Sunday, September 26, 2010

Making plans and taking action

The latest Middleton Area Optimist Club meeting was full of fun and friendship as potential new members visited and decided to join our cause.  Welcome to Bob Arnett,  Sybil Arnett, and Dr. Steven Killion.
Click to enlarge and print.

Action items at this meeting:

  • President Patrick discussed the Optimist Club's first fundraiser and showed us the 52" flat screen television that the lucky winner will receive. Raffle tickets were printed by All Boxed Up and Julie and Sherin distributed them to the group. There are 1,000 tickets to be sold at $5 each. The drawing will be held when all tickets are spoken for or approximately December 15, 2010.  Members are reminded to complete the ticket, please get your purchaser's contact information including an email address.  There is not a stub to give the purchaser. 
  • Larry discussed what he had learned about the community center plans. They have a website www.middletoncommunitycenter.org and a board of directors. They are wishing for support, but the type of support needed was unclear. Patrick will try to contact the group to find out more. Members were interested in learning about the City's involvement in the project. 
  • Linda asked the club to consider holding the Optimist Essay Contest and it was concluded that if a chairperson was identified, that the club would proceed.
  • Larry shared a project that the Caldwell Optimist Club did during the last deployment of the 116th Brigade to Iraq. The club thought this might be something to pursue and will discuss it further at the first Board Meeting on October 9.
  • Cathleen volunteered to take over bulletin/blog writing and Linda will be getting with her to teach her how to use this website before the Board Meeting. 

The next meeting will be held on Monday, September 27, 6:30 p.m. Dr. Richard Bauscher, Superintendent, Middleton School District will be the guest speaker. 

We're looking forward to seeing more new faces and meeting more new friends at our next meeting.  See you there!

Friday, September 17, 2010

What a great meeting!

Eighteen members plus a few guests were on hand Monday for the first official meeting of the Middleton Area Optimist Club with newly elected President Patrick Halpin presiding.  After the pledge and prayer, the meeting began with notice that the club has already reached 25 members! Great job and welcome to all.

Our Team
President Patrick presented a club fundraising idea for a 52-inch, flat screen television raffle. He proposed that he would front the money to purchase the television and members would sell tickets for $5 each with no more than 1,000 being sold. The club members present thought that sounded like good odds and approved that the club proceed with the project. Tickets will be distributed at the next meeting on September 20.

Linda Jackson reported on visiting with the Middleton Chamber of Commerce and suggested the club look into the Chili Cook-off event on October 8 at the high school with the Booster Club. Members liked the idea for raising awareness and it was suggested that VP Kim Boguslawski might even have a prize-winning chili recipe. Aaron Mitchell will check with the school to see if the Optimist Club can sell raffle tickets at the event.

Speaking of Kim, we missed her being with us, but understand as her husband was preparing to deploy this week. Our positive thoughts go with him and all of our troops as they fulfill their patriotic duties.

The club also discussed the tragic accident that occurred as children were walking to school last week and will offer their help, including crossing guard duty, to the school district.

Finally, the club heard from members Harland and Jennifer Ahyou about their business, MANA, a community service organization that helps at-risk kids find jobs and adapt to social situations and life on their own with a special emphasis on kids who are recently out of foster care or juvenile corrections. MANA is located at 314 W. Main, Middleton.

Other ideas for programs and projects were discussed and will continue as the Middleton Optimist Club decides on their plan of work for the coming year.  Please join us. Ideas are needed. You are needed.  Come see what we are all about on Monday, September 20.  Thank you.

Sunday, September 12, 2010

Next Meeting on Monday, September 13

On Monday, September 13, 6:30 p.m., the Middleton Area Optimist Club will have their first official meeting with the newly elected Board of Directors.

Come on out and make the Optimist Club truly your own local, community-oriented group.

Your ideas and enthusiasm are welcome! We hope to see you there.

Please click on the picture to enlarge and print the newsletter.

Thursday, September 2, 2010

Introducing the Middleton Area Optimist Club

We did it friends! Yesterday we organized the Middleton Area Optimist Club with 20 charter members. Already this morning we've added two more.  Joining together in service and helping children and our community are what makes an Optimist Club special.  Add in a positive, upbeat attitude with the Optimist Creed and we are off and running!

Congratulations to Patrick Halpin on his election as President of the new Middleton Area Optimist Club.  Joining him on the Board of Directors are:
Estela Cabrera, Secretary/Treasurer
Kim Boguslawski, Vice President
Peter Cabrera, Director
Cathleen Woods, Director
Julie Halpin, Director
Russell Nelson, Director
Jenn Driscoll, Director
Sherin Williams, Director

Joining them as charter members of the Middleton Area Optimist Club are:
Aaron Mitchell
Dave Castro
Amber Dickens
Stacy Nelson
Stacy Thibault
Kendra Greene
Debbie Brunner
Bill Blackburn
Cheryl Blackburn
Florence Blackburn
Larry Blackburn
Jennifer Ahyou
Harlan  Ahyou

More members and ideas are needed to do all the things we envision as a group to serve the Middleton Area.  Please join us today.  Click here for a charter membership application.