Grain Valley Optimist Blog farewell....

Hello members, I have been informed by email that the club of Grain Valley Optimist will dissolve and a newly formed club will be in place. I just wanted to extend mine and John's comment on this last posting of the club blog. We truly did enjoy this club and glad that your doing what is needed to continue to support the youth of the community. John loves to brag about the doings this club has done and does. I will be putting out a new blog and will use the same email addresses unless someone sends me an email to remove you off the list. Keep up the good work and thanks for the memories.
The activities from the past that I can remember even if they were not done anymore were:
The Chili Supper
Easter Hunt
Plant Sale
Bike Safety
Respect for Law
Teacher's Appreciation
Valley Fair Daze parade
Bull Frog Jump
Bingo
Haunted Hayride
Talk to Santa
and many other supports we gave the community.
What a great job you did and will continue to do. We do miss you and the small town of Grain Valley. My sister passed by there two weeks ago when going to To Ft Leonard to see daughter graduate from Army boot camp and got off the Grain Valley off ramp and took a picture of the town to have as memories. She came to visit us in September of 2008 and loved it. So did we. So it is not goodbye to the work we have done but just a name change. I look forward to helping with the next blog and as soon as I can get it underway, I will send it out.
Thank you and good luck to all.

New updates of upcoming events...

Upcoming RESPECT FOR LAW cook out will be at Armstrong Park shelter #1 on July 31st. It will start at 4:30 PM to 7:30 PM. Please get with club officers to sign up for food list.

Zone meeting will be held July 18th.
Hosted by the Lake Lotawana Optimist Club
Saturday July 18th 2009
at Bean Counter Cafe
In the Garden City Bank
Time will be 9:00A.M. Breakfast & Coffee

There will be Missouri Leadership Seminar (MLS) alumni in attendance to speak about their experience at the 2009 MLS. These students provide a whole new view into the seminar experience. You have the opportunity to witness first hand how your sponsorship dollars make a difference in the lives of the youth of Missouri! Please plan to attend!

RSVP with the number of attendees from the Grain Valley Optimist Club to Michelle L. Zink by Monday 7-13-09. 660-354-2365 (h) 660-864-3108 (c)

No Meeting this Saturday due to Holiday. Have a safe weekend.

Optimist Club Bike Safety event....

GV's Optimist Club Bike Safety

Picture's sent for posting by Carol Barnes

Bike Safety was held on June 6th at Sni-A-Bar Elementary. We had 18-20 children participate. We gave away a lot of helmets this year so we are running low. Everyone will be on the lookout for sales on ‘child’ and ‘youth’ helmets to replenish our stock. This is a surprise since we haven’t given away hardly any helmets in the last few years, so if you happen to see any on sale, please pick up a few and give to any member of the club for storage. Thanks to those who helped out with another year of safety for the kids. Great work.

Optimist Substance Abuse Poster Winners

Substance Abuse Poster Contest Winners
Justin Sackman & Abby Hammontree

Carol Barnes has sent me the following information to post on the Optimist Club Blog. Please read and thank you Carol Barnes.

The pictures are of the two Substance Abuse Poster Contest winners. The are 4th grade students from Mathews Elementary. The art teacher shown in one of the pictures is Mrs. Kathy Argotsinger,. Both students won at the club and zone level. Justin went on to win in the boy category at district level.

Club upcoming events......

Upcoming events for the Optimist Club are:
Golf Tournament: June 4th- Ed Caley reported that there is still a need for more players (teams). Also need more hole sponsors and additional prizes. If you want help with purchasing give away gifts, Jan would be will to help you spend your money. Call her at 225-0713. Thank you for those who have already donated and will be donating in the future.
But remember, we do need more players.

Bike Safety will be on June 6th at Si-A-Bar Elementary starting at 9:00 a.m. The do need help for this as some of the members will be out of town. Please get with Ann Ronchetto for more information.

Poster Winner: Carol Barnes reported that the entry by Grain Valley's Justin Sackman won the District contest. He was given a $50.00 Wal-Mart gift certificate by the District. It was agreed that the Club would a certificate for the girl entry as well. The club presented a $30.00 gift certificate to Kathy Argotsinger for her work with these students.

Mother's Day Plant Sales May 8th & 9th

I have a short update on the plant sale. Waiting to see if anyone had any pictures that we can post out on the blog.

Jan wrote:
The plan sale, although slow starting due to rain on Friday morning. was busy with a lot of bedding plants sold. The event ended on Saturday, May 9th, at noon. The total sale will be reported at the Saturday meeting.

Staff Appreciation day for the Grain valley Schools.

Attached are a couple of pictures that Carol Barnes sent me on behalf of the club. Today May 11th, Jan, Mary and Ann distributed to the schools on behalf of Teachers Appreciation cakes. There were 14 cakes in all, each building recieving on as well as the bus barn and central office. The Cakes coem from Cosco. Thank you ladies for this task well done. Please enjoy the couple of pictures I have posted.