The "Manhattan Optimist Club Bulletin" Vol. 2025 #46 9-10-25

Posted September 10, 2025

VOLUME 2025    SEPTEMBER 10    NUMBER 46

President Greg McCune welcomed the membership and guests, Sharon Fincham presented a reflection, and the flag salute followed.

PROGRAM:

Addie Johnson, Director of Theatre Education, left and Kendra Kuhlman, Executive Director, right, the MAC, Manhattan Arts Center
Heather Peterson introduced Kendra Kuhlman, Executive Director, and Addie Johnson, Director of Theatre Education. The MAC, Manhattan Arts Center, has a lot going on in their main facility and annex including Theatre, Art, Education and more.

Kendra Kuhlman, Executive Director
The MAC puts on five youth shows per year and five main stage shows per year, as well as many other programs. Directors for shows have an apprentice/intern to help pass along knowledge to those who are less experienced and participants are constantly educating themselves and each other. Their youth theatre signups usually fill within 30 minutes and a wait list is created.

Youth participants run lights and sound for their youth productions and eventually, with experience, run lights and sound for adult productions.

Their first show, Legally Blond, will open on this Friday (9/12).

They will do five youth productions this year; three will be during the school year and two will be during the summer. One of the summer productions is a Company Production involving students 7-12. Last summer they did Shrek, the Musical junior version with the older students (7-12), and Seussical Junior Version with the younger students (K-6).

Addie Johnson, Director of Theatre Education
Youth Theatre Education Academy Program includes classes in:
  • MACademy
  • MACompany
  • Scenic Design/Construction
  • Lighting Design
  • Sound Design
  • State Management
  • Costuming
  • Improvisation
  • Fundamentals of Acting
  • Dungeons & Dragons.

Many of the above classes also include adults.

During the summer of 2025 they had 121 new participants with a total of 273 youth enrollments.

They have developed a partnership with the City of Manhattan to use space at City Park to improve their art offerings. They will have an open house on September 23rd from 4:30 to 6:30 to show off the new space. Programming will start October 1st.

Children and adults can get creative at the MAC as they offer Community Open Art Studios with:
  • Watercolor, Acrylic, & Oil Painting
  • Printmaking
  • Ceramics
  • Fused Glass
  • Sculpture
  • Metal Smithing
  • Drawing
The annual budget for the MAC is around $600,000, with income broken down as follows:
  • $150,000 – Grants
  • $50,000 – Sponsorships from Businesses
  • $35,000 – Sponsorships from Individuals
  • $100,000 – Admissions
  • $100,000 – Educational Class Enrollments
  • $65,000 – Memberships (Friends of MAC)
  • $100,000 – Fundraising Campaigns and Events

Artini is their main fundraising event which will be held October 3rd at Union Hall, 328 Poyntz Ave. They will also have a MAC and Cheese festival the last Saturday in March 2026. They had over 2,000 people last year.

Volunteers are always needed; the theatre needs ushers, box office, and bartending help. The art Gallery needs hosts and artist connections. Set building needs construction help, designers and volunteers with painting skills. Administration also requires assistance with organizing files and stuffing mailings. Their website lists volunteer opportunities.

The MAC's mission is enhancing lives through the arts. Their core values include:
  • Growth Mindset – Intentionally evolving fore the purpose of providing an enriching arts experience.
  • Innovation – Creativity and openness in our programming and delivery.
  • Strategic – Intentional, data driven decision making
  • Relationships – Being a conduit for genuine connection, and
  • Storytelling – Making MAC's life changing impact visible.

Over the years they have watched youth grow in their confidence and their performance abilities, both on stage and behind the scenes in tech roles.

Check out the MAC's website at:  https://www.manhattanarts.org/

GUESTS: President Greg McCune introduced Greg Oswald who recently moved to Manhattan and reintroduced new member Judy Nickelson.

CLUB STUFF/ANNOUNCEMENTS AND UPCOMING EVENTS:

Doug Jardine announced he was again riding in the Great Cycle Challenge which is a fundraiser for Childhood Cancer Research. Wednesday (9/10) was this year's national Match Day where all donations made that day will be matched by a few generous national donors up to $1,500,000. Below is the Link to Doug's donation page. His goal is to raise $2,500 and he has already ridden 270 miles of his 500 mile challenge.

https://greatcyclechallenge.com/Riders/DougJardine

Gary Lloyd announced the Manhattan Symphony concert at Blue Earth Plaza on Saturday September 13th and a Thundering Cats concert at Medowlark at 7:00 pm on October 3rd.

Bill Wisdom announced the Chili Crawl added another sponsor, the Happy Hippy. Signup sheets to work the event October 18th 3:30 to 6:30 were on the tables.

Also, he announced the Dime a Day progam donation sheets were on the tables.

Bruce Bidwell announced sign up sheets to attend and bring a side were available for the Fall Social at Optimist Park September 21st at 4:00pm. Signup sheets were also available to assist with setup for the event.

Fall Social 2025

Dues are due October 3rd.

Greg's farewell address will be September 24th.

The new Optimist Board will be installed October 1st.

Greg also announced we will be updating the membership directory for members and adding new members.

Meeting adjourned with the Optimist Creed.

SAVE THE DATE: Fall Social, September 21st and Chili Crawl, October 18th 3:30 to 6:30

NEXT WEEKS’S MEETING:

SEPTEMBER 17 – MORNING MEETING: Program: Larry Hoobler, Owner Operator, Triple T Farms: Topic: “Farming in Kansas & America Today”

SEPTEMBER MEETINGS:

SEPTEMBER 24 – NOON MEETING: Program: Greg McCune, Outgoing President: Topic: “Farewell Address”