Greeters Don Roth and Ken Jeungawaited the men of Monaco South this morning, with salutations and well-wishes for all, as we started off our Friday, July 15th, 2022.
President Tom Kramis asked Don Thomson to come to the stage and deliver today’s invocation. Don’s message was around our call to make all your friends feel that there is something in them. Let us be a supporting presence in their lives and step in when they need help overcoming fear and self-doubt. He then led us in the Pledge of Allegiance.
Burritos were the on the menu, and spirits were high as our meeting began. President Tom worked the room like a seasoned Las Vegas showman, doling out greetings and pats on the back. And we had two guests!
GUESTS
Bill Litchfield introduced Bill Litchfield, his son! Bill is in town visiting from Charleston, South Carolina. As always, Tom was happy to see Bill, and this time he was seeing a double Bill!
Fred Goers introduced himself, a guest of Frank Middleton. Fred is a recent retiree after a long career in construction. He’s originally from the Chicago area but has been in Colorado since the 1960’s. Thanks for joining us, Fred!
FUND RAISER
Michael Chavez reminded us, and circulated a signup sheet for, our club project passing out handouts at the Rockies vs. Dodgers game coming up on Sunday, July 31st. We need only 3 more people to sign up and pass out 15,000 Ryan (not Mike) McMahon bobbleheads. The club will earn $750 from the Rockies if we have at least 50 people. Bring friends and family members, age 16 or older, and everyone gets a ticket to the game to enjoy after the handouts are done. Sign up, and be there at 10:00 am! The Dodgers continue to set the pace in the NL West with a 58-30 record. Come to Coors Field and see a first-place team in action! Use this link to sign up:
The Brent’s Place pancake breakfast is coming up! If you aren’t familiar with Brent’s Place and what they do, click here. The event will be at 11980 E 16th Ave in Aurora on July 23rd. Be sure to sign up to flip some pancakes and have a lot of fun. The shift is from 7:00 - 11:00 am. All details can be found at:
Robert Wardlaw announced that believe it or not, the 2022-2023 school year kicks off soon. Mark your calendars for our Principals to Breakfast meeting, which will be Friday, August 12th. Our club supports eight Southeast Denver schools with the Super Citizens program, a flagship project of ours.
LOTTERY:
Raffle Chair, Phil Perington reported there are 36 days left until the Big drawing for the $2,500-$1,000 and 15-$100 cash prizes at our 2nd Annual Youth Services Raffle. By the end of the morning breakfast there were 260 out of 525 tickets sold and allocated. We are $400 shy of the $5,000 payout and everything over that amount is profit. A big thank-you to the following members for their participation and purchases: President Tom Kramis(RCM), Pres.-Elect Larry Pulaski, Past Presidents Dan Rodriguez(RCM), Tom Mauro, Mark Metivia(RCM), Jon Wachter, Pat Bush (RCM), Bob Avery, Greg Young (RCM) Bill Litchfield, & Phil Perington (RCM). Other members and Club Volunteers include Russ Paul, Greg Holt, Dick Nickoloff, Al Perington, Past Governors George Buzick & Tom Overton;Cesar Camarena, Paul Stratton, Don Roth, Mike White, Don Thomson, Jake Baker, Dr. Bob Finkelmeier and additional Raffle Committee Members (RCM)Allen Malask & Al Gapuzan. There is great hope all members will make a purchase, if only One Ticket. Time is of the essence and we are all in and of great hope and Optimism that every ticket will be sold by the August 19th Drawing. Thanks again to everyone for their participation and commitment to this important Club Fundraiser. As a note: There will again be many special door prizes and an additional “surprise-prize” drawing for members in attendance only.
KING SOOPERS
Frank Middleton let us know that we have 47 households involved with King Soopers card program that gives cash back to the club and our programs. Those 47 household earned the club a recent check for $400! That amount can pay for multiple Thanksgiving baskets, some Super Citizen t-shirts, or cover the cost of two top-notch Christmas trees. Outstanding!
Remember These? If You've Lived In Denver in the 90s You Will!
Mark Metevia introduced today’s speaker, who is one of our own. Frank Rowe (Optimist Club of Monaco South) is the Executive Director of the Denver Park Trust. The trust started in 2019, and was founded by City Council person Kendra Black and Frank. The Denver Park Trust is a non-profit partner of Denver Parks and Recreation with a simple mission: to enhance and expand parks and green spaces in historically underserved areas. Frank breaks down their efforts into three parts:
Raising money for new parks. There are 70,000 Denver residents who do not live within a 10 minute walk or roll of a park, so providing parks for underserved areas is a focus.
Capital projects for upgrades. The Trust work with philanthropic organizations to raise money to help supplement city funds.
Community grant program. Small scale, high impact projects for a maximum of $5,000 in costs. These size projects don’t become priorities to Denver Parks, so the Trust looks to partner with the community to get those completed.
10% of all the donations the Trust receives go into a park fund. Over time, they hope to leverage that money, along with private and city funds, to buy new park spaces. That is a longer-term goal, as the fund currently has $120,000, and the cost of acquiring land and developing parks is quite high. There are 260 parks in Denver right now, a higher number than many in the audience would have guessed.
For more information on the Denver Park Trust, visit:
A drawing took place! “Dr. Bob, how much is in the pot?” “$60!” came the answer. The card to be sought was the Queen of Hearts, which had several members singing and humming the tune made famous by Juice Newton in 1981 (click the link for some juicy Juice facts - her real name is Judith Kay). Robert Wardlaw was spotted dancing along, as Jon Wachter and Tom Mauro knew the chorus by heart:
“Playin' with the Queen of Hearts
Knowin' it ain't really smart
The Joker ain't the only fool
Who'll do anythin' for
Layin' out another lie
Thinkin' 'bout a life of crime
'Cause that's what I'll have to do
To keep me away from you”
Five full cups were found by the four following fortunate fellows:
Robert Wardlaw
Allen Malask (x2)
Don Thomson
Frank Middleton
Ken Jeung and Phil Perington tried their luck for the big money, but fell short. So too did proud name tag-wearing Harry Fegley.
No one Optimist was called upon to lead the recitation of the creed - instead, there was a groundswell of voices that rose together in unison: Promise yourself, to be so strong…
Birthdays & Anniversaries
Member Birthdays
Cliff Eley
July 4
Dan Rodriguez
July 6
Pat Bush
July 6
Jack Kleinheksel
July 9
Paul Simon
July 9
Wyatt McCallie
July 11
Jim Leuschner
July 12
Kent Gloor
July 14
Thumper Kady
July 16
Andy Towt
July 18
Steve Avery
July 22
Tom Hoch
July 22
Mark Metevia
July 26
Randy Marcove
July 27
FUTURE SPEAKERS
*MSOC members
Friday July 22. Camaraderie Day
Friday July 29. Kendra Black, Councilwoman, District 4 Update
Friday Aug. 5. Jr. Golfers 2022 Optimists Trump National Doral Resort – Miami.
Friday Aug. 12
Friday Aug. 19. Camaraderie Day / S.C. Principals for breakfast
Friday Aug. 26 Harry Fegley*. Travel to the South Caucasus, Where? Why? What?
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 Tom Kramis 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 2020-2021 45th Year — Chartered in 1976
2021 - 2022 Officers
President Tom Kramis 303-917-5299
Vice President Larry Pulaski 303-956-1202
Vice President Chris Dunphy 720-297-3111
Secretary Phil Perington 303-832-4578
Treasurer Pat Bush 303-750-9409
2021- 2022 Board of Directors
Stephen Avery 720-775-7700 Joe Marci 303-847-7844
George Buzick 303-803-2268 Casey Funk 720-656-2255
David Peck 925-890-2531 Dan Rodriguez 303-521-5120
Steve Kady 303-931-1470 Kent Gloor 303-880- 5444
Tom Glazier 303-522-5214
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
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.
FUND RAISER
The Brent’s Place pancake breakfast is coming up! If you aren’t familiar with Brent’s Place and what they do, 
