GUMS February 11,2022 (Feb 11, 2022)

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Tamara Kirch, from the Tamarac Club makes an announcement regarding the South by Southeast community festival in August. Part of the fair is books to give away during the day for kids. If you have books you would like to donate, please contact Tamara.

Jon Wachter announces the 2^nd Qtr Conference will be coming up two weeks from today. The club will reimburse $25 of the registration fee. Your registration fee includes breakfast and lunch and lots of interesting conversation about what other clubs are doing to help the kids. Reminder that registration for first time attendees is free. More info on District Website https://www.optimistcowy.org/conferences/

GUESTS

Guests: Ryan Bresnahan who will be coming back in March as our speaker, is here this morning to join us. Kent Gloor introduces Jeff Gartz, charter president of the T1-DOC Optimist Club and current member of DTC Jeff was invited to join us after helping us at the Tree Lot. Ed Collins introduces his guest, John Greenball. They met through their kids, and have been friends for over 50 years.

Jeanette Thompson from Tamarac Optimist Club was a helper at the Tree Lot. She is here this morning as a representative for OI Foundation, reminding members to participate in the Dime-A-Day program.
She thinks her dad would have loved being an Optimist, because he loved breakfast and what a lovely breakfast we have this morning. A president’s special breakfast of scrambled eggs, French toast, potatoes and sausage links and bacon for 5$ is hard to beat. Great way to start the day.

FIRST ANNUAL OSCAR (SORENSEN) AWARDS PRESENTATION

(Editor's Note) Kudos to President and Tree Lot Manager Tom Kramis for a successful fund raiser and thanks to Tom for organizing the program today, recognizing those who gave of their time and energy to live up to the Optimist International Mission statement: By providing hope and positive vision, Optimists bring out the best in youth, our communities and ourselves.

The Theme this morning is the 1^st Annual Oscar Sorenson Tree Lot Awards. President Tom asks Phil Perington to assist him with awards. President Tom takes the opportunity to thank everyone who helped at the Tree Lot.

Best art Director: The Oscar goes to Joe Marci who is in Nebraska this morning, and not able to join us in person but we thank him for his expertise in directing high school students in decorating wreaths.

Best Helpers Award for guiding pricing include the Tamarac Club, students from Thomas Jefferson and George Washington. Jeanette Thompson accepts on behalf of Tamarac.

Best Security: Allen Malask and Chris Dunphy they receive an orange security vest for their efforts.

The Biggest Brain, Mark Metevia for the new drill bit which worked well and Don Roth for giving out free breakfast cards, which were given to customers to encourage them to attend meeting with us. Don worked a lot of hours at the register, and the club appreciates his help.

Best Tree Delivery Driver: Tamara Kirch.

Best Grill Master: Craig Eley wins for grilling brats.

Best Lighting: Mike Webb and Nick Picucci.

Best Procurer: Steve Kady taking the award for getting Port-a-Potty , barricades, signs, Fire Department Help and anything else that was needed.

Biggest discounted tree: Carl Brown.(95% discount)

Best Painter: Casey Funk, for his painting of the wreath racks and trailer platform.

Best Set Up: Kent Gloor. who reports going down Evans at 5 mph with motorists blowing their horn at them is a great way to start the day.

Best Sound Setup: Tom Hoch demonstrated his expertise by hooking up the sound system (and showing others how to turn it off and on)

Best Chili: Jim Easton and Mark Metevia for their efforts with the chili cook-off

Best Documentary: Greg Young for the presentation he made to the club before the Tree Lot started up on how to run the cash register.

Most Increase in Hours Worked Phil Perington wins the award the most increase in hours worked compared to last year.

Best upselling off a Christmas Tree: Frank Middleton. He says he was able to sell a tree for $200 that had been marked incorrectly.

Greatest Tree Knowledge: Jeff Wilson.

Best Guadian of the Treasury: Pat Bush, who picked up cash every day and keep the totals every day. Well done Pat.

Best Helper(son) Brian White, Mike accepts on behalf of Brian and was a huge help with the Lot.

Best Helper(Son-in-Law) Matt Nelson

Best Helper (Grandson) Liam Nelson

Oscar Sorensen Popcorn Award: Tom Mauro, in memory of the popcorn maker himself. Tom mentions Oscar and how much he enjoyed the tree lot and what he did all those years working at the lot, making sure there was always popcorn in the bowl.

Best fresh cutting goes to Vaughn Kendall.

Woman of the year: Tamara Kirch who tells us she had a great time at the Tree Lot

Special thanks to all those who made this a highly productive year for the Tree Lot.

Phil Perington tells us that Oscar is smiling looking down on us.

MAGIC DAN IN OUR MIDST

Thanks to our very own Immediate Past President- Dan(The Magic Man) Rodriguez for the dazzling performance during during the halftime of the awards ceremony.

DRAWING

Do we have a drawing? $50 in the pot. 5 of Spades is the lucky card. NicK Picucci takes the first cup, George Buzick picks a card, Don Thomson takes a cup, Cesar Camarena takes a cup, Bob Meyer also picks a card, Greg Holt takes a cup, Phil Perington and Kent Gloor take a cup. President Tom awards Gary Strowbridge with a golf game you can play while sitting on your favorite seat.

We rise with Jeanette as she leads us in the creed.