West Optimist Bulletins
UPCOMING PROGRAMS
► Nov. 17: Bill Campbell will discuss Climate Change
► Carolyn Conley
► Ralph Cramm Jr.
Tuesday, Nov. 10 Meeting
OFF SICK CALL: Both Erma Schuster and Penny Bartlett returned to the club.
PRESIDENT’S REPORT: The Wichita Department of Parks & Recreation is looking for
volunteers to help at its “Night with Santa,” scheduled for 6-9 p.m. on Dec. 3, at Century
II. Contact Barbara McGuire at 268-4192 or bmcguire@wichita.gov for details
►Bev Hodge, who assisted the West Optimists on the annual Oratory Contest for many years, passed
away. The club voted to send $50 to her memorial fund.
► Trees For Life is holding a volunteer appreciation luncheon Nov. 25, and extended an invitation to
the Optimists in thanks for their support.
► The club will be ringing bells for the Salvation Army in front of Sam’s Club beginning the
Saturday after Thanksgiving. Signup sheet has been promised for the next meeting.
WHO WON THE POT? Carolyn Conley
PROGRAM:
Closed meeting with the Wichita -West Optimist Club “Cheer”
On count of three, ONE – TWO – THREE
“BOY, DO I FEEL GOOD”


QUOTE: “The average pencil is seven inches long, with just a half-inch eraser - in case you thought optimism was dead.” Robert Brault
Oct 27, 2009
SICK CALL: Penny Bartlett, Erma Schuster and Anita Erickson all reported doing well.
WHO WON THE POT? John Rawson
AVAILABLE: Ron Helton reports he still has one Optimist shirt (extra large) available.
VISITORS: Zone 7 Lieutenant Governor Don Kirkland (left) and his wife, Debbie, visited the West club. Our president, Dennis Parr, introduced the couple. Kirkland urged the club to participate in assisting the Riverside Academy, a children’s home in Wichita. Debbie explained the home offers a life skill enrichment program to residents, 11-18 year old children. The academy will be holding at open house Nov. 2, she reported. Parr says he is interested in having club members work with the academy.
PROGRAM:

Jim Aukofer (left) introduced Gary Stead, former Sedgwick County sheriff and current senior program manager for the Kansas Law Enforcement Training Center, outside Yoder on the old Naval Air station. Stead reported the center oversees all training for law enforcement officers across Kansas. The center trained more than 400 officers in 2008, he said. Stead is in charge of continuing education at the center. In addition to the Yoder site, the center offers its programs to law agencies at other sites on a regular basis, he pointed out.

Closed meeting the Wichita -West Optimist Club “Cheer” On count of three, ONE – TWO – THREE
“BOY, DO I FEEL GOOD”



Next Meeting, Tuesday, Oct. 27
UPCOMING PROGRAMS
Oct. 27: Jim Aukofer will introduce Sedgwick County Sheriff Gary Stead
Nov. 3: Judy Black-Dyer
Nov. 10: Scott Branum
Nov. 17: Bill Campbell
Nov. 24: Carolyn Conley

Tuesday, Oct. 20 Meeting SICK CALL:
  Erma Schuster is out of surgery and hopes to return to the club following physical therapy
  Penny Bartlett is undergoing surgery this week.
  Penny also reports former member and West Club President Anita Erickson had a tumor removed during brain surgery.

NEW MEMBERS: Craig Schmitz and Ken Martin are reportedly moving closer to joining the club.
MEMBER NEWS: Bob Hayes announced plans to move back to Tennessee, adding he hopes to visit Wichita again in the future.
WHO WON THE POT? Jim Aukofer
GOLF TOURNAMENT: The golf tournament was held Oct. 17 at Echo Hills Golf Course. Two teams completed the course, with the foursome led by Cal McMillan taking top honors. Cal also captured the award for longest putt, while Ron Helton won the longest drive competition.
PROGRAM: Penny Bartlett filled in for missing guest Christina Osborne, executive director for the Mid-Kansas Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure. Penny reported more than 11,000 participated in the Wichita race on Sept. 26, one of many held nationwide.
Closed meeting the Wichita -West Optimist Club “Cheer” On count of three, ONE – TWO – THREE
“BOY, DO I FEEL GOOD”



QUOTE: “It's better to be an optimist who is sometimes wrong than a pessimist who is always right.”
Next Meeting, Tuesday, Oct. 20
UPCOMING PROGRAMS
Oct. 20: Penny Bartlett presents Christina Osborne, executive director for the Mid-Kansas Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure
Oct. 27: Gary Stead, former sheriff for Sedgwick County

Tuesday, Oct. 13 Meeting
SICK CALL:
Dow Summers reported Erma Schuster was out of the hospital following heart surgery.
New president Dennis Parr reported successful gall bladder treatment.
Penny Bartlett reported former member and West Club president Anita Erickson underwent brain surgery.

UPCOMING EVENTS: The golf tournament originally set for Oct. 10 is rescheduled for Oct. 17; same place and time: Echo Hills Golf Course, with check-in by noon; play begins at 1 p.m.
MEETING GUESTS: Ken Martin visited us yet again, and indicated interest in membership. Ralph Cramm brought his wife, Mary Lou.
WHO WON THE POT? Dennis Parr
PROGRAM:
Bob Hayes introduced Cindy Schneider, who discussed her participation in an Earthwatch Institute program in Kenya. In August, she and nine other people worked on a 75,000 acre conservation area near Mount Kenya. The area, established in 1989, is a sanctuary for black rhinos. Because of poaching and an ongoing drought, there are about 500 black rhinos alive today, she said. The team monitored the area, measuring the impact of elephants and other animals on the rhino’s habitat. Earthwatch is operating 100 projects in 38 countries, Schneider reported.
(Note: the official Optimist camera was not working, so no picture of Cindy and Bob)
Closed meeting the Wichita -West Optimist Club “Cheer” On count of three, ONE – TWO – THREE