Linda Campbell is the “power behind the throne” at Old Newsboys and came to speak with us this morning. After recounting her personal family history, she told us of going to college with an Optimist Club scholarship that we gave her. (This may be one of the few times when our guest speaker applauded US!) She has now been with Old Newsboys for 6 ½ years, celebrating the organization’s service to 793,000 children to date (6630 in Genesee County just last year and another 510 in Shiawassee County). Another 1,000 children received shoes and coats from the Newsboys last year after having been identified by the schools as needy. The budget of over $600,000 comes from local fundraising, with half of this coming from street corner solicitation, and Linda addressed the recent political (in)activity regarding regulation of this. (Their major golf outing fundraiser is sold out for August 10, so any of us who were hoping to use Newsboys as an excuse to miss work are out of luck.)

“Acting-quasi-ersatz-future-Vice-“ President Jeff Dennings opened the meeting of 21 by asking Eric Ballard to lead the Pledge of Allegiance and encouraging Ken Cullen (Sr.) to share an ear-splitting invocation. After Bill Hentgen won the crown auction, thereby avoiding a fine for his “centerfold” photo (My City magazine), Floyd Olmstead and Dave Crabill both took hits for “monopolizing” the fines (oxymoron?). Phil Holmblade sold 50/50 tickets to “almost all” members, and Jeff Dennings took the pot before our newest incoming member Gerri Poage introduced today’s guest speaker and eventually led the Club in recitation of the Creed.

Other Items:

Downtown Flint Club has their Anniversary Dinner & Raffle on the 29th; tickets are still available.

The CANUSA event is manned. (Thanks to all who volunteered!), and their Appreciation Dinner this evening will be attended by several members. Steve Schlott has assured us that the fare will be better than the “dog food” he has been accused of providing at past events.

If not, Jeff Dennings has some eggs for sale.

The next Club meeting on the 30th will address Board-proposed changes in assessment, management, and collection of membership dues, so plan to be here!

Until then,

“Promise Yourself…”

Greg Hilliker