The "Manhattan Optimist Club Bulletin": Vol. 2024 #37: 6-12-24

Posted June 12, 2024

                                VOLUME 2024          JUNE 12, 2024         NUMBER 37

The Manhattan Optimist Club gathered at Optimist Park for lunch.

President Bill Wisdom welcomed the membership and guests, then led the flag salute.  Jerry Banaka presented the following reflection.

Jerry Banaka Presented the Reflection
We come to Optimist Park on this day annually for two very important reasons:  
   - Observe Flag Day and Pay Tribute to the history of our Club thru our
   - Club’s Memorial  
We have been doing this since 2020 when this Memorial was developed.
First: Observe Flag Day
We meet on the Wednesday closest to Flag Day which this year is
Friday, June 14.
We fly our flag 24-7 in support one of the purposes of Optimist International – to promote Patriotism.
It Is important this year that we reflect back to last week when the 80th anniversary of D-Day was observed.
80 years ago last week 73,000 young American Soldiers along with thousands of Allies hit the beaches of Normandy.
We know that many, many did not survive but they were all part of that great group of soldiers that literally changed the course of history by bringing an end to that war.       
We fly our flag in recognition of the freedom they obtained for us.
Secondly: We meet annually to remember and pay respect to those
members who have served this club over the past 60 years.
The Memorial Stone reads:
DEDICATED TO THOSE LOYAL MEMBERS WHO HAVE SERVED THIS CLUB
In closing, we express appreciation to all those members who keep this park in excellent condition so that we can meet here on this special day.
 
Program:

Bill Wisdom opened the program and noted “Today is a day that we will remember our members who have passed away and to give thanks for their lives.  A chance to remember their hard work and devotion to this club and to this community.  Let’s quiet our minds as we read the names of those who have gone before us.”

Jerry Banaka, Clyde Scott, and Bill Wisdom, presented “Remembering Our Saints,” a tribute to those Manhattan Optimist leaders and members who have passed away.  Names were read and a bell was rung after each speaker had read eight names.

DECEASED OPTIMIST PRESIDENTS

Fred Schoeb Robert W. Sloan W. J. Jelinek
John Meisner Neil Grantham W. D. Yorgensen
W. D. Yorgensen Max E. Cramer R. D. Lundberg
Joe K. Murphy Bud Crabtree Walt Smith
Orville Ekberg Oscar Larmer Rex Fischer
Ray Bishop Ken Lyle Bill E. Moore
Dwight Nesmith Allan Elliott Rob Percy
Greg Potter William T. Moore Tom Bennett
Larry Marcellus Tom Holder  
DECEASED OPTIMIST MEMBERS
Mike Babcock
Robert E. Brummett
 Alberto D. Broce
Tom Claman
Frank Combs
Don Combs
Frank Connizzo
Pat Dreiling
Don Fisher
Ronald Hableutzel
Michael Hawkins
David Horvath
Joe Grantham
Charles King
Ron Lemon
John Machin
Roger Maughmer
Max Cramer
Terry Miller
Robert Percy
John Reese
Roger Sink
Bruce Spellman
John White

Bill Wisdom closed with the following, “Hope this remembrance may have jogged a special memory of someone whose name was read, especially for you who have been a part of this club for a long time.”

Taps was played by Gary Lloyd.  

Clyde Scott presented the Flag Day tribute

Clyde Scott reflected on past members and what they have started for Manhattan.  “A lot of things that started by our club are still going on in Manhattan: the Boys and Girls Club, the Kaw Valley Rodeo, T-Ball, Pops Choir, Girls Softball, and the creation of Optimist Park.  Our members did what they needed to do to build this park, and we need to keep it going for Manhattan.  The plants I put in this memorial remind me of Optimist; plant one year and they leave seed down that comes back as volunteers for next year.” 

Clyde Scott presented the Flag Day tribute from a story he saw in The American Legion magazine.  Matt Wrobel, a member of the American Legion Post 113 in Meridian, Idaho, collected the brass grommets from 25,000 retired American flags and cast the brass into a ship’s bell for the new ship the USS Idaho.  He also had 300 key chains made for the officers and sailors from remaining brass after the bell was cast.  The bell was presented to the Skipper at a banquet following the submarine’s christening.

Link to Article: https://ussidahocommittee.org/news/legionnaire-gives-new-idaho-sub-crew-a-piece-of-home

Greg McCune presented Jerome Miratsky
Member Spotlight

Greg McCune presented Jerome Miratsky.  Jerome said he joined Manhattan Optimist Club because of the great reputation that this organization has in the community.  Jerome was born and raised on a farm 175 miles north of Manhattan, by Bruno, Nebraska.  He went to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, then to Kansas State for one semester and to Kansas City, Kansas Community College to study Mortuary Science. 

After community college, he worked at a funeral home in Nebraska until 1996.  While in Nebraska, he finished his master’s degree in urban planning.  He moved to Wyoming and was a funeral director there until 2006.  He then moved to Arizona where he owned a funeral home and a cemetery for 15 years.  He sold that business in 2021.  That’s when he made the leap to Manhattan, purchasing a home here in 2021 and officially moving here in 2023. 

Jerome said he moved here because he loves Manhattan and the surrounding communities, plus the scenic Flint Hills.  He purchased Irvin-Parkview Funeral Home in September of last year.  Jerome is single and he likes to play and watch sports in his spare time.

Bill Wisdom officially inducted Jerome Miratsky into the Manhattan Optimist Club.

Guests: 

Jerry Banaka introduced Terry Tiede, who is attending his second meeting.

Club Stuff/Announcements:

Greg McCune reminded everyone to fill out and return the Tree Lot Survey.  He also noted Jerome was the eighth new member this year.

Mike Fincham announced anyone who wanted to help with Juneteenth:

Meet at Pepsi Cola office, 703 Levee Dr., 10:00 a.m., Friday, June 14, 2024, to load beverages and 3 large round coolers provided by Pepsi's Jake Wassenberg.
Proceed to Manhattan City Park to set up.
Break for lunch following completion of set up.
Reconvene at City Park at 3:00 p.m.
Bring a lawn chair for yourself.
BBQ Contest event runs from 5:00-7:00 p.m.
We'll run 2 shifts of servers. One shift can sample the BBQ when it begins while the other shift hands out beverages. Then we switch. The goal is that all beverages get handed out, and all Optimist project volunteers get a chance to sample the delicious BBQ before it closes down.
When the beverages have all been handed out we take it down and vacate the premises. Should be out of there by 8:00 p.m.

Bill Wisdom thanked Bruce Bidwell for all he did getting the park ready and for putting the picnic tables in the shade.

Bill Wisdom closed the meeting with a Flag Quiz.

Steve Beckman gave a brief explanation of the various facilities in Optimist Park.

Adjourned with the Optimist Creed at the Optimist Park Creed monument.

Save these dates: October 19, Aggieville Chili Crawl.

Next Weeks’s Meeting:

JUNE 19: MORNING MEETING: Joe Mocnik, Dean of KSU Libraries: “KSU Libraries.”

June Meetings:

JUNE 26: NOON MEETING: Alyssa Mitoska, Pawnee Mental Health: “Pawnee Mental Health.”

JUNE BIRTHDAYS