NEXT CLUB MEETING

  The next meeting of the Optimist Club of Treynor is planned at 7:20 a.m. Saturday morning October 7, 2006 at the Treynor Community Center.  LES HARVEY has arranged for Keith Mehlen, Council Bluffs Police Department, to speak on law enforcement issues.  All members are encouraged to bring a guest. 

 

REPORT OF RECENT CLUB MEETING

  At the Club meeting on 9/30 there were 18 members and three guests present.  President GARY GUTTAU opened the meeting by leading the pledge.  JEFF JORGENSEN offered a devotional prayer.

  The 50/50 was awarded to JEFF JORGENSEN.  The attendance pot was awarded to CARL GARAFFA.

  Guest Kelly Allen, wife of the program speaker, was introduced.  Allen is secretary at Treynor Elementary Schools.

  ARLYN NORRIS is a new grandpa, so he put a dollar in the Youth Fund to give us the details.  LES HARVEY added a dollar to announce the anniversary celebration and open house at Risen Sun Christian Village.

  Treynor High School Cheerleader Coach Marcia Lippert and team member Emily Eitmann were present to receive their check in the amount of $612.20 for use of the Can Kennel in August.  Lippert and Eitmann described the past summer high school cheer leader camp at Mahoney St. Park and the local camp activity last July when about 60 budding cheer leaders registered.  Lippert noted that some funds will be used to refurbish the Cardinal mascot and other funds will be used for cheer leading camps next year.

  Thanks to Pres. GUTTU, JEFF JORGENSEN, LARRY KRAMER, JOHN KLEIN, LES HARVEY, and RICHARD VORTHMANN for “herding” the many cub scouts at the recent can and bottle sorting.  The sorting and sacking was done in record time.  JORGENSEN noted he collected a good number of cans and bottles at a location he set up temporarily near his work in south Council Bluffs.  He suggested expansion of collection points for the benefit of youth groups.  RICHARD VORTHMANN noted the current accumulative collection of redemption fees through the Can Kennel since May of 1999 is over $49,000.

  JOHN KLEIN circulated for review the report of the School Improvement Committee for 2006.

  Pres. GUTTAU announced the preparations of a home coming float would take place at JOHN KLEIN’S residence on Wednesday and Thursday evenings.  Many helpers are needed.  KLEIN asked for help to distribute red beads to parade participants before the parade start time.

  Pres. GUTTAU announced the next Optimist Zone Meeting would be at Underwood UMBA Hall on Monday October 9 at 6:30 p.m.  Lt. Governor Kristi Kennedy will chair the meeting.

  ARLYN NORRIS said he would contact the club members who signed up to help with the Youth Road Rally on Sunday afternoon.

  Pres. GUTTAU auctioned several yellow and white pumpkins and decorative gourds he and CHAD brought from their garden.

 

GAME EXPERIENCE IS KEY TO WINNING

  Eric Allen grew up playing little league baseball and played ball at Iowa Western Community College.  It was natural that he introduced his son to ball playing at an early age.  His son is now in the 8^th grade and Allen said he started coaching his son when he was in the 1^st grade.  This past summer has been a highlight of coaching experience Allen explained.  He helped the Treynor B-Cub Little League baseball team to win the state championship.  As the assistant team coach this season, Allen worked with Coach Patrick Severn to instruct two teams of 6^th to 8^th graders in the Pott. County Little League program.  They played their local games on Harvey Field in Council Bluffs as there is not enough play time available on fields of suitable size in Treynor.  The regular season includes about twenty games.  Allen stated he would like to have players play more games as game experience is very important to be successful at winning.  Allen noted that for the county tournament they divided all players evenly into two teams, and the teams took 1^st and 2^nd place.  The Treynor B-Cub team then participated in a challenging district playoff and won all four games during a single elimination playoff of 16 teams.  This team went on to win the state championship.  Allen said he was grateful for the assistance of Nigel Horton during the season, as Horton was able to communicate well with team players.  Allen said he was working on plans for a baseball camp for youth during the Christmas break.  Even two-year olds can develop skills of throwing and catching that contribute to positive sports experiences.  Allen noted that it would be beneficial to the Treynor community if we had baseball fields built to little league standards available to our youth.

 

CALENDAR

October Can Collections for Silver-Keg 4-H Club

Oct.  4     Home coming parade, 1:30 p.m.

Football home coming game with Woodbine.

Oct.  7     Club meeting, program by Keith Mehlan.

Oct.  9     Zone meeting, Underwood UMBA Hall 6:30 p.m.

Oct. 12    Punt, Pass and Kick activity, High School Soft Ball Field, 3:45 p.m.

Oct. 14    1^st Quarter Iowa District Optimist Conference, Des Moines, 8 a.m.-4 p.m.

Oct. 14    Club meeting, program TBA.

Oct. 28    Lamoni Optimist Club Charter Presentation Banquet, 6:30 p.m., Community Center.

Birthdays

10/17  Marsha Underwood,  10/29  Bill Vorthmann

Anniversaries

10/17  Dennis White

# recognized to date