The Meridian Opti Bull December 1, 2008

It’s the most wonderful time of the year!
‘Tis the busy season for the Meridian Optimist Club. The Meridian Optimist Christmas Tree Lot opened on November 29. We send a special thanks to the burly elves that showed up early on Saturday morning to unload the truck and set up the lot. The truck was unloaded in record time and by 10:00 a.m. they had begun to set up trees and put the decorative touches on the fence and trailer. Customers were arriving and purchasing well before 2:00 p.m. Great job!

Chairman Kirk Farnsworth is looking for workers for all days and times. Please give him a call at 850-6729 and let him know you’ll be there to help. The tree lot hours are:
§ Weekdays – 2:00 to 8:00 p.m.
§ Saturday – 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
§ Sunday – 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Tree Lot Promotion
Larry Gebert will broadcast live from the Tree Lot on Friday, December 5. Be an early riser and help us promote the great things that Optimists do throughout the year.

Holiday Food baskets delivered
Kudos to Chairpersons Jim Correia and Kim Bowers and everyone who came out to help with collecting and sorting food and delivering food baskets to thirty-two families on behalf of the Meridian Optimist Club. Every family received more than 100 lbs. of food. The crew began the project at 12:30 p.m. on Friday and was done sorting by 7:00 p.m. Many came back out on Saturday morning to make the home deliveries. Rick Valenzuela from Rick’s Press Room added a very personal and caring touch to the gifts this year. As a special treat, he made homemade pies for every family. Well done everyone!

We’ve had the pleasure of welcoming guests to our recent meetings:

Cindy Wall, President, Boise Noon Optimist Club visited to present a check for
$2,400 to the Meridian Optimist Concessionaires for their hard work at the Boise Optimist Football Complex. Special thanks to Sue Thompson, Bill Holstein, Trenna Garcia and Bill Garcia for working every Saturday at this event.

Buster Bronco has abdicated his place of honor at the Boise Noon Optimist Club meetings to take a tour of the Treasure Valley. Word is he plans to spend the
holidays with President Sue.

Michele Larson, Development Manager, Idaho Make-A-Wish Foundation, stopped by to tell us about the inspirational wishes that are granted for children with life-threatening illnesses. There were 86 wishes granted in 2007 in Idaho; 52% of those wishes were for children in the Treasure Valley. Wishes cost about $6,500 each.

Pam Orr, Firefighter and Community Outreach Representative, Meridian Fire Department stopped by to give us some fire safety tips. Find her brochure at the Christmas Tree lot for full
information. She also invited individuals to participate in the Public Safety Academy conducted each year to teach residents about public services in Meridian. Log on to www.meridiancity.org/fire to learn more.

Coming this month
December 3 – Tracy Shaw, Wishing Star Foundation
December 17 – Melissa Delaney, Meridian Police Department

What’s happening next?

Christmas Tree Extravaganza!
November 29 until they are gone – Join us for a little holiday retail fun! The Tree Lot is open every day: Weekdays – 2 to 8; Saturday 9 to 8; and Sunday 10 to 6. Sign-up sheets are circulating for our biggest fund raiser of the year. Sign up early and often! Call Kirk at 850-6729 to let him know you’ll be there.

Rise and Shine with Larry Gebert!
December 5—4:30 a.m. at the Meridian Optimist Club Christmas Tree Lot, 250 E. Overland Road. Channel 7 Weatherman Larry Gebert will again help the club by announcing the Christmas Tree Lot during the morning report. Come down for fun, coffee and hot chocolate. Rumor has it that there may even be breakfast served. All elves are requested to be there early!
Meridian Winterland Parade
December 6 – 11:30 to 2:00, downtown Meridian. MOC will help the Meridian Chamber direct traffic for this fun, family event. Call Dr. Tom at 631-6637 for details.

Board Meeting!
No Board Meeting this month – If urgent matters arise, a new date will be determined.

Casino Night Fund Raisers!
December 17 and December 19 – Groups that are leasing our casino tables are looking for dealers. Ron Petersen has the details on this easy fund raiser for the club. Give him a call at 866-3706 if you are available to assist.

Club meetings!
December 3-10-17-24-31 – We hope to see you every Wednesday morning at 7:00 a.m. Join us at Kal’s Big Breakfast, 39 E. State Street, Meridian.

The Meridian Opti Bull November 10, 2008

Sue Thompson named Optimist of the Year
Shortly after presiding after her first meeting as Meridian Optimist Club president, Sue was recognized at the 2008 Installation Banquet as the Optimist of the Year for 2007-2008. According to Immediate Past President Bill Garcia, Sue was always ready to take on a new project and always there to make sure the project was completed. Congratulations Sue and best wishes for the great year ahead!

As president, Sue says that she wants to “Switch it up!” In addition to the great projects that the club already performs, she hopes to start a golf tournament for kids that will advance them to the District tournament. She also hopes to build the club membership so that we have the ability to consider new activities. What a great start – five new members joined the MOC in October!

First project of the year is complete
Thanks to everyone who came out to work at the concession stands for the Meridian Optimist Club at the Boise Optimist Football Complex. The fall football program serves more than five thousand kids. This fundraising effort is a great partnering opportunity that allows the Boise and Meridian Clubs to support each other.

The Flintstones visit first quarter district meeting

Yes, it’s true! Fred, Wilma, Betty and Barney are all Optimists. They share d their unique brand of inspiration when they gathered with the representatives from twenty-six different Optimist Clubs in the PNW District during the First Quarter Meeting in Gig Harbor, WA. They learned about the topics and deadlines for district and international programs for 2008-2009 and shared experiences about adding new members and new projects to a club’s busy agenda. Club presidents and secretary-treasurers were also invited to learn about budgeting during a mock board of directors meeting and to role-play during a model club meeting. According to leadership development co-chair Ed Murphy, this allows the participants to learn from each other so they may take back fresh ideas to help run their clubs more smoothly. It also allows the newly elected presidents to experience the agenda that is promoted by Optimist International for helping members be engaged.

Welcome new members!
Linda Jackson
Cassie Lynch
Kevin Orth
Donna Petersen
Bob ThompsonYes

First Tee and the OIJGC
Anne Williamson, Executive Director with the First Tee of Idaho visited the club to discuss this fabulous life skills and character development program for kids that sets its curriculum around golf. Anne told us that the program was started in 1997 by the World Golf Foundation and while Tiger Woods is a contributor to the program it is not his foundation. First Tee came to Idaho in 2005. It operates out of Pierce Park Greens and Foxtail Golf Course. More than 2,500 students in the Boise and Meridian School Districts have learned about the positive learning opportunities offered by First Tee through their school outreach program.

It was first thought that the Meridian Optimist Club might join together with the First Tee to sponsor a qualifying tournament for the Optimist International Junior Golf Championships (OIJGC). Since the mission of the First Tee is character development and not competition, the Meridian Optimist Club will most likely support the First Tee program, but proceed with a golf tournament on our own. New members Kevin Orth and Bob Thompson are anxious to get a golf project started!

Speaking of character development
The Meridian Optimist Junior Air Rifle Club has started the fall season with sixty-five young shooters. The participants learn discipline, character development, self- motivation and endurance through this NRA sanctioned program. Way to go MOC!

What’s happening next?

Board Meeting!
November 19 – 7:00 pm at Rick’s Press Room, 130 E. Idaho. Find out what projects are being planned and how you can help by joining the Board of Directors at the monthly Board Meeting. Unless notice is given, the Board meets on the third Wednesday of every month and all members are welcome.

Food baskets!
November 21-22— time to be announced at the Meridian School District, 1303 E. Central Drive. The club is once again gathering canned goods and non-perishable items from the schools. Join us on as we put together and deliver 30 baskets to families in the Meridian community.

Christmas tree delivery and sales!
November 29 – time to be announced at Meridian Ford, 250 E. Overland Road. The trees usually arrive before noon and all hands are welcome to assist. Sign-up sheets will be circulating for working at the Christmas Tree lot for our biggest fund raiser of the year. Sign up early and often! Call Kirk at 375-2639 to let him know you’ll be there.

Rise and Shine with Larry Gebert!
December 5—O’dark thirty at the Meridian Optimist Club Christmas Tree Lot, 250 E. Overland Road. Channel 7 weatherman Larry Gebert will again help the club by announcing the Christmas Tree Lot during the morning report. Come down for fun, coffee and hot chocolate. Rumor has it that there may even be breakfast served. All elves are requested to be there early!

Club meetings!
November 2-9-16-23-30 – We hope to see you every Wednesday morning at 7:00 a.m. Join us at Kal’s Big Breakfast, 39 E. State Street, Meridian.