The "Manhattan Optimist Club Bulletin" Vol. 2026 #41 7-15-26
VOLUME 2026 JULY 15 NUMBER 41
President Kelly Karl welcomed everyone, Bill Wisdom gave us a wonderful morning reflection and that was followed by the flag salute.
ACHES & PAINS: Remember those less fortunate, those suffering and those doing the very best they can.
PROGRAM: Craig Cox introduced Daniel Skucius, Riley County Extension Director. Daniel grew up in Sterling, Kansas and earned his bachelor’s degree in wildlife and outdoor management from Kansas State University. He has most recently been employed as a watershed extension specialist for K-State Research and Extension’s Kansas Center for Agricultural Resources and Environment (KCARE) in Manhattan Kansas.
A community's sustainability depends on its long-term ability to meet residents' needs. Community Vitality focuses on helping communities by working to develop and to support leaders and organizations within those communities. Public issues education provides Kansans with timely, credible, unbiased and research-based information and education about public issues. Pressing and emerging issues that involve multiple points of view have widespread consequences on those who live and work in Riley County. Extension's goals are to:
- increase citizen knowledge, awareness and understanding of public issues;
- increase citizen's willingness to participate in the public process and take on leadership roles;
- promote agritourism as an opportunity to increase the economic well-being of producers and provide an opportunity for Kansans to visit a farm and enjoy locally grown foods.
VITA : Volunteer Income Tax Assistance - The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program offers free tax preparation for qualifying households:
- Taxpayers whose household income falls below $80,000 or less
- Military and Retired Military
- Persons with disabilities; and
- Limited English-speaking taxpayers
While the IRS manages the VITA program, the VITA sites are operated by IRS partners and staffed by volunteers.
Riley county K-state Extension manages our local VITA site, with financial support from the Caroline Piene Foundation and Konza United Way. In addition, the Manhattan Public Library provides space to operate.
All VITA volunteers must take and pass tax law training that meets or exceeds IRS standards.
Volunteers will be needed! Reach out to our extension office for more information.
Welcome A-Board: Board Leadership Basics - This program helps community boards to be more effective. Topics can be adapted to the group’s needs or offered as individual modules.
- Session 1: Roles and Responsibilities of Board Members/Effective Meetings
- Session 2: Understanding Fellow Board Members/Conflict Management
- Session 3: Financial Responsibilities, Fundraising, Legalities, and Ethics
- Session 4: Strategic Planning
The program can be presented in-person or online. Contact our office to learn more about this unique learning opportunity.
All Things Kansas: Your guide to understanding all 105 counties in the Sunflower State. Access free interactive tools with data-driven mapping, reports and insights through 30,000 + data layers and 120+ national and state sources.
Your one-stop shop for Kansas data about: Agriculture, Broadband Access, Business, Child Care and Youth, Economy, Education, Environment, Food and Food Systems, Health and Health Care, Housing, Population trends and profiles, Water and many more topics.
How All things Kansas can help: Save time by accessing multiple data sources in one place, Visualize and Map data, Build geography-based reports, Identify opportunities across Kansas, Understand communities and market demands, Analyze workforce strengths and industry gaps, Research information to help with grant writing and Make data-informed decisions. For more information, go to k-state.edu/allthingskansas.
Lastly, Daniel mentioned that next week is the Riley County Fair and this is the largest “educational” event they have. The Riley County Fair is our annual celebration of 4-H'ers. Our youth have the opportunity to exhibit their projects for evaluation by expert judges. Following judging, projects are displayed for the public to visit and appreciate. Come by the Riley fair and see our 4-H'ers accomplishments!
To learn more about any of these Community Vitality Programs, you can contact Daniel at (785)537-6350 or skuciusd@ksu.edu Thank you, Daniel, for sharing this great information.
Save the date: July 15th, Bowling Social Event – K-State Union, text Sharon Fincham for more information
Blueville Nursery has donated some nice Maple Trees, Friday, July 17th at Optimist Park, you are welcome to come and help plant these trees. See Steve Boeckman for more information. Shout out and Thank You goes to Blueville Nursery!
If you have any spare quarters, try to get them to Heather before August 12th, for the Laundry Love program. Assisting those in need with laundry services.
Save the date: Aug 20th, Trap Shoot Park – RSVP to Brad Claussen
Save the date: Sept 20th, Annual Picnic at Optimist Park with more information to come.
Save the date: Oct 24th, Annual Chili Crawl (see Bill Wisdom for more information)
Just Try It Youth Triathlon-more information coming soon.
Be watching for a Social Committee Survey coming out soon.
GUESTS: No additional guests were present this morning.
Meeting adjourned with the Optimist Creed
