JUNE CLUB MEETINGS
Regular Club meetings are held monthly on the 1st & 3rd Mondays. Club meetings are held at Perkins Restaurant, 87th & I-35, just east of I-35, 6:00pm.
See you at the meetings.
Monday, June 1st: Kansas City Symphony & Midnight Bike Ride Planning - No, we really won't have a concert by the KC Symphony at our meeting, but we will hear about their youth education program. Steven Murray, Education Manager with the Symphony will be our speaker this evening. This will be a great evening about music appreciation--even though we aren't youth, we might just learn something new. We'll also be outlining plans for the next several weeks for the Midnight Bike Ride. We're in "crunch" mode! The mailing is running a bit later than we'd like getting out the door, so we'll be discussing the plan to do that at our June 1st meeting. See you there!
Monday, June 15th: Hail to the Chief! - We have been able to reschedule Dwight Lewis for our meeting this evening. Dwight is a paraprofessional at Westridge Middle School and a co-worker of Kay Plaster. He'll be sharing his experiences attending the presidential inauguration with us this evening. Regardless of your party affiliation, this promises to be an interesting program of commentary on all things inaugural and Capital Hill.
Monday, June 22nd - BOARD MEETING: ALL Club members are welcome and are ENCOURAGED to attend board meetings. No need to be on the board to come provide your input to our Club plans. Board meetings are normally held on the 4th Monday of each month at Black Dog Coffeehouse in the back room - 12815 W. 87th St. Pkwy, just behind Mr. Goodcents. Come join us for a "latte" good discussion of Club business.
Planning ahead! Mark your Calendar!
July 6th - Instead of our usual Club Meeting tonight we'll be doing some packet stuffing in preparation for the Midnight Bike Ride. More details will come out later, but the plan is to meet in the back room at The Sports Authority and get things put together for packet pickup for the ride.
July 10th - Midnight Bike Ride Packet Pickup 10am-6pm at The Sports Authority
July 11th - The 14th annual Lenexa Midnight Bike Ride! Packet Pickup 10am-4pm at The Sports Authority. Onsite registration 10:00pm at Shawnee Mission Park. Ride starts at Midnight followed by our traditional post-ride Chris Cakes Pancake Feed - all of this happens at Shawnee Mission Park.
July 20th - Midnight Bike Ride Celebration! Instead of our usual Club Meeting tonight we'll be hosting a gathering of MBR volunteers, sponsors, and our Club members celebrate yet another successful ride in 2009!
2008-2009 OFFICERS & BOARD
President: Diane Linver
Vice President: Kay Plaster
Secretary-Treasurer: Scott Webster
Past President: Paul Norstrud
Board Members: Don Hamner, Jan Huff Soper
Optimists, this is the info I know you've all been waiting for! Here's your opportunity to sign up for volunteers times for the Midnight Bike Ride. If you know of any one who might be willing to come out and join the the fun, please get them on board and provide me with their contact info and I'll be happy to do the coordination.
In addition to the times listed in the info below, I'm planning to have packet stuffing parties the weekend of the 4th of July and the week prior to the ride. Packet stuffing will be held at The Sports Authority at 95th & Quivira (northwest corner). I'm tentatively planning for Sunday, July 5th from 1pm to 4pm and Monday, July 6th from 10am to 4pm. Then there will be one last opportunity for packet stuffing fun on Monday evening, July 7th from 6pm to 9pm.
PLEASE NOTE THAT THE LENEXA OPTIMIST WILL NOT BE MEETING AT PERKINS ON JULY 6th for our usual Club Meeting. Instead, we'll be stuffing packets at Sports Authority that day.
The note below outlines other volunteer opportunities to assist with registration/packet pickup and with the ride itself and post-ride pancake feed. Please review the times when help is needed and be sure to sign-up to help out the night of the ride!
I need to hear back from you with your availability for any or all of the volunteer opportunities coming up. I also need to get your t-shirt size. Please let me know what times you can be available. Thanks!
Jan
--
Jan Huff Soper
Lenexa Midnight Bike Ride Chair
Lenexa Optimist Club
jan@sopershosta.com
H: 913-492-5522
W: 816-783-8508
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Hello! This is a call for Midnight Bike Ride volunteers! IT'S ALMOST HERE!!! WE NEED YOUR HELP!!!
Hard to believe that the 2009 Lenexa Midnight Bike Ride is just three two weeks away on Saturday, July 11, 2009. Due to safety concerns, we have had a route change for the ride this year and are holding the ride entirely inside Shawnee Mission Park. Despite the route change, we have had a good initial response from riders and are expecting to still have a good, but possibly smaller, group of participants this year.
The new Shawnee Mission Park route has some different challenges and while the distance is only a 4.5 mile loop, we still need lots of volunteers to help ensure the safety and to assist with supplemental lighting for the roadways. I do hope that you'll be able to assist us again this year. Please drop me a quick reply to confirm your availability for one or more of the times listed below.
What we need now is confirmation from volunteers available to assist, days/times available, along with contact information (name, phone, email) and t-shirt sizes. The ride is just three weeks away and I would appreciate hearing from you as soon as possible to confirm your availability.
Those people in the community who volunteer their time to help with this event are the ones who make this event a safe, fun family event year after year. This is the 14th year for the Lenexa Midnight Bike Ride and is operated as a joint event by the Lenexa Optimist Club and Lenexa Parks & Recreation. Over 500 riders are expected for this year's ride and approximately 80 volunteers are needed to help ensure a safe and successful event. We are soliciting your participation as a volunteer this year. This is guaranteed to be unlike any other volunteer event experience!
Funds raised from the Midnight Bike Ride are used for projects that help youth throughout our metro community -- for example, in the past contributions have been made to Children's Mercy Hospital, Shawnee Mission Medical Center car seat program, TLC for Children and Families, Camp Quality for children with cancer, Childhood Cancer research, Special Olympics, SafeHome, scholarships to Johnson County Community College and distribution of calculators to local grade school students, in addition to other Optimist sponsored programs and projects that fulfill the Optimist International motto "Bringing Out the Best in Kids".
We'll be using a totally new route this year that starts and ends in Shawnee Mission Park, entering the park at 79th & Renner. The route consists of a 4.5 mile loop on the roadway through the park and riders will be able to "choose their own distance" by completing one or more loops. The last loop will be allowed to be started at 1:30am which will ensure the ride concludes by 2am on Sunday morning. After the ride, we will still offer the optional "all you can eat" Chris Cakes pancake feed for $6 at Shelter #2 in the park.
As always we will need volunteers to assist with packet pickup on Friday and Saturday during the day prior to the ride, on Saturday at the event for late registration, packet pickup, and after the ride for the pancake feed. We especially need coverage along the route to help monitor the ride. If you have a preference, please let me know and I'll do my best to match you with an available opening. Volunteers are needed during the following times:
July 10, Friday Registration & Packet Pickup: at The Sports Authority (95th & Quivira, northwest corner): 10:00am - 6:00pm (2-4 hour shifts available)
July 11, Saturday Registration & Packet Pickup: at The Sports Authority (95th & Quivira, northwest corner): 10:00am - 4:00pm (2-4 hour shifts available)
July 11, Saturday Night Registration & Packet Pickup: in Shawnee Mission Park (enter at 79th & Renner): 9:45pm - midnight
July 11-12 Saturday Night/Sunday Morning on the Bike Ride Route: 11:15pm Saturday - 2am Sunday morning (approximately)
July 11-12 Saturday Night/Sunday Morning Pancake Feed: Shawnee Mission Park Shelter #2 11:00pm Saturday - 3am Sunday morning (approximately)
Registration and Packet Pickup volunteer responsibilities include accepting new registrations and passing out t-shirts and ride materials to pre-registered riders.
Registration and Packet Pickup volunteers working Friday and Saturday during the day are asked to arrive at the Sports Authority (95th & Quivira) approximately 15 minutes prior to their shift to receive specific information on duties.
Registration and Packet Pickup volunteers working on Saturday night are asked to arrive at Shawnee Mission Park at 9:45pm; report to the registration table (enter at 79th & Renner)
Route volunteer responsibilities include monitoring the riders, cheering them on along the ride, assisting by directing riders at turns along the route, and working with police and ham radio operators posted along the route to ensure the safety of the ride by reporting any riders needing assistance. Route volunteers are asked to arrive at 11:15pm their designated meeting point (inside Shawnee Mission Park - enter at 79th & Renner) to receive specific route assignments, radios, and information.
Pancake Feed volunteer responsibilities include assisting with Chris Cakes setup and assisting in the food service line. Pancake Feed volunteers are asked to arrive at 11:00pm at Shawnee Mission Park Shelter #2.
If you have any questions, I encourage you to contact me by e-mail at jan@sopershosta.com or by phone at 816-783-8508 (work) or 913-492-5522 (home).
I look forward to hearing from you!
Jan
--
Jan Huff Soper
Lenexa Midnight Bike Ride Chair
Lenexa Optimist Club
jan@sopershosta.com
H: 913-492-5522
W: 816-783-8508
MAY CLUB MEETINGS
Regular Club meetings are held monthly on the 1st & 3rd Mondays. Club meetings are held at Perkins Restaurant, 87th & I-35, just east of I-35, 6:00pm.
See you at the meetings.
Monday, May 4th: SafeHome Event - No Formal Club Meeting at Perkins! - We will be meeting at SafeHome in lieu of our regular Club meeting. Come join in the fun and help entertain the children who are living at SafeHome while their parents get a much needed break to do a little housekeeping. This is one of those great opportunities to get hands on with children and see our efforts have a direct impact toward "Bringing out the Best in Kids"!
We'll have some fun activities with the little ones from 6pm to 7pm. Plan to meet at SafeHome at 6pm. If you haven't already confirmed and you plan to attend or if you need directions, please contact Scott Webster at 913-244-884. See you there!
Monday, May 18th: Club Meeting - I believe that this is our Respect for Law night. Am working to confirm plans for this evening's program, so stay tuned for more information coming to a PC near you soon!
Monday, May 25th - Memorial Day Holiday - NO BOARD MEETING
Planning ahead! Mark your Calendar!
July 11th - The 14th annual Lenexa Midnight Bike Ride! Yes, we're on--more details at our April 6th meeting!
2008-2009 OFFICERS & BOARD
President: Diane Linver
Vice President: Kay Plaster
Secretary-Treasurer: Scott Webster
Past President: Paul Norstrud
Board Members: Don Hamner, Jan Huff Soper
APRIL CLUB MEETINGS
Regular Club meetings are held monthly on the 1st & 3rd Mondays. Club meetings are held at Perkins Restaurant, 87th & I-35, just east of I-35, 6:00pm.
See you at the meetings.
Monday, April 6th: Club Meeting - Hail to the Chief! Unfortunately, we were unable to get President Obama as our speaker for this meeting, but we are fortunate enough to have someone coming who was at the Prez's inauguration ceremony to tell us all about it. Dwight Lewis, a paraprofessional at Westridge Middle School and a co-worker of Kay Plaster will be sharing his experiences with us this evening. Regardless of your party affiliation, this promises to be an interesting program of commentary on all things inaugural and Capital Hill.
Monday, April 20th: Club Meeting - 1st Place State Champs from the Shawnee Mission South will be providing our program. These are not just any champs--they've been #1 for 9 years now! No, it's not one of the high school's athletic teams, but it's the Academic Decathlon Team. Members of the team along with their sponsor, Stan Stern, will be our guests. I'm sure they'll teach us a few things and exercise our minds with lots of interesting brain building info.
Monday, April 27th - BOARD MEETING: ALL Club members are welcome and are ENCOURAGED to attend board meetings. No need to be on the board to come provide your input to our Club plans. Board meetings are normally held on the 4th Monday of each month at Black Dog Coffeehouse in the back room - 12815 W. 87th St. Pkwy, just behind Mr. Goodcents. Come join us for a "latte" good discussion of Club business.
Planning ahead! Mark your Calendar!
May 4th - An evening at SafeHome! More details coming later in April.
June 2nd - Jan's hip replacement surgery (Oops! That's one for my personal calendar, but Diane insisted I mention it here to let you all know.)
July 11th - The 14th annual Lenexa Midnight Bike Ride! Yes, we're on--more details at our April 6th meeting!
2008-2009 OFFICERS & BOARD
President: Diane Linver
Vice President: Kay Plaster
Secretary-Treasurer: Scott Webster
Past President: Paul Norstrud
Board Members: Don Hamner, Jan Huff Soper
MARCH CLUB MEETINGS
Sorry for the lateness of our e-news this month. February sure seemed like a short month--wait, it was a short month! Whew! jhs
Regular Club meetings are held monthly on the 1st & 3rd Mondays. Club meetings are held at Perkins Restaurant, 87th & I-35, just east of I-35, 6:00pm.
See you at the meetings.
Monday, March 2nd: Club Meeting - Green is all the rage these days, and this month it's not just all about St. Patrick's Day--it's all about ecology. Come hear the students from Westridge along with Vonda Morris tell all about their Model City competition entry. It's all about Lenexa as a "green" city. This will be a very special opportunity to learn something new and show our support for the youth in our community and their work on this project.
Monday, March 16th: One of our favorite "regulars" will be back! Cathy Davis with KU Med Center will share the latest on her work with the pediatric educational programs offerred by the Med Center. This is a program that our Club has proudly supported for many years. Cathy always has something new to share with us--what a wonderful way to see the funds we raise and donate doing such great things.
Monday, March 23rd - BOARD MEETING: ALL Club members are welcome and are ENCOURAGED to attend board meetings. No need to be on the board to come provide your input to our Club plans. Board meetings are normally held on the 4th Monday of each month at Black Dog Coffeehouse in the back room - 12815 W. 87th St. Pkwy, just behind Mr. Goodcents. Come join us for a "latte" good discussion of Club business.
Planning ahead! Mark your Calendar! May 4th - An evening at SafeHome! More details coming in April.
2008-2009 OFFICERS & BOARD
President: Diane Linver
Vice President: Kay Plaster
Secretary-Treasurer: Scott Webster
Past President: Paul Norstrud
Board Members: Don Hamner, Jan Huff Soper
FEBRUARY CLUB MEETINGS
Regular Club meetings are held monthly on the 1st & 3rd Mondays. Club meetings are held at Perkins Restaurant, 87th & I-35, just east of I-35, 6:00pm.
See you at the meetings.
Monday, February 2nd: Club Meeting - Yes, for all of you who have been waiting--Steve Rainey, our Ham radio operator contact will be providing the program. Be sure to come and bring along a friend or two for this interesting program. Steve will talk to us about what the Ham operators do and how they provide an important community service. We already know how they help support the Lenexa Midnight Bike Ride, but the do much more than just that. Lucky for us, Monday nights the Ham weather network is online, so at 7:30pm Steve will be set up and will hook up into the network where we can hear the Ham operators live doing their thing! This is going to be an evening that will be fun and interesting. Look forward to seeing you there!
Monday, February 16th: Come hear Randy Knight, Johnson County Parks & Recreation Community Relations Manager. Randy will fill us in on the latest P&R news at the county level. We'll also have a chance to bounce our ideas off of him regarding Shawnee Mission Park as a new Midnight Bike Ride venue. He'll tell us all about the deer in Shawnee Mission Park and fill us in on other interesting tidbits about our area parks.
Monday, February 23rd - BOARD MEETING: ALL Club members are welcome and are ENCOURAGED to attend board meetings. No need to be on the board to come provide your input to our Club plans. Board meetings are normally held on the 4th Monday of each month at Black Dog Coffeehouse in the back room - 12815 W. 87th St. Pkwy, just behind Mr. Goodcents. Come join us for a "latte" good discussion of Club business.
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!
JANUARY CLUB MEETINGS
Regular Club meetings are held monthly on the 1st & 3rd Mondays. Club meetings are held at Perkins Restaurant, 87th & I-35, just east of I-35, 6:00pm. See you at the meetings.
Monday, January 5th: Club Meeting - Plans are for a representative of the Lenexa Chamber of Commerce to come and provide an update on some of the activities going on around Lenexa. There is a Chamber blood drive coming up, so you might want to consider "rolling up your sleeve" and getting involved with that. Come hear more about it all!
Monday, January 19th: For this meeting we are working to reschedule Steve Rainey as our guest to fill us in on all the things that the Ham Radio Operators do when they aren't out supporting our Lenexa Midnight Bike Ride. Plans are still tentative. We hope to have more information out to you later in the month to confirm these plans.
Monday, January 26th - BOARD MEETING: ALL Club members are welcome and are ENCOURAGED to attend board meetings. No need to be on the board to come provide your input to our Club plans. Board meetings are normally held on the 4th Monday of each month at Black Dog Coffeehouse in the back room - 12815 W. 87th St. Pkwy, just behind Mr. Goodcents. Come join us for a "latte" good discussion of Club business.
2008-2009 OFFICERS & BOARD
President: Diane Linver
Vice President: Kay Plaster
Secretary-Treasurer: Scott Webster
Past President: Paul Norstrud
Board Members: Don Hamner, Jan Huff Soper
