The "Manhattan Optimist Club Bulletin": Vol. 2024 #13: 12-27-23
VOLUME 2024 December 27, 2023 NUMBER 13
President Bill Wisdom welcomed the membership and guests, followed by a reflection by Greg McCune, and the Flag Salute.
Program:
In a 2013 survey, one of the questions was “Do you go caroling as part of your Christmas traditions?” Respondents reported that in their childhood, 36% went caroling, but in their adulthood only 16% reported going caroling. Caroling has a long tradition going back to the medieval period when hymns were sung celebrating harvest. Western Christmas traditions did not become generally fashionable until the late 1800’s. In 1870 Christmas was designated as a federal holiday. Queen Victoria and her family changed the western view of Christmas. Her husband was from Germany and brought Christmas trees lit with candles, the exchanging of presents, and the high value of spending time with your family, to England and was adopted by the United States citizens. This is when caroling really took off in the US and when some of the iconic Christmas carols were written. “Angeles We Have Heard on High” (1862), “Hark the Harold Angles Sing” (1855), “Jingle Bells” (1857), “Silent Night” (1859), and “We Three Kings” (1863) were written in this period. There is an ongoing debate that only traditional hymns should be sung when caroling and another side that the great songs from the 1940’s and 1950’s should be included. Newspapers would print the words and music to Christmas carols so people would have easy, inexpensive access to them to go caroling.
An example of our local Riley County version of “How Caroling Saved Christmas” occurred in December of 1973. Many events happened in 1973 which made it a rough year, especially in the latter half of the year. A tornado to the west of Manhattan tore up Clay Center and Greenleaf in September, flood waters caused millions of dollars in damage to Valley Heights, Marysville, and Frankford, and the rains caused the water level of Tuttle Creek rise to a new record level of 1,125 feet. Hunter’s Island was also evacuated. In December, an ice storm struck which cut the electricity of a wide area of Kansas including Riley County. The weather was a major topic in 1973, but not the only topic. Since May, Americans were experiencing a growing energy crisis. A shortage of gas caused stations to shorten hours and many to close. The Chamber of Commerce voted to not turn on the lights of the City’s Christmas decorations. Downtown Poyntz was decorated, but they were not going to turn on the lights. Fuel prices climbed to 40 or 50 cents per gallon. Riley County residents found themselves with no gas to travel to friends and family elsewhere. Because of the storms, many people did not have power in their homes to celebrate the season. This is when Diane Dollar enters the picture. She was born in Kansas City in 1933 and graduated from Manhattan High School, then attended KSU. She earned two master’s degrees. She became an assistant professor of art in 1965 and retired in 1998.
She felt there were some things we could not change. The City Commission did decide to turn the downtown Christmas lights on for two hours a night from December 20 through Christmas Eve. Diane went around to each of the churches downtown and explored what they were doing for Christmas Eve and when their events ended. She discovered it was right around the 6:30 to 7:00 time frame. She and a small committee put out a call in the newspaper that they were going to hold a community caroling event and invited all who wished to participate to bring a candle and their voice. They were to meet at the Methodist Church at 13th and Poyntz and march east with their candles and sing carols to the intersection at 4th Street. Around 400 carolers attended the approximately 30-minute event. She wanted to make the Christmas season festive.
They organized a second annual event; however, people could travel again, and the weather was not as dangerous. Though the second event had lots of time to plan, the turnout was only about 200 people, and it was never attempted again. Diane started her MFA program at KU, driving there several times per week, and with her full-time teaching position at KSU, did not have to lead the organization.
Caroling may not be as popular as it once was, however, there is some current interest among some Manhattan churches in doing a similar event.
Guests:
Bill Wisdom introduced today’s speaker, Melanie Highsmith and Ken Lewis introduced Lin Lewis and Sara Bidwell was introduced.
Club Stuff/Announcements:
Jim Franke provided a final Christmas tree update. At the end of tree sales, 24 trees remained and were placed outside the Optimist Park Gate. Over a few days, 20 were picked up.
Bill Wisdom recognized Jim Franke, Bruce Bidwell, Steve Beckman, and Bob Seymour for their efforts at making the tree lot a success. They were presented with Fort Knox Gold Bars, chocolate candy bars.
Thad Hall reported that they have completed the Hoop Holler and Shoot and thanked everyone who worked on it. Approximately 550 students participated, and it all went well. He also thanked Ed Klimek for his effort to make it a success.
Ed Klimek announced the IPS Class essay writing. Judges will be needed to select the winners.
Save these dates: March 15 & 16: State Special Olympics Basketball and March 23rd for the annual Spaghetti Dinner.
Adjourned with the Optimist Creed
Next Weeks’s Meeting:
JANUARY 3 – MORNING MEETING: Program: Don Bechtel: Topic: Rock Climbing/Rappelling and C.O.P.E. in Boy Scouts of America
JANUARY 10 – NOON MEETING: Program: Bethany Fields, Riley County Deputy Attorney: Topic: Prosecutor of the Year Award Winner