Mission Statement. By providing hope and positive vision, Optimists bring out the best in youth, our communities and ourselves.
Vision Statement. Optimist International will be recognized worldwide as the premier volunteer organization that values all children and helps them develop to their full potential.
CRAZY HAT DAY
Greg Holt and Ken Jeung had a fine time serving as greeters for a somewhat motley and raucous group of hat-sporting Optimists on this Friday morning, April 26th, 2024.
It’s the First Annual Hat Day! Spotted in the crowd were animal hats (moose, shark, bat, snake, monkey), Pirate, cowboy, baseball and a Dr. Seuss Cat-In-The-Hat hats, plus sombreros, Panamas, fezzes, berets, fedoras, ascots, porkpies, tam O’Shanters, boaters, derbies, a toortsog, and even a couple of helmets.
Frank Middleton, looking every bit the cowboy, passed out playing cards with assigned tables for our members, mixing up the traditional seating arrangements and creating the opportunity for camaraderie with different combinations of Optimists.
President Casey Funk called upon Eldon Strong to deliver our invocation. Eldon shared a message on talking health, happiness and prosperity to every person we meet, even when it is difficult. Help us rekindle that spirit within us so we can live our optimism to the fullest. He then led us in the Pledge of Allegiance.
GUESTS
Guests: Tom Hoch introduced Patrick Morgan, a former member back visiting for the second week in a row. Also joining us for a second time was Bob Weinberger, a guest of Craig Eley, who was spotted filling out an application for club membership! Welcome Bob (once your check clears)!
ANNOUNCEMENTS
President Funk says that phishing emails are going out under his name. Please delete any requests from Casey for cash or gift cards - they are not legitimate messages! If you have any doubts, pick up the phone and call Casey.
Craig Eley was busy distributing new directories to all present. He took to the mike and said thanks for Phil Perington for donating his copy machine to get the directories finished.
BOY SCOUT TROOP 444 PLANT SALE
Phil Perington introduced Angie Hiss (his office manager) and a member of Troop 444, which is having their annual fundraiser, selling hanging baskets and potted plants. Order forms were distributed. Deadline for orders is April 29. If interested contact Angie Hiss at 303-902-5957. Orders will be ready for pickup on May 11 at Littleton Presbyterian Church 10-1.
AMERICAN LEGION AWARD
Michael Chavez shared the plaque he received at the 40 & 8 event at the American Legion last week. Michael thanked the club for the support he received and continue to receive from our club and our programs. The Legion also gave the club a check for $1,000! (Editor's note: The 40/8 symbol on the plague has to do with WWI box cars, which could carry 40 soldiers or 8 horses.
(Join the American Legion to find out more about this.)
COLORADO ROCKIES
Michael said that our Rockies handout day at Coors Field is coming up. Sign up and bring family members age 16 and older. We need 30 volunteers, and we get $750 from the Rockies. The game is on Father’s Day, June 16th, and we need to arrive by 10:30 am. Speaking of hats, we will be handing out 15,000 trucker hats to the arriving fans.
MS 150
Michael also announced that the MS 150 Ride is coming up, and we are once again hosting the Pat Sorenson Memorial hydration station on the second day of the ride, Sunday, June 20th. Mark your calendars and look for a sign up sheet. We need to have 15 people to get the work done.
ELECTION OF 2024-25 OFFICERS AND BOARD
It’s Club election day! Tom Mauro ran the show and introduced the nominee for President, Harry Fegley. Harry was President of an Optimist Club in Ft. Collins in 1972, so he comes with recent experience.
Vaughan Kendall and Andy Towt (joining us today via Zoom) put their hats in the ring (get it?) for the two Vice-President spots.
Four new Directors were elected to the board:
Zabih Danesh Gary Jerman Bill MorganPaul Stratton
HAT TRICK
While the tabulation and certification of the election was taking place, Tom Kramis, Larry Pulaski and Casey Funk were appointed to nominate the finalists for the best hat of the day. Honorable mentions were given to Tom “Dr. Seuss” Hoch and George “Helmet Head” Buzick. The top three were called to the stage: Gary Jerman, with his bike helmet turned alien protection hat, Greg Hurd and a runaway moose, and Craig Eley, with his Mongolian Hat (that I believe is called a toortsog). A very sophisticated voting by applause meter was conducted, and after a too-close-to-call first effort, the run-off round that followed determined a clear winner: Gary Jerman! Congrats Gary - you are the recipient of a free breakfast! So no sleeping in next week as this prize does come with conditions - use it or lose May 3rd! Great job with this fun Hat Day event, which was the brainchild of Ken Jeung. Well done all!
A CELEBRITY IN OUR MIDST
Mark Metevia asked Bob Avery to come to the stage and share a story about volunteering. As a young scout growing up in the Washington DC area, Bob volunteered to be a flag bearer at a United Nation dinner at the Washington Hilton. He enjoyed himself and offered to those in charge that he would be interested in other opportunities. Less than one week later he got a call and was asked to present the Silver Buffalo award to President Nixon. Bob was too young to drive so his father took him in his VW Bug and dropped him at the front gate of the White House. Bob gave his name to the guard and walked into the West Wing on his own. He was greeted by a secretary and went into the oval office. Several top Boy Scout executives were there as Bob presented the award. His picture appeared in newspapers all across the country. Bob brought along the photo to share, and said this experience instilled in him the idea that good things can come from saying yes to volunteer opportunities.
DRAWING
We had a Drawing! The 9 of hearts was the card that held the key, and the first two men to have their number drawn went for the big bucks. Alas, Twas not to be for Kevin Dempsey and Mike McMahon.
Cups of cash went to:
Carl Brown (x2!)
Our scout guest Izzy and his mom Angie
Mario Sari
Karl Geil
Nametag drawing - Joe Marci took his shot, but came up empty.
Creed - President Casey called upon Mario Sani to conclude our meeting by leading us in the Optimist Creed: “Promise Yourself…”
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
PLEASE NOTE: Some 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 2023-2024 47th Year — Chartered in 1976
2022-2023 Officers
Officers:
Casey Funk, President
Matt Nelson, Vice President
Tom Glazier, Vice President
Jake Baker, Secretary
Pat Bush, Treasurer
Larry Pulaski, Immediate Past President
Directors:
Second Year: Vaughan Kendall, George Buzick, Tom Hoch, Ken Jeung,
First Year: Carl Brown, Al Gapuzan, Greg Holt, Mario Sani
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
Tom Kramis 2021-2022
Larry Pulaski 2022-2023
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.
Greg Holt and Ken Jeung had a fine time serving as greeters for a somewhat motley and raucous group of hat-sporting Optimists on this Friday morning, April 26th, 2024.
Guests: Tom Hoch introduced Patrick Morgan, a former member back visiting for the second week in a row. Also joining us for a second time was Bob Weinberger, a guest of Craig Eley, who was spotted filling out an application for club membership! Welcome Bob (once your check clears)!
Michael Chavez shared the plaque he received at the 40 & 8 event at the American Legion last week. Michael thanked the club for the support he received and continue to receive from our club and our programs. The Legion also gave the club a check for $1,000! (Editor's note: The 40/8 symbol on the plague has to do with WWI box cars, which could carry 40 soldiers or 8 horses.
Michael also announced that the MS 150 Ride is coming up, and we are once again hosting the Pat Sorenson Memorial hydration station on the second day of the ride, Sunday, June 20th. Mark your calendars and look for a sign up sheet. We need to have 15 people to get the work done.
than one week later he got a call and was asked to present the Silver Buffalo award to President Nixon. Bob was too young to drive so his father took him in his VW Bug and dropped him at the front gate of the White House. Bob gave his name to the guard and walked into the West Wing on his own. He was greeted by a secretary and went into the oval office. Several top Boy Scout executives were there as Bob presented the award. His picture appeared in newspapers all across the country. Bob brought along the photo to share, and said this experience instilled in him the idea that good things can come from saying yes to volunteer opportunities.