The "Manhattan Optimist Club Bulletin" Vol. 2025 #48 9-24-25

VOLUME 2025   SEPTEMBER 24   NUMBER 48

President Greg McCune welcomed the membership and guests and Mike Fincham presented a reflection video created by his granddaughter and inspired by an Instagram post he viewed, the “Seven Rules of Life.”

The flag salute followed.

President Greg McCune presented an update of his goals from last October as President of the Manhattan Optimist Club.

This is a work in progress; thanks to Steve Havenstein for chairing this committee. A couple of meetings have been held with a great exchange of ideas. More information will come later as the committee develops ideas. Mark Knackendoffel has been involved in the committee and will do a session on bequest to establish an endowment for the park.

The first meeting of the Tree Lot Committee was this week. Bruce and Jim are stepping back and a committee is responsible for the event. Doug Jardine is responsible for operations. David Starks is in charge of ordering inventory. Steve Boeckman is in charge of setup and take down. Jean Klassen is in charge of marketing. They will be asking the membership to help make this first year work.

We have achieved this, which was evident from the recruitment of new younger members. We have some young members who have recruited other young members. Of the eight new members this year, six are under the age of 50. We have discovered some things that help us in that regard.

We have achieved this and thanks to the Board for giving $3,000 to do Facebook and radio ads; we got a lot of positive feedback from the community. It didn't lead to a huge rush of new members, but it lead to branding that was worth it. Greg recommends continuing the Facebook ads.

We have achieved this as well. Ashley Urban agreed to be the social committee chair and we had several events. We were unlucky with the baseball tailgating that was canceled because the game was canceled. We did go to Glooby's, toured the KSU volleyball facility, a volleyball game, a fall social, and one more possibly, Liquid Arts Winery, is planned later.

This is a work in progress also. As we work on the transition of tree lot leadership, additional fundraisers can be considered.

Greg mentioned a couple of anecdotes from the social. One new member asked if she could have a mentor. In order to keep young members active and involved, we have to have young members because young people relate to each other. He noted Heather Peterson has helped and has recruited several young members. We also need to listen to them and their ideas because the needs of the community are changing and we need to change with it.

We accomplished this with 76 members participating and we will be updating it soon. This will help new members put a name with a face and help with members communicating with each other. A limited number of copies were handed out and a link will be sent out to get an electronic version.

We did the marketing and Facebook ads.

We won Greater Manhattan Community Foundation award for best civic organization.

We won Manhattan Mercury Flint Hills Finest best civic organization second year in a row.

We started a new program for youth with the musical instrument drive.

We received an Optimist International grant of $1,000 to start the musical instrument drive program; the second consecutive year we have received a $1,000 grant.

Gary Lloyd received an certificate award and a little Jamesom from Ireland for starting the Musical Instrument Drive. Greg noted Gary took an idea and put it into practice to benefit the youth of our community.

Gary Lloyd mentioned they collected around 45 instruments. The instrument repairman from KSU did a wonderful job of checking out the instruments and determining the need for repair. About 25 instruments were ready to go after clean up when received. All the instruments were housed at MHS in the Band room. The MHS Band Director, Joel Gittle, is working with the beginning instrument program to find students who need instruments, but may not be able to afford them. The band teachers are very appreciative of the donations. Gary thanked the committee of Lisa Brummett, Sophie Maranville, Karen Hawes, Becca and Tyler Traxson, and Bob Seymour. Karen Hawes, with her experience with the bicycle recycling drive, and Tyler Traxson with his media experience were very helpful.

 

 

 

First Vice President Kelly Karl received an award as Greg was gone many times this year and was not able to attend meetings. Kelly was always gracious in backing Greg up at the weekly meetings. Greg presented him a little Jamesom also.

 

 

 

 

 

Mike Fincham also received a Jamesom award for his efforts as program chair and an unsung hero. Mike thanked Jerry Banaka, who held the program chair for years, for mentoring him.

Heather Peterson was honored for all she does for the club, such as Just Tri It, recruitment of new members, creating a one page brochure, front and back, with all of the Optimist programs on it.

Jean Klassen was honored for her help with marketing, putting together the social last Sunday, and trying to keep our new members active.

Bruce Bidwell, and Jim Franke the roles they play to make the Optimist Club successful.

Dan O'Neil for his work at the park.

Jerry Banaka for being supportive and joining the Board on short notice and helping with the social this year.

Thad Hall for his long time doing Hoop Holler N' Shoot and Student of the Month for many years.

Bill Wisdom for organizing the Chili Crawl.

Lisa Brummett for who helped Gary Lloyd with his Instrument program, the Kansas Optimist Essay Contest, and secretary of our club from many years.

Clyde Scott has been our treasurer for many years, and then he stepped up to help with the Bewitching in Westloop.

Ashley Urban for chairing the Social Committee this year.

Steve Boeckman, who does so much for the club, both at the park and other activities, including agreeing to be the Tree Lot Committee Chairperson.

Steve Havenstein for Chairing the Optimist Park Committee.

Sharon Fincham for her work with Youth of the Month.

Kale Terrill who has joined and made a strong contribution in his first year.

Mark Knackendoffel, who is very busy running his business, has agreed to join the committee on the future of the park

Brad Horchem, who does mowing at the park.

Steve Springer, who also does mowing at the park.

Greg also thanked those he may have missed acknowledging.

GUESTS: No guests were present.

Thad Hall announced Student of the Month will begin October 8th at the noon meeting. If you wish to help select the student of the month, please contact Thad.

Also Thad announced Hoop, Holler 'N Shoot preparations are in progress and we should have dates from KSU by the end of this week.

Bill Wisdom announced he still needs three or four volunteers for the Chili Crawl event on Saturday October 18th. Tickets are on sale at:

Buy tickets – 2025 Annual Chili Crawl – Johnny Kaw's Yard Bar

President Greg McCune mentioned the Optimist Social and what a nice event it was and especially for the new members who attended.

Note: Many additional Optimist Social pictures follow the birthday list!

Dues are due October 3rd.

Greg handed out new membership directories and announced we will be updating them soon.

Meeting adjourned with the Optimist Creed.

SAVE THE DATE: Chili Crawl, October 18th 3:30 to 6:30

OCTOBER 1 - MORNING MEETING: Program: New Presidential Address & Officer Installation

OCTOBER 8 – NOON MEETING: Program: Matthew Driscoll, Asst. Head Coach: Topic: “Overview of KSU Basketball”

OCTOBER 15 – MORNING MEETING: Program: Jessa Peterson, Owner, Chapter 5 Yoga: Topic: “100 Miles of Pain – High Lonesome 100”

OCTOBER 22 – NOON MEETING: Program: Liz Holle, President & CEO, Big Lakes: Topic: “Big Lakes Overview”

OCTOBER 29 – MORNING MEETING: Program: President Kelly Karl: Topic: “Membership Meeting”

 

Manhattan Optimist Fall Social Pictures