Optimist Club of Gettysburg

Meeting minutes

January 7, 2015

Special meeting location: Adams County Arts Council, S. Washington St.

Attending: 19 members, 1 guest (Chris Glatfelter, Exec. Dir.)

*Annual Dues are due.*  $200 For the full year, or, $50 per quarter. Please make checks payable to:

Optimist Club of Gettysburg, and send to  PO Box 3035, Gettysburg, PA    17325

Or bring them to a meeting.

Thank you!

Stacey (Biggerstaff’s Catering) provided the dinner and dessert.

Chris Glatfelter thanked the club for our regular support and provided an overview of opportunities and activities for 2015. Their mission is to cultivate an arts rich community. Their building is available for rent for small and large groups from formal  dinners to a house full of youngsters with finger paints.

Classes of every variety are available throughout the year. They include painting, drawing, sculpture, pottery, art camps, music, cooking, and many more for adults and children. Rotating art and sculpture exhibits are often on display. Check out their web site at www.adamsarts.org  Donations and memberships are always welcome.

President Kris presented a check in the amount of $500. for their work with youth.

Youth basketball starts this Saturday, January 10th, at the Gettysburg Middle School, beginning at 9AM. Helpers are needed – no experience needed. It’s fun!  Join us.

Bruce reported on the Golf Tournament (May 21st) and has scheduled a committee meeting after the next meeting (Jan 21st). Every member should strive to sign up a golf foursome, and, continue to think of area contacts and business people you patronize or know of. Then take the literature Bruce will supply you by email, and make a call. Sign them up as a gold sponsor (preferred) and /or ask them to consider a gift or a gift in kind (food, door prizes of value). Our goal this year is $12,000.

Oyster Feed – our job is to sell tickets!!! We get very few walk-ins  so that pre sale of tickets is our only chance to have a successful fund raiser.

New members Dan Mattern and Robert Dicken were inducted into the club tonight. Congratulations!!

Congratulations also to our long time and faithful member Sam Isenberger who became a life member at the meeting – President Kris presiding.

The STARS breakfast sponsored by the Optimist Club will be January 21st. The start time was unknown (by the club) as of this writing. Members are invited to attend.

The 2nd QTR Zone meeting will be held March 12th at 6:30PM at the American Legion Bldg., in Hummelstown. Joe MacDowell is planning to attend. Others are welcome.

Tom Barako reported the Christmas Play netted about $3800. And was enjoyed by over 300 children of all ages. Kudos to chmn. Doug Miller.

Next meeting January 21st at Mama Ventura’s, dinner at 6:30. Come early and enjoy a beverage and some good company!

Optimistically, Joe MacDowell

Fellow Optimists,

We meet this Wednesday, January 7th, at the Arts Council Building on S. Washington Street at 6:30PM.

Please come for an informative meeting, good fellowship, and a great meal by Biggerstaff’s Catering!

Also, please email Stacey ([email protected]) or Kris ([email protected]) right away if you are coming. We need a good count.

Hope to see you there. Guests are always welcome.

If you missed the Optimist Basketball sign ups don’t worry there is still time for your child to be a part of this great program!  Below are the registration forms.   Once completed please email to [email protected] or send via mail to 5a Bonniefield Circle Gettysburg PA 17325 before January 1st so that we can have as many children placed on teams ahead of time.  Play begins on Saturday, January 10th at the Gettysburg Middle School gym.

 

9-10am Boys Grades K-3rd

10-11am Girls Grades K-3rd

11-12pm Boys Grades 4th-6th

12-1pm Girls Grades 4th-6th

 

basketball registration 2015

Basketball Schedule 2015

 

 

Optimist Basketball sign-ups are this Saturday, December 6th from 9-11am at the Gettysburg Middle School Cafeteria.  This program is available for local boys and girls in grades K-6.  We look forward to another great season!

Reminder, there are no regular meetings in December. Please note President Kris’s email regarding the Christmas Party on Wednesday 10th. Hope to see you there!

 

The Optimist Club of Gettysburg will once again sponsor a youth basketball program for boys and girls in grades K-6.  The seven week program which takes place on Saturdays will begin in January.  Come sign-up your child at the Gettysburg Middle School Cafeteria on Saturday, December 6th or 13th from  9-11am .  We look forward to seeing you on the court!

President Kris called the meeting to order and introduced guests for the evening:

Lt. Governor Dallas Smith

Special Olympics guests, Ms. Terry Sickles, Program Director, Alex Harner, and Ms. Bailey.

Invocation: Sam Isenberger

There are 150 athletes involved in the Special Olympics program in Adams County (40% under age 18).The mission is year around sports training for those who are intellectually impaired (not necessarily physically impaired). All activities of the participants choosing are free. However, the Special Olympics Organization pays the fees, transportation, lodging (if they go onto state, national , world events). There is an obvious need for funding.

There will be a Specal Olympics “golf challenge” at the Bridges golf course in the Spring. There will be a need for sponsors, golfers, and volunteers.

Benefits: Encourages independence building, self confidence, gives families a support network, gives athelete and parents a respite from relationship which is of value to both. There are 12 sports available. Bowling, swimming, golf,kayaking, bocci, volleyball to name a few. Coaches are needed – even with minimal experience.

Summer games are at Penn State, Fall games at Villanova, Winter games in Johnstown. States are at Penn State.

Alex Harner, Special Olympian, spoke about his experiences since age 8 (now 23). Social developement and making friends is a great benefit. He attended World Games in Greece – a life long memory.  We sang happy Birthday to Ms. Bailey and gave her a small cake and candle.

Lt. Gov. Dallas Smith from the East York Club (all York clubs have merged) commended Gettysburg for its great programs.   A framed print was presented to President Kris for Club support of the Optimist Foundation ($500/yr for about 10 years). The next Zone meeting will be Monday Nov. 24th at Alexander’s restaurant at 6:30.

Reports:

Treasurer – General Fund $425.17; Activities Fund $10,330.93   Tom has taken care of tax preparation for this year. The Magic Show is doing well and is exceeding expectations. At special thank you goes to the Eagles Club for their $500. donation.

Bruce Bradshaw had his knee surgery and is at home and doing well. Send him an email!

Magic Show – Dec. 12, 7PM at Lincoln Elementary. Thanks for your good work Doug!

Mindy reports basketball sign ups will be December 7th and 14th from 9-11 AM at the Gettysburg Middle School cafeteria. The season will be 7 weeks long with no practice on Jan 31st.

Oyster Feed will be Saturday Feb.28th with prep Friday nt, at 6PM at the Firehall.

Optimist Christmas Party will be December 10th at 6:30PM at the Refectory. Members and guests are $25. each,  and children under ten are free. BYOB. Presents “from Santa” should be brought by parents and placed under the tree. Mindy may have a photo op for children in antler ears, Santa’s cap, etc. Good Fun!

No regular meetings in December!!

Recorded by Walt Jones

 

Fellow Optimists,

We meet tonight, 6:30 PM, at  Mama Ventura’s. THIS IS OUR LAST REGULER MEETING OF THE YEAR.

We sincerely hope you can come. Come early for some fellowship! We’ll have two special guests also.

See you there.

 

Fellow Optimists,

Our Lt. Govenor , Dallas Smith, will be a special guest at our Wednesday meeting. Please try and attend this important event.

IMPORTANT: Please let Kris Accardi  know if you will attend so we can give Mama Ventra’s a count. Thanks, see you there.

 

President Kris opened the meeting after a good fellowship session as many members arrived early. There were 17 members present including two new members and two guest speakers from the Salvation Army.

After dinner Jane Scott reviewed the history of the bell ringers and donation pot and thanked the club for its continuing support. The donation pot began in Los Angeles. Pots were often placed at Ferry landing docks for passengers to drop in their change to help the poor. Salvation Army captain Joseph McFee was looking for a way to fund Christmas dinner for the poor. Remembering the dock pots, he placed one at the Oakland Ferry Landing in 1891. He soon had enough money to provide the dinners. The method and Christmas tradition continued and grew and spread across the nationwide organization and around the world.

Today this tradition is in our hands. All Salvation members in Adams county are volunteers. 95% or more of all collections remain in our county. About $40,000. is collected annually and is distributed to needy families and children’s school supplies.

Kris reported that speakers from the Special Olympics will be at our November 19 meeting.

The annual family Christmas Party will be held December 10, 6PM,  at the Refectory. Children are free. Adults pay $25.00. Please RSVP Stacey Green for reservations.

January 21st Alex Hayes of the Gettysburg Times will be our speaker.

We are pleased to have Dan Mattern back with us. Dan is a long time member who took a few years away from us. Welcome Dan!

New member Bob Dicken was present. Welcome to the club Bob! Kris called upon us to keep up our efforts to increase our membership.

Kris is working on lining up arrangements for Optimist basketball. January 10th is the proposed starting date.

The social gathering at Battlefield Brewworks was held last Sunday with 10 people attending – a good start for such events.

The trivia winners selected “Ruth’s Harvest” for a $500. donation.

Tom reported our Activities fund contains $11,867.50. The general fund contains $284.70.

Money from the Christmas Magic Show is coming in. Nearly $3000. has been received so far. The show is Dec. 12, 7PM, at Lincoln Elementary. Members are invited to attend and help (no charge).

Bruce reported that about $9000. was made at last year’s golf tournament. The only ways to increase this amount are to get a major sponsor, add additional tee and hole sponsors, and to bring our foursome numbers to 36. November is our key month for soliciting sponsors! Budgets are being prepared for next year and we want to be a part of many new budgets. More info and literature will follow.

Wayne reports the Oyster Feed will be February 28th at the firehall. Mark your calendars!

Daryl thanked all who participated in the Halloween parade. Seems two Gettysped carts were seen racing up Baltimore street, both heavily laden, at speeds exceeding 1mph! NASCAR is considering sanctions.

Next meeting is November 19th. Dinner is 6:30. Come early! Chat and have a beverage of your choice.

Recorded by Joe MacDowell