'Tis the Season to be Jolly. The Zoom meeting called to order at 7:00 a.m. on Friday, November 27, by President Dan Rodriguez was an abbreviated, since today is an "all hands on deck" to set up the Christmas tree lot. Dan read the invocation, which centered on giving thanks for what we have, even in these troubling times.
Frank Middleton mentioned that the MSOC tree lot was noted in Denver Post supplement "Your Hub" on Thursday, November 26. Thanks to Tom Hoch for submitting the information.
Karl Geil said that the virtual Brain Bowl system was being worked out and training would start soon for readers. This will be a new experience, but is being well planned.
Paul Bernard said that even though we are not meeting in person, it is important to have quality speakers, in order to maintain members' interest. If you have any speakers, contact Paul at 720-339-8025.
Tamarac Lifetime Achievement Award
Craig Eley reports that John and Claire Young were presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award by the Tamarac Optimist Club on November 29,2020. Click the link for photos and video.
The Christmas tree lot has been an exciting adventure this year. With Covid-19, several things have happened. There has been a significant decrease in the number of trees ordered Currently only 400 trees have been ordered. Only two species (Noble and Nordman) of trees are on site. Most of the trees are in the six to eight foot range and the lot is open only between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m., Thursday through Monday.
Thanks to the following members who showed up on Wednesday to help unload the shipment from Oregon: Greg Young Phil Perington, Woody Thibodeau, Noel Hasselgren, Gary Miller, Neil Alderson, Mark Smith, Tom Overton, Greg Holt, Michael Chavez, Kent Gloor, George Buzick, Tom Kramis, Joe Marci, Russ Paul, Mark Metevia. Thanks also to the Tamarac ladies who helped price the trees as they were unloaded. These include: Pat Dutton, Joy Crimminger, Lois Galloway, Sherry Pearn, Jeannette Thompson and Judy Reed. Apologies if you were there and not listed, since everyone was wearing a mask.
First Tree Sold!
Tom Kramis stands beside first tree sold this year. These ladies stopped by Wednesday afternoon while we were setting up and picked a tree off the pile of newly unloaded trees. Tree sales have been brisk. Approximately 300 trees as of noon today (Sunday). Also 400 feet of garland, and 90 wreathes. Four wreathes will be delivered to firehouses tomorrow.
Construction Wizards
Customers stand on newly constructed platform built by Tom Kramis(left) and Al Gapuzan. Platform allows separation between cashier and customer
Please check online signup for tree lot schedule and help us out whenever you have a spare hour or two. Signing up will ensure that we have sufficient staff. Schedule is subject to change, dependent on number of trees sold. Sign up using http://msocxmas.org
From Dr. Bob Finkelmeier:
"You have two choices: you can cry about it the rest of your life or you can move on, learn from it and get better. I chose to get better."
- Ron Wright
Editor's Notes
Ron Wright was a high school baseball phenom in the early 1990s. For whatever reason, this kid from Washington state grew up a Braves fan. And in 1994, he was drafted by those Braves out of high school. As he worked his way through the minors, the Braves traded him to the Pirates. There, he battled numerous injuries, the most serious a back injury that required surgery. A mistake in surgery took him from dreaming of a major league career, to dreaming of being able to run again. "I was essentially without a right leg and I was competing with guys that were on steroids for the rest of my career."
Although he worked hard and improved, the Pirates released him. His home-state Mariners picked him up. And in 2002, Edgar Martinez was injured, and Wright got the call all baseball players dream of. He joined the team in Texas, and got the call to start against Kenny Rogers. It was, kind of, a memorable debut...
In three at-bats, Wright struck out, hit into an unfathomable 1-6-2-5-1-4 triple play, and hit into a 6-4-3 double play. Three at-bats, six outs. For some reason his manager, Lou Pinella, then removed him from the game for a pinch-hitter.
He played a couple more years of AAA ball before one final year in the profession with the Independent Sioux Falls Canaries. Reflecting back on his career, Wright says, "I don't talk about it a ton, but it was probably the hardest and most rewarding thing I'll ever do."
Then he hung it up and went to pharmacy school. "In baseball you have to produce or the city hates you. It was a different career that was an honor to be around for ten years. After that I didn't freak out over a pharmacy test."
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.
Due to high level Covid Alerts in the Denver Metro
Area, in-person meetings will be discontinued for the
present time. Zoom meeting will continue on Friday l
