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August 2003 Meeting notes
August 29 2003 Meeting Notes
Speaker: Steve Brady of the Cobb County Extension Service
Dan Scoggins introduced Steve Brady of the Extension Service, a division of the University of
Georgia. He works with Master Gardeners and 4-H and give advice on urban lawns.
You can use the office for advice about lawns, shrubs, trees and flowers. The office phone is
770-528-4070. The WEB page is www.cobbextention.com and they are at 678 S. Cobb Drive next to
the tag office.
The Meeting
There were 47 members and one guest present.
Two new members were initiated by Rodney Hogue with sponsors Harlan Luke and Ed Whittington. Please welcome Dean Byers and Susan Hiott as our clubs newest members.
Ray Metts had open heart surgery and is recuperating at home. Bill Bennett's brother passed away.
It is still not too late to sign up for one of our most successful and important club project,
Read by Grade Three. You do not have to read every week. There is a schedule made for you or your spouse, just check with Harry Hackett or Doug Pharr and see how you can help in this very important program. We have programs going in seven local elementary schools. There has got to be a place you can help. There are 25 members involved so far this year.
You can now find events, upcoming activities and information about projects on our web site
www.smyrnaoptimist.org. Thanks to webmaster Suzanne Lynn.
Up-to-date rosters are available. Contact Dennis Harding by e-mail
hardinghouse@bellsouth.net or at 770-435-5762. Check with him about your attendance record for perfect attendance pins. Absences are excused due to business, illness, or travel. They can be made up by participating in a club function or by attending a board meeting.
Susan Cooper is looking for additional volunteers to work the Campbell High School concession stand during the Sept. 5 football game.
The Sept. 12 meeting will be the kick-off for the Pancake Breakfast.
Come and be part of the action.
It is time to PAY your DUES!!!!
Fourth Quarter dues of $80 can be paid to Mike McNabb.
Ed Forscher is still looking for someone to be co-editor of the newsletter next year. It is a shared job and takes only an hour or so to put together.
The Installation Banquet will be September 25 at 7PM at the Smyrna Community Center.
The cost is $21 per person.
BUSINESS SIGNS
On a septic tank truck:
"We're #1 in the #2 business."
Over a gynecologist's office:
"Dr. Jones , at your cervix."
On a plumber's truck:
"We repair what your husband fixed."
On a plumber's truck:
"Don't sleep with a drip. Call your plumber."
Pizza shop slogan:
"7 days without pizza makes one weak."
At a tire shop in Milwaukee:
"Invite us to your next blowout."
On a plastic surgeon's office door:
"Hello. Can we pick your nose?"
At a towing company:
"We don't charge an arm and a leg. We want tows."
On an electrician's truck:
"Let us remove your shorts."
August 22, 2003 Meeting Notes
Speaker: Bill Scoggins, Smyrna Councilman
Harold Smith introduced Councilman Scoggins. He is running to keep his council seat for Ward 3.
He has been on the council since 1988 and he shared stories and reminiscences of old Smyrna.
The Meeting
The were 56 members and one guest present.
It is still not too late to sign up for one of our most successful and important club project, Read by Grade Three. You do not have to read every week. There is a schedule made for you or your spouse, just check with Harry Hackett or Doug Pharr and see how you can help in this very important program. We have programs going in seven local elementary schools. There has got to be a place you can help. There are 25 members involved so far this year.
You can now find events, upcoming activities and information about projects on our web site
www.smyrnaoptimist.org. Thanks to webmaster Suzanne Lynn.
Up-to-date rosters are available. Contact Dennis Harding by
e-mail hardinghouse@bellsouth.net or at 770-435-5762.
Sanford Phillips is preparing for his annual mission trip to the Indian Reservation in New Mexico. He is looking for donations of clothing to take with him.
Ed Forester is still looking for someone to be co-editor of the newsletter next year.
It is a shared job and takes only an hour or so to put together.
It is time to PAY your DUES!!!!
Fourth Quarter dues of $80 can be paid to Mike McNabb.
The Installation Banquet will be September 25 at 7PM at the Smyrna Community Center.
Stay tuned for details.
Redneck Engineering Exam
Calculate the smallest limb diameter on a persimmon tree that will support a 10-pound possum.
Which of the following cars will rust out the quickest when placed on blocks in your front yard? 66 Ford Fairlane, 69 Chevy Chevelle, 64 Pontiac GTO
A woodcutter has a chain saw that operates at 2700 rpm. The density of the pine trees in a plot to be harvested is 470 per acre. The plot is 2.3 aces in size. The average tree diameter is 14 inches. How many Budweisers will it take to cut the trees?
A front porch is constructed of 2X8 pine on 24" centers with a field rock foundation. The span is 8' and the length is 16'. The porch floor is 1" rough sawn pine. When the porch collapses, how many hound dogs will be killed?
A 2-ton truck is overloaded and proceeding 900 yards down a steep grade on a secondary road at 45 mph. The brakes fail. Given the average traffic on secondary roads, what are the chances that it will strike a vehicle with a muffler.
At a reduction in gene pool variability rate of 6.5% per generation, how long will it take a town that has been bypassed by the interstate to breed a country-western singer.
Why they ask at the airport
I was at the airport, checking in at the gate when an airport employee asked,
"Has anyone put anything in your baggage without your knowledge?" To which I replied,
"If it was without my knowledge, how would I know?" She smiled knowingly and nodded,
"That's why we ask."
August 15, 2003 Meeting Notes
Speaker: General Joe Redden, Cobb County School Superintendent
Curt Johnston introduced our speaker, School Superintendent, Joe Redden. Superintendent Redden
comes well-qualified for his position. He is a retired three-star lieutenant general in the
Air Force and flew 607 combat missions in Vietnam. He has a masters degree in education from
Auburn University and was commandant of the Air Force Academy.
The Cobb County school system is one of the largest in the nation. It has grown by more than
10,000 students since 1998 and is projected to grow by another 10,000 students by the end of the
decade. Mr. Redden stresses the importance of the special option sales tax being renewed in order
to meet capital improvement needs of a growing school system. It is projected that if passed by
referendum September 16, 2003, this special option sales tax would generate $637 million over the next
five years which will enable the Cobb County school system to receive matching funds from
the State of Georgia for over $60 million. Planned for this special options sales-tax is the
construction of 9 new schools and a total of 347 new classrooms added to existing schools, $81
million in other capital improvements (electrical, HVAC, roofing, painting.) Also in the budget is
$69 million to eliminate debt and a millage rate reduction. A sign of the changing times is
$76 million in technology and $75 million in school safety and security.
He also explained the ranking established in the no child left behind program. The schools are all
subdivided and broken down with many different classifications (Asian,Pacific Islander, black, Hispanic,
American Indian, Alaskan, white, multiracial, students with disabilities, limited english proficiency,
economically disadvantaged.) All of these categories are ranked by not only their scores, in
english, math, reading and attendance, but also by the percentage of people taking the test in
each group. If any school does not meet the benchmark in any of the categories previously described,
they are listed as failing.
Read by Grade Three
It is still not to late to sign up for one of our most successful and important club projects "Read by
Grade Three." You do not have to read every week. There is a schedule made for you or your
spouse, just check with Harry Hackett and see how you can help in this very important program.
Seven local elementary schools participate. There has got to be a place you can help.
Susan Williams thanks the club for all their donations and volunteer of time in the school
supplies distribution by MUST Ministries. This program reached more than 400 children in our area.
Anyone needing an updated roster should send Dennis Harding an e-mail at
hardinghouse@bellsouth.net.
Dennis will send it as an attachment. For a paper copy, give him a call at
770-435-5762, and he will get it to you.
It's time to pay dues!!!
The Meeting
There were 57 members and four guests present today.
Sanford Phillips is preparing for his annual mission trip to the Indian Reservation in
New Mexico. He is looking for donations of clothing to take with him.
Susan Hiott, Smyrna's City Clerk, is working to finish filling out her application for membership.
Ed Forscher is still looking for someone to be the co-editor of the newsletter next year.
August 8, 2003 Meeting Notes
Speaker: Dr. Wilson Trivino
Steve Wilson introduced Dr. Wilson Trivino. This time he spoke on Social Security, a topic
of interest the last time he spoke. Dr. Trivino's dissertation was on the Social Security
Administration and he is a part of a national advocacy group on social security. Social security
was developed to bridge the problems of changing from an agrarian to an industrial society and the
resulting poverty. The original concept was to have income for older Americans based on
savings, pension and social insurance. The demographics of aging have placed additional
pressure on social security's "pay as you go" concept.
The Meeting
A member and guest count was not given. Jessica Lee was the guest of Ed Whittington.
Dean Byers was back as a guest of Harlin Luke and has turned in his application.
Susan Hiott, the Smyrna City Clerk, also has turned in her application for membership.
Jessica Lee thanked the club for its support to attend the Junior Statesman of America
summer program at Yale. She spent the month studying politics and government. This year
she will be an officer in the Campbell High School club.
Sergeant-at-arms, Ann Harris, asks people to find their member number on the back of their
badge and use that slot for badge storage. If you do not have a number, see Ann.
Fifteen members have signed up to read in seven Cobb County elementary schools.
More members are expected to add their names to the list of
readers as the new school year gets underway. This very successful project
qualifies as a makeup to attain perfect attendance. Spouses and part time
(once a month) readers are also welcome to participate. It not too late to participate
in this very rewarding project. See Harry Hackett or Doug Pharr if you are interested.
There will be a pancake breakfast organizational meeting at Mike Kidd's home on August 21.
Susan Williams thanked the club for donations of school supplies. MUST has had
one distribution to over 400 children. More supplies are needed for a second distribution.
Supplies can be dropped off at the Smyrna MUST office.
Ed Forscher still has needs for next year's club. Ed is looking for committee members for
the program committee and the newsletter. Both are important to the club. Let Ed know of
your interest.
Optimist Junior Golfer, Donny Mixon, will be a guest at one of the future meetings.
Next week's guest will be Cobb School Superintendent Joe Redden. Come prepared with your
school questions.
Anyone needing an updated roster should send Dennis Harding an e-mail at
hardinghouse@bellsouth.net.
Dennis will send it as an attachment. For a paper copy, give him a call at
770-435-5762, and he will get it to you.
August Birthdays
Mike McNabb 8/1; Otis Thompson 8/5; Leroy Brownlee 8/7; Gary Hill 8/7;
Walt Broom 8/13; Russ Grimsley 8/13; Sarah Monsour 8/15; Ken Kincaid 8/17;
Ed Camp 8/20; Buddy Wages 8/22; Susan Kendall 8/24.
August Membership Anniversaries
Anna Stokes, 2002.
More Spiritual Nuggets
- Do the math. Count your blessings.
- Faith is the ability to not panic.
- Laugh every day, it's like inner jogging.
- If you worry, you didn't pray. If you pray, don't worry.
- As a child of God, prayer is kind of like calling home every day.
- A grudge is a heavy thing to carry.
August 1, 2003 Meeting Notes
Speaker: Phyllis Stockfisch
Our own Phyllis Stockfisch entertained us with slides of her recent African safari. We all know
Phyllis is persuasive. Now John, her husband, knows just how persuasive. Before they went
on this trip he said
that he did not want to sleep in a tent, wanted to be able to bathe every night, and did not
want any animals within 500 yards of him. Phyllis very quickly agreed to all his conditions. However,
once they got to Africa and began to sleep in tents in close proximity to animals, (a lion stared
at them in the open end of their tent), and showers were
few and far between, John began to question her persuasiveness. On this trip, they had much
interaction with the natives in each area. Sometimes this was more rewarding than others. It
gave them the opportunity to drink boiled goat fat, mixed with grass, which was to prepare
their stomachs for the meal to follow.
From her description, sometimes it was more difficult
to tell who was watching who...whether they were watching the animals, or the animals were watching
them. This is evident from this a picture of a cheetah standing on the hood of their jeep staring through
the windshield.
From the treasurer: It is time to pay quarterly dues again. They are $80 per member per
quarter. Life members are $73.50. Please make your checks payable to Smyrna Optimist Club and get
them to Mike McNabb as soon as possible.
From the secretary: Anyone needing an updated roster should send Dennis Harding an e-mail at
hardinghouse@bellsouth.net.
Dennis will send it as an attachment. For a paper copy, give him a call at 770-435-5762,
and he will get it to you.
From the President Elect: Ed is still trying to fill all of the committee positions for the upcoming
year. Sign up now, don't miss a great opportunity. We need someone to help publish the newsletter.
The Meeting
There were 50 members and one guest present.
Susan Williams is still looking for school supplies for MUST ministries to hand out to
school-age children in the area. Some of the items they need are loose leaf notebook paper,
childproof scisors, spiral notebooks, rulers, three ring binders, and backpacks.
Forgiveness:
The preacher, in his Sunday sermon, used "forgive your enemies" as his subject. After a long
sermon he asked how many were willing to forgive their enemies.
About half of the hands went up. Not satisfied, he harangued for another 20 minutes and repeated
his question. This time, he received a response from 80%. Still unsatisfied, he lectured for 15
minutes and repeated his question. With all thoughts now on Sunday dinner, all responded except
one elderly lady in the rear.
"Ms. Jones, are you not willing to forgive your enemies?"
"I don't have any."
Ms. Jones, that is very unusual. How old are you?"
"93"
Ms. Jones, please come down in front and tell the congregation how a person can live to 93 and
not have an enemy in the world"
The little sweetheart of a lady teetered down the aisle and very slowly turned around and said: "It's
easy. I just outlived them ALL."
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