read the applications. Call Joe at 303-847-7844. 

Pat Bush asked if it would be possible for someone to donate toward another scholarship, depending on how close the judging is.  This will be considered. 

Phiil Perington shared that the eight finalists in the Essay Contest have been selected and that the MSOC entrant was among them.  These essays have been forwarded to the District level, where there is the potential for a $2500 college scholarship.  This year's topic is "Reaching Your Dreams by Choosing Optimism".

Joe Marci said that the Nomination Committee has been making call to members to determine who might want to be officers for next year so, if your phone rings, answer it. For newer members this is a great way to learn about your club, so "just say yes" when you get the call.

Due to Covid-19, Rockies home opener had a limited seating  capacity (20,570) and the "Mask Nazis" were out according to those who attended, Tom Mauro, a Nolan Arenado fan, is boycotting this year (at least for now), while Josh Fuentes is playing third base. With the Rockies ahead 8-5 in the bottom of the ninth, with bases loaded, Mookie Betts, one of the best clutch hitters in baseball, lined out to second base for the final out.  The Rockies are in 1st place!

 

Hosted by the Eastern Star Masonic Retirement Community 

When: Saturday, May 1st 10a.m.- Noon

Where: 2445 South Quebec St Denver

Old Checks, credit card offers, mailings, medical records, tax forms, pay stubs, etc., and any other items that you wish to have safely discarded.

Newspapers, phone books, magazines, plastic, cardboard or catalogs 

 

We will be following the State Covid-19 guidelines with social distancing.  All participants will need to remain in their cars. 

 

 

________________________________________________________________________         

 

Did you know that our very own MSOC President was, once upon at time, not only an owner of multiple McDonald's franchises in the Denver Metro Area, but also a touring "Ronald McDonald".  At a Denver Bears game, he once threw out the first pitch, which had a fishing line stuck to it, which "Ronald" controlled, causing it not to go to the catcher, but orbit "Ronald".  A real crowd pleaser.  Another time, while at the Denver Zoo for a children's event, there was a commotion in the crowd, a a police officer said, "someone pointed a gun at you!" He hobnobbed at Vail with Gerald and Betty Ford.  A real celebrity in our midst.

 

 

Greg Hurd shared that, in addition to being one of the club's foremost authorities on model trains, he is also a heckuv an electrical engineer, having designed controls for an award winning cement plant here in Colorado and controls for the manufacture of Keebler Cheezits.  Greg said the smell of the raw batter was so bad he had to leave the building until the crackers were baked. Greg also worked on controls for the US Mint in Denver. He said that workers basically had to strip down when leaving the facility to ensure nobody left with a  pocket full of silver dollars and that one day he set off the alarms because he left a chapstick in his pants pocket. While he was at it, Greg asked a burning question: "Our member Jim Tapp is retiring and closing his auto repair business after over 50 years in his business.  We hope to see him at our zoom meetings now.  That's the good news.  Now the bad news - where the heck do I now take my car for repairs?"

 

 

 

Allen Mallask, not to be outdone, explained how, in a former life, he had participated in the shredding of $60 million worth of coins at the Mint.

 

 

 

 

 

Perry Allen, in executing his duties as butler and driver  and working for a gentleman who was escorting the Foreign Minister of Pakistan in Washington D.C., after fairly extensive scrutiny by the Secret Service, was allowed to participate in a high speed motorcade through D.C. to the airport and got any honorary Secret Service Badge.

 

Ron Cisco, as some of you may know, was involved with the US Postal Service for many years, in many different capacities.  While working in the Downtown Denver mail sorting facility, Ron helped round up a group of high school students who were working part-time and looting the mail of any cash they might discover while doing so.  I'm sure this is just one of Ron's many stories of the USPS

 

 

 

 

Eagle Scout Awards (Submitted by Bob Avery)

Please view go to the following link to see information regarding the recent Eagle Scout Awards: https://scoutslife.denverboyscouts.org/2021/03/31/congratulations-to-our-class-of-2020-optimist-outstanding-eagle-district-award-winners/

 

Cesar	Camarena		4/15/
Paul	Stratton		4/18/
Richard	Nickoloff	Dick	4/2/
John	Kleinheksel		4/24/
Steven	Hick		4/3/
Philip	Perington		4/4/