The "Manhattan Optimist Club Bulletin" 3/15/23
VOLUME 2023 MARCH 15 NUMBER 24
President Thad’s welcome was followed by 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 Bob Pulford who introduced our speaker, Bob Crawford – 40 Years a Journalist. Bob Crawford helped Chicagoans stay in the know about politics and government for more than 40 years, covering 20 national political conventions, 10 presidential elections, seven Chicago mayors, a number of governors, the release of the American hostages from Iran and preparations for the Ronald Regan White House.
Crawford started his professional career in Peoria, Ill., and got his big break in 1967 when the Richard Speck trial was moved there from Chicago. His work covering that trial later landed him a spot on Chicago’s WBBM-AM when that station began its pioneering all-news format. Despite his array of reporting accomplishments, Crawford is best known for his work at Chicago’s City Hall. Until his 2001 retirement, Crawford was the dean of City Hall reporters.
“His overarching perspective on the city’s history and his authoritative delivery have been invaluable to listeners — and, in many cases, to those of us honored to be among his competitors. Bob maintains a near-perfect balance for a reporter: Always polite, his questions nevertheless relentlessly have sought truth from the powerful,” wrote fellow WPGU alumnus and Chicago journalist Charlie Meyerson.
Crawford was also known for helping fledgling City Hall reporters, providing “a friendly face and encyclopedic knowledge” and offering a great role model of what a political reporter should be. In 1995, Crawford was inducted into the Chicago Journalism Hall of Fame.
This bio was written at the time of Robert Crawford’s inauguration into the 2007 Illini Media Hall of Fame.
Journalist Crawford left us with many thoughts and here are couple of them…. a good journalist will “take no sides and tell all sides” and “words matter – clarity, understanding and conveying the message correctly.” He took his job very seriously and strived to provide fair and balanced reporting. Bob Crawford never forgot why he was there: to feed the most complete and honest information he could to hundreds of thousands of citizens who relied on him.
Thank you, Bob, for sharing with us!
MEMBER SPOTLIGHT: Kelly Karl filled in again today for Greg McCune and introduced Garrett Jackson. Garrett has only been a member for one month and he joined Optimists to get more involved with the Manhattan community. His sponsor was Todd Chyba, a colleague from The Trust Co, where Garrett has worked since he started as an intern in 2019.
Garrett is originally from Cedar Point, Kansas, south of Manhattan down by Cottonwood Falls. He went to K-State and graduated in Personal Financial Planning. Both Garrett’s parents attended K-State and Garrett said Manhattan had always felt like a second home growing up. He is the youngest of three boys and is single.
In his spare time, Garrett likes to hunt, fish, golf and hang out with friends and family. Garrett said he is proud to be a member of such a wonderful organization.
CLUB STUFF/ANNOUNCEMENTS:
13th Annual Spaghetti Dinner to be held March 25th – Signup sheets are out
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
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 again this morning – Welcome back Joey!
Meeting adjourned with the OPTIMIST CREED.
MARCH PROGRAMS:
Program Chairs: Heather Peterson and Bob Pulford
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