Phather Phil’s Prayer
Heavenly Father You know we in Optimist are dedicated to bringing out thebest in kids. What is happening in our society today that causes the killingsof so many of our youths in schools. If ever we need divine intervention, it
is now! Infuse us with Your love to find the answer to those who take up a gun to solve their problems. Anger toward those who miss behave only deepens their anger. Lincoln said,” when I makes friends with my enemy have I not defeated him.” As a friend to youth, helps us extend that motto to include all young people and help us seek out those who really need a friend. Amen!
All Photos from the Meeting are Here
Today’s Guests
| Guest | Guest Of |
| Pam McGill | The Green Club |
| Gary Minyard | Speaker |
| Pat Neer | South Metro Club |
| Brian Nolan | Beth Duncan |
| Amy Wang | Patrick Arehart |
Intense Auction
Fred Polizzi today generously offered for auction 2 tickets for very nice seats and a parking pass to the UD Flyer basketball game this evening. An exciting and tense auction ensued. Larry Lynde ran the auction. Larry was almost able to get the auction back up to his opening bid suggestion of $50. Brian Nolan won the auction after an edge of your seat moment when he went all the way up to $45 for the ticket package.
Today’s Speaker
Mike Bevis introduced today’s speaker, Gary Minyard, the vice-president of Education and Engagement at Victoria Theatre Association (VTA). They have many kid focused programs at the VTA.
The Discovery Series, started in 1991, has had over 1 million participants so far. Around 27,000 kids experience the series annually.
VTA is currently building an Art Annex with 250 seats to allow even more opportunities for children.
VTA has started special sensory-friendly presentations. These are geared for kids that are on the autism spectrum and their families. This provides a safe, judgement-free zone for these children and their families to enjoy shows they would have stayed away from in the past. What a wonderful thing to do for these children and families. There was one show last year, 2 this year, and Gary is hoping to have 3 next year. The first show last year was “The Cat and the Hat”. Victoria Theater expected around 100 people and instead about 500 came. Future shows are “Go Dog Go” and “Journey to Oz” which will feature audience participation.
Other programs include:
- Camps and Theater Intensives (a recent camp affiliated with the show Circus 1903 featured students in front of the Schuster utilizing 180 cans of shaving cream to throw pies in the face.)
- National Geographic Live show coming up is astronaut Terry Virts in “View From Above” (he has taken more photos from space than any astronaut before him) and Mireya Mayor brought her show “Pink Boots and a Machete” in January 2018. She has been nominated for an Emmy Award twice.
Schools are encouraged to send kids to these shows. Gary asks parents to push administrators to have more trips like this. High schools have a hard time letting kids leave the school grounds and need a push (he said it is much easier for kindergarten students to get permission.) The limit in ticket price is $5.00 to keep it affordable. Through these performances over 30,000 kids get involved each year and with participation outside these special showings, about 40,000 youth see a show produced by VTA each year.
A Teen Usher or Ambassador program is offered for high school youth. Last year 75 students applied and 50 were accepted. As ushers these students shadow other employees and as Ambassadors they get to experience many of the behind-the-scene activities that are necessary to make VTA shows happen.
https://victoriatheatre.com/shows/series/nat-geo-live/
https://victoriatheatre.com/shows/series/discovery/
Happy Birthday Performance Review
Led by Charlies Tapp, we sang our traditional specialized version of Happy Birthday today for Stan Fronzaglia.
Mr. Minyard said we will not be receiving any call backs based on our performance. Not for any current or future performances at VTA.
We must be OPTIMISTIC and keep practicing and find some other critics to review us.
Birthdays
| Member | Birthday |
| Julie Walling Noeth | February 20 |
| Stanley Fronzaglia | February 20 |
| Michael Bevis | February 21 |
| John Thompson | February 24 |
| Blanca Ortiz | February 26 |
| John Sherman | February 26 |
| Pat Behn | February 26 |
Membership Anniversaries
| Member | Month | Day | Joined | # Years |
| David Gaines | February | 20 | 02/20/2013 | 5 |
| Russell Hulbert | February | 20 | 02/20/2013 | 5 |
| Robert Collins | February | 21 | 02/21/2014 | 4 |
| Erin Belangia-Sanchez | February | 23 | 02/23/2006 | 12 |
| Chris Ziehler | February | 26 | 02/26/2017 | 1 |
| Chris Ziehler | February | 26 | 02/26/2017 | 1 |
New Member Readings and Inductions
| Name | Sponsor | 1st 2nd 3rd Reading or Induction |
| Brian Nolan | Beth Duncan | Induction |
Sergeants at Arms
| Member | Infraction |
| Jay McAlpine | Poor parenting; his son Chris lost the bell and gavel |
| Chris McAlpine | Did not wear Optimist pin when photographed for article in Dayton Business Journal |
| Jean Pummill | Left Bag at previous meeting |
| Phather Phil | Left Mug at previous meeting |
| Carol Burkman | Lost earring at Optimist 2.0 |
| Bob Duffy | Sat at birthday table when it was not his birthday |
| Myron Rheaume | Sat at birthday table when it was not his birthday |
| Dan Beck | Cell phone use during a meeting |
| Art Hung | Late |
| Scott Langer | Late |
| Jerry Stahley | For not greeting his guest upon her arrival |
Happy Bucks!
No time for Happy Bucks this week.