The "Manhattan Optimist Club Bulletin" 3/8/23
VOLUME 2023 MARCH 8 NUMBER 23
President Thad welcomed everyone this morning and we all joined in with the Flag Salute.
ACHES & PAINS: Keep those unable to be here in person in your thoughts and prayers. Always be kind, you never know what stresses others may have… kindness matters.
PROGRAM: Thad Hall turned the program over to Mike Fincham who introduced our speaker, Micah Karl, Director of Infant Toddler Services. Micah earned a Master’s degree in Speech Pathology from Kansas State University a well as a Master’s degree in Early Childhood Special Education. She has worked as a Pediatric Speech Pathologist for over 20 years and is a certified lactation consultant.
Developmental Screenings and Evaluations: Our evaluation helps decide whether your child is eligible for early intervention (EI) services. We will have more than one provider involved in the evaluation. During the evaluation, we use a play-based approach to assess what your child can do as well as taking medical and social history. In order to look at the whole child and obtain family focused goals, we will conduct a routines-based assessment.
Early Intervention: Family Training, Counseling and Home visits, Special instruction, Speech-Language Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, Services Coordination, Hearing and Vision services, Assistive Technology Devices and Services, Behavior Support at home or in the community.
Transition to Preschool or Other Services: Transition services are those services that assist a toddler with a disability and his or her family to experience a smooth and effective transition from the early intervention program under Part C to the child's next program or other appropriate services, including services that may be identified for a child who is no longer eligible to receive Part C or Part B services.
Check out infant-toddler.org for more information, there is a lot more information out there, the video Micah showed, which was a great insight to what they do is out there along with others to view. Thank you for sharing with us today.
MEMBER SPOTLIGHT: Kelly Karl filled in today for Greg McCune and introduced Brian Joy. Bryan is another of our newer members. He says he joined because Greg McCune twisted his arm. He’s been a welcome addition, participating in several activities including Christmas tree lot, Chili Crawl and T-Ball umpiring.
Bryan grew up in Narka, Kansas, near Belleville in north-central Kansas. He graduated from Belleville High School and went to Independence Community College and played basketball. After two years there he went to Washburn to complete his undergraduate degree and played baseball.
Bryan married Cindy Reed, also from Belleville, and they will be married 45 years in August. Cindy is a registered nurse. Bryan went to Washburn law school and after graduating, joined a practice in the town of Burlington, Kansas, southeast of Emporia, where he practiced law for 40 years. Bryan and Cindy have three children, Brigham who lives in Spring Hill, Kansas, Miranda in Silver Lake, and Wes in Paola. They have six grandchildren and Bryan and Cindy enjoy attending their grandchildren’s many activities.
When it came time for retirement a couple of years ago, Bryan let Cindy decide where to retire with two stipulations, that it not be Lawrence or Kansas City. She chose Manhattan, even though neither one of them went to K-State. We are glad they chose our community. They have a farm up near Belleville, so Manhattan made sense for being near the farm.
In his free time, Bryan likes to hunt, fish and garden. He has been a registered sports official and has officiated basketball and football for about 40 years and baseball for eight years. He does high school and middle school games.
CLUB STUFF/ANNOUNCEMENTS:
13th Annual Spaghetti Dinner to be held March 25th – Signup sheets are out
Keith Behnke will need some assistance Friday afternoon and Saturday morning for the bread baking for the Spaghetti Dinner
Special Olympics Basketball Tournament will be March 17th and 18th at Eisenhower Middle School, there are sign-up sheets on the tables, we are looking for volunteers to keep score. (3-4-hour shifts)
Dime-a-day Optimist International – club # 37135 Can you spare a dime a day??
OI Annual Convention will be held July 2nd thru 5th in Arlington Virginia
Lawn Mower Clinic was held March 7th – successful with 21 students. Thank you to Bruce B, Jim F, Bruce S, Mike F, Dan O, Greg W, Steve B, Sara B, Greg M and Jim B
Bill Snyder Half Marathon will be May 27th – more information to come
Per Membership Survey – Meeting changes will start in June. There will be two Noon Meetings per month. They will be on the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays, Morning meetings will be held on the other Wednesdays.
GUESTS: Joey Purpura of Midwest Land Group joined us this morning – Welcome Joey!
Meeting adjourned as we all recited the OPTIMIST CREED.
MARCH PROGRAMS:
Program Chairs: Heather Peterson and Bob Pulford
March 15: Bob Crawford, Professional Journalist (Retired)
(MORNING MEETING) 40 Years a Journalist
March 22: Youth of the Month Presentations
(MORNING MEETING) Northview Elementary
March 29: Respect the Law & Business Meeting
(MORNING MEETING) Presentation of Certificate and Plaque to “Law Officer of the Year”
Business Meeting