Bingo in McCall, December 8, 2015

Optimist Meeting, December 8, 2015

Hello Friends and Optimist. This Tuesday morning’s breakfast we will welcome Barbra Morgan Elementary Principal Valerie Berg as our guest. Here is her message to the community:

“My name is Valerie Berg and I was hired as the Principal for Barbara R. Morgan Elementary School in May 2015. 2015-16 will be my 12th year as an administrator and my 20th year as an educator. I most recently came from the Middleton School District where I was an Elementary Principal for nine years at Mill Creek Elementary. Prior to my time in Middleton, I was in the Nampa School District and in North Dakota, which is where I grew up. I have a Bachelors Degree from the University of North Dakota in Elementary Education and Special Education and my Masters Degree in Educational Leadership from North Dakota State University.

In my rare “free time”, I love to bike, ski, walk/jog/hike, camp, boat, beach-it, read, vacation, play with technology, attend sporting events and just be home with my family. I have a great husband, who is also a school Principal, and have two kids (ages 7 & 12) who love most all sports and activities, especially skiing and soccer!
I am so excited to begin this new chapter of my career in McCall at Barbara R. Morgan! Following in Mrs. Wells and Mr. Foudy's footsteps will not be easy but I will strive to build on their successes and pride they have built among the staff, community, PTA, parents, and students. I can't wait to meet all the parents and kids! It is going to be one amazing school year!

I will strive to find the best way to keep parents informed as I figure out how to utilize our website, Facebook page, Powerschool, and newsletters! I welcome your ideas anytime!”

Please join us at the Pancake House, 7am, Dec 8th and invite a friend. Thank you.


Tom Crawford,

McCall Optimist President

Optimist Club meeting, December 1, 2015

Hello Friends and Optimist. We have a great program tomorrow, 7am at the Pancake House. We would like to welcome Superintendent Jim Foudy as our guest. Jim will speak about the goals and the strategies for our schools and updated us on what is new and what to look forward to. Don’t miss an opportunity to ask Mr. Foudy questions and hear first-hand the latest news. I hope you all can make it.

Also, Reminder: our Club Installation banquet is Tuesday night at Cougar Dave’s in Donnelly. We will start at 6pm. Please pass the word. Call or text me if you have any questions. Thank you.

Tom Crawford,
McCall Optimist President

Optimist Club Meeting at St. Luke's, October 27

Hello Optimist and Friends.

We have an exciting change of pace this Tuesday. The Hospital will be hosting a special meeting for us. If you remember back in April, Jenny Ruemmele, Director of St Luke's Foundation invited us for a tour of their new addition. The breakfast meeting will be held at 7am in the Boulder Conference Room in the hospital.

Here are the details thanks to Debra Martens: “Go through the automatic door, pass a couple of office doors, a vending machine and coffee station on the left. The Boulder Conference room is located right by the pictures of hospital employees and board members which are also on the left wall.

The foundation will provide either breakfast burritos or quiche, fruit and coffee before the tour. There will be a couple of people there to greet you. So, you can have a bite to eat and following that will be the tour of the hospital. The reason for the tour is to become educated on the need for the expansion and modernization of the hospital. Don’t be afraid to ask any questions as the different department heads talk to you about their specific areas and current needs during this tour.”

We are looking forward to learning more about the Hospital and the Foundation. Hope to see you there.

Tom Crawford
McCall Optimist President

Meet Football Coach Lee Leslie at the October 6, 2015 Meeting

Hello McCall Optimist and Friends, 

We have an Optimist meeting tomorrow at 7:00am at the Pancake House. Come join us for breakfast and meet and welcome McCall-Donnelly High School head football coach Lee Leslie. This is Lee’s first year coaching here in McCall. Lee can share some insight on where he would like to take the program and how we can get there. We will also have Michele Hughes join us with a few students that are interested in the Optimist Club.

Here is Coach Leslie’s Biography:

· Married for 31 years to Jill Turner Leslie

· 3 sons and 1 daughter and 8 grandchildren.

· High School teaching and coaching: 23 years

· U of Utah coaching: 2 years

· Arena Football Coaching: 7 years

· Teaching areas: Physical Education, Health, Sociology and Psychology

· I have traveled the world as a coach and motivational speaker. I have coached in Utah, Hawaii, and Idaho. I have presented in 32 states, New Zealand, Can Cun, and the Dominican Republic.

· My reward as an educator is when I see “The lights come on”, both on the field and in the classroom. That special time where the student or athlete shines and understands the path you are helping to create for them.

· I have had a few championships over the years but more importantly, have been able to help 149 players continue on to college on scholarship and 6 play in the National Football League. One ex player is the defensive line coach for the Green Bay Packers.

· I am a husband, father, teacher, coach and “Papa”. Life does not suck!

· Anyone taking my class needs to be prepared to work and show improvement every day! Nothing ever stays the same! You either get better or worse. GET BETTER!


Tom Crawford
McCall Optimist President

Promise Yourself
To make all your friends feel that there is something in them.

Meeting announcement, September 22, 2015

Hello Fellow Members,

Tomorrow morning we will continue our club meeting with discussions/actions on the following:

Stuff flag account billings for merchants

Talk about budget for 2015/2016 and finalize

Open discussion on balance of summer activities

Membership - potential Honor Club and the availability to sponsor some students

President Pride Report - discussion about success for 2014/2015

Discuss this next year's activities and put together some plans for bingo, etc

Discussion about installation dinner - BBQ?

We have a busy morning planned for tomorrow, hope to see as many of you as possible! Let's make 2015/2016 the best it can be.

Have a wonderful day,

Belinda

Meeting announcement, May 12 + Bingo

Hello Friends and Optimist,

This Tuesday, May 12th, 7am at the Pancake House, we will hold a good fellowship meeting and have lots of business to discuss. We need to update our list of Merchants to contact for the Graduation Party. Belinda is setting up a date for the scholarship committee to meet asap. Bingo is this coming Tuesday. We need to know who help and have flyers to hand out and post. I’ve got some great news to share about our scouting program. After the Graduation Party we should set up a time we can have BBQ. Please join us tomorrow for breakfast and discussion.

Dates to Remember:

• May 19th, next Tuesday is our fourth Bingo fundraiser. Please spread the word to make this a success. We need a few more volunteers to help run the event. It is a lot of fun!
• May 30th, is our Sober Graduate Party. We have letters to merchants ready to give out. Please pick them up Tuesday if you can. This is a big effort and we will need everyone to pitch in.
• July 11th, is the Payette Children’s Forest summer event with Pondarosa Park’s 50th Celebration at the NW Passage Fishing Pond. We will have an Optimist booth and will need at least 6 or more Fishing Instructors to help kids rig and bait hooks. This is a big event. There could be over 300 kids coming! It’s a great opportunity to be “Friends of Youth”.

Tom Crawford
McCall Optimist President
Promise yourself: To wear a cheerful countenance at all times and give every living creature you meet a smile.

Meeting notice: March 31, 2015

Hello Friends and Optimist,

Tomorrow morning 0700 at the Pancake House, we will have Kari St. Clair as a guest speaker. Kari recently got involved in organizing a McCall team to join a state-wide High School Mountain Bike Racing League. Kari will talk about how thing are just now starting with recruiting High School students and Coaches and races scheduled. One of the races will be at Jug Mountain.

 This league is brand new to Idaho. There are 15 other states participating with a total of 500 registered athletes. I would recommend checking out the website here: https://www.facebook.com/idahomtb?fref=nf Like them on Facebook! 

Come meet Kari and help spread the word about this exciting new High School Mountain Biking team. Invite a friend for breakfast.

Tom Crawford

McCall Optimist President


Promise yourself: To wear a cheerful countenance at all times and give every living creature you meet a smile.

BINGO for a good cause

Optimist Club meeting - March 3

Hello Friends and Optimist,

Please join us on Tuesday, 7am, Mar 3rd, at the Pancake House and meet Kacie Bracht of Rose Advocates. They have an amazing story:

ROSE Advocates, Inc. 1988-2012.

20 years ago a resident of a small town in Nevada witnessed a woman being abused in a public area. After the abuser left she approached the woman handing her a piece of paper with her name, telephone number and a brief note stating simply, “I’ll help you”. With the help of this stranger the woman and her son were able to return to their hometown, (Weiser, Idaho) to the safety and support of family and friends. Vowing to help others she gathered her family and friends and formed a secret, underground network of volunteers and safe houses to help abused woman and children. Through the years ROSE Advocates has gone through many changes. Growing from a secret underground organization to donated office space in the basement of the Washington County Courthouse to a now, no longer hidden, but well known public organization helping victims of sexual and domestic violence throughout, but not limited to, the four counties of Adams, Payette, Washington and Valley in the rural state of Idaho.

Come join us for breakfast and invite a friend.

Tom Crawford
McCall Optimist President

Promise Yourself: To talk health, happiness and prosperity to every person you meet

Optimist Club meeting - February 3

Hello Friends and Optimist,

Please join us on Tuesday, 7am, Feb 3, at the Pancake House and meet Tracy Kendall, Director of the McCall Arts and Humanities Council. The MAHC is celebrating 25 Years of coordinating support for the arts & humanities. The mission of the McCall Arts & Humanities Council is to nurture a community rich in culture and creativity by providing all people access to educational and inspirational programs. Tracy will show a slide presentation and will talk about the many programs and upcoming events for all ages. Some of the programs include: Art School, Art in the Garden, Cabin Fever, Creative Campus, and the Kaleidoscope. They have a terrific website you can check out here: http://www.mccallarts.org/

Come join us for breakfast and bring a friend.

Tom Crawford
McCall Optimist President

Promise Yourself: To talk health, happiness and prosperity to every person you meet.

Optimist Meeting January 27

Hello Friends and Optimist,
Please join us on Tuesday, 7am, Jan 27th, at the Pancake House. We have another great program this week. Alysson Statz is the 4H coordinator for the University of Idaho Valley County Extension Office. The Extension Office provides area citizens with research-based information focusing on community development, agriculture, and 4-H youth development. Alysson has run the 4H program out of Cascade for the past eight years. She has a degree in Art and Education from Fort Lewis College in Durango, Colorado. 

Alysson is one of those exceptional individuals that dedicate enormous amount of her time to youth development in Valley County. She is involved in many projects, but her new endeavor is leading the Teen Advisory Committee. The Committee is a newly formed youth group sponsored by the Youth Advisory Coalition, (YAC). The goal of the Committee is to teach young people life skills and develop leadership. The Teen Advisory Committee consists of teens from all over Valley County including New Meadows. Come for breakfast, bring a friend, and learn about more about this new program.

Tom Crawford
McCall Optimist President
Promise Yourself: To talk health, happiness and prosperity to every person you meet

Optimist Club meeting January 20, 2015

Hello Friends and Optimist,
Please join us on Tuesday, 7am, Jan 20th, at the Pancake House, to welcome our special guest speaker, Anne LaBelle, Vice President of Legal and Sustainability for Midas Gold. Ms. LaBelle has a slide presentation of the Stibnite Gold Project and will update us on latest developments. Midas Gold is has made a concerted effort to contribute to many of our youth organizations and programs. They are committed to have a positive influence on our community and seeking support for their mining project.

Here is Anne Labelle biography: 

As Vice President of Legal and Sustainability for Midas Gold, Anne is responsible for government and community relations and special projects. Anne is a geologist and a lawyer managing legal aspects, sustainability, and regulatory aspects of the Stibnite Gold Project. She previously served in a similar role with Capstone Mining where she led extensive and complex permitting process for the Minto Mine in the Yukon and she practiced securities law at Gowling Lafleur Henderson LLP. Ms Labelle is a graduate of Carleton University, with a B.Sc. in Geology, obtained her law degree at the University of British Columbia, and is a member of the Law Society of British Columbia.

We will also have a very special guest, Dick Disney, PNW Optimist Governor. Governor Disney has committed to visit all the clubs in the PNW. We are one of his first stops. Come join us for Midas Gold presentation and meet the Governor. Please invite a friend. Jim Thackeray won our free breakfast drawing. I hope to see everyone there.

Tom Crawford
McCall Optimist President
Promise Yourself: To talk health, happiness and prosperity to every person you meet