preparing for Witches Corner.....

Getting ready for Tuesday October 30th. The Haunted Hayride event will be Tuesday from 6:00 to 9:00 PM behind the Community Center. Here the club is getting ready to make hands that are plastic gloves with Candy Corn fingernails and stuffed with popcorn. The idea was brought up to the group a few weeks ago and agreed to give it a try. The club sat around round during a meeting and had fun (therapy) putting the little goodies together. This was a little more challenging than making the ghost lollipops but for a good cause. The Pumpkins were painted by Christy Davis and will be holders for some signs we will have at the WITCHES EVENT on Tuesday. So Please come out and help, bring any thing you think may be nice to put up in our tented area. If you feel like you would like to dress up, please do and we anyways enjoy having another character there. See you Tuesday and Carol, nice idea.

Above, Lon, Mary, Carol and Cheryl worked together to fill up hands. Kathy holds up one of the completed hands. Erma working in the background.

The Morse' and John teamed up and eventually Sheila joined this team.

Ann and Annette working as a team. Below, Jim and Larry working together, Larry putting in candy for finger nails and Jim filling with popcorn.

Carol cutting ribbon to add a little color to the hands.

I took this picture on my way home. I wanted to send it to the family members and decided to include in this article.'

Past presidents awarded pins

Dale presented Annette and Jim with Past President pins. And of course Jim just showed his appreciation with such emotion. We are always proud of our past Presidents.

NEXT MEETING ON NOVEMBER 3RD WILL BE AT 8:00 am, NO BOARD MEETING AS OFFICERS AT CONFERENCE MEETING. SEE YOU THERE.

Puppets come to Optimist meeting.....

FIRE PREVENTION PROGRAM...
President Dale Arnold took some time out of his busy schedule to come and do a program for the month. As I (Christy) ran the meeting for him, he brought two of his fellow workers and came in for a short program on his puppets. Those of us in attendance enjoyed the program and this is what we got from it.

Dale has been doing this for about 20 years and when he has programs it is usually a family affair as the others help with the puppets and sounds. This Fire Prevention Program is definitely the best children's program I have seen and as adults, I could see we all enjoyed too. The feedback he gets from these program is always on a positive note and Dale does a great job. He said his biggest audience was his family, which he practices on. He has 7 different programs and the puppets names are: Fire Fighter Frank, Christy, Stan, Elvis the Hound Dog, Zack and Ernie. He didn't have all of the characters with him but we did get to see 4 of them today. Two were in his program and Danni showed those of us who were there early the other two. Dale does his programs when he can and usually has a waiting list and I can see why. Today, the puppets spoke on what to do if kids should find matches. I would love to have him at the Santa House to entertain the kids waiting to go and see Santa but the weather would not be ideal for an outside event. OH well, just a thought. So our hats are off you Dale and Puppets, you did a great job.

Fire Fighter Frank explains in opening scene about which ever topic they will have for the program.

This puppet is explaining what needs to be done with if matches are found.

Danni had this puppet singing to an old song as a practice before the meeting.

This puppet, Danni was showing to us before the meeting and her name is Christy

Here Danni sits with David Null and Nathan Crosby

Haunted Hayride... WITCHES CORNER...

Tuesday October 30th, the Haunted Hayride will be behind the Community Center. The event starts at 6:00 to 9:00 PM. We will have our WITCHES CORNER event and will start to set up around 3:00 PM. Those of you who would like to come out and help, we can use some workers who can help with the WHALE and also with money for pictures. We need a least 2 different people to help with pictures and if anyone wants to dress up, we could use a few extra characters. So we would like at least 4 helpers. See Shelia Arnold for more information.

Also at meeting for October 27th, we will be stuffing hands for give aways at the Halloween event. Plastic hands with candy corn for finger nails and stuffed with popcorn. Please come out and help.

Canned Goods needed...

At the meeting on Saturday, Mary Strack mentioned that she could use some canned good and other items for the Assistance Council. She could use anything except Green Beans, she has plenty of those. If anyone would like to make a donation but cannot make the meeting, you take them to the Baptist Church Monday thru Thursday between 8:00 to 1:00. You can also take to the Community Center as there is a box there for the canned goods. Bathroom tissue is also another item that is needed. For more information, please feel free to call Mary. Those of at the meeting discussed bringing in some items on the next meeting.

Stacey Brown is still a WINNER....

Optimist member Jim Brown's daughter Stacey was nominated to run for Home Coming Queen. We all know Stacey as she was growing up and very active in the Grain Valley schools. Jim and Cindy were really excited for her and Jim gave us a up to date status of where she was.
Stacey made the top 10 on Thursday and on Friday was selected for the top 5 finalist. On Saturday, we received an e-mail that Stacey had not made Home Coming Queen but the Brown's house members were still very proud of her and they are okay with this. We want to extend our congratulations to Stacey and the rest of the Brown's on her accomplishment to make it to the top 5 and whatever the result was, we are still very proud Stacey.

Changing of some officers for 2007-2008

The officers of 2006-2007 were President Annette Barker, Vice-President, Dale Arnold, Secretary Jan Reding and Treasurer Sheila Arnold.

The group, as Dale says, is leaving office for the year of 2006-2007.

The new officers for 2007-2008 are:

Dale Arnold.... President

Christy Davis ....1st Vice-President

Ann Ronchetto .... 2nd Vice-President

Jan Reding ... Secretary

Sheila Arnold.. Treasurer

Board of Directors:

past President... Annette Barker

Jim Brown... 1 yr

John Davis ....1 yr

Bob Morse... 1 yr

Mary Harper ... 2 Yrs

Bryon McDonald.... 2 Yrs

Shawn Brady... 2 yrs

Congratulations

Annual Banquet, October 6th....

The end of the year Banquet was held on October 6th at the Historical Society. Annette was doing her final duty as President and presented some of the members with awards and recognition. There was good food and good socializing. The group did sing happy birthday to John Davis as he turned 68 today. So look at the pictures and enjoy them.

Our Banners were on display for our banquet time.

Getting ready for the food and some social time.

President Citation went to Carol Barnes for all of her work she has done again this year. Carol was also the Pillar of the Community recipient in January. Great work Carol, we deeply appreciated everything you did this last year. Another good year.

Below is an Outstanding Award given to Ann Ronchetto for her support to the club.

Chris Davis was awarded with an Outstanding Service Award and Annette presented her with a gift of a beautiful Statue Fairy and a nice plaque.

The Rookie of the year award went to Bryon McDonald, even though Bryon was already a member, this last year he really started to participate in some of the activities and chaired the Bike Safety this year and will be a Board member for 2007-2008.

Annette presented Dale with a gift in appreciation for his Vice-President position for 2006-2007.
Sheila Arnold receiving gift for Treasurer for 2006-2007.
Jan Reding receiving gift for her service as Secretary for 2006-2007, where does she find the time as she wears so many hats.

Annette inducted Dale Arnold for the next year coming in, he will be the President of the Optimist club.

Kathy Doty mentioned that this years Doty award went to Carol Barnes for all of her work she has done this last year. Carol was not there but someone accepted for her.

Dale presented Annette with some gifts for her services this year.

Annette was presented with a DVD of QUEEN. This is one where Dale says she can see how a real leader works, ha ha. He is so funny.

Dale showing the group the scrapbook that was made for the club this year. He presented it to Annette but will be submitted for entry at the next conference meeting.

Everyone sang happy birthday to John Davis who's birthday was today, October 6th. Is now a young 68 years.

Proud parents, the Brown's

Jim Brown sent out an e-mail and indicated he owes the club a $1.00 for his B&B. This is what he had to say.....

We just received a phone call from our daughter Stacy at UCM in Warrensburg that she has been nominated for Homecoming Queen this year. Just such great news that I could not wait to share it with all of you.

Well congratulations Jim and family.We are proud of her too.

End of the Year Banquet set for October 6th

This Saturday is a busy day for us. WE have a board meeting at 7:15 AM, then a regular meeting and then in the evening we have the end of the year banquet. Please get with Shelia Arnold for more information on the banquet, she also sent out an e-mail with information. So please come and wear your red for it is tailgate with Chief's as the team.
See you there.