NEXT CLUB MEETING

  The next meeting of the Optimist Club of Treynor is planned at 7:20 a.m. Saturday morning June 30, 2007 in the Community Center.  JEFF JORGENSEN has asked Bill Bonar to speak about the Treynor American Legion Post.  All members are encouraged to bring a guest and the public is invited. 

REPORT OF RECENT CLUB MEETINGS

  At the club meeting on 6/16 there were 21 members and nine guests present.  Vice President DALE WILLENBORG opened the meeting with the pledge and JOHN SCHMITT led the devotion prayer.

  The 50/50 was awarded to LARRY KRAMER.  The attendance pot was awarded to LES HARVEY, but could not be collected.

  Thanks to JEFF and Mary Beth JORGENSEN for bring a delicious breakfast for club members in recognition of their June birthdays.  

  Contributions to the Youth Fund were received from both JORGENSENS and from V. Pres. WILLENBORG for June birthdays.  KEITH DENTON also contributed to tell about his daughter’s move up to a bigger apartment.

  Guests in addition to Mary Beth were Marla Westphalen, teacher at Treynor schools, and five of the eight students who attended the Youth Leadership Academy plus two mothers of the students.  Westphalen introduced Nick Carolus, Lawrence Pace, Jennifer Nusser, Tia McCullough, and Brad Bailey.  Not present were Meighan Ideus, Alex Snyder, and Trenton Geer.  Westphalen was one of the teachers at the 4-day academy held on the ISD campus in Council Bluffs.  She explained the main activities included identifying personality, challenging outdoor physical activities, setting goals for coming year, budgeting expenses, and community service.  Westphalen and the students thanked our club for the contribution toward expenses to attend the academy.

  Thanks to RICHARD VORTHANN, JERRY HEMPEL, JOHN KLEIN, LARRY KRAMER, and GARY FUNKHOUSER for helping the base ball team and coaches with the last can and bottle sorting.  Their next sorting will be Tuesday the 26^th at 5 p.m.

  At the club meeting on 6/23 there were 17 members and two guests present.  Vice President DALE WILLENBORG opened the meeting with the pledge and LES HARVEY led the devotion prayer. 

  The 50/50 was awarded to JEFF JORGENSEN.  The attendance pot was awarded to GERALD FORRISTALL, but it could not be collected.

  Contributions to the Youth Fund were received from LARRY KRAMER for his anniversary, and from BOB ABBOTT in recognition of two grand sons who recently passed drivers education.

  LES HARVEY announced he would be soliciting advertisers for the Newsletter.  Some new ads are being sought.  Advertisers are also listed on the club web site.

  LARRY KRAMER announced the upcoming service project at Westfair on Thursday, July 26.  Our club has worked at the gates during the twelve noon to 6 p.m. period for several years.  Members are asked to fill in 3-hr time slots, and a work signup sheet will be circulated at upcoming meeting.

  LES HARVEY announced he as tentatively made arrangements for our club to meet at the TRA Clubhouse on July 28.

THE IMPORTANT TEENAGE LEARNING PERIOD

  Karen Brumel, psychotherapist on the staff of Alegent

 Health Psychiatric Associates Center for Mental Health, spoke to club members about the development of youth.  Alegent Health Psychiatric Associates is a network of psychiatrists, nurse practitioners, psychologists and mental health and chemical dependency therapists working at two in-patient and six out-patient clinics throughout the Omaha/Council Bluffs metropolitan area.  Brumel explained that around age 12 the brain begins rapid development of the part that supervises the control of a person's impulsive behaviors.  This development continues for about ten years, and it is important for parents to recognize.  Brumel noted parents are more geared toward knowing how to avoid and correct mistakes, but children have to learn this.  Also, it is important for parents to set limits and boundaries in the home.  Children need parents and mentors.  They have friends.  Brumel suggested that creating responsibility is important to youth development.  A good way is through volunteering. 

MEETING THE NEEDS OF ADOLESCENTS

  Laura Buddenberg has co-authored several books on parenting and adolescent behavior published by Boys Town Press.  She spoke to club members about her work at the Girls and Boys Town Center for Adolescent and Family Spirituality, Boys Town, NE.  Buddenburg noted that there are 33 million teenagers in the U.S., the most ever; and they are the most affluent teenagers ever, spending money on entertainment, personal care, and snack foods.  It’s no surprise there is so much advertising directed to teens.  Furthermore, friends and TV are their major sources of information.  These sources of misinformation combined with the undeveloped critical thinking ability of teens contribute to many conflicts between teens and parents.  Buddenburg explained that when conflicts get out of hand, adolescents are sometimes placed in a different environment such as that provided by Girls and Boys Town.  There they can live in an alternate family setting, attend church and school, and develop living skills.  There are about 500 adolescents on the Girls and Boys Town campus, Buddenburg explained, and they have over an eighty percent high school graduation rate.  Nationwide there are eighteen sites in fifteen states administered by Girls and Boys Town.  While they have an endowment to cover administrative expenses, Buddenbug noted they use individual and corporate contributions to provide programs for youth in need.  Any teen can call 1-800-448-3000 anytime to seek help with any problem.

CALENDAR

June Can Kennel contributions for High School Baseball Program.

Jun. 26       Can and bottle sorting, 5 p.m.

Jun. 30       Club meeting, program by Bill Bonar, American Legion.

July  7         Club meeting, program by Dr. Tom Atteberry, Miller Orthopaedic Clinic.

                    Board meeting after club meeting.

July Can Kennel contributions for youth wrestling program.

 

   Birthdays

6/5 BOB ABBOTT,   6/9 LES HARVEY#

6/16 DALE WILLENBORG#,  6/20 JEFF JORGENSEN#,

6/22 KEVIN ELWOOD

   Anniversaries

6/1 KEVIN ELWOOD,   6/3 ARYLN NORRIS#,  

6/5 STEVE IRVIN#,   6/15 STEVE CHAMBERS,  

6/26 LARRY KRAMER#,   6/28 MICK GUTTAU

# recognized to date