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.
Full of enthusiasm and charm, greeters Denny Dressman and Frank Middleton stayed busy pressing the flesh this morning. A large and noisy crowd of Optimists packed the American Legion on this Friday morning, July 19th, 2024.
President Casey Funk called Denny Dressman to the stage for our invocation. Denny picked a message on choosing optimism as a philosophy of life. As Optimists, we are charged with taking the energy of our meetings and the good works of our club with us in all activities and relationships in our life. He then led us in the Pledge of Allegiance.
DO WE HAVE ANY GUESTS
Mario Sani grabbed the mic and introduced his father Ron Sani, a retired dentist in town visiting from Fresno California.
Bill Morgan introduced his wife Sue Morgan. Actually, Sue introduced herself as Bill’s better half, which of course is an unfair thing to say. We all know that she is his better two-thirds.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY
According to the esteemed Dr. Robert Finkelmeier, tomorrow is Monaco South’s birthday. Founded July 20,1976, our club is getting up there! A well-intended, yet horrible-sounding rendition of the Happy Birthday song was sung (sung?) to Monaco South. GeorgeBuzick took the mic and recognized four charter members from 1976, 3 of whom were in attendance: Bill Litchfield, Kent Gloor and Greg Hurd (via Zoom). John Young was the only one missing. Hats off to these amazing, trailblazing Optimists!
John Young Bill Litchfield Greg Hurd Kent Gloor
PRESIDENT'S CORNER
Casey Funk will be gone next week traveling to see his daughter in Bellingham WA. They hope to go hiking in a National Park, as long as it isn’t actively on fire at the time.
President Casey was apparently not satisfied with hearing the birthday song only once, so he read a long list of Monaco South Optimists with July birthdays, and those lucky gentlemen received their own full-throated serenade. If you have a July birthday and were not in attendance today, you missed out on hearing your song. But I’m not sure you really “missed" anything.
CLUB ANNOUNCEMENTS
Phil Perington visited Russ Paul at the Littleton Care and Rehabilitation Center. Russ was in good spirits but not in very good health. He would appreciate and benefit from visits from his Optimist friends.
Robert Wardlaw announced that Friday, August 23rd will be our Principals to Breakfast meeting. If you are a school representative, let Robert know if there have been any staffing or contact information changes at your school. Also, Robert asked - do you know of other schools we can expand to? Give some thought to how we can help more elementary school kids.
Ed Collins reported that Brent’s Place is building another facility to support their mission. Ed participated in golf tournament this week that raised $200,000 towards that effort.
Tom Glazier reminded us that a representative from Treasury House of Hope - https://www.treasurehouseofhope.com/ - will be our speaker on September 6th. They raise funds through selling loaves of bread. Take a look at their website and the five types of bread they offer. Tom may organize a large order for them to deliver on the day they speak, so stay tuned.
Past President Jon Wachter is looking for a few good men to help at the 60th Scottish Festival, coming up on Sunday, August 4th at the Denver Polo Club in Sedalia. The festival needs help selling tickets. This is a fundraiser for the University Hills Optimist club, and Monaco South may receive some funds as well. Sign up!
Dr. Bob Finkelmeier says, “The peaches are coming; the peaches are coming!” Sign up for some fantastic peaches at a great price - $45/box for the real deal Western Slope peaches. They will be delivered in August and Bob will keep us posted on the exact date.
Tom Kramis informed us that the second truckload of Christmas trees was ordered this week. We will be getting the same number of trees as last season. The next TLC (Tree Lot Committee) meeting will be next Wednesday, 3:00 at Phil Perington’s office. All are welcome!
Bob Avery is back from New Mexico and his 9th trip to the Boy Scout camp at Philmont. This year he took 7 young scouts, had a fantastic time and is looking forward to trip #10. Learn more about the ranch at:
Editor’s note - my father went to Scout Camp at Philmont in
1951. Five cars, each with a driver, four scouts and no air conditioning, left Westfield, New York and drove across country, camping and hiking along the way. My dad is 88 years old and remembers Philmont and that trip vividly as one of his life’s greatest adventures.
SPEAKER
Mark Metevia introduced this morning’s speaker, Jenna Donovan of World Vision. Jenna was joined by her colleague Anne Gibbs.
Jenna is passionate about international humanitarian development and the empowerment of children and youth. She grew up outside of Chicago and lived and worked in Haiti for 6 years. She reports that 90% of orphans in Haiti have one living parent. Sometimes parents think that an orphanage will do a better job raising their child. Jenna worked for a group that established a children’s home with the mission of working alongside Haitian protective services to rescue kids from corrupt orphanages and try to reunite families, while giving the parents the skills they needed to guide their children.
Jenna and her roommate were looking for a Christmas tree last year and found our lot online. She met Bob Avery at the lot and that was her introduction to our club. Good results from our marketing and our customer service! Well done, Bob!
World Vision is a nearly 75 year old organization that partners with children, families, and their communities to reach their full potential by tackling the causes of poverty and injustice. World Vision is the largest non-governmental provider of clean water. They work in 100 countries and have a staff of 40,000. 100% access to clean water, defined by each person having less than a one-mile walk to water, is their goal. Recently they reached that goal in Zambia, and are on track to meet it in Honduras by 2027. They provide the skills and resources while allowing the local people to do the work on new water projects, thus empowering them with the ability to maintain them and creating community pride in the accomplishments. World Vision partners with many global and local organizations, including UNICEF, and has a 7% overhead rate.
Their main fund-raising program is the sponsorship of a child. On their website, donors can find a child they would like to support by searching by country, gender, age or even birthday. For example, searching for a child with a July 20th birthday (the same as Monaco South) brings up 137 children in need. Sponsoring a child is $39/month, and Jenna made clear that the funds support the child as well as their family members. Please learn more about World Vision and how to sponsor at their website:
Also, Jenna sent the following note after the meeting:
“Thank you so much for opening your warm club to Anne and me this morning. I can’t think of a better way to start my Friday than sharing it with your organization.
My colleague Anne has set a personal goal to get 15 children sponsored this month! If you feel that you, your family, or any club members may be interested in it, please see the link below. The only thing I ask is that I can personally thank anyone who so chooses to sponsor so please let me know."
A dwindling number of cards remain in the deck, with a modest $20 in the pot. The 5ive of Spades was the lucky card to be found.
Mario Sani had the first ticket called, and gave his cup to Anne Gibbs from World Vision. Anne then won a cup on her own!
Other cups went to:
Gary Strowbridge
Jake Baker
Vaughn Kendall
Dave Peck
Randy Condit and Greg Holt went for the big bucks, but came up short.
Nametag drawing: Charter member Bill Litchfield’s name was called. Bill gave his chance to our speaker Jenna Donavon, who also missed out on the money.
Creed: President Casey asked tree lot guru Tom Kramis to lead us in the recitation of 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.
Fu
ll of enthusiasm and charm, greeters Denny Dressman and Frank Middleton stayed busy pressing the flesh this morning. A large and noisy crowd of Optimists packed the American Legion on this Friday morning, July 19th, 2024.
Mario Sani grabbed the mic and introduced his father Ron Sani, a retired dentist in town visiting from Fresno California.
Bill Morgan introduced his wife Sue Morgan. Actually, Sue introduced herself as Bill’s better half, which of course is an unfair thing to say. We all know that she is his better two-thirds.
Casey Funk will be gone next week traveling to see his daughter in Bellingham WA. They hope to go hiking in a National Park, as long as it isn’t actively on fire at the time.
Phil Perington visited Russ Paul at the Littleton Care and Rehabilitation Center. Russ was in good spirits but not in very good health. He would appreciate and benefit from visits from his Optimist friends.
Robert Wardlaw.png){kind=logo}
Tom Glazier reminded us that a representative from Treasury House of Hope - 
Past President Jon Wachter is looking for a few good men to help at the 60th Scottish Festival, coming up on Sunday, August 4th at the Denver Polo Club in Sedalia. The festival needs help selling tickets. This is a fundraiser for the University Hills Optimist club, and Monaco South may receive some funds as well. Sign up!
Dr. Bob Finkelmeier says, “The peaches are coming; the peaches are coming!” Sign up for some fantastic peaches at a great price - $45/box for the real deal Western Slope peaches. They will be delivered in August and Bob will keep us posted on the exact date.
Mark Metevia introduced this morning’s speaker, Jenna Donovan of World Vision. Jenna was joined by her colleague Anne Gibbs. 
World Vision is a nearly 75 year old organization that partners with children, families, and their communities to reach their full potential by tackling the causes of poverty and injustice. World Vision is the largest non-governmental provider of clean water. They work in 100 countries and have a staff of 40,000. 100% access to clean water, defined by each person having less than a one-mile walk to water, is their goal. Recently they reached that goal in Zambia, and are on track to meet it in Honduras by 2027. They provide the skills and resources while allowing the local people to do the work on new water projects, thus empowering them with the ability to maintain them and creating community pride in the accomplishments. World Vision partners with many global and local organizations, including UNICEF, and has a 7% overhead rate.
Their main fund-raising program is the sponsorship of a child. On their website, donors can find a child they would like to support by searching by country, gender, age or even birthday. For example, searching for a child with a July 20th birthday (the same as Monaco South) brings up 137 children in need. Sponsoring a child is $39/month, and Jenna made clear that the funds support the child as well as their family members. Please learn more about World Vision and how to sponsor at their website:
Mario Sani had the first ticket called, and gave his cup to Anne Gibbs from World Vision. Anne then won a cup on her own!