The "Manhattan Optimist Club Bulletin": Vol. 2025 #11: 12-11-24

VOLUME 2025          DECEMBER 11, 2024         NUMBER 11

President Greg McCune welcomed the membership and guests, then Jerry Banaka presented the reflection.  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.  Advith Natarajan was introduced as Manhattan High School Student of the Month. 

Advith Natarajan has lived in Manhattan all his life and is a diehard K-State and Chiefs fan.  He plays the guitar, piano, and instruments from India.  He has taken vocal lessons in Indian classical music for several years.  Athletics is a big part of his life as he plays varsity tennis and soccer.  He loves to travel and learn about new cultures, traditions etc.  He also loves to cook. 

His overall theme for the things he has done is to have a connection with the community and empowering youth in the community.  He spearheaded a civic engagement project focused on developing communication and conflict resolution skills and developing community solutions through deliberation.  He also started project MHK, a free tutoring service for youth in the community.  They hold weekly tutoring sessions, both in person and online.  He worked on the MHS student newspaper, the Mentor and has been Editor in Chief of the paper the last couple of years.  He gained many insights into the community and school topics, and administrative point of view etc.

He has conducted educational research using the Kansas Report Card database to perform a 1.5-year long analysis of performance metrics within various subgroups across the State of Kansas studying the impact of COVID 19 on student performance. 

Advith is a Science Olympiad participant and a multi-time state medalist (three 3rd place state finishes as a team).  He has also conducted biomedical research where he explored non-invasive temperature monitoring techniques for hyperthermia cancer treatment. 

His core vision is a love of learning, being an active citizen, and critical thinking.  He plans to study Electrical Engineering in the future.

He chose the Civic Engagement Initiative to receive the Optimist $100 donation, given to the Student of the Month’s designated charity.

Heather Peterson introduced Lisa Sederlin Isaacson, Director of Early Childhood Education, Manhattan Area Technical College.  Lisa is an Early Care and Education professional with over 23 years in the field.  She has a Master of Science degree in Early Childhood Special Education and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology, both from Fort Hays State University.  Ms. Isaacson is the Executive Director of the Flint Hills Child Care Business/Community Accelerator.  She is also the Director of the Early Childhood Education Program at Manhattan Area Technical College.  Prior to coming onboard with the Flint Hills Child Care Business/Community Accelerator, she was an Infant Toddler Training and Technical Assistance Specialist for the Kansas Child Care Training Opportunities (KCCTO) – Kansas Inservice Training Services (KITS) – Infant Toddler Specialist Network (ITSN) through the Lifespan Institute at the University of Kansas.  She has also worked for the United States Army and the United States Marine Corps Child and Youth Services as a Family Child Care Director, School Age Care Director and a Training and Curriculum Specialist.  Ms. Isaacson has been a licensed preschool special education teacher in three school systems as well as a home-based family childcare provider supporting the workforce in her community.

The Childcare Business Initiative’s (CBI) mission is to empower educators and entrepreneurs to build quality childcare services through business training, operational support and access to resources that foster sustainable growth.  They work through existing national, state and local supports for childcare providers.  For example, the USDA provides reimbursement to providers for some children who qualify, however, many providers don’t understand the paperwork involved.  The CBI helps providers better understand the paperwork required and helps them improve their childcare business.  The Kansas State Department of Education’s child nutrition and wellness staff can assist providers with information on nutrition and health information for providers.  The Kansas Department of Health and Environment provides childcare licensing support for childcare providers.  The Kansas Department of Children and Families’ Child Care Assistance Program helps eligible families have the same choice and options for child care as families who pay out of pocket for care by sharing the provider types of care available, informing families of the amount of child care assistance a family is eligible to receive, and reimbursing the child care provider at a rate that takes into consideration the cost of providing care, what they charge families who do not receive subsidies.  There are barriers for family childcare.  Providers and administrators across Kansas said in a survey that the state’s processes can be a barrier to those seeking assistance due to excessive paperwork, lack of communication and stringent eligibility requirements.  That is in addition to inadequate reimbursement rates and delayed payments.

Raising Riley (RR) scholarships provided through the Kansas Children’s Cabinet and Trust Fund’s Early Childhood Block Grant, has an opportunity to improve the affordability of childcare.  The scholarship program allows parents/guardians who live within Riley County the opportunity to receive financial assistance for childcare if the preschool/daycare provider accepts RR funds.

The Flint Hills Child Care Business/Community Accelerator will utilize partners, such as those below, for professional development and mentoring childcare providers.

At the National Association for Family Child Care (NAFCC), relationships with local family childcare associations serve an important role in our mission to support and leverage a nationwide network of providers and partners in expanding and promoting the power of family childcare, by connecting practice, policy, and research.

Childcare Aware of Kansas seeks to assist in providing quality, accessible, affordable childcare which contributes to the prosperity of Kansas today and tomorrow.  It helps families find affordable, quality childcare that fits the family’s needs and helps providers find resources to improve their program and support their business.  In addition, it helps communities find ideas and solutions to enhance childcare where you live.

Links to Quality (L2Q) is a childcare quality recognition and improvement system (QRIS) created with the support of early childhood organizations and providers across the state and funded by CCDF through a partnership between Kansas Department for Children and Families and Child Care Aware of Kansas.  As a QRIS, L2Q works to provide a standard of quality and a framework that supports programs and providers in meeting that standard.  Their mission is to increase quality care in Kansas, empower families in choosing the early care and education program that bast suits their needs, and strengthen communities through increased access to quality early care and education and enhanced public-private partnerships. 

The Kansas Child Care Training Opportunities (KCCTO) is a state-wide training office dedicated to providing quality accessible, professional development opportunities to family childcare providers, childcare center staff, and other early education professionals throughout Kansas.

The Kansas Children’s Service League (KCSL) works to prevent childhood abuse and neglect, offer family support, improve school readiness, and provide parent and community education in communities throughout the state of Kansas. These services are designed to help children and parents develop the skills necessary to be successful in their homes, schools, and workplaces. Our goal is to create, repair, and restore healthy parent-child relationships as they are the foundation of a strong family.

Kansas Breastfeeding Coalition, Inc. The Kansas Breastfeeding Coalition works to promote and protect breastfeeding and human milk feeding to improve Kansas families’ health and well-being.  They are individuals from various organizations, agencies, and private businesses collaborating to ensure that families thrive. They welcome and encourage participation from anyone interested in making breastfeeding and human milk feeding more accessible and equitable in Kansas through advocacy and leadership.

Infant and Toddler Services of Kansas provides early intervention for Kansas families with infants or toddlers experiencing developmental delays or disabilities so every child can learn, grow, and achieve their fullest potential.

Pawnee Mental Health provides outreach services.

Currently a facility is being constructed north of Via Christi Hospital which will serve as both a daycare facility and a daycare provider training facility. Several pods will provide space for individual entrepreneurs who meet the requirements, to rent a pod and provide services to families.  As the providers progress in their business, they will receive support to transition into a new space in the community.  This is a collaboration with Ascension Via Christi, who provided the property for the facility, and later with local landlords and realtors, businesses, and churches.   MATC will be offering an early childhood program for an associate’s degree starting in the fall of 2025.  This effort is a partnership of Flint Hills Community Accelerator Partners, support for CBI, Hartland Works, Manhattan Free Clinic, and the Manhattan Area Technical College early childhood courses and the Childcare Business Initiative.

For more information, check out their website.    Childcare Business Initiative

MHS Student of the Month, Advith Natarajan, his mother, Rekha Natarajan, (his father Bala, was unable to attend), our presenter, Lisa Sederlin Issaacson, and guests, Becky Plummer and Dr. Doug Stigge.

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.)

Jim Franke updated the group on the Tree Lot.  Through December 10th 678 trees were sold, almost 90% of the inventory.  80 trees remain.  Crew size can be reduced this weekend and next weekend. 

Mike Fincham reminded the group that the Christmas Breakfast is December 18th.and the Manhattan High Pops Choir will entertain the group.  Santa Claus will also be there.

Thad Hall shared that three of the four shoots are complete now.  The girls had their semifinal last Friday night and Heather Peterson’s daughter made it to the finals.  The girls’ final is on December 18th.  550 kids participated in the contest. 

Bob Seymour

SAVE THESE DATES: December 18, Christmas Breakfast.

Adjourned with the Optimist Creed

DECEMBER 18: MORNING MEETING: PROGRAM: Christmas Breakfast: Manhattan High School Pops Choir Entertains.

DECEMBER 25: CHRISTMAS: MEETING CANCELLED

JANUARY 29: MORNING MEETING: Program:  Business Meeting

Early Expressions Art Judging