West Flint Optimist Club
3-31-16 Newsletter
Sean Croudy, a Behavior Specialist at Northwestern High School and spokesperson for CANUSA (http://canusagames.com/), spoke to us this morning about the changing arrangements for this year’s CANUSA competition. For the first time in the history of the CANUSA games, the competition will take place in Hamilton for two consecutive years rather than alternate USA and Canadian sites every year. Although this decision has been grounded in the “negative” publicity surrounding Flint’s water supply issues, the CANUSA Board decision is cast in positive terms, (a) allowing the weaker and less systematically organized Hamilton location to capitalize on the momentum, contacts, and infrastructure generated from last year’s activities in order to encourage the long-term viability of the games, and (b) provide the Flint location to get past the “crisis” mentality of this year and prepare for the 60th anniversary celebration of next year’s games here. Last year, 9 buses and 450 youth went to Canada, and the transportation costs run the sponsorship expense up to $80/youth. Our own Club has been involved for years with CANUSA sponsorship, drawing from the “Ralph Boyer Fund” for sponsorship of competitors. A Golf Outing is scheduled in July and an Appreciation Dinner before that (more information to follow), allowing more fundraising opportunities before the August 5-7, 2016 games in Hamilton, Ontario.
After President Jeff Dennings opened this morning’s meeting, the Pledge of Allegiance and Ken Cullen’s “ear-splitting” invocation preceded a number of fines—against “sneakers” by Jack Proffitt targeting the “late” Dave Crabill (warranted) and others against this newsletter author for “presumption” (proposed by Steve Schlott), raiding the northerly table’s private hot sauce stash, and monopolizing the fines (all unwarranted). Bill Hentgen bragged about his special “Wine-Tasting” (Flint Institute of Arts fundraiser on the 16th) to poke fun at our “hot sauce swap”. Jack Medemar won the 50/50 drawing for the $17 pot, causing the other 14 people present to pout and grouse until Steve Schlott introduced our guest speaker for the morning.
THINGS TO REMEMBER:
Board Meeting on April 14 at the Bridge (front entrance)
Masonic Temple Chicken Dinner on April 24 (Bill Hentgen will have tickets at next week’s meeting. Please help by volunteering and selling tickets.)
Club sponsorship of new JOOI Club at Swartz Creek High School developing this month
Swartz Creek Hometown Days from June 2-5 (Club has a table reserved in the vendor tent. Art Ridley is getting additional information.)
Walt Widder Memorial Golf Scramble at Dutch Hollow in Durand on Saturday, September 24. (Proceeds to the Club; Posters and team registration forms available)
Three days after his wife’s funeral, Don Morey’s mother passed away last week. (Don and his family have lost 3 family members in the last 1½ months, so please keep them in mind.)
Until next time,
“Promise Yourself…”
Greg Hilliker