NO-SNOOZE NEWS. President s Comments BREAKFAST OPTIMIST CLUB OF KALAMAZOO

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1 NO-SNOOZE NEWS BREAKFAST OPTIMIST CLUB OF KALAMAZOO April 2015 Volume 24, Number 7 President s Comments PRESIDENTIAL GOALS #1 To develop and execute a new Respect for Law Program #2 Increase the use of Social Media as a Marketing Tool #3 Receive 501(c)3 Status for the Club #4 Be an Honor Club Weekly Meetings Thursday s at 7:30 am at Michelle s Romence Road in Portage I am sitting here writing this on a beautiful sunny day. It is great to see the sun and the promise of rising temperatures. I always feel reenergized in the spring as I shake off those winter doldrums. I hope you all feel the same. Usually I would tell you all about the great opportunities that you can be involved in that are coming up in May, June, July, and August but you can read about them later in the newsletter. Instead I would like to remind everyone why they became a member of BOCK. We asked members this year what drew them to our Club and I would like to share a few. Today is a great day to be an Optimist because it provides an opportunity to focus on what is good in the world. And you can add to the good. BOCK ROCKS because the members are enthusiastic, positive, happy, involved individuals. I am an Optimist because it brings out the best in me! I wanted to find a volunteer organization when I retired. Tried a few things but heard about BOCK from a couple of members. I was impressed with the energy, fun and projects. Fun and friends followed. Most organizations focus on what you can give and while we are a bunch of givers we each receive so much more than we give. Those gifts include friendship, fellowship, and opportunities to learn, grow and make a difference. There are so many reasons to be Optimistic and to be a member of BOCK. I do hope that everyone takes advantage of their membership. Just remember; YES WE CAN! Lyn

2 APRIL BIRTHDAYS Kate Holiday Paul Knight Paul Weber Megan Ingersoll Brad Parsons 1st 2nd 4th 18th 20th April Speakers and Greeters April 2 Lucy Reese, Farm Manager Community Supported Agriculture Greeter: Jeanette Meyer April 9 Fellowship Greeter: Gene Kangas April 16 Oratorical Contest Winners Greeter: Nick Armold April 23 Rob Oakleaf Exec. Director Ministry with Community Greeter: Wilma VanLoo April 30 Giuseppina Impellizzeri & Liz Semaan Journey Beads & Art Therapy Greeter: MaryAnn Ampersee Bob Balik 25 th Welcome Michelle and Angela EUCHRE April Mary Ann Ampersee s from 3-5 pm. Hope to see everyone this month. Contact Terri Norman if you plan to attend. BOOK CLUB April 7th, 5:30 pm at Panera Bread on West Main. Book: On the Beach by Nevil Shute May book: Mennonite in a Little Black Dress by Rhonda Janzey We inducted Michelle Oliva and Angela McMillan our newest members on March 26 th. These ladies learned about us through their forensics days with Dan Mills. They are both ready to get involved.

3 UPCOMING EVENTS May 2 nd Michigan District 3 rd Quarter meeting. Oratorical Contest, held in Olivet. May 7 th 5:01 NOW (New Optimists Welcome) at LoDo s. All members are encouraged to bring a guest for a meet/greet and short presentation about BOCK. Election of Officers The annual election of officers will be held on April 23, President-Elect: Directors: Linda Thompson John Knowlton Joanne Beverage Andy Stork Mindy Miller Returning Directors: Mary Ann Ampersee Dan Mills Jeanette Meyer May 16 th Optimist in Action Day at Edison. Cleaning/preparing the garden for planting. May 21 st Girls on the Run. Volunteers needed for the Motivation Station. June 14 th - Annual CCC Golf Outing at the Prairies Golf Course. More details coming soon. What is a 5:01 NOW? It is an opportunity to invite friends, relatives and others to a New Optimists Welcome party at 5:01 pm on Thursday, May 7 th, LoDo Company on Centre St. in Portage. We will have time to mix and mingle with your guests/potential members and then have a brief (10-15 minutes) sharing about BOCK and our programs and activities. Please plan to bring a guest. July 14 th Annual Right Start Auction at the Fetzer Center (note the new venue). More details coming soon. Our weekly 50/50 progressive raffle is building. As of this newsletter we have $261 that could be yours! Mark your calendar for Saturday, May 16 th. We will be working on preparing the gardens at Edison Environmental Academy for their vegetable planting. We all had a good time last year and hope more members & friends can come to continue the good work that was started.

4 March Raffle & 50/50 Winners ESSAY CONTEST WINNERS 3/5 Elaine Catlin, Pat Weber 3/12 Laurie Jefsen 3/19 Jeanette Meyer, MaryAnn Ampersee 3/26 Linda Ingersoll, Nancy Flipse Garage Sale in May It s that time of year when we are cleaning closets and garages. Want to get rid of it and help BOCK? Box it up and bring it to a meeting or call Gene Kangas who is hosting a garage sale in May. All proceeds from items we bring will go to the club. Three young people from Portage Central were this year s essay contest winners. The topic was: Optimism Should be a Priority. They were: 1 st Place - Dana Schau; 2 nd Place - Madeline Jump; 3 rd Place - Alexandra Romo. Forty-six of the fifty-eight essays received from students at Portage Central and Portage Northern were narrowed to 15 after the first round of judging. We welcomed the students and their parents on Thursday, March 19 th at breakfast where they read their essays and were presented their awards. Superbooks We have sold over 100 books and now earn $10 per book. It is not too late to sell some more. April 15 th will be the end for tax season and the sale of the books. Please turn in any books you have not sold and all checks or cash. Teachers Tyler Baas, Theresa Mills, 3 rd Place Allie Romo, 2 nd Place Madeline Jump, 1 st Place Dana Schau, Chair Chris Shults, President Lyn Lenox, Youth Activites Director Linda Thompson

5 Bylaw Change Approved We raised $ with our St. Patrick s Day Shamrock fundraiser. The Bylaw change the Board recommended to eliminate the Vice President position, replacing it with a Director of Communications and Publicity was approved at the March 19 th meeting. The Board believes that making this transition will better serve the Club. PERFECT ATTENDANCE 2 ND QUARTER Thanks to Fellowship Director, Mary Ann Ampersee, for always bringing the yummy treats! Mary Ann Ampersee Nick Armold Cathy Balik Julie Howes Linda Ingersoll Nicole Ingersoll Laurie Jefsen Gene Kangas Nancy Kovach Lyn Lenox Val Lippincott Alma McCarty Dave McKee Jeanette Meyer Ralph Meyer Dan Mills Theresa Mills Terri Norman Connie Plochocki Kate Shane Chris Shults Linda Thompson Wilma VanLoo Marcia Watts Pat Weber In Case You Missed It! President Marilyn Lenox presents a check to Elaine Catlin for the large screen TV donated to Bronson Pediatric Oncology. Membership Director Dan Mills Sharing ideas on how to increase membership. Rick Chambers gave us ideas on how to raise the club s profile in the Community.

6 LET S CELEBRATE! Don t Go to Work Unless it is Fun Day 4/3 No Housework Day 4/7 Gene Kanga s love of golf! He is selling golf balls by the dozen for $3.00 to help support BOCK. These are just a few that he finds while playing. National Sibling Day 4/10 Grilled Cheese Sandwich Day 4/12 National Golf Day 4/12 Bat Appreciation Day 4/17 Earth Day 4/22 National Mani/Pedi Day 4/25 National Kid and Pet Day 4/26 Penguin Day 4/28 International Dance Day 4/29 Adopt a Shelter Pet Day 4/30 Spring Break!!

7 FIND US by clicking on a link below: BOCK Board Members OFFICERS President President-Elect Vice President Secretary-Treasurer Past President Lyn Lenox Bosma Laurie Jefsen Carmen Jonaitis Linda Ingersoll Cathy Balik Breakfast Optimist Club of Kalamazoo Community Service Fellowship Finance Membership Programs/Publicity Youth Activities DIRECTORS Marcia Watts MaryAnn Ampersee Jeanette Meyer Dan Mills Alma McCarty Linda Thompson BOCK - Website The Optimist Creed Promise Yourself ~ To be so strong that nothing can disturb your peace of mind. MICHIGANOPTIMISTS.ORG OPTIMIST INTERNATIONAL CONTACT US AT: BOCKZOO@YAHOO.COM To talk health, happiness and prosperity to every person you meet. To make all your friends feel that 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, too noble for anger, too strong for fear, and too happy to permit the presence of trouble.