Opti-B-Bull 1-27-11

The meeting opened as usual with the flag salute and invocation (Wally Johnston) This day in history—1943 more on that later.

Secret Greeter: For the second week in a row Gary Mahone was selected our secret greeter. This week Gary was in the house, not like last week when he was a no show and tried to pull a fast one to no avail.  This week he did catch President Alan for a quick fine.  Gary was told to sit, stay, and be quiet, not sure why?

Birthdays: Lillian Majury (1-29) and Marvin Thompson (today), Lillian wanted to sing to the group but Marv would not have a part of that, so he paid for both.  That was a good thing because I’ve heard Marv sing on the golf course and it’s not what you want to hear that early in the morning, right Scott?

Raffle: Today’s raffle winner was Marv Doty I think! ( I was not listening at that time because I did not  win again ‘shoot’ ) . Doty wins too often for me. Last weeks winner Noel Franz was in the house to collect, but gave it up to the club account, thanks Noel.

Fire Wood: Thanks to the park district guy’s all the logs at the Jenkins Estate have been cut and split ready for stacking by the Optimist to keep it dry and for sale. We now have 10 to 12 cords of wood ready. Jack or Marv will form a work party to help stack the wood.

This day in history: This day in 1943 was when the US 8^th Air Force first bombed Germany in the war, trying to eliminate fuel supplies. These planes were dispatched from England.

Speaker:  Today’s guest speaker was Beaverton Chief of Police Geoff Spaulding. Geoff has been with Beaverton for two years now and he reviewed why Beaverton is one of the safest cities in N.W. Oregon, Bend is the other one. Geoff is very proud of   the quickness they settle each of the situations they have before them.  One item they do need is more space for the size of the Department right now they have 137 sworn officers. Thanks Geoff for joining us and we will be having you back soon.

Next week:  The speaker next week will be Arnie Leppert from the Faith Café. Let’s fill up the room again!!!

Next week who will be the secret greeter???

Until then  .... Think about this...


Click here to see the best card trick ever! 

Opti-B-Bull 1-20-11

Our meeting started with the flag salute and a invocation with 16 members plus guests from SMART, Stacy Goodwin and Meredith Weber.

As for last weeks B-Bull a few corrections were noted such as tattoos, and the members felt a fine was in order. This writer of the “B” did not vote as I do not accept fines for this effort.

Raffle: This weeks raffle was won by Noel Franz ($8.00)- Last weeks winner Richard Hose was not present and as suggested was donating to the scholarship, but this was re-donated to our Admin. account.  Sorry Richard, but if you would like to make another donation we would accept it in what ever place you would like.

Secret Greeter: This morning’s secret greeter was requested and accepted earlier this week by Gary Mahone. Late last night I was informed that Gary would be absent but he wanted to remain as SG and “sting” everyone with a fine. As this was announced the members were upset and then voted that all fines be leveled on Gary.  Sorry Gary I tried to turn it another way with no results, so please ask April for money next week to cover the 16 fines.

Birthday: This week was Joe Coss’s birthday.  We paid and Joe sang.  I believe he said he has 57 rings somewhere on him??

Board Meeting: The February board meeting will be on the 15^th at the PAL center starting at 6:30 p.m.

Speaker: The speakers this morning were Stacy Goodwin and Meredith Weber from SMART.  They covered what SMART does in our area and in Oregon for the kids reading program in schools. We presented Stacy and Meredith with our check for $350.00 for this year. Thanks for joining us this morning.

Next week speaker:  Next week the Beaverton Chief of Police will speak.  Let’s see if we can fill the room.            Alan we did miss you??  Until Then…..

Opti-B-Bull 1-13-11

My secretary has disappeared to Depot Bay to play pinochle and eat clam chowder. So I am left to report on our meeting and deal with the tragedy which happened this week! (I speak, of course, not about Arizona or the loss of our police chief, but my own devastating loss of my zodiac sign.  More of this later…)

We opened the meeting with our pledge to the flag lead by ex Scout Master Bob (we don’t sing to Canada because some of us can’t even remember happy birthday songs when called upon) and the invocation by American Legion Commander Marv T. reminding us of the loss of all those marines over the last week. Chaplain Wally decided to go to the coast and teach other Chaplains about dealing with loss. Thank goodness for Marv T who I accidentally will lose Feb 17^th to the Community Leaders Breakfast. The Beaverton Together group who spoke to us in November organizes Prom Perfect which gets our high school students to attend this party after the dance instead of private parties where they drink and whatever and drive drunk. I also accidentally mentioned Dick Schouten and Wally and Dave Chrisman so our meeting that Thursday morning will be shrunken. Beaverton Together also organizes an Inter-cultural Basketball Tournament and needs referees and coaches to help out. This is for kids who aren’t on the high school teams.

Our Secret Greeter Susan wasn’t able to fine anyone because she sits near the front and had to leave early for some tests so Joe Coss who came in just under the bell was able to shake her hand. (Note to me…pick greeters way in the back!) Our Sheriff is so dedicated that he fined himself and someone else for neglecting to wear a pin or name badge. The raffle winner turned out to be Richard Hose who hobbled in with his new titanium knee and no crutches. He picked titanium so that it would match his other knee. Turns out he played football besides rugby and I believe there might be a lesson here? He returns to work next week so he can’t collect his winnings and donated them to our scholarship. (Well, perhaps, of course this will have to be discussed with the appropriate sub committees and we can only hope no filibusters occur! And your dedicated leadership will need funds to register with the Second Quarter District Board meeting scheduled for next week in Seattle.) Maybe Bob will return in time to lead our meeting?

Richard filled us in on his peripatetic trip by train to all his old stomping grounds across our nation which enthralled Jack who wants to take the train south despite his new trailer. Bruce Buffington showed up to collect his raffle winnings from last week. He reported on his birthday bike ride in the rain yesterday and the pizza party he organized to raise funds for the Northwest Bicycle Safety Council. They provided two thousand children with helmets last year so need funds to purchase more for children who can’t afford to buy them this year. If you have a bit of cash left over, I think he might be happy to accept it.

He promised to sing a brand new birthday song to us once I reminded him of his 65^th birthday celebration which he apparently had forgotten since it happened yesterday. (Old age can be a terrible thing) Unfortunately, he couldn’t remember this secret song despite the fact he tried to sell us on an upcoming barbershop quartet production. He did finish off the old standard with a flourish and he does have a nice voice.

Our speaker this week was Jocelyn Taylor from the PAL Club. They have been in business for ten years and our Club helped to sponsor them and some of our members were on the Chief’s Advisory Committee involved in their formation. She accidentally mentioned Rotary’s $550 grant to PAL so that when I gave her our $500 donation check we came out a bit behind. She did hug me most graciously but I noticed she hugged Bob Arneson at the start of the meeting so she can be fickle. Their boxing program is quite successful. They even have gals boxing…I thought they were just working out. They had the mayor come to visit the kids and answered questions which delighted one of the kids who explained to his mom how he’d shaken the mayor’s hand. The Mayor’s Ball is scheduled for Feb 12^th at $85/ticket to raise money for PAL. Jocelyn loaned six kids to Bruce for his bike TV program and they answered safety questions sort of like Jeopardy with our past member Wayne Faligowski acting as MC. That progam is still running on the community access channel I think.

But, back to my  own devastating loss of my zodiac sign. Apparently 

"Astronomers have known about this since about 130 B.C.," Kunkle told The Associated Press Friday in his office at the Minneapolis Community and Technical College!” Astronomer Parke Kunkle says that due to changes in the Earth's alignment the dates of many zodiac signs have changed, according to NBC. In addition, there may be a 13th Zodiac sign: Ophiuchus. Kunkle says that as the Earth and Sun slowly move the signs gradually change, as expected. The change didn't happen over night either. The 12 signs were designated to different periods of the year almost 3,000 years ago, when astrology began, and since then the Earth's position in relation to the sun has changed. 

Linda Zlotnick, an astrologer for 32 years in St. Paul, Minn., said she and fellow astrologers have long known of the issue raised by Kunkle, but that the most commonly used zodiac – tropical – isn't affected by it. Zlotnick said the sidereal zodiac, which isn't as widely used, IS based on the constellations "Will my personality change?" she mused. "Capricorns are diligent and regimented, and super-hard-working like me. Sagittarians are more laid back. This is all a little off-putting." 

By the reckoning of Kunkle and other astronomers, astrologers are not only a month off in their zodiac signs, but they are neglecting a 13th constellation, Ophiuchus (Ooh-FEE-yew-kus) the Serpent Bearer, for those born from Nov. 30 to Dec. 17. According to myth, Ophiuchus became a healer when he killed a snake and another appeared with an herb in his mouth that revived the dead one, said Amy Sayle, an astronomy educator at the Moorehead Planetarium at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.

All I can say is , thank goodness I didn’t get a tattoo. I know Bob was in the navy so I can only hope he didn’t put Sagittarius on his butt. 

Opti- B-Bull 1-6-2011

Happy New Year 2011, Alan opened our first meeting of the new year with the flag pledge and invocation by Wally Johnston.  Followed by this day in history 1941.

This morning’s secret greeter was Bruce Buffington who could not catch anyone not greeting him.  Better luck next time Bruce.  You should try hiding in the closet! Bruce followed that by being today’s raffle winner ($8.00) but you have to come back next week to get your money.  Jack Franklin, last weeks winner, did give his winnings to the Dean Mitchell program.

Marv Thompson announced that letters are being mailed to all schools regarding the Dean Mitchell public safety scholarship. The letters include the qualifying instructions for this scholarship which last year was $1,000.00.  

This day in history (1941) was the day FDR gave a speech on the four freedoms we have in the U.S. These freedoms are the freedom of speech, the freedom to worship, the freedom from want, and the freedom from fear.  All of these are pictured in the Norman Rockwell book which Wally passed around the room.

One auction item this morning was an auto seat back rest. Not sure who won, but all funds for the raffle go into the admin. fund which we need for this years budget.  So Keep them coming.  The bidding is fun to watch.

Our January board meeting will be held on Tuesday 1-11-11 due to the Oregon football game on Monday.  Remember all members are invited to attend any board meeting.

Our guest speaker this morning, Past Pres. Bruce Buffington, talking on the Northwest Bike Safety Organization, gave us the history of the N.W.B.S. They serve over 2200 each year, 2000  of which being kids. We did present Bruce with our donation of $500.00 for this year. Thanks Bruce.

Have a great week, Until then!