Optimist Football and the Middleton Area

The Middleton Area Optimist Club came together for their regular meeting on October 25. A few of the regular attendees were out of town, but we still gathered with fifteen members to hear about Optimist Football from Middleton resident Steve Turner.

Steve has been the area director for the Middleton program that currently plays through the Nampa facility in the Boise Noon Football league for children up to twelve years of age. He explained how the teams sign-up players, recruit coaches and volunteers and described the potential for bringing weekly games to the Middleton Middle School football fields.  The Middleton Area Optimist Club is interested in participating in the program and President Patrick Halpin will be getting more information from Steve about the real costs and time involvement so the club can make an informed decision on how to proceed.

Also in the spotlight was the Television Raffle. Secretary/Treasurer Estela Cabrera explained that more members needed to step-up to sales or we would soon be at the deadline with not enought tickets sold. If you have not picked up 10 tickets to sell, please do so at our next meeting on Monday, November 1. We'll also have a schedule and locations to sell tickets to the public at that time.

Please be sure to join us on Monday, November 1, 6:30 p.m. at the Sunrise.

Optimist Club hears from the Mayor of Middleton

We had another great turnout for our regular meeting of the Middleton Area Optimist Club on Monday, October 18.  Mayor Vicki Thurber was our guest speaker and she gave us an update on a number of issues and activities impacting our area. She was excited to share how the city was utilizing rural economic development grants from the State of Idaho Department of Commerce and the US Department of Agriculture to make improvements to our infrastructure.  The new street and sidewalks will be joined soon by a new sewer plant and an Idaho Transportation Department project that will connect Middleton Lakes subdivision to with another new subdivision and allow better pedestrian access to the school.

In more economic development news, a tire and lube shop is coming to town and the community may get a community health clinic from an undisclosed charitable organization that is third in line for a grant to help get it started.

Of course of huge concern is the safety of pedestrian children and volunteers have been stepping up to address the traffic issue. Mayor Thurber said that she thought a sign that displayed motorists' speed might be a way to slow drivers down until a more permanent solution could be found.  Such a sign costs approximately $5,100.

Mayor Thurber agreed to draw the winning ticket on or before December 15 as needed for the TV raffle.  President Patrick thanked her for her presentation and Linda Jackson explained that a Friend of Optimist plaque was on its way from Optimist International and that we would honor her with that title when received.

In other business:
The TV Raffle is going well.  Over 200 tickets have been sold. Kim Boguslawski will be at the High School football game this Friday and would love some help to get more tickets sold.  On Saturday, Bob and Sybil Arnett and Peter and Estela Cabrera will take shifts at the Fall Craft Fair to sell tickets. Stop by and give them a hand!  We are also looking for members to help sell tickets at Ridley's on Saturdays.  Please send  Patrick or Estela an email if you can help out.

The club has agreed to adopt a platoon from our area and will be filling boxes with items that soldiers deployed to the Middle East might like to receive such as books, beef jerky, letters and magazines to keep up with current activities, movies, socks, and personal hygiene supplies.

A tentative date for the Middleton Area Optimist Club Charter Party was announced.  However, since it conflicts with another event, we are researching a new date in November.  The party will be fun, with a Wii Tournament for both kids and adults. Christy's Tacos has offered us a terrific deal for catering this event (adults $10 and children $5) You won't want to miss this party.  We'll keep you posted!

We also welcomed new member Don Bertelson this week. Nice to meet you Don!

Many thanks to our excellent secretary/treasurer Estela Cabrera for helping with this post. In fact, you can read the complete minutes from the meeting here.

Join us for the fun and information

The Board of Directors met on Saturday, October11. They are planning the Charter Party for Friday, November 12.  The party will have a Wii theme and both kids and adults will be invited to participate in tournaments and fun.  Be sure to watch for more information as the details are being worked out.

We also hope that you will join us on Monday, October 18.  Mayor Vicki Thurber will be our guest at our regular meeting at 6:30 p.m. at the Sunrise Cafe.

See you there!

Reaching out to the community

We had another great turnout for our regular meeting on Monday, October 4. Thanks to everyone who was there to learn more about what's happening in our community!  Joe Rodriguez joined us as a new member this week. Welcome!

In addition to our members, Tory Von Wolfe was on hand to talk about the proposed Middleton Community Center.  He is certainly a passionate speaker and wants to create something useful for the residents of the community.  To date, the community center committee has been crowd sourcing ideas and volunteers.  The small band of officers and a few volunteers have created a website, prepared an architectural rendering of the building and applied for 501 (c)(3) charitable status from the IRS. They continue to look for volunteers who will devote time to make the project a reality.  Mr. Von Wolfe explained that many organizations are interested in using the facilities for meetings and that many programs have been discussed from seniors to children. We'll be watching and discussing in an effort to learn more about how the Optimist Club may be able to be of service.

Julie Halpin and the TV raffle

In Optimist Club business, President Patrick reported that the raffle ticket sales for the 55" flat screen television were underway.  Nearly $400 was raised last Friday evening at the Oregon Trail Church barbecue. Many thanks to Pastor Bertelson and his congregation for allowing us to be a part of their event.  And a special shout-out to Bob Arnett for making sure we were there and preparing a great display about the Optimist Club.  Well done friends.  

The school district has graciously allowed us the opportunity to sell raffle tickets at the high school football game this Friday, October 8.  Patrick and Julie Halpin will be there and would love your help!  Please email Patrick to let him know that you will be there. 

On Saturday, October 9 Estela and Peter Cabrera have volunteered to sell tickets at Ridley's.  Thanks to Ridley's for allowing us the opportunity.   If you have some time on Saturday, why not give them a hand? Send an email to Patrick to let him know that you want to help.  

Our first monthly board of directors meeting will also be held this Saturday, October 9, 7:30 a.m., at the Sunrise. All members are welcome to attend.  Topics to be discussed include the possibility of using the Oregon Trail Church gymnasium and public space for Optimist Club programs and planning our charter installation banquet. 

And finally, last but not least - next Monday is a national holiday and that  means no meeting for the Optimist Club.  Our next regular meeting will be held on Monday, October 18.  Mayor Vicki Thurber will be our guest speaker.  

Optimists learn about new Middleton High School

Dr. Richard Bauscher was the guest speaker at the Middleton Area Optimist Club meeting on September 27.  Dr. Bauscher spoke to a very interested group about the progress on the new Middleton High School and shared architectural renderings of the development.

Of great interest was traffic control and the Optimist Club volunteered their help and support to make this campus and all school campuses as safe as possible.

It was also interesting to learn that the school will hold over 1,500 students so there is room for growth. The football, soccer and tennis courts were discussed. The high school does not currently have a tennis program, but one is being started in the middle school to feed into the system.

The school will also have an auditorium with theater style seating for 900 and rooms for band, orchestra and chorus.

President Patrick Halpin thanked Dr. Bauscher for his presentation. In other business, the club will be selling TV raffle tickets at the Oregon Trail Church barbecue on Saturday. Members are invited to attend.  The church has offered that the Optimist Club may use their gymnasium as a community center and for meetings. This will be discussed at the next meeting along with some other quick projects to get the club moving.

An invitation has been extended to Tory Von Wolfe, President, Middleton Community Center Board to address the next meeting on October 4, 2010.  Hope to see you there.

And in conclusion, two more members joined our club. Welcome to Drea Contreras and Don Bertelson.