The "Manhattan Optimist Club Bulletin": Vol. 2024 #34: 5-22-24
VOLUME 2024 May 22, 2024 NUMBER 34
President Bill Wisdom welcomed the membership and guests, and Mike Fincham presented the reflection, followed by the flag salute.
Steve Havenstein introduced Sonia Gregoire, Riley County Police Department (RCPD), Manhattan High School, School Resource Officer, and Manhattan Optimist Club Law Enforcement Officer of the Year 2023. Sonia has been with the RCPD for 25 years, and in law enforcement for 31 years. She has two adult children, Trevor 23, and Kaitlyn, 20. She has two grandchildren, Blakely five, and Parker five months.
Sonia has coached her daughter in softball for 10 years, including Optimist softball, and her son in baseball for over 12 years. Currently she is an assistant coach for the Manhattan High School softball team. She has coached at MHS for 10 years.
Sonia’s supervisor describes her as extremely dedicated to her duties. She consistently performs at an elevated level and goes beyond what is asked. Sonia takes the time to ensure that she is approachable and trusted by the staff and student body. She does this by engaging in the day-to-day operations of the school and interacting with staff and students alike. The way she engages in these interactions is what separates her from her peers.
Sonia is a selfless servant by nature and does little things that often go unnoticed. These include, but are not limited to, ensuring that snacks are available for the students in her office. This gesture allows her to be a friendly and approachable person who wears the uniform. Sonia knows that by being approachable and well-regarded by staff and students, that her efforts will improve school safety. There have been many incidents which were reported directly to Sonia that may have gone unreported had she not been so approachable. These interactions allowed Sonia and other officers to intervene in situations where students were in question.
Sonia has a unique connection with many special education students she serves. Sonia’s supervisor has witnessed on several occasions where students in this population were in crisis and Sonia was called to act. Her calm demeanor and genuine concern are omnipresent in these situations and is responsible for bringing calm to situations by using de-escalation techniques. These techniques are unique to her personality. Consequently, this gift Sonia possesses is a direct cause of force being unnecessary, and for de-escalation to occur without students hurting themselves or others. Conia’s coaching softball allows her to interact with the student population in a unique way. Students benefit from her knowledge of the sport and get the opportunity to see her in a role outside that of law enforcement. This humanizes Sonia to this group of students and by virtue of their experience in interaction with Sonia they will have a lifelong imprint that officers are people like everyone else.
During regularly scheduled school breaks, Sonia happily joins RCPD shifts on the street. What is impressive about her performance during these breaks is that she is constantly among the shift leaders in the initiative-taking elements of law enforcement. This is especially true in the city of Ogden. She has and maintains a special connection with this community and is well regarded among the members of this community.
Sonia had been our program here at Optimist on many occasions. She has kept us apprised of the status and condition of the high schools and middle schools in Riley County. I know that she has performed this service for many other service groups as well. For those that know Sonia on a professional or personal level, we understand and can appreciate that for her the work is a “calling.”
For these reasons, we are very honored to recognize Sonia Gregoire as our Manhattan Optimist Law Enforcement Officer of the Year 2023. Bill Wisdom presented her with a plaque.
Sonia addressed the group and gave an update on law enforcement in USD 383 secondary schools.
Sonia thanked the Optimist for the award. This year has been a challenge at Manhattan High School. She shared statistics for this past year and the previous year. The calls for service have gone up as they have brought the freshmen up to the same facility as the sophomores through seniors, for a total of over 2,000 students in the building, plus staff members. They have had two or three aggravated batteries, a weapon’s violation, a few knives; most of the rest of the violations are drugs (primarily marijuana), alcohol, and tobacco. They have had many fights this year. She and Brad Swearingen, also a School Resource Officer, keep busy working with students and staff, often talking with students who are having a bad day. Often students come to them to report out-of-school incidents that have happened to them. It was a hard year, but very rewarding. Today was the last day of school, and she worries about these students over the summer and is concerned if they will have enough to eat.
She thanked the Optimist for having her.
President Wisdom introduced today’s speaker, Riley County Police Department Officer Sonia Gregoire, and Captain Freidine. He also acknowledged Diana Havenstein in attendance.
Bill Wisdom announced there has been an interest in developing a directory of members. Forms were available on the table to fill out with the member’s directory information. The intent is to publish a hard copy of the information, including contact information. Any information on the Optimist website will not include contact information. They also want to include a picture of the member at some point. Link to a sample of the form.
Bill also noted that a roster of the club was on the back of the agenda, sorted by when the member joined the club.
Greg McCune announced this Saturday is the Bill Snyder Marathon. Two members who signed up could not make it, so he was requesting two more sign-up. Workers need to be there between 6:30 am and 6:40 am at the stadium to guide runners around the east football parking lot.
Jim Franke announced the next Optimist Park Volunteer Program workdays are Wednesday, May 29th and Saturday, June 1st to prepare the Park for Tee Ball. Another workday will be held on June 7th to prepare for a softball tournament on June 8th and 9th. Signup will be done through an online program Sign Up Genius. An email went out to those who signed up to help at the park.
Save these dates: October 19, Aggieville Chili Crawl.
Adjourned with the Optimist Creed.
MAY 29: MORNING MEETING: “Business Meeting.”
JUNE 5: MORNING MEETING: Brad Horchem, Optimist Member: “My Life in Sports.”
JUNE 12: NOON MEETING AT OPTIMIST PARK: Clyde Scott, Optimist Member: “Flag Day Celebration.”
JUNE 19: MORNING MEETING: Joe Mocnik, Dean of KSU Libraries: “KSU Libraries.”
JUNE 26: NOON MEETING: Alyssa Mitoska, Pawnee Mental Health: “Pawnee Mental Health.”