UW-Whitewater/Community Optimist Club
Board Meeting Minutes
March 3, 2008
The meeting was called to order by Tom Hinspater, president, at 4:05 p.m. Present: Frank Bartlett, Barb Dickens, Tom Hinspater, Linda Kinson, Carol Miller, Kathy Schumacher, Kim Simes, and Wes Therrian. Absent: Kim Adams.
Secretary’s Report – The secretary’s report for the February 4, 2008, meeting was approved on a Simes/Bartlett motion.
Treasurer’s Report – There are still eight members who need to pay their current year dues.
Barb Dickens moved and seconded by Kathy Schumacher that we provide the 3 rd and final payment of $250 to the Downtown Whitewater commitment. This was a commitment that business and community groups made to the development of the downtown area to encourage the development of that area for the betterment of the community. This will need to be approved by the membership.
There is a request from the Whitewater Fire Department for a $72 donation toward a fire safety endeavor targeted for children. On a Therrian/Dickens motion, this passed with one abstention.
Frank indicated that our CD became due on March 2. We have a 10-day window to determine what to do next with the money. The CD is for $3,000 with $432 interest. Therrian moved that we provide funds to make it an even $5,000 to put into a new CD for a year at the First Citizens Bank. Kathy Schumacher seconded. The motion carried.
The Treasurer’s Report was approved on a Schumacher/Miller motion.
Old Business - Duane Dickens and Jim Miller have met with the new City Recreation and Parks director regarding the Optimist Park donation. They discussed building a shelter in the park as there are no trees for shade. The city will donate the cement for the floor and the club will provide the labor to build the shelter. The plans are that the shelter will be 16 X 16 depending on how far the $5,000 goes. Frank said it would be nice to make it really accessible to all by providing a sidewalk to the shelter. Dickens and Miller will give an updated report once they hear back from the Recreation and Parks director.
New Business – The annual Easter Egg Hunt will be held Saturday, March 15, at noon in Starin Park. (The rain date is March 22.) Workers are asked to report at 10:30 or 11:00 a.m. The bags will be stuffed with candy at Wes’s house on Wednesday, March 12, at 4:30 p.m.
The March Madness Shootout will be held on Sunday, March 16, with Gary Harms as the chair. The Student Optimist Club is also working with Gary on the event.
Kim Simes discussed the upcoming Greg & Steve concert to be held in conjunction with the Early Childhood Conference on campus Friday, April 11, at 7 p.m. in Young Auditorium. Last year we provided 25 tickets to children of need through the Whitewater Food Pantry at a cost of $7 per ticket. They went fast. Kathy Schumacher moved that the club purchase $350 worth of tickets for the concert to be distributed by the Whitewater Food Pantry. This was seconded by Wes Therrian. Kim Simes will check to see if we could get a discount on the tickets for this project so that more children and families could attend. With one abstention, the Board approved taking this to the membership. Frank will e-mail the membership regarding this and the payment of $250 to the Downtown Whitewater commitment. This will be voted on by the membership on Tuesday, March 11.
Tom Hinspater inquired about our holding a soccer event for kids in May. Wes will contact Kelly Strait.
The annual Optimist Rummage Sale will be held Saturday, May 17.
Our club has donated $120 to the OI Foundation this year. Our usual donation is around $400. Discussion followed regarding our commitment to the Foundation.
Relay for Life was briefly discussed. Kim said the daffodil sales were up this year over last.
The meeting was adjourned at 5 p.m. on a Therrian/Simes motion.
Respectfully submitted,
Carol Miller, Secretary