NEXT CLUB MEETING

  The next meeting of the Optimist Club of Treynor is planned at 7:20 a.m. Saturday morning October 21, 2006 at the Treynor Community Center.  KEITH DENTON HAS arranged for cardiac nurse Julie Buckelew to speak about issues of the heart.  All members are encouraged to bring a guest. 

 

REPORT OF RECENT CLUB MEETING

  At the Club meeting on 10/14 there were 24 members and eight guests present.  President GARY GUTTAU opened the meeting by leading the pledge and he offered a devotional prayer.

  The 50/50 was awarded to ARLYN NORRIS.  The attendance pot was awarded to JEFF NELSON, but it was not collected.

  Special thanks to Georgia Denton and Karen Head for bring breakfast fare to the Club meeting.  Other guests were Craig and Donna Sudmann, Allan and Elizabeth Tiarks, Robert Soloth, and Roger Andersen.

  DALE WILLENBORG added a dollar to the Youth Fund to recognize his 27^th wedding anniversary.  RICHARD VORTHMANN also added a dollar to promote the election ballot issue “Measure C” to provide increased funding to the County Extension Offices which serve urban and rural citizens. 

  Pres. GUTTAU, BOB HIBBARD, and TERESA FAHRENKRUG attended the recent Optimist Zone meeting at Underwood.  Lt. Governor Kristi Kennedy of Underwood presided.

  Thanks to Pres. GUTTAU for making arrangements for the recent Punt, Pass, and Kick activity for youth on a cold windy day of last Thursday.  GUTTAU was assisted by LARRY KRAMER, BILL MATTHEW, BOB HIBBARD, DALE WILLENBORG, GARY FUNKHOUSER, RICHARD VORTHMANN, JON JACOBSEN, JERYL UNDERWOOD and many fathers of the nearly 50 participating youth, ages 8 to 13.  Special thanks to KEVIN UNDERWOOD for baking the cookies.  Also thanks to Head Football Coach Steve Owens and high school team members for demonstrating football skills.  Pres. GUTTAU asked for a volunteer to organize the activity in September of 2007.

  Treasurer JEFF JORGENSEN reminded members we are starting the first quarter of a new Optimist year so membership dues are due.  Quarterly dues of $15 are being maintained even though Optimist International dues were increased.  He also noted the Club needs to establish a new fund raising project to fund youth and community service activities.  A couple of ideas were proposed by members such as a printed community calendar of birthdays, or a calendar of community activities on a web site with advertisements.

  Pres. GUTTAU circulated a sign-up sheet for car pooling to the Charter Presentation Banquet at Lamoni on the 28^th.  Reservations are due now.  If you can’t attend, consider sending an item for auction or raffle for the benefit of the new club.

  The last scheduled home football game this season is the 27^th with West Harrison.  Gate workers and parking assistants are needed.

  LARRY KRAMER attended the Iowa District Optimist 1^st Quarter Conference in Des Moines on the 14^th.  As chair of the finance committee he presented the District operating budget to the Board of Directors and Executive Committee.  He was also recognized along with DICK BABER as “Builder of Excellence” for helping to create the new Lamoni club.  Joanne Cox of Osceola and Past Governor Jim Boyd of Urbandale were also recognized for their efforts.

 

WORKING TO RESTORE CIVIL SERVICES IN IRAQ

  In July of 2004 Melissa Head volunteered to go to Iraq to be one of 400 staff members of the Army Corps of Engineers working to restore civil order there.  She returned to the US in February 2005 then volunteered to work again in Iraq during May through August last year.  Head works for the Corps as an attorney.  She obtained her law degree from Creighton University and is a member of the Iowa Bar Association.  Head explained while she was in Iraq she handled legal aspects of American military and civilian groups who leased property there to be used by the American forces.  Also, as there was a major rebuilding effort of schools, hospitals, power plants, water supply, and other civic facilities, Head explained she had to be sure the property papers were in order so that transfer ownership to local agencies could be accomplished since only citizens of Iraq can own property there.  Head traveled in escorted armored vehicles to all parts of Iraq with a team dealing with lease arrangements and property reconstruction.  She noted that much of the daily work of providing for the American military was done by civilian contractors.  Even the rebuilding efforts employed local citizens as much as possible, although quality control was an issue due to lack of skill.  Head noted American currency is used throughout Iraq.  The government is not yet stable enough to establish their own economic system.  Some of the money to pay for reconstruction costs comes from oil revenues and some comes from American money stockpiled by Saddam Hussein.  Head expressed her feeling that progress is being made in restoring Iraq and the media is not showing the progress.  She is planning to return for a duty tour there and expects we will be helping citizens of Iraq for a long time.

 

CALENDAR

October Can Collections for Silver-Keg 4-H Club

Oct. 18    Can and bottle sorting, 6 p.m.

Oct. 21    Club meeting, program by Julie Buckelew

Oct. 27    Home football game with West Harrison, 6:30 p.m.

Oct. 28    Club meeting, program by Gregory Minter

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

Nov.  1     Can and bottle sorting, 6 p.m.

November Can Collections for Honor Band.

 

Birthdays

10/17  Marsha Underwood,  10/29  Bill Vorthmann

Anniversaries

10/17  Dennis White

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