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
Allen Malask and Phil Perington were today’s greeters, and they took their duties very seriously and were so busy pressing the flesh you would have thought they were running for office. Thanks Allen and Phil!
Our invocation today was led by Mark Metevia. Mark delivered a message regarding having no time to criticize others, and instead focusing our time on the improvement of ourselves. He then led us in the Pledge of Allegiance.
PRESIDENT'S CORNER
President Larry Pulaski has some announcements to share after the board meeting on Tuesday evening.
1. A nomination committee has been formed, and April 7th is the targeted day for officer and board member nominations for next year.
2. The net proceeds from the 2022 tree lot were approximately $41,000. That amount is after making contributions to the numerous different groups and schools that helped out at the lot. It also is after a gift of $2,400 to the Thomas Jefferson High School Band to help with their trips out of town for performances.
3. A Junior Golf subcommittee is being formed. The subcommittee will help support our efforts in raising funds for the tournaments and try to fill the void left by Ron Cisco’s passing.
PEOPLE WE HAVEN'T SEEN FOR A WHILE - WELCOME!
Tracy Sorensen
Greg Hurd
DIME A DAY- OI FOUNDATION
Andy Towt gave a big Thank You to those members who have made a Dime-a-Day contributions this year. Checks to OI in the amount of $36.50 (or more) can be given to Andy or to Pat Bush. Andy mails them to OI in batches, so you will get an acknowledgment from OI when they are received.
SWEETHEARTS TO BREAKFAST
Jon Wachter reminded us that Sweethearts to Breakfast is next week. We are dining at Cafe de France, 2730 S. Colorado Blvd (NOT AT THE AMERICAN LEGION). Breakfast will start at 7:30am, and we will be ordering off the menu so you will get your own bill for your own food. 72 people are signed up, and there are a maximum of 80 seats available to us.
ORATORICAL CONTEST
Michael Chavez announced that the Oratorical Contest is coming up on Wednesday, March 15th. Sign up and plan to help with judging, timekeeping or monitoring at this fun event.
Arrive at 4:30 and should last until 7:00. The location is Prairie Middle School, 12600 E Jewell Ave in Aurora.
Robert Wardlaw - A Super Citizens assembly is coming up next week, Friday February 17th, 8:30 am at Slavens Elementary. Tom Hoch will be out of town, so Robert is looking for a presenter. Note that the assembly will be in conflict with the end of the Sweethearts to Breakfast meeting. Please reach out to Robert if you are able to assist.
NEW MEMBER INDUCTION
Ryan McIntosh and Mark Metevia took to the stage. President Pulaski presided over a new member induction as Ryan was officially brought into the fold, while his sponsor Mark looked on proudly. Welcome to the gang, Ryan! We are happy to have you.
SPEAKER
Frank Middleton introduced today’s speaker, Mayor Stephanie Piko of Centennial, who gave us an update on her city. Mayor Piko is married with two children and is in her second term as mayor. Prior to being elected mayor, she served for six years on the city council.
The City of Centennial was legally established as a Colorado city on February 7, 2001. It was the largest incorporation of a city at that time. Centennial is 14 miles long and 3-4 miles wide, and all of it was formerly unincorporated areas. There are four districts in the city, with approximately 25,000 residents each. Mayor Piko showed a video from The Viewpoint Project that highlighted Centennial’s unique contract model that allows the city to scale up or scale down projects and service providers as needed. With over 100,000 citizens in Centennial it is the 10th largest city in Colorado. Centennial has eight city council members plus the mayor who serves as well, with only one vote. Mayor Piko took questions about development and traffic and mentioned several projects along the I25 corridor. She said that when talking to other mayors around the state and the country, affordable housing seems to be the #1 concern for all municipalities, which is a difficult problem to solve without using significant subsidies.
Please find more information about Mayor Piko, her experience and background, contact information, as well as more about the City of Centennial by clicking this link.
WE HAD A DRAWING! What would a Friday be without Dr. Bob and a little game of try your luck. The 10 of hearts was the card holding the key to a pot full of $70.
It was a good day to be the President, as Larry Pulaski had his number called three times. The first two times he allowed our speaker Mayor Piko to draw a card, but she came up empty. The third time he gave her his cup of cash, which she (in a savvy political move) donated back to the club. Thank you!
George Busick also was a double-winner and went home with two lucky cups. Cups also went to Al Gapuzan and JackKleinheksel.
Nametag drawing - Ken Jeung had his nametag on and took a shot for the big money, but came up empty. So the pot thickens…
FYI - The American Gaming Association expects 50 million Americans to bet on Super Bowl LVII this weekend, a 61 percent increase from last year’s Super Bowl. And speaking of gambling, what is the over/under on the number of Monaco South members who arrive at the American Legion next Friday, only to discover we aren’t meeting there? Vegas has set the line at 4, and smart money is taking the over.
CREED
Centennial Mayor Stephanie Piko started us off on our creed:
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
OCMS President Larry Pulaski is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting
PLEASE NOTE: All 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 2022-2023 47th Year — Chartered in 1976
2022-2023 Officers
President Larry Pulaski 303-956-1202
Vice President Matt Nelson 720-774-0758
Vice President Steve Kady 303-931-1470
Secretary Jake Baker 412-680-0765
Treasurer Pat Bush 303-750-9409
2022- 2023 Board of Directors
Joe Marci 303-847-7844 Tom Glazier 303-522-5214
George Buzick 303-803-2268 Casey Funk 720-656-2255
Vaughn Kendall 303-910-6590 Ken Jeung 720-849-6241
Kent Gloor 303-880- 5444 Tom Kramis 303-917-5299
Tom Hoch 303-332-9338
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
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.
Andy
Towt gave a big Thank You to those members who have made a Dime-a-Day contributions this year. Checks to OI in the amount of $36.50 (or more) can be given to Andy or to Pat Bush. Andy mails them to OI in batches, so you will get an acknowledgment from OI when they are received.
Robert Wardlaw - A Super Citizens assembly is coming up next week, Friday February 17th, 8:30 am at Slavens Elementary. Tom Hoch will be out of town, so Robert is looking for a presenter. Note that the assembly will be in conflict with the end of the Sweethearts to Breakfast meeting. Please reach out to Robert if you are able to assist.
