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September 2003 Meeting notes
September 19, 2003 Meeting Notes
Speaker: David Goodnow
David is a freelance writer, producer, newspaper columnist, military historian, former pilot and speaker
on ethics in journalism. In 1982 he was part of the original staff and news anchor at CNN-2
which was the first expansion of the Turner Cable News operation. Goodnow broadcast from the
anchor desk for 18 years. His broadcasts were shown in 20 of the world's 24 time zones. During the eighties and
nineties he covered stories such as the death of President Leonid Breshnev and anchored
live coverage of Desert Storm.
He spoke of the changes in the news industry since the onslaught of Cable News and original
the competition between Ted Turner and Rupert Murdoch. He spoke of the struggle for equal
time and representation of viewpoints of both the right and left, and the difficulty of reporters
setting aside their personal bias in order to let the viewer make up their minds once they have
heard both sides of a story.
The Meeting
There were 58 members and five guests present. Russ Grimsley brought his wife; Mike McNabb brought
his son; Betty Turley brought Patsy Stripling.
Suzanne Lynn is doing a terrific job as webmaster for the Smyrna Optimist web page. If you
have not visited this web page you do not know what you are missing. If you need any information
about what is happening with the Optimist Club of Smyrna just go to www.smyrnaoptimist.org, for
information on upcoming events and projects the club sponsors.
From the Secretary
Dennis Harding asks that anyone willing to donate perfect attendance tabs or officer pens contact him
770-435-5762.
Pancake Breakfast - November 29, 2003
Phyllis Stockfisch has put a challenge out for selling tickets for the Pancake Breakfast. She
does not think that anyone can outsell Curt Johnston. Come on Now! Let's not take that laying down - Get out there
and sell those tickets! This is the cheapest and best breakfast in town and all for a good cause.
If you have not signed up for a committee to participate in the pancake breakfast please do so
as soon as possible. A project of this magnitude and importance needs advanced organization
and planning. Sign up and get involved in this great event!
A few reasons for golf's popularity:
- Golf is an honorable game with the majority of players being honorable people who don't need referees
- Golfers don't have some of their players in jail every week
- Golfers don't kick dirt on or throw bottles at other people
- Professional golfers are compensated in direct proportion to how well they play
- Professional golfers don't demand that the taxpayers pay for the courses on which they play
The PGS tour raises more money for charity in one year than the National Football League does in two
- In golf you cannot fail 70% of the time and make 9 million dollars a season like the
best baseball hitters (.300 batting average) do.
- Golfers keep their clothes on while they are being interviewed
- Golfers have to adapt to an entirely new playing area each week
- Golf doesn't have free agents
- Golfers don't hold out for more money, or demand a new contract because of another
player's deal
- Golfers have never called a strike!
September 12, 2003 Meeting Notes
Speaker: Phyllis Stockfisch
Phyllis Stockfisch and committee kicked off plans for the annual Smyrna Optimist Flipping
for Kids Breakfast. The committee is Phyllis, Mike Kidd, Rodney Hogue, Brian Cooper,
Reagon Merrell, Sarah Monsour,
Sam Forrest, Dennis Harding and Steve Wilson. Last year's breakfast involved 86% of the
club's members; 100% of the products were donated and $9,328 was raised.
This year's event will include a membership table with a goal of attracting 5 new members.
Each club member will receive 25 tickets to sell. Tickets are $5 each and the
breakfast will be November 29 at the First Methodist Church of Smyrna from 7:30 - 11:30.
All members are expected to serve on a committee. Tickets and money are to be returned
only to Phyllis, Suzanne Lynn or Check Hoskins. This year's goal is $15,000.
The Meeting
There were 57 members and 6 guests present. Dennis Harding had his cousin Larry Fisher; golfers
Robert Andrew and Donnie Mixon were guests of Bruce Hollmuller; Paula Weeks, a candidate
for Ward 4 was a guest; Joey Hatcher brought Randy Rauton and Phyllis brought her
neighbor Lt. Col. Craig Woodward.
Donnie Mixon thanked the club for it's support of Junior Golf. Donnie was second in the
local contest and came in second in the state competition. He was the first Smyrna
representative to play at the Nationals. He and Robert Andrews are Juniors at
Woodstock High School.
You can now find events, upcoming activities and information about projects on
our web site www.smyrnaoptimist.org, thanks to the webmaster, Suzanne Lynn. Take a
look at the new Optimist International brochure.
Peggy Lattansi had a letter thanking the club for it's support of Boy and Girls State.
The participants will be at the American Legion meeting a 8:00 on the 16th.
Joey Hatcher is looking for old cell phones for recycling as part of a missions
project.
It is time to pay your dues!!!
The Installation Banquet will be September 25 at 7pm at the Smyrna Community Center.
The cost is $21 per person. The checks go to Ed Forscher.
September Birthdays
Doug Pharr 9/4; Dennis Harding 9/9; Susan Pearson 9/15; Bruce Hollmuller 9/18; Rene Hill 9/19;
Allen Potter 9/21; Ken Smith 9/21; Harry Hackett 9/23; Reagon Merrill 9/30.
Membership Anniversaries
Ted Smiley, 1982; Joe Meeler, 1985; Ed Forscher, 1986; Susan Pearson, 1989; Doug Pharr, 1991;
Betty Turley, 1991; Sara Monsour, 1992; Dennis Harding; 1994; Dan Kirk 1999; Larry Gresham, 2002;
Suzanne Lynn, 2002; Susan Williams, 2002.
September 5, 2003 Meeting Notes
Speaker: George Davis
Once again we find that some of our best and most interesting speakers are right among us.
George has led a varied and most interesting life. He served as a carrier pilot and
instructor in the Navy for 20 years beginning in 1961. He served his first tour of duty in
Vietnam in 1966. He spoke of the difficulties in the early years of war flying in blackout conditions
over North Vietnam.
One of his most memorable moments during the war was on a patrol flying in the dark skies
over North Vietnam with his commander wing over hostile territory. They flew without navigational lights
so they would not draw fire from the ground. While maneuvering for position George's aircraft nicked
his commander's aircraft. The commander forgave him for this error since he was able (with the benefit
of mid-air refueling) to return to the carrier and land safely. George, however, was not as
fortunate. He had to ditch into the ocean dangerously close to the shoreline. Fortunately, he was picked up
before daylight by American forces. He felt sure that if they had not recovered him before
daylight, he and John McCain might have become good friends in the Hanoi Hilton.
After 20 years he retired from the Navy. He got a job as a pilot with People Express Airlines.
He said the biggest adjustment between being a Navy carrier pilot was the adjustment in the landing.
He said airline customers didn't have much tolerance to the jarring landings he was used to on aircraft
carriers. Since commercial airliners have much more runway and the runway is easier to hit then
when trying to land on the tossing deck of an aircraft carrier in the middle of the ocean, he was
able to make the transition.
After 20 years as an airline pilot George retired again. This does not mean that George
now sits in a rocking chair on his front porch and watches the grass grow, he stays very active in
the community. He continually is active with Habitat for Humanity. He not only works with volunteers
on the weekends, but works with craftsman that come back in the middle of the week to repair the
mistakes volunteers make on the weekends. He is also an active participant of the "Read by Grade Three
Program."
The Meeting
We had 62 members present.
Ann Harris requests that everyone check their badge number and put it in the right slot in the
badge suitcase. She is trying to get everything in order for the new Sergeant at Arms, Greg Lynn, to take office.
You can now find events, upcoming activities and information about projects on our web site
www.smyrnaoptimist.org. Thanks to webmaster Suzanne Lynn.
The Installation Banquet will be September 25 at 7PM at the Smyrna Community Center.
The cost is $21 per person. If you have never attended one of these functions you do not know what you're
missing. It is great fun for everyone.
Help Wanted!!!!!!!
Co editor for the Optimist Newsletter for the upcoming year! This is an every other week job.
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