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January 2003 Meeting notes
January 31, 2003 Meeting Notes
Speaker: Suzanne Lynn and Phyllis Stockfish
We had two programs today. Suzanne spoke about the status of the Smyrna Optimist web site, and Phyllis gave a report on the pancake breakfast.
Smyrna Optimist web site
Suzanne has been working hard to get our web site back up and running. She has designed the web site to be informative to members as well as non-members. It will include not only the Creed and Purpose of Optimist International but calendar of events. There will be directions to our meeting place to help recruit new members. She hopes to include a list of the projects we have sponsored in the past including pictures when possible, and upcoming events. There has been some difficulty in getting our web address reactivated . In the meantime, if you would like to get the current URL for the web site, you may e-mail Suzanne at lynn310@bellsouth.net.
Pancake Breakfast
Phyllis gave us a report on the success of the pancake breakfast and the last committee meeting. The committee came back with several suggestions and proposals if the club wished to undertake this project next year.
The pancake breakfast of 2002 raised over $9,000 for club projects and involved a large number of members to achieve this success. Phyllis proposed that we learn from our experiences and build on our success by having more focused committees and starting earlier if the membership approved. The membership voted by a show of hands to:
- make this an annual event
- keep the location at the Smyrna First United Methodist Church
- keep the date the Saturday after Thanksgiving
- authorize the expenditure of up to $3,500 for the purchase of equipment including griddles.
The Meeting
There were 60 members and 1 guest. Ron Huck introduced "Clay" who belonged to the Optimist Club where he lived before moving to Smyrna.
Dennis Harding, Wayne Waldrip, and Suzanne Lynn each received a new "Every Kid Makes a Difference Pin" for bringing in a new member since January 2003.
Bruce Hollmuller announced that the Smyrna little league has requested we take the lead in selling the tickets for the Optimist Day at the Braves. He is looking for volunteers to sell tickets at the Tri-Star Baseball event February 11 and 12.
Curt Johnston reported that the two winning team chairmen for pancake ticket sales were Ken Kincaid with $1910 and Allen Potter with $1575.
The Club Grows
Wayne Waldrip sponsored Susan Carter into the club. The invasion of the Susans continues.
We had a great Super Bowl Party. Along with the fun, we raised money for Optimist projects through Ken Kincaid's famous auctioneering. Susan thanked the club for sending the extra food to MUST ministries.
January 24, 2003 Meeting Notes
Speaker: Deb Cook
Deb Cook, an early childhood teacher, was introduced by Steve Wilson. Deb is a teacher at Pace Academy and tutors early childhood reading. She is married to Jim Cook, Director of the Atlanta/Fulton County Emergency Management Agency. Jim was the speaker a few weeks ago.
Deb is proposing and looking for funding for a summer reading program to be called RIPPLE, Reading Instruction to Provide and Promote the Literacy Experience. This program will target dyslexia, a difficulty learning to read. The program will emphasize phonics and early intervention. It will be a two week summer program for teachers and will involve at-risk children from two Smyrna elementary schools, Deb is looking for funds for the instructor, teacher stipends, and enticements. The program will involve 20 students and 20 teachers. It will cost about $10,000.
The Meeting
There were 43 members and 4 guests present. Bill Bowman's guest was his wife Norma. Jeff Broom was the guest of Walt Broom. Wayne Waldrip's guest, Susan Carter, has been approved for membership by the Board. (Susan's are now a club force to be reckoned with.)
Congratulations to Doug Pharr who is now a new Grandpa.
Both Ed Whittington's and Russ Grimsley's wives have had recent surgery.
January 17, 2003 Meeting Notes
Speaker: Cindy Smith, Elizabeth McClendon and Linley Harding
There were two programs today: Cindy Smith of Oxford Academy and Elizabeth McClendon & Linley Harding of Queen for-a-Day.
Cindy Smith of Oxford Academy
Peter Hairston introduced Cindy Smith who, along with her husband Jimmy have built a child care center on Church Street just east of South Cobb Drive in Smyrna. She has been caring for children in her home and soon found she had a waiting list of almost 100 children. Seeing the need for quality child care, the Smith family undertook the project of building a child care center for children from 6 weeks to 5 years of age. I say the Smith Family because their three children have been an integral part of the process. She sated that they are stressing quality. Building a facility that has plenty of room for exercise indoors and out, but also providing for a rich learning environment even including a large salt water aquarium. She also believes that she must have qualified employees to care and teach the children a carefully selected program to promote a healthy nondenominational christian environment. During the question and answer portion of the program, Harold Smith made Cindy admit that he was her father-in-law.
Elizabeth McClendon & Linley Harding of Queen-for-a Day
Phyllis Stockfisch introduced Elizabeth McClendon and Linley Harding, the daughter of our own Dennis Harding. These young women have started an Atlanta Chapter of Queen-for-a-Day, an organization that works with young ladies with cancer. This group goes into cancer treatment centers of children's hospitals and hosts tea parties which include a make over for the young ladies that are undergoing treatment for cancer. The make over includes nail painting and facial make-up. Also, each guest receives their very own tiara. The tiaras for this program have been donated by pageant title holders nationwide.
Elizabeth and Linley told of holding their first tea party at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta in the AFLAC cancer center. The current Miss Georgia was in attendance along with other volunteers. They had refreshments and put makeup on the young ladies and brought happiness into the lives of these sick children, some still attached to their IV's and most without hair due to the treatment for various types of cancer.
The organization has to use all new and unopened material in order to guard against infection. They rely on donations of makeup, supplies and money for all the material used to give the party.
It is great to see the families of our members doing good things for children in the community. Optimism Lives On!
The Meeting
There were 56 members in attendance with 5 guests. Ken Kincaid's guest was Joey Hatchell, the pastor of Faith United Methodist Church. Congratulations to Ed and Connie Whittington. They are grandparents again! If you have not already paid your dues for this quarter, Mike McNabb has an invoice for you!
Our Club Grows
Brian Cooper inducted two new members today. Ana Stokes, sponsored Sue Hancock and Gary Hill sponsored Steve Clair. Steve has already gotten into the spirit of things and signed up for Adopt-a-Mile. Lets keep up the good work. The more new members we have, the more we can do for the youth in our community.
Santa House Success
Mike McNabb reports that the gross receipts for the Santa House were $2,018.10, expenses were $602.64, for a net profit of $1415.46
January 10, 2002 Meeting Notes
Speaker: W. R Johnson OF Kennasaw Park
Dan Scoggins introduced Ranger Johnson to the club. Mr. Johnson is a former Cobb history teacher and volunteer ranger, who since his retirement is now a full time park ranger and the historian of Kennesaw Mountain Battlefield Park. The park commemorates the Battle of Atlanta. Confederate lines were dug and after two frontal attacks, the Union troops flanked the lines and captured Atlanta. The park was started by the Illinois veterans buying the Cheetham section in 1914 and donating it to the War Dept. In the 1930's with the creation of the National Park Service, other land around the two main battle lines was purchased for the park. This land was chosen for the earthworks. In the last 10 years there have been changes to the area and Kennesaw Park , along with the Chattahoochee River Park, represent 70% of Atlanta's green-space. The park commemorates the battle's 8,000 killed and wounded on both sides. In 1992 the Friends of Kennesaw Mountain was formed to raise money to improve the visitor's center. The new center is now open with a museum and book store.
The Meeting
There were 58 members in attendance with two guests. Gary and Renee Hill's guest, Steve Claire, turned in his membership application.
Upcoming speakers are Cindy Smith, January 17. Phyllis Stockfish will have a representative from the Queen for a Day program for sick children. Steve Wilson will have Deb Cook with the summer literacy program. All of the members of the speakers committee this year are doing a wonderful job.
Mike McNabb has club invoices available for the Second Quarter. It has a new format. Please fill in the number of hours you worked on each club project each quarter, include your committee work. The yellow boxes under the balance forward is for the amount of money you, individually, raised for each fund raising project. This will help in informing the national organization of the number of volunteer hours and money raised by the club.
Ann Kirk thanked club volunteers who help with "Bring one for the chipper". They were Steve Claire, Ann and Jim Harris and Ed Whittington.
Dan Scoggins is looking for furniture to donate to a family of one of the children he reads to at Fair Oaks School. If you can help with a bed or other furniture let Dan know.
Phyllis Stockfish will have a Pancake Wrap-up Meeting this Thursday at her house at 6:30. It is important for all committee heads to be present.
Sam Forrest announced the club's Super Bowl party. It will be held Jan 26 at the West Smyrna Swim and Tennis Club.
January 3, 2003 Meeting Notes
Speaker: Judge Jim Bodiford
Judge Kreeger had two speakers for Friday's program -- Cobb County Superior Judge Jim Bodiford and Oliver Allen of the FBI's anti-corruption division. The topic was Estonia, a new Baltic nation. The U.S. Dept. of Justice is assisting new European countries to set up advocate systems of justice which will be trusted and respected by it's citizens. Jim and Oliver were asked to go to Estonia as consultants to help set up an independent, fair system which will hold the confidence of the public.
The Meeting
There were 40 members in attendance and the speakers were the two guests, Judge Jim Bodiford and Oliver Allen.
Next week's speaker will be an historian from the Kennesaw Mountain National Park.
The Santa House served a record number of children.
There was a thank you note received from Calvary Children's Home thanking the club for the cash contribution made to each of the children for their Christmas shopping.
Dennis Harding was fined again. His fellowship Pot names were found on the floor at the Pancake Breakfast.
Mike Sewell has club invoices available for the Second Quarter. It has a new format. Please fill in the number of hours you worked on each club project each quarter, include your committee work. The yellow boxes under the balance forward is for the amount of money you, individually, raised for each fund raising project.
December 20, 2002 Meeting Notes
Speaker: Judge Jim Bodiford
Harold Smith introduced former club member Rene Godefroy as Friday's speaker. Rene told of his background from growing up in a small village in Haiti to becoming an American success and an inspirational speaker. Rene mentioned that he works, not from memory, but from imagination. He sees what he would like to have occur, imagines himself in that position, and then finds out how to achieve that goal. Rene has a motivational book about his achievements called NO CONDITION IS PERMANENT. He has made an appearance on 60 MINUTES. It's always wonderful when a former member does well.
The Meeting
There were 47 members and one guest at the meeting. Steve Clair, guest of Gary and Renee Hill, returned for his second visit.
Susan Person reminded everyone to keep track of their volunteer times at the Santa House. The time slots are covered.
Ann Kirk needs volunteers for 'Bring one for the Chipper." Christmas tree recycling will be held at the Home Depot in Vinings on January 4 from 9:00--4:00pm.
The Optimist Board held their meeting at Calvary Children's Home. The Optimists gave the children money for their Christmas shopping.
Cobb County schools will be on break from December 23 through January 3. Reading will resume after January 6.
The Oratorical Contest is coming up. If Ann Kirk asks you for help, please be generous with your time.
Ann Kirk and the Keep Smyrna Beautiful Office won the National Keep America Beautiful Award for having the best program in the United States.
The club's guest speaker on January 3 will be Cobb Superior Court Judge James Bodiford.
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