The "Manhattan Optimist Club Bulletin": Vol. 2024 #29: 4-17-24

Posted April 19, 2024

                                     VOLUME 2024            APRIL 17         NUMBER 29

President Bill Wisdom, welcomed everyone and gave us our morning blessing, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.  

ACHES & PAINS:  Keep Bruce Bidwell, Steve McKinzie and their families in your thoughts and prayers.  Always be kind…      

PROGRAM:  This morning Paul Dittmar introduced us to Greg Spaulding, KSU Department of Mechanical Engineering. 

Greg Spaulding, KSU Department of Mechanical & Nuclear Engineering
Professor Greg Spaulding received a B.S. Degree in Mechanical Engineering from Kansas State University in 1980. From 1980 to 1983 he worked at General Dynamics and was assigned to Mechanical / Hydraulic System Analysis, specifically involved in working on the update of the F-16 fighter aircraft. In 1983, he returned to Kansas State University where he received a MS Degree in Mechanical Engineering in the area of Automated Control Systems. Upon completion of this degree he returned to industry, working as a Research Engineer at Houston Instruments. Where he was intimately involved in the development of a digital control system for the new generation plotters and received a patent for his work in development of a tensioning system for belt drives.

 

 

Motor Cycle Voice Activated Face Shield-Student Design Project
After four years at Houston Instruments Prof Spaulding returned to Kansas to pursue his dream of starting his own company, this dream resulted in the company, ScriptPro. Spaulding cofounded and served as President and Head of Engineering for this start-up. The company developed an automation system for pharmacies that is currently used worldwide. For this work he was awarded a patent. After the sale of the company in 1996 Spaulding took a teaching position at Kansas State – Salina in the Mechanical Engineering Technology Department where he taught for twelve years rising to the rank of Full Professor before transitioning to the Manhattan Campus in 2007. Professor Spaulding is also a Registered Professional Engineer in the State of Kansas.

 

Automated Guitar Cord Player: Just Strum-Student Design Project
Spaulding spoke about his students working through the process of Functionality, Manufacturability and Marketability.  These processes have become much more attainable with the help of 3-D tools (the 3-D Printer) thus making designs much easier.  They also utilize online AI of injection molded parts via protolabs.  Students can get cost estimates etc to see if their projects are even marketable and cost effective.  We saw projects the teams had made with 3-D printers including a voice activated motorcycle helmet, an automatic chlorinator for swimming pools, an auto chord player for a guitar an autonomous sprinkler valve controller for your sprinkler system and an automated pet feeder.   All very cool projects, maybe one day we’ll see one of these items out there on  the market. 

CLUB STUFF/ANNOUNCEMENTS and UPCOMING EVENTS:          

GROW GREEN MATCH DAY will be April 22nd, see Todd Chyba for more information.
Optimist Park Workday: Saturday, May 4, 2024, at 10:00am Signup sheets are on the tables for the Optimist Park Volunteer Field Maintenance Program that we all need to take part in.  Please sign up!
Bill Snyder Half Marathon, May 25, 2024, please sign up to help, we do get $50.00 per member. 
SAVE THE DATE: May 8th – IPS Essay Celebration, May 9th – New Member Dinner, June 19th – Celebration Project,       October 19th – Aggieville Chili Crawl

GUESTS:  No other outside guests this morning.  

Meeting adjourned with the OPTIMIST CREED.

APRIL PROGRAMS:   Program Chairs:  Sharon/Mike Fincham, Heather Peterson & Paul Dittmar

                APRIL 24:                             Ronnie Grice, Head of Security-KSU

                NOON MEETING              “KSU Sports & Security”

                                                                Coordinator:  Sharon Fincham

MAY PROGRAMS:           Program chairs:  Jerry Banaka, Ed Klimek, Bill Wisdom & Mike Fincham

                MAY 1:                                 Lyriannette Santana, Spanish Speaking Liaison at MHS 

                MORNING MEETING      “Serving Spanish Speakers at MHS”

                                                                Coordinator:  Mike Fincham

                MAY 8:                                 Interpersonal Skills Essay Presentations & Awards

                NOON MEETING              “Interpersonal Skills Essay Presentations & Awards”

                                                                Coordinator:  Ed Klimek

                MAY 15:                               Gary Fike, Riley County Extension Director

                MORNING MEETING      “Agriculture in Brazil”

                                                                Coordinator:  Jerry Banaka

                MAY 22:                               Steve Havenstein, Respect for the Law

                NOON MEETING              “Respect for the Law” recognition

                                                                Coordinator:  Steve Havenstein

                MAY 29:                               Business Meeting

                MORNING MEETING      “Business Meeting”

                                                                Coordinator:  Bill Wisdom

         MAY BIRTHDAYS