The "Manhattan Optimist Club Bulletin" #42: 7-19-23

Posted July 23, 2023

VOLUME 2023            JULY 19         NUMBER 42

Vice President Bill Wisdom welcomed us all, recited a great poem, “Everyday Heroes” followed by the flag salute.  

ACHES & PAINS:  Keep those ill, troubled, and less fortunate in your thoughts and prayers.  Be thankful for your blessings.  

PROGRAM:   Heather Peterson introduced our speaker this morning, Brian Peete, Director of the Riley County Police Department.   Brian R. Peete began serving the Manhattan and Riley County community on December 30, 2022, as the Director of the Riley County Police Department (RCPD) in Manhattan Kansas. RCPD is a CALEA-accredited agency that serves 74,000 residents with a staff of 110 Police Officers, 51 Corrections Officers, 24 Dispatchers, and 38 professional staff members. Prior to his time at RCPD, Director Peete served as the Chief of Police in Montpelier, the Capitol of Vermont. Prior to his role in Montpelier, he was the Chief of the Alamogordo Police Department in New Mexico.

Brian Peete, Director of the Riley County Police Department.
Director Peete also served in the City of Chicago's Inspector General's Office as the Chief Forensic Audit Investigator for Public Safety (Police Accountability) and as a Chief Investigator before his service as a Chief of Police. He was also a Patrolman, Field Training Officer, and Fusion Center Analyst for the Chicago Police Department. Director Peete has also served in federal law enforcement in the Air Force Office of Special Investigations as the Assistant Special Agent-In-Charge (Operations Officer), Detachment 206 Las Vegas, NV, where he deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and coordinated U.S. and Afghan forces in over 150 counterespionage, counterterrorism/counterintelligence, and force protection missions. He also was the Regional Manager for Operations Enhancement, 2nd Field Investigations Region at Langley Air Force Base responsible for the investigations and operations for over 400 Special Agents in 31 AFOSI offices worldwide including Iraq and Afghanistan.

Prior to a career in law enforcement, Director Peete was an Air Force aircraft maintenance officer who commanded three separate maintenance flights. Director Peete has a Master of Arts in Police Psychology, and a Bachelor of Science in Sociology with an emphasis on Employment Relations. Director Peete has collectively managed over 1000 people, 14 facilities, and over $1B of assets and operating budgets throughout his career. He is married to his wife Natalie, and they have one daughter Gabriella.

CLUB STUFF/ANNOUNCEMENTS:

Chili Crawl is moving right along, working on sponsors now, please see Bill Wisdom for more information and volunteering for the Chili Crawl!
Next Board Meeting, July 25th at 6:00pm at the Manhattan Library
JUST TRI IT – August 12, Heather Peterson will need a few volunteers. 
Summer Social at Optimist Park – Friday, August 18th at 6:00pm – all members and families are welcome.  Meat and Drinks provided, please bring a side dish.  We will be hosting Optimist Leaders from the Kansas District.  (Sign up sheets are on the tables for volunteers, set-up, clean-up etc…)
District Meeting will be held on Saturday, August 19th at 8:00am at the Hilton Garden Inn, 410 S 3rd and all members are welcome.  Registration forms are on the tables.  
Doug Jardine encouraged all to give blood at the next blood drive, Sept 18th and 19th
$100 gift card to the member that brings in the most “new members” by 9/30/2023.
We have received a $1500 donation from the Ron and Nancy Habluetzel Fund to be used wherever it is most needed.  (Ron was a former member of the Optimist Club, he passed away in 1990)

MEMBER SPOTLIGHT: No member spotlight today

GUESTS: We welcome our guest speaker, Brian Peete, who joined us this morning.    

Meeting adjourned with the OPTIMIST CREED.

JULY PROGRAMS:  Program Chair: Craig Cox/Mike Fincham

July 26:  NOON MEETING : Vivienne Leyva & Associates, Riley County Public Information De History of the Riley County Fire District #1

July Birthdays