The "Manhattan Optimist Club Bulletin": Vol. 2024 #46: 8-14-24
VOLUME 2024 AUGUST 14, 2024 NUMBER 46
President Bill Wisdom welcomed the membership and guests, and Craig Cox presented the following reflection, a quote by Henry David Thoreau, 1817-1862, an American naturalist. essayist, poet, and philosopher.
“To read well, that is, to read true books in a true spirit, is a noble exercise, and one that will task the reader more than any exercise which the customs of the day esteem. It requires a training such as the athletes underwent, the steady intention almost of the whole life to this object. Books must be read as deliberately and reservedly as they were written.”
The flag salute followed.
Heather Peterson introduced Gail Urban to speak on the Manhattan Parks and Recreation Foundation.
The Endowed Fund utilizes donations to provide permanent support and long -term growth for the MPRF grants program and its larger projects.
The Grants Fund ensures the success of recreation programs by reducing economic barriers for participants, supporting major recreation projects and addressing other general recreation needs.
The Operating Fund contributes to program and fundraising expenses, including communications, postage, signage and venue rentals.
MPRD currently has a scholarship program, but it is very limited and needs to be updated. MPRD is expected to recover the cost of the programs and costs are rising, thus fees will need to rise, and increased revenue is needed for scholarships. A recent example is a grant of $3,000 to subsidize a swimming program for special populations. They also funded two lifeguards to become certified in swimming instruction for special populations. She noted the Optimist funded the cost of T-Ball last summer.
In 2017 the Quality of Life sales tax issue was passed and funded two recreation centers at Anthony and Eisenhower middle schools, improvement in trails and funding for CICO Park, which will start this fall. The CICO Park improvements are next. The school district wants to relocate some track throwing events to their property on the east side of the football field/track across the ravine where the skate park is located and will pay for the improvements for throwing events, however there is no funding in the Quality of Life bond issue to move the skate park, which popular with many in the community. The MPRF may serve as a vehicle for folks interested in having a skate park in Manhattan to raise funds to move or rebuild the skate park and making the skate park handicapped accessible. An Anderson Knight employee who is interested in developing a skate park is doing a rendering to illustrate how it might look to assist in fundraising.
The foundation had its first fundraising event this fourth of July, a cardboard boat regatta, held at the City Park swimming pool. For $20 an adult and child (5-14 in age) got a 4’x8’ sheet of cardboard and a roll of duct tape to build their boat in one hour, then the child would paddle or row it across the city pool. The city provided lifeguards and staff. It was fun to watch the parent and child work together. About 150 people participated, comprising 48 teams. They hope to improve on it next year and create a festival event and perhaps a soapbox derby in a couple of years.
The MPRF has a board that works closely with City of Manhattan staff to ensure proper disbursement of funds in support of MPRD’s mission. Our mission is to enhance the parks and recreation experience through charitable contributions, time, and resources.
The Manhattan Parks and Recreation Foundation has several current projects.
Special Population Programs: Special Population programs are committed to expanding opportunities and enriching the engagement of special population individuals in our community by removing financial barriers that can limit their participation.
Recreation Scholarship Program: The Purpose of this fundraising campaign is to establish and sustain an annual balance of $100,000 to provide financial assistance to individuals experiencing economic challenges. The foundation is deeply dedicated to removing financial barriers and ensuring accessibility for all members of our community, especially those grappling with financial constraints.
Indoor Aquatics Center: With an overwhelming majority, 70%, of respondents in our most recent survey expressed the community’s desire for an indoor Aquatic Center. To bring a state-of-the-art indoor aquatics center to our community, the Foundation has set a $10,000,000 fundraising goal to assist with capital construction costs. This facility will serve as a major attraction for our city, offering a wide range of activities such as swimming lessons, water aerobics, competitive programs, and therapeutic services.
Manhattan Parks & Recreation Foundation Website
Greg McCune introduced Matt Murphy.
Matt is one of those few people who grew up in Manhattan, went to Manhattan schools and went to K-State. He majored in Parks and Recreation Area Management. Matt started in the glass industry in 1976 with Harding Glass. However, most of his career was spent at Manko Glass. He retired from there in 2020 as Vice President after 20 years.
Matt married his lovely wife Sue in 1976 and they have two children, Heather and husband Jason Mendenhall of Fairview, Oklahoma; their sons are Izaha, 22, and Jonah, 15. Matt’s son Tom and wife Jacy live in Salina and their kids are Jake, 17, and Olivia, 15. Matt said he and Sue love to travel with their camper. They fish and Matt enjoys hunting.
Matt’s parents, as well as Matt and Sue, bought Christmas trees from the Optimist and their daughter played on an Optimist softball team. It just goes to show how embedded they are in the community. Welcome back to the Optimists, Matt.
No guests were present.
Bill Wisdom announced it was Mike and Sharon Fincham’s 53rd wedding anniversary.
Doug Jardine read several thank you notes from participants in the Riley County Fair’s Lego entries thanking the Optimist for their financial support.
Heather Peterson reported on the Just Tri It event. There were 270 participants ages 4-15 and 600 attendees. Six Optimist helped with the event: Tim, Kelly, Steve, Sophie, Mike and Jerry.
Greg McCune mentioned he had spoken to the club about his attendance at the Optimist International Convention. He shared some thoughts about what he had learned and sent a downloadable file to via email that is a recording on what he said in the July 31 Optimist meeting.
Bruce Bidwell announced signup sheets for the Fall Social at the Park, September 8th, were available to 1) signup to attend the event and 2) signup to help get the park ready and set up for the event.
Aggieville Chili Crawl information will come out soon.
September 8, Fall Social at the Park; September 28, football parking for the OSU game; October 19, Aggieville Chili Crawl.
Adjourned with the Optimist Creed
AUGUST 21: MORNING MEETING: Blade Mages, Owner – Middle (formerly 502 Media): Topic: “Wareham Hall Project”
AUGUST 28: NOON MEETING: Kendra Kuhlman, Director – Manhattan Arts Center: Topic: “Master Plan for Manhattan Arts Center”