The "Manhattan Optimist Club Bulletin" #49: 9-6-23

VOLUME 2023            SEPTEMBER 6         NUMBER 49

President Thad Hall’s welcome was followed by the flag salute.  

ACHES & PAINS:  Be thankful for all your blessings and be kind, you never know what others are dealing with…

PROGRAM:   Mike Fincham introduced our speaker, Jared Tremblay, Transportation Planning Analyst at Flint Hills Metropolitan.  Electric Vehicle Preparedness.

Ready or not, they are coming, and we all need to realize that.  Not that everyone will be driving them, but they will certainly be more prominent.  In pushing to the change, the focus remains on SAFETY, PRESERVATION and MAINTENANCE.  There is a very high demand for charging stations.  Filling the gaps in the infrastructure is one of the top priorities and on seeing the maps provided by Jared, I believe we all saw the need. There are federal and state programs such as NEVI to help support the alternate fuel corridors (AFC’S).  K-State, KDOT and EVERGY are also key players.

He shared much information and is wiling to talk to anyone, you can reach out to him at jtremblay@flinthillsmpo.org He has some great information and is willing to answer questions as well. 

CLUB STUFF/ANNOUNCEMENTS and UPCOMING EVENTS:

Chili Crawl, October 14th, Vouchers are available to sell, just bring unsold ones back!
Officer & Board Installation This will be held during the September 27th meeting
Doug Jardine is riding to support and raise funds for Childhood Cancer, all donations welcome, see Doug!
Community Blood Drive September 18th & 19th
Marathon Sign-up:  October 7th,  sign up to help, Club gets $500.00 for helping out
Recruitment Push: (Thad Hall)  $100.00 gift card to the member that brings in the most new members by September 30th.  (Ed Klimek, Clyde Scott, Craig Cox & Jerry Banaka)

MEMBER SPOTLIGHT: Darrell Phillips

He’s already familiar with the Optimist Club because he was a member of the Lawrence, Indiana Optimist Club from 1985-1995.  Darrell grew up in Indianapolis Indiana, he married his Jr High Sweetheart, Carmen Phillips right out of high school.  They have three children, Natalie Davidon, John Phillips and Carmen Schober.  They are lucky enough to have five grandchildren and ALL of them live here in Manhattan. 

Darrell said his first job was as a welder and sheet metal fabricator, making air-to-air missiles.  In 1983 he began a career in insurance and investment sales.  In 2004 he moved to Manhattan and founded DPI Benefits (an employee benefits agency).  It grew to become one of the largest employee benefits consulting firms in Kansas, serving more than 55 hospitals and other employers throughout Kansas.  In 2019, Darrell sold the agency to Arthur J Gallagher & Co (AJG), a Fortune 500 company specializing in risk management and employee benefits consulting.  He is still employed by AJG as a consultant but is no longer involved in the day-to-day operations. 

For recreation, Darrell likes to golf, bowl and fish.  He also enjoys traveling and spending time with his grandkids. 

Welcome to the Optimist Club Darrell!

GUESTS: There were no other guests this morning.        

Meeting adjourned with the OPTIMIST CREED.

SEPTEMBER PROGRAMS:  PROGRAM CHAIRS – Heather Peterson/Mike Fincham

September 13: NOON MEETING: Bob Debruyn, Author & Founder, Master Teacher and Tracey Debruyn, CEO, Master Teacher.  Topic: The Museum of Art and Light.  Introduction: Mike Fincham

September 20: MORNING MEETING: Sharon Steiner,  Massage Therapist, Beyond Relaxation. Topic: Mobility, Light &  Massage, Leading to a more Flexible and Balanced Mind & Body. Introduction: Mike Fincham

September 27: NOON MEETING: Thad Hall, President.  Topic: Outgoing Presidential Address, Installation of Officers, Year-end  Awards.            

September Birthdays