Tom Kramis and Al Gapuzan handled the greeting duties this morning. Big smiles and warm welcomes come easy to these two eternal optimists - thanks Tom and Al!
Tom Hoch delivered our invocation, with a message designed to inspire respect for law. Respect for law is a requirement for a civilized society and also a function of Optimism. He then led the Pledge of Allegiance.
President Dan Rodriguez began the meeting with a warm welcome to the seven people joining via Zoom. Tom Kramis and Al Gapuzan handled the greeting duties this morning. Big smiles and warm welcomes come easy to these two eternal optimists - thanks Tom and Al!
Hot breakfast of steak and eggs was enjoyed by many. Plan on eating breakfast in future weeks! High quality meals for only $10, and the club needs to buy a minimum of 20.
Our guest today was Tamara Hurst, who found us on a Google search. Tamara’s father was in an Optimist Club, and she decided to seek out a club of her own. Welcome Tamara!
Photo by Steve Kady
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MEMBER NEWS
Dick Nickloff Dick Nickoloff let us know that Gary Strowbridge is out of hospital and home. Gary was in a major car accident and a few days later went to the hospital where he learned that he had a brain bleed. His treatment was successful, and he was told no driving for the next 6 weeks. Dick reports that he sounded good and was in good humor. Get well cards were distributed for signing for both Gary and Donlie Smith, who is hoping to attend a meeting in the not too distant future.
Don Thomson shared a report from Kendra Black’s office: South by Southeast festival is back for 2021! It will be August 21st from 11:00 - 7:00 pm in Bible Park. It is an inclusive community festival with diverse bands, vendors, food trucks, fun and more! Everyone is welcome! Volunteers are needed for 3-hour shift and will receive a t-shirt and beverage. If you are interested in volunteering, email kathy.gile@denvergov.org
The Raffle committee is excited to report our $5,000.00 Inaugural Raffle Drawing generated $2000 in first day sales and commitments RAFFLE SALES OFF AND RUNNING! Photos by Steve Kady
Greg Holt - Give me some too!
We are 1/5th of the way to reaching our goal of $10,000.00. Every Friday morning (until we are sold out) the Raffle Ticket table open for business. If you would like to pickup tickets please call Phil Perington (303-668-7031) for directions to the nearest location. As a reminder, Tickets are $25 and we take checks, cash or your promise to pay (or
return unsold tickets). As a note: The Clubs Weekly drawing is now has over $100 in the pot and we will happily accept the lucky winners cash. Parlay your winnings, like any prudent futures investor would.. There are only 320 tickets left. Thank you all for getting us out of gate-running strong and heading for the finish line.
Bob Avery announced that Bike MS will be holding their first ride since 2019, which will be a one day event on Saturday, June 26th. There will be an option to ride 38 miles or 70 miles. This will be Bob’s 32nd year riding, and he appreciates the support the club has provided him and the cause, and he’ll provide some more information about how to sponsor a rider. MSOC members will not be participating as a club this year, but you can sign up as individuals at the Bike MS website https://mssociety.donordrive.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=donorDrive.event&eventID=542
President Rodriguez introduced our speaker for the day, Florence Sebern. Florence joined us representing Safe and Sound Denver. Safe and Sound Denver is a grassroots effort of Denver residents who advocate for growing safe communities, with sound policy, to our elected officials.
Primarily, her organization is focusing on repealing the recently passed amendment to Denver’s Zoning Code, the Group LivingZoning Code Amendment. The amendment was designed with a goal of addressing Denver's challenges with affordable housing, community corrections, and homelessness. Florence and Safe and Sound Denver feel that the City Council passed the amendment without properly educating the citizens of Denver on the full meaning and potential impact of the amendment. They have worked to get information from the Mayor’s office and the City Council available to the public via the freedom of information act, and have also worked to get an initiative on the ballot in November to repeal the amendment (they turned in twice the number of required signatures and should know within a week if that will happen). Florence says that the committee of 48 people that drafted the amendment, based on similar programs in other cities, was comprised of 40 service providers and 8 community members. She feels the city’s marketing approach of “It’s just a few extra roommates” was disingenuous.
The amendment allows:
Density in all single-family homes to increase from 2 to 5 unrelated adults plus unlimited minor children in any size home
New 1-10 person 24/7 homeless shelters in all neighborhoods, with expansion to 100 persons for 130 days, and no buffer zone from schools
Up to 3 homeless shelters, within a 1 mile radius, in single family residential neighborhoods
Click this link for Safe and Sounds website, with their updates on views, progress and lots of data and resources.
Tom Hoch was running the show, and announced that the Queen of Diamonds was the magic card, and if found $100 was for the taking in the pot.
Phil Perington’s number was chosen first and he boldly went for the big bucks. No luck, but then he drew his own number again and took the cup of cash. Jack Kleinheksel was another double winner, and took two cups. Nick Picucci was yet another double winner, and took one cup and had one futile attempt for the big cash. So the pot thickens…
Nametag: Noel Hasselgren had his name drawn, but no luck for Noel.
Creed - President Dan Rodriguez started us off with the recital of our Optimist Creed: Promise yourself…
Humor from Steve Kady
What Follows COVID-19?
We're still battling COVID-19 , and the next thing is here already .....
The *NILE Virus, type C* Virologists have identified a new Nile virus - type C.
It appears to target those who were born between 1930 & 1970.
Symptoms:
1. Causes you to send the same message twice.
2. Causes you to send a blank message
3. Causes you to send a message to the wrong person.
4. Causes you to send it back to the person who sent it to you.
Commencing May 14 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.
Optimist Club of Monaco South 2020-2021 45th Year — Chartered in 1976
2020 - 2021 Officers 2020 - 2021 Board of Directors
President Dan Rodriguez 303-521-512 Perry Allen 303-521-3453
Vice President Tom Kramis 303-917-5299 Stephen Avery 720-775-7700
Vice President Chris Dunphy 720-297-3111 George Buzick 303-803-2268
Secretary Bill Morgan 303-868-4384 Allen Malask 303-726-3700
Asst. Secretary Phil Perington 303-832-4578 David Peck 925-890-2531
Treasurer Pat Bush 720-747-5482 Larry Pulaski 303-956-1202 Asst. Treasurer Greg Young 303-759-3921 Mark Smith 303-691-9766
Bob Meyer 303-919-4532
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
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.
