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.
"I love turning the clock back
so it gets dark by 5 pm"
Said no one ever!
Greeters Harry Fegley and Dick Nickoloff were taking their duties seriously, with wide grins and firm handshakes for everyone on this Friday morning, November 3rd, 2023.
President Casey Funk kicked off the meeting by asking RobertWardlaw to deliver our invocation. Robert chose a message based one of the tenants of our creed: to work only for the best. When we work only for the best, we contribute to the community and leave it better than we found it. In the process, we can also bring out the best in ourselves.
CAMARADERIE
Per the dictionary, camaraderie is a noun:
camaraderie
[ kah-muh-rah-duh-ree, -rad-uh-, kam-uh- ]
noun
a spirit of trust and goodwill among people closely associated in an activity or endeavor.
But at our club, we can turn this word into a verb. President Casey asked us to “camarad” for a few minutes (I think that’s how it should be spelled).
Announcements
Our esteemed treasurer Pat Bush says that next week the club board meeting will be held at the American Legion. All members are welcome to see how the board operates. The meeting will be Tuesday the 7th at 7:00 pm.
Pat also gave another reminder about membership dues. If you still owe please take care of payment this month. Pat will take cash, checks or credit cards (no crypto please).
Craig Eley is looking for a few good men to serve as Santa Claus during our weekend hours at the tree lot. Rosy cheeks not required, but a jolly attitude would help. Let Craig know if interested.
Michael Chavez announced that the Bill Walters Thanksgiving dinner is coming up on Thursday night, November 16th. 20 people from Bethany Lutheran will be helping out at the Boys and Girls Club, and we will also be staffing the dinner at Girls Inc. The start time is 4:30, so sign up please!
Jim Easton let us know that Thanksgiving basket delivery is coming up on Saturday November 18th. We will meet at the Safeway at Monaco and Yale, with a drive through pick up line in the parking lot. Sign up and help make Thanksgiving special for some needy families.
HAMILTON MIDDLE SCHOOL (FROM TOM MAURO)
Hamilton Thanksgiving Fundraising
As a result of the additional fundraising by Monaco South members, we will be able to provide over 50 additional families with a turkey or ham for the holiday season. The generosity of the following members is overwhelming. Thanks to all the following members who gave.
Pat Bush, Tom Mauro, Bill Litchfield, Ron Gustas, Ed Collins, Bob Avery, Greg Young, Jake Baker, Jon Wachter, Ken Jeung, Tom Glazier, Craig Eley, Mike White, Michael Chavez, Larry Pulaski, Greg Holt, Harry Fegley, Robert Wardlow, Matt Dollarhide, Roy Olsen, Mario Sani, Joe Marci, Tom Yagley, Paul Stratton, Phil Perington and friend, Kendall Vaughan, and Allen Pierce. There may have been others that contributed cash on Friday. If so, please let Tom Mauro know if we missed you. The generosity of these members is sincerely appreciated by Hamilton. They were aghast when notified of the amount raised.
Hamilton Clothes Drive
A number of Monaco South members generously donated coats and other clothing for the Hamilton Middle School Student Council Clothing Drive. Donating were the following members. Denny Dressman, Phil Perington, Bill Litchfield, Ed Collins, Nick Picucci, and Tom Mauro. If we missed anyone, please let Tom Mauro know. Thanks again for your donations.
Dan Rodriguez announced that the annual Christmas party is coming up on December 2nd. Dan says there will be dudes, dames and dancing! Frank Middleton and Dan are leading the committee and would like some more members, so please let Dan know if interested. The first meeting will be next Friday immediately after the regular club meeting.
Lowry Elementary Super Citizen assembly: Paul Stratton and Greg Young attended the first Super Citizen presentation of the school year at Lowry. This is the 19th year there has been an Optimist Super Citizen program at the school. 10 students were honored on Friday, including a young girl in her second year in the U.S. after emigrating from Uzbekistan.
SPEAKER
Mark Metevia introduced today’s speaker, Richard Nathan, former chairman of the Colo. State Gaming Commission. Richard’s topic is how technology has shaped the gaming industry. A brief historical perspective: Gaming began in Colorado in 1975. In 1990 the towns of Backhawk, Central City, and Cripple Creek were allowed to have gambling, with maximum $5 bet and no credit. Buildings were designed to replicate World War I vintage. Now, there are 5 story buildings and no limits on anything.
Sports betting was the greatest nightmare for professional sports, because of the potential for point shaving. The first live and online sportsbooks launched in 2020, and 15 online and 11 land-based operators have been licensed and approved since then.
Now, instead of just betting on the who wins or loses, you can bet on almost every play of the game as to what may happen. These bets take place in real time. You can actually bet on the outcome of a single play, as it is happening. With today's technology you can take into account past history, weather conditions, field condition, etc., in the blink of an eye.
Teams have dropped their opposition to sports betting and are now actually promoting it. More people are watching and more diligently, to be able to place "propositional" bets, on single events within the game, which means more television revenues, which means owners get richer, players get paid more, etc. Why won't players cheat? In order to continue to reap the rewards of sports betting, owners and players want to preserve the integrity of the games and ensure their reputation remains intact. Thanks to Mr. Nathan for an extremely knowledgeable presentation of how technology has changed the entire meaning of sports betting.
DRAWING
Draw the Queen of Diamonds and win $40!
Winners of Money Cups: Robert Wardlaw, Allen Malask, Dick Nickloff, Kent Gloor, Michael Chavez.
Attempts to draw were unsuccessful by Bill Morgan and George Buzick.
Bob Avery leads us in the Optimist Creed and another Friday is gone!
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.
Greeters Harry Fegley and Dick Nickoloff were taking their duties seriously, with wide grins and firm handshakes for everyone on this Friday morning, November 3rd, 2023.
Per the dictionary, camaraderie is a noun:
amaraderie
Craig Eley is looking for a few good men to serve as Santa Claus during our weekend hours at the tree lot. Rosy cheeks not required, but a jolly attitude would help. Let Craig know if interested.
Michael Chavez announced that the Bill Walters Thanksgiving dinner is coming up on Thursday night, November 16th. 20 people from Bethany Lutheran will be helping out at the Boys and Girls Club, and we will also be staffing the dinner at Girls Inc. The start time is 4:30, so sign up please!
Jim Easton let us know that Thanksgiving basket delivery is coming up on Saturday November 18th. We will meet at the Safeway at Monaco and Yale, with a drive through pick up line in the parking lot. Sign up and help make Thanksgiving special for some needy families.
Pat Bush, Tom Mauro, Bill Litchfield, Ron Gustas, Ed Collins, Bob Avery, Greg Young, Jake Baker, Jon Wachter, Ken Jeung, Tom Glazier, Craig Eley, Mike White, Michael Chavez, Larry Pulaski, Greg Holt, Harry Fegley, Robert Wardlow, Matt Dollarhide, Roy Olsen, Mario Sani, Joe Marci, Tom Yagley, Paul Stratton, Phil Perington and friend, Kendall Vaughan, and Allen Pierce. There may have been others that contributed cash on Friday. If so, please let Tom Mauro know if we missed you. The generosity of these members is sincerely appreciated by Hamilton. They were aghast when notified of the amount raised. 
Dan Rodriguez announced that the annual Christmas party is coming up on December 2nd. Dan says there will be dudes, dames and dancing! Frank Middleton
and Dan are leading the committee and would like some more members, so please let Dan know if interested. The first meeting will be next Friday immediately after the regular club meeting.
Mark Metevia introduced today’s speaker, Richard Nathan, former chairman of the Colo. State Gaming Commission. Richard’s topic is how technology has shaped the gaming industry. A brief historical perspective: Gaming began in Colorado in 1975. In 1990 the towns of Backhawk, Central City, and Cripple Creek were allowed to have gambling, with maximum $5 bet and no credit. Buildings were designed to replicate World War I vintage. Now, there are 5 story buildings and no limits on anything. 
outcome of a single play, as it is happening. With today's technology you can take into account past history, weather conditions, field condition, etc., in the blink of an eye.
Draw the Queen of Diamonds and win $40!