The "Manhattan Optimist Club Bulletin" Vol. 2026 #4 10-22-25

VOLUME 2026   OCTOBER 22   NUMBER 4

President Kelly Karl welcomed the membership and guests and Tim Peterson presented a reflection. The flag salute followed.

Heather Peterson introduced Liz Holle, President and CEO of Big Lakes Developmental Center, Inc. Liz was born in the old Irwin Army Hospital on Fort Riley. She grew up moving around as part of a military family. In 1995, her father’s final duty station brought them back to Fort Riley, and she has called the Manhattan area home ever since. She graduated from Manhattan High School and earned an Associate of Arts Degree from Barton County Community College. She later earned a Bachelor of Science Degree from Kansas State University; and in 2025 she earned her Master of Science in Nonprofit Administration from Louisiana State University Shreveport. She was also honored as a Manhattan Optimist Student of the Month when she was a student at Manhattan High School.

She began with Big Lakes Developmental Center in the summer of 2007 as a Direct Support Professional while completing her bachelor’s degree. Over the past 18 years she has held multiple roles within the organization, growing into her current position as President and CEO on June 1, 2025.

Beyond her work at Big Lakes, she is actively involved in the community and serves on multiple boards and committees.

She thanked the Optimist for having her speak. Big Lakes mission is to deliver quality services that promote choice, independence, and inclusion for persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities. They do this through their values which are very important to them: support, teamwork, respect, integrity, valor, and enthusiasm. Their main office is on Hays Drive and they also have a smaller one in Clay Center. They have 17 group homes which support Geary, Riley, and Clay Counties. They serve about 200 individuals and with a budget of $13 million and have a long term goal of stability. They support 53 individuals in community jobs and have 148 employees.

Their services include employment support, day activities, residential care, case management, transportation, and health services. Employment services includes:

Work center employment: community contracts where clients making things for 17 outside agencies and businesses

Supported employment: work done in businesses by clients with support from staff, and Competitive employment: clients working in a business with some assistance from staff as needed.

They currently have 27 community employment partners for their clients.

Clients also have a Farm Services program, a garden, where they raise food to be utilized at the facility. They also make bread, can pickles etc. The Life Enrichment program works on social interactions and physical therapy goals. Their retirement program allows clients who meet the age requirement of 52 and have been with them for a long time and don't want to work anymore, to would benefit from assistance in accessing services, resources, leisure and retirement options in the community. All clients can participate and access community activities and classes. One of the activities they like to participate in is bowling and they plan to participate in a bowling tournament this year. They also do volunteering with various agencies, such as Sunset Zoo and Harvesters. There are multiple opportunities for clients to go to lots of activities in the community. They serve meals family style for their residents to create a family atmosphere.

Their transportation services include four county routes with 30 vans and buses, nine cars, farm trucks an maintenance vehicles. In 2024 vehicles logged 396,522 miles on 43,225 trips traveling to work and day services, community activities, medical appointments, and shopping.

They have six case managers for children and adults who personalize planning for clients and provide resource assistance with Social Security, Medicaid/MCOs, IDD funding, housing, food, utility for independent living, and physical and behavioral health coordination.

There are a lot of challenges for Big Lakes. Funding is always a challenge. Students with disabilities can go to school until they are 21 years old, however, the wait list to get into Big Lakes after their schooling ends is about eight years long, with about 4,800 on the wait list. After gaining skills in school before turning 21, they need to wait eight years before they receive services to maintain and enhance their skills.

It is difficult to hire staff for the wages Big Lakes can afford to pay with the funding they receive. They did get some increase a few years ago, but it is still difficult to staff existing positions for the wages they can pay. They are looking at ways to use technology to improved staffing efficiency.

The Big Lakes Foundation was started in 1993 and have done a lot of things to support Big Lakes including: roof replacement, solar energy, interior remodeling, HVAC systems, and concrete work. They are also working on an endowment campaign and are well on their way to their goal.

https://www.biglakes.org/

GUESTS: Our speaker, Liz Holle, President and CEO of Big Lakes Developmental Center, Inc.

President Karl announced dues were due October 3rd.

Bill Wisdom updated the group on the 23rd Chili Crawl held last Saturday. Thirty-five Optimist volunteers helped with the Chili Crawl. He also thanked the members on the committee (names in green). The winning chili was at Nicos Little Italy and only twelve votes separated the top four chili entries. He couldn't remember it ever being that close. Nicos added a little pepperoni to their chili which made it unique. We sold 391 tickets and gave 120 comp tickets to sponsor businesses and 57 were used. 406 ticket holders went through the Crawl and 373 votes were cast. Revenue should be about $14,000.

President Karl announced we will be doing Bewitching in Westloop and we have enough volunteers.

Thad announced he and Ed Klimek started doing Hoop, Holler 'N Shoot back in 1999. The grade school shoots have been scheduled and thanks to the volunteers who have signed up and a few spots are still open. Sign up can be done on Sign Up Genus. Thad will send out instructions to everyone who is working those shoots. PE teachers at every school will also receive the information.

President Karl announced the sign ups will start soon for the tree lot. This year is a transition in leadership and information will be out soon.

Also, he announced Optimist International is trying to provide a little more support to the Dima-a-Day program. If you sign up for Dime-a-Day between now and December 31, you are entered in a raffle for the June I70 series on June 17th for the Royals vs Cardinals for two tickets and a parking pass.

There is a District meeting in Salina on Saturday morning. Doug Jardine, Bill Wisdom, and Lisa Brummett received recognition for their past service to the regional and state Optimist organization.

This Thursday is the Liquid Arts Winery social 4:00 to 6:00.

Heather Peterson received an award from Past President Greg McCune for being involved in recruiting five new members to the Manhattan Optimist Club.

https://manhattanoptimist.com/sites/default/files/tt2025tournamenttormentor01.pdf

Meeting adjourned with the Optimist Creed.

SAVE THE DATE: Social opportunity at Liquid Art winery on October 23rd 4:00 to 6:00. Sign up can be done on Sign-up Genus.

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

NOVEMBER 26 – NOON MEETING: Program: Christmas Tree Lot Preparation – Catered Lunch at Optimist Park: Topic: “Preparation for Tree Lot Opening”