Presidential Ponderings I hope you are all staying warm! It is so hard to believe that it is now 2017 and 2016 is behind us and now is the time to reflect on last year to see how we can better ourselves personally, professionally and in our volunteer efforts. We have so many wonderful events coming up this year and I hope you can join in on some if not all of them. First, is the second quarter conference for the WINUM district. This is being held at the Best Western in Wittenberg on February 4. Next will be our NOW event on March 2 at the Eagles Club from 6-8 pm. It would be wonderful to have a nice turn out of members to welcome and spend time with potential members. I am looking forward to these events and others so watch for more info on other upcoming events in our newsletter. Please contact the Event Chair or a Board Member know if you are interested in assisting, have any suggestions or questions. I would like some suggestions for a social event like bowling or another activity in the near future. If anyone has any suggestions please let me know. I think this would be great to do on a Saturday or Sunday after the Super Bowl so hopefully some of our members who have trouble making our Wednesday meeting can be able to attend. Stay warm everyone, Vanessa Rueth 2016-2017 President Optimist Club of Merrill
“A dream doesn't become reality through magic; it takes sweat, determination, and hard work.” --Colin Powell
Merrill Optimist Chartered June 5, 1068
Due to icy conditions, the races were cancelled for this year’s event. But since the kids
put so much work into their sleds, judging continued as usual. The kids were so proud of
their masterpieces. Some sleds were made for speed, while others were visually very
creative. Congrats to all the participants. Job well done.
Thanks to everyone that took time to volunteer for the event. It is due to the dedication
of our volunteers that we continue to have fun events such as this for the youth of our
community.
And a good time was had by all!
Caption describing picture or
graphic.
Winterfest
Cardboard
Sled Race
February, 2017
Members meet
Every Wednesday
at 12:00 at Eagles Club
1205 Lake St.
Join Us!
February Speakers:
2/1 T.B. Scott Library Solar Project
2/8 Pat Beyer – Kippenberg
Creek Kids
2/15 Mark McDonald – owner
Wausau Woodchucks
2/22 Katie Helmstadter - Bikers
Against Child Abuse
Upcoming Events
March 2 – NOW @Eagle’s Club
NNNOOOWWW
NEW OPTIMIST WELCOME
Please join your fellow Optimists for “Fair Time in March”, a reception to invite new members to join us. This event will be held March 2, 2017, from 6:00 to 8:00 pm, at the Merrill Eagles Club. Hors d’oeuvres featuring the club’s secret recipe cheese curds and non-alcoholic beverages will be provided by the club; adult beverages will be available for purchase. Door prizes will be awarded to our registered guests. All members are requested to submit a minimum of 5 names and addresses of potential new members. The committee will send them an personal invitation. For those not able to attend the next meeting, please forward your list to Jeni Hinz at [email protected] no later than February 5. Letters will be mailed February 9.
Calendar of Events:
February 3 & 4 Winum 2nd Quarter
Conference in Wittenburg
March 2 – NOW @ Eagle’s Club
April 15 - Easter Egg Hunt
April __ - Protective Services Banquet
July 26-30 - Lincoln County Fair
Birthdays:
16th – Optimist International
Opti-versary:
FUNDRAISING LETTER - click here Playground Update: We recently had a presentation regarding a potential on-going fundraiser for the playground. Cindi Schoenfuss from IROW presented a fundraiser that would utilize recycling in the Merrill area. This option will be investigated further.
EEEMMMPPPTTTYYY BBBOOOWWWLLLSSS
The committee met recently to make more solid plans for the first annual Empty Bowls event
in Merrill. It has been decided to donate all proceeds to Food for Kids. The tentative date
for the event is June 22. We are hoping to hold the first annual event at the Enrichment
Center if it is available. If not, we will contact an alternate venue. Bowl-a-thons (painting
bowls) will be starting as soon as we get the fliers, etc. ready. Shelby from Studio 808 has
ordered bowls for painting and is excited to get started. We will have a bowl-a-thon at our
March 29 Optimist meeting.
The committee will contact businesses for sponsorship for Bowl-a-thons as well as food for
the dinner. We will be contacting the fire, police and sheriff’s departments as well as the
rangers to have them make the sauce for the pasta as a contest. Winning group will be
awarded the “Golden Noodle. “
We have extended an invitation to Don and Sue Christianson to attend our March 29
meeting so we can learn more about Food for Kids.
Because this is our first event, this is still a work in progress.
If there is anyone from past years that has not been officially inducted and would like an official induction, please let Trina or Vanessa know.
2016-2017 Officers
President: Vanessa Rueth [email protected]
VP: CJ Robinson [email protected] [email protected]
2nd VP: Carri Kennedy
Treasurer: Stacy Stevens [email protected]
Sec: Jane Dehnel [email protected]
Past Pres: Trina DeLasky [email protected]
Board of Directors Elected:
’15 Rebecca Roberts [email protected]
’15 Scott Doerr [email protected]
’15 Kurt Rust [email protected]
’16 Chuck Sauer [email protected]
’16 Jeni Hinz [email protected] ’16 Sheila Polak [email protected]
Event/Committee Chairs
Octagon Liaison Scott Doerr
Octagon Advisor Emily Bonack
Cardboard Sled Race Carrie Cordova
Playground Committee Carrie Cordova and
Meredith Prebeg
Empty Bowls Jeni Hinz
NOW Carri Kennedy
Halloween Parade Trina DeLasky & Lana Strassman
2016/2017 Officers, Board of Directors
and Event Chairs
● ● ●
Board Meetings
January 17th – Kurt
February 21st
March 21st
April 18th
May 16th
June 20th combine with
preseason cheese curd
preparations ???
July ?? - Fair
August 15th
Sept 19th
● ● ●
WHAT WE SUPPORT
Halloween Parade Youth of the Month
Turkey Hunt Breakfast with Santa
Christmas Movie Easter Egg Hunt
Law Fair Highway Cleanup
After Prom Senior Celebration
Band Endowment After the Bell
Fifth Quarter Library Summer
Program
Reading Buddies Scholarships
Teen Court DARE
Protective Services
Banquet Leadership Camp –
Octagon Club
Cops & Kids Cardboard Sled Races
Social Norms
Boy Scout Pack 502 Special Needs Prom
And much more…..
OPTIMIST CREED
Promise Yourself
To be so strong that nothing can disturb your peace of mind
To talk heath, happiness and prosperity to every person you meet
To make all your friends feel there is something in them
To look at the sunny-side of everything and make your optimism come true
To think only of the best, to work only for the best, and to expect only the best
To be just as enthusiastic about the success of others as you are about your own
To forget the mistakes of the past, and press on to the greater achievements of the future
To wear a cheerful countenance at all times and give every living creature you meet a smile
To give so much time to the improvement of yourself that you have no time to criticize others
To be too large for worry, to noble for anger, too strong for fear, and too happy to permit the presence of trouble.
If y
Merrill Area Chamber of Commerce
Newsletter http://www.merrillchamber.org/news_events/newsletters.aspx January Newsletter
2016-2017 Budget
Click Here
2017 Cheese Curd Schedule
Cheese Curd Schedule
Playground FUNDRAISING LETTER - click here
Winum District Newsletter
Click Here
This is my first attempt as the
newsletter editor. Going forward
it will be sent by the first of every
month. I hope to have more
information to share with you
each month. Please share your
life events, promotions, etc. with