The "Manhattan Optimist Club Bulletin": Vol. 2025 #16: 1-29-25
VOLUME 2025 JANUARY 29 NUMBER 16
First-Vice President Kelly Karl welcomed everyone this morning and Mike Ficham gave our morning reflection that was followed by the Flag Salute.
ACHES & PAINS: BE KIND, you never know what others around you may be dealing with.
Special Olympics Basketball tournament will be held March 21st and 22nd at Anthony and Eisenhower Recreation Centers, sign-up sheets are available, or you can see Bill Wisdom if you’re interested.
Jim Franke gave a tree lot update, again we started with 750 trees and sold roughly 710 of them. 53% of these trees were 7-to-8-foot size. Those 34 or so we did not sell were the smaller trees. And again, we made around $30,000.00 through tree sales and donations we receive during this time.
Jim Frank – Save the date: Spaghetti Dinner & Silent Auction will be held on March 29th. Jim provided us a complete spreadsheet from “getting started” to “clean up and prepare for 2026”! MOFA teams are required to sell tickets and generally sell around $2000.00 worth. After the dinner is over, the leftovers are donated to the Crisis Center. We will need everyone to help with this event and sign-up sheets will be out shortly.
Kelly Karl spoke about the Social Committee Survey, and for “Coordinated” events, it looks like there is interest in attending a KSU Baseball game, perhaps the April 22nd game vs Wichita State at 6:00pm. Cook some hotdogs, brats, have some sides and drinks in the parking lot and then enjoy the game. (Back up game would be May 6th vs Omaha at 6:00pm) Social at the park once again got several votes as did perhaps a tour of the KSU Athletic Facility.
“Social” events look like Goolsby’s Game Night on Thursday, Feb 27th from 4:00 – 6:00pm. They have duck pin bowling, simulators for golf and duck hunting among other things. They have a beer wall and a full menu. Look for more details to come. Late April would bring the KSU Baseball game, June perhaps an Aggieville Brewing Co Tour, July/August, Brothers Coffee Happy Hour with perhaps an Athletic Facilities tour before and September, a social at Optimist Park with Bingo and October/November perhaps Liquid Art Happy Hour. Of course, more details to come on all, stay tuned!
Social Committee Survey Page 2
Kelly Karl then spoke about the “Fund Raising Committee” and some other fund-raising ideas, including a Pickleball Tournament, Steak Dinner Night, Hawaiian Dinner Night, Bingo Night, Kickball Tournament, also the idea of partnering with other businesses or organizations and splitting proceeds, Longhorns has opportunities such as renting out for morning breakfast fund-raisers. If you have additional ideas, please bring them and share them with Kelly Karl. The more we can do, the more we can help!
Bruce Bidwell announced that the annual Lawn Mower Clinic will be March 11th from 4:30 – 6:30pm at Pottorf Hall.
See Program notes.
GUESTS: No additional guests were in attendance today.
Meeting adjourned with the Optimist Creed
Topic: Boys & Girls Club Activities
February 12: NOON MEETING: Student of the Month Presentation and Jeff Sackrider of Wamego Telephone CO: Topic: WTC Overview – Expanding Services
February 19: MORNING MEETING: Sharon Fincham - Youth of the Month Presentations: Bluemont Elementary and Flint Hills Christian Schools
February 26: NOON MEETING: Danielle Dulin, Manhattan City Manager: Topic: Manhattan City Management
