The "Manhattan Optimist Club Bulletin": Vol. 2025 #7: 11-13-24
VOLUME 2025 NOVEMBER 13, 2024 NUMBER 7
President Greg McCune welcomed the membership and guests, then Sharon Fincham presented the reflection, by Abraham Lincoln. The flag salute followed.
Thad Hall outlined the Manhattan High School Student of the Month Program. The program recognizes Manhattan High School seniors who make a difference in their community through volunteerism and leadership of activities that have a positive impact on the MHS or Manhattan community. The goal of the program is to inspire and encourage youth to get involved in their community in an effort to benefit others. Applicants submit a résumé and are judged by a committee. Six recipients are chosen during the year, and each receives $100 to donate to the organization of their choice and are eligible for a $1,000 scholarship as the overall yearly winner. Raisa Hossain was introduced as Manhattan High School Student of the Month.
When she is not doing other things, she spends time with friends and family; they are very important to her. She is also a big fan of TV shows and movies. She plays tennis at MHS and is very interested in travel. She researches places to travel and one of her goals is to travel solo.
At MHS, she is the co-President of the Manhattan High School Civic Engagement Club where she organized over ten community conversations with a total of over 300 participants from all age groups and created a curriculum for Communication and Leadership Bootcamps for over 200 participants of all ages. She is the Manhattan High School Student Council student body treasurer where she managed the logistics for eight service projects and nine fundraisers, raising over $3,000. She led an effort to reward attendance at the high school by having one parking spot designated to a student who had perfect attendance.
She serves a Co-President of the MHS Red Cross Club and has arranged nine blood drives as blood drive chair; they collected over 330 units of blood. Outside of school, but affiliated with the Red Cross, she also served as an International Humanitarian Law Youth Action Campaign delegate for three years. Raisa is the Co-President of the MHS Health Occupation Students of America club. She received an International Excellence Award in job seeking skills and helped build partnerships with six local health clinics and stores.
As a member of the USD 383 Committee for Diversity and Inclusion, she facilitated a project with the USD 383 Superintendents to spread awareness about the district complaint system and developed indigenous book recommendations for K-12 students with a group of over ten different races and ethnicities. She volunteers at the Manhattan Free Clinic downtown. Her accomplishments include Goldstein Excellence Award from USD 383. Her language skills include English, level five bilingual proficiency, Bangla level five, native proficiency, and Spanish, level 2 limited working proficiency.
For her future she plans to go to college and study biochemistry on a pre-med track and minor in Spanish and she plans on continuing serving those in need in whichever community she resides. Life Goals include becoming an OBGYN at a teaching hospital, serving as a school board member or local leader in her community and, most of all, spread joy wherever she goes. She concluded by thanking her family, the Optimist, her teachers, and her friends. She is donating the $100 to No Patient Untreated, a club at KSU in support of Manhattan Free Clinic.
Sales will begin on Thanksgiving Day and lots of help is needed that weekend, as it is our busiest weekend of the sales season. Last year 81 trees were sold on Thursday, Thanksgiving Day, 196 on Friday, 64 on Saturday, and 77 on Sunday. Fifty-eight percent of the inventory was sold on Thanksgiving Weekend, however, since Thanksgiving is late this year, sales are likely to be higher. Signup for shifts on Signup Genius. Contact Jim Franke (jfranke@ksu.edu) if you need access to sign up.
The 2024 tree inventory includes Fraser Fir (303), Douglas Fir, Sheared (205), Black Hills Spruce (80), Blue Spruce (20), and Scotch Pine (35). We will also have white pines and balsam fir trees. The tree lot is known for having a good selection of medium to extra large trees and large trees go quickly. Jim also reviewed sales strategies and safety issues, especially with the chain saw.
Next year as we transition to new tree lot leadership, Doug Jardine will lead operations, David Starks will lead ordering, Jean Klassen will lead marketing, and Steve Boeckman will lead setup and take down.
MHS Student of the Month, Raisa Hossain.
Thad Hall announced all of the grade school shoots have been completed and tomorrow the boy’s semifinals will be held at Manhattan Christian College. Finals will be held at Bramlage on Tuesday November 19th.
Korey Klinkenberg announced the Early Expressions Art signup sheet will be available next Wednesday.
Sharon Fincham announced the first Youth of the Month next Wednesday. Additional presenters would be very helpful; let Sharon know if you could help.
President Greg is looking for members for the following committees and signup sheets were on the tables.
Would you join a committee? Put your name below after the committee you prefer.
New Fundraisers Committee: (This committee, headed by Vice President Kelly Karl, will look at potential new sources of revenue for our club, in part to help put money aside for the future of Optimist Park.)
New Programs for Youth Committee: (This committee, headed by club Secretary Lisa Brummett, will look at potential new programs for youth. Do you see a need in the community that we could fill?)
Social Committee: (This committee, headed by Ashley Urban, will plan events for our members outside of our regular meetings, fund raisers and programs. The goal is to get to know fellow members better and have fun.)
New Member/Marketing Committee: (This committee, headed by Jean Klassen with help from Greg McCune, will implement a new member campaign in the first quarter of 2025. We need members who can help us convince people to join our club.)
Mike Fincham announced the Christmas Breakfast is December 18th and he will have a signup sheet out soon.
SAVE THESE DATES: November 28, Optimist Tree Lot Opening; December 18, Christmas Breakfast.
Adjourned with the Optimist Creed
NOVEMBER 20: MORNING MEETING: PROGRAM: “Youth of the Month Presentations: Manhattan Catholic School and Theodore Roosevelt Elementary School”
NOVEMBER 20: MORNING MEETING: PROGRAM: “Youth of the Month Presentations: Manhattan Catholic School and Theodore Roosevelt Elementary School”
NOVEMBER 27: 10:00 AM: AT OPTIMIST PARK: Unwrapping trees; placing trees on stanchions and pricing trees.
