The Southern Exposure
INDIANA SOUTH DISTRICT – OPTIMIST INTERNATIONAL
Volume 17, Issue 4
2011-2012
“From Start to Finish…Bringing Out
the Best in Kids”
Chuck Curry, Governor
Jim Arnold, Secretary-Treasurer
Kathy Underwood, Immediate Past
Governor
Sandi Holstein, Past Governor
Pat France, Governor Elect
Lt. Governors
Zone 1: Kenneth Kolmerten
Zone 2: Mike McCoy
Zone 3: Mike Underwood
Zone 4/5: Mark Wilson
Zone 6: Rick Gadjen
Zone 7: Ron Fuhrman
Zone 8: Betty Strickland
Zone 9: Frank Fowler
Attention:
July 2012
From the Governor:
It’s time to go roaring into the finish of the
2011-2012 Optimist Year, so come on in for a
"Pit Stop" to tune your engines at the 26th
Annual Indiana South District Convention. This
year the convention will be held in Clarksville
from August 10th - 12th.
Congratulations to the new Lt. Governors-Elect
and all the club officers getting ready for the
next year! One of the most important parts of
the District Convention is the Officer-Elect
training for Club Presidents and
Secretary/Treasurers. We will have plenty of
great stuff for everyone else too, so don’t miss
Committee Chairs & Lt Governors
this chance to learn more about "Bringing Out
The deadline for submitting articles
for the next District Bulletin is
the Best in Kids...From Start to Finish!"
September 10, 2012.
Send
your
articles
to
p_grant@fastmail.fm if you have email. If you prefer, send it snailmail: 770 N County Road 625 E,
Avon, IN 46123.
DON’T FORGET!
Looking forward to seeing you in Clarksville.
Thank you for all that you all do,
Governor Chuck
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Indiana
South District
Optimist International
All Presidents and Secretaries and Treasurers
Taking office on
October 1, 2012
Are encouraged to attend
The training
Available
At this Convention
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Indiana South District Meetings
2011- 2012
4th Quarter: District Convention….August 10-11-12, 2012
Clarksville
2012-2013
1st Quarter: Conference…………….October 19-20, 2012
2nd Quarter: Conference…………....January 25-26, 2013
3rd Quarter: Conference…………….April
26-27, 2013
th
4 Quarter: District Convention….August 9-10-11, 2013
Bloomington
Terre Haute
Bloomington
Terre Haute
Past Governors' Breakfast
The PGA breakfast at the Convention in Clarksville will be on Sunday, August 12th at 7:00 AM.
Spouses are invited to attend the Breakfast as in the past.
Looking forward to seeing you in Greensburg!
Kathy Underwood, IPG
Do you have any Extra supplies?
Do you have EXTRA SUPPLIES from clubs not active?
Please bring them to the District Convention in Clarksville.
This will save the District some money if we can recycle them.
Older club banners are definitely needed.
Even older club banners can be useful.
Please give the supplies to our Supply chair, Chuck Curry
He should be easy to find, I think he is our Governor.
A lawsuit recently brought to our attention an Indiana law which requires the following actions
when a club wishes to terminate the membership of a member. The statute is Indiana Code (IC)
23-17-8 et seq.
To assure compliance, and to avoid negative public image, the recommended procedure is for
each club to amend its bylaws, or its Articles of Incorporation, to add the following language:
To comply with Indiana Annotated Code Section 23-17-8-2 the Articles of Incorporation, or the
Bylaws of an Indiana Not-For-Profit Corporation must contain a Member Termination Policy which
specifies a fair and reasonable procedure for involuntary termination of membership in substantially
the following words and figures:
Herman Greenwood recently reported the above information and provided four pages of information
regarding this subject which was too long to include in this Bulletin. For copies of the complete
package, please contact Herman via email (greenwoodlaw@sbcglobal.net),
myself
(p_grant@fastmail.fm) or Herman at his address below:
HERMAN GREENWOOD
Club Policy and Zoning Committee Chair
1102 N LYNHURST DR
SPEEDWAY, IN 46224-6811
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Yes, it is just a few weeks before the Indiana South OI Convention, where there’s lots of learning,
fellowship, and yes, election of the Governor-Elect for the 2013-2014 Optimist Year. But, alas, we do
not yet have a candidate to lead our district. I don’t believe that it has ever happened in the history of
Indiana South that we were in danger of being leaderless.
Please look around your clubs and in your own hearts. Do you know someone, perhaps yourself, who
is qualified to lead the Optimists of Indiana South? A qualified candidate must have served as Club
President and Lt. Governor, and be a member of a club in good standing with International, but most
importantly, be ready to meet new friends and amazing youth.
If you would like to nominate yourself, or someone from your club to this exciting and rewarding
position with the district, please return a letter of nomination to me at kjunderwood@sbcglobal.net or to
my snail mail address: 7 Spotted Owl Dr, Brownsburg, IN 46112
Please, think hard, the youth of Indiana South need you!!!
Kathy Underwood
2011-2012 Candidate Qualifications Chair
District Convention Training Schedule
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Daniel Kissel (1923 - 2012)
|
Daniel M. Kissel
Evansville, IN
Daniel M. Kissel, 89, passed away Thursday, May 31, 2012, with family at his side. Mr. Kissel was
born February 11, 1923, to the late John and Christine Farney Kissel.
Dan graduated from F. J. Reitz High School in 1941 and Indiana State University in 1943. He was
on the Reitz bowling team and had a series high of 747. He served in World War II as Gunnery
Instructor for the 3036th Army Air Corp, 1943-1946. He owned and operated Kissel Printers from
1946 until his 1984 retirement. He was involved with Boy Scouts of America for 55 years, serving as
Scoutmaster for St. Boniface and Sacred Heart Troops. Dan joined the West Side Nut Club in 1946;
was Fall Festival Chairman in 1954; "Dan Kissel Vote No Award" was established in his honor in the
mid 1960s and is still in effect. Joining the West Side Optimist Club in 1963, he served as Optimist
President in 1967, Optimist Lt. Governor in 1972, and Indiana Optimist Governor in 1975-76; was
named Indiana's Optimist of the year in 1974, and served on several Optimist International
Committees. Dan received the Sagamore of the Wabash award from Indiana Governor Robert Orr in
1976. He enjoyed I.U. basketball, Cardinal baseball, playing Clabber, and watching birds and
wildlife.
The Indiana South District extends condolences to the family of Dan Kissel. The Past Governors
Association will be making a donation to the Optimist International Foundation in memory of Past
District Governor Dan.
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Personal Growth & Involvement (P.G.I.) Program
There are many benefits to becoming an Optimist. And since "Bringing Out the Best in Kids"
is the consensus top benefit, the organization’s Personal Growth & Involvement (P.G.I.)
program ranks a cool second. Where else can you become a more knowledgeable volunteer?
The P.G.I. program offers every Optimist member the opportunity to learn more about
Optimism while advancing through 10 levels of involvement, leadership growth and
achievement.
The P.G.I. program will make you a better volunteer. Through communication training, selfdevelopment modules and other personal growth activities, Optimist International is giving
you a fantastic opportunity to continue to learn and grow into a leader.
For additional P.G.I. information, go to the P.G.I. section of the Optimist Leaders website or
contact the Leadership Development Department at (800) 500-8130, ext. 261, or by e-mail at
leadership@optimist.org.
Build a JOOI Club in Your Community
Optimist Youth Clubs-JOOI Clubs-provide fun, fellowship and community service learning opportunities for
youth of all ages. Younger students (grades 1-4) take part in Alpha Clubs. Middle school or junior high students can
join Junior Optimist Clubs, and high school students build Octagon Clubs.
JOOI members want to make the world a better place. Youth Clubs actively involve themselves in their
communities, just as their adult clubs do. From fund-raising to neighborhood clean-ups to tutoring younger kids, JOOI
members make things happen. Currently there are more than 15,500 youth members in more than 600 communities.
For your Optimist Club, a JOOI Youth Club sponsorship offers:

Lots of eager hands to help with your larger service projects and fund-raisers.

A means to rejuvenate interest in your club's activities.

A unique way to involve a club member's whole family in Optimism.

Membership recruitment of the parents and relatives of your Youth Club members and much more.
How to Start a JOOI Club
You may charter a JOOI Club with only eight JOOI Members. There is a one-time enrollment fee of $50, an
annual registration fee of $60 and membership dues are as follows: $8 per member per year for Alpha Clubs and $10
per member per year for Junior Optimist and Octagon Clubs. The registration and member fees are prorated depending
on the month you charter the JOOI Club. Also, JOOI Clubs are only required to pay for the first 50 members.
If you have any questions on how to start a JOOI Club in your community you can e-mail me at
minovak@msn.com or call me at 812-663-3266.
Mike Novak, JOOI District Chairman
Advisor of the Octagon Club-Greensburg High School
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District Goals for 2011-2012
Increase District membership by 101
Build 4 Adult clubs
Build 3 JOOI clubs
Every club have at least 1 NOW meeting or event
Establishment of a Governor’s Citation
Conduct 2 District Service Projects
Inject more fun into meetings
Increase District meeting attendance to 120
All zones have zone meetings before the District meetings
Become a Distinguished District
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Visit to Camp Carson – July 11
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Fishers Optimist Club
Respect for Law Banquet, May 2012
Submitted by: Fishers Optimist Club / Deb Reel, President
On Tuesday, May 8th, the Fishers Optimist Club held its 2nd Annual Respect for Law Banquet at
the Delaware Township Center where Fishers Police Officer James (Jamie) Alvis was honored.
Jamie’s wife, Joanna together with several of Fishers “men and women in blue” joined club
members and guests to pay tribute to Jamie. Jamie’s dedication to the town of Fishers and to the
youth of the community was highlighted by the attendance of several members of the Fishers
Explorer Post. Explorer Jake Blass spoke as a representative of the group. His personal
accolades were heartfelt and he concluded by saying that he, too, will be going into law
enforcement. Capt Ed Gebhart also paid tribute to Officer Alvis as well as the club’s recipient at
last year’s Respect for Law banquet, Sgt. Randy McFarland. Their comments at times brought
laughter and at other times brought tears.
Officer Alvis then took his turn where he told of his involvement with the Explorer Program and how
he is looking forward to the upcoming Noblesville Explorer Academy at the end of June. His group
of cadets will be joined by other cadets from Carmel PD and IMPD. Jamie expressed his thanks
for all of the help he has received from his fellow officers. He then paid tribute to his wife Joanna
for her support in helping him with achieving his goals. The club presented Officer Alvis with a
plaque and check to help with the Explorer program.
Picture Captions:
Officers: Fishers Police Dept: Capt. Dave Dunbar, Capt Ed Gebhart, Officer Jamie Alvis, Sgt.
Randy McFarland
Explorer: Fishers Explorer Post: Jake Blass, Explorer Andrew Becker, Officer Jamie Alvis,
Explorer Zac Fitzgerald
Presentation: Award presented to Officer James Alvis by FOC President, Deb Reel
Presentation
Explorer
Officers
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Fishers Optimist Club
Hearing Aid Presentations, May 2012
Submitted by: Fishers Optimist Club / Deb Reel, President
Members of the Fishers Optimist Club visited the Indiana School for the Deaf on May
23rd to present hearing aids to Austin Wilson and Seanna Baird. It was important to
deliver these hearing aid devices before school let out for the summer! Austin is in 6th
grade and planning an out-of-state visit to see relatives this summer. Seanna is in the
1st grade and has a trip to Disney World planned for her summer break.
To date, Fishers Optimist Club has presented hearing aid devices to seven children!
Picture Captions:
Seanna: Seanna Baird proudly displays her new hearing aids.
Austin: Austin makes an adjustment after receiving his new hearing aids.
Group: Mr. Baird (Seanna's Father), Seanna, FOC Member Donna Daniel, FOC
Member Curtis Weed, FOC Member Mary Weed, Austin Wilson, FOC Member Deb
Reel, FOC Member Brittany Mead, and Mrs. Baird (Seanna's Grandmother)
Seanna:
Austin:
Group:
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Fishers Optimist Club
Canine Companion Representative Visits FOC, May 2012
Submitted by: Fishers Optimist Club / Deb Reel, President
Nancee Wright , of Canine Companions for Independence (CCI) was a part of our
meeting on May 1st. Nancee brought Jenna and Baron, two of the dogs that she is
currently raising in her home. Nancee spends her time teaching the puppies basic
commands as well as making the dogs people friendly. After about 15 months, these
dogs are then turned over to the CCI office in Delaware, OH and they are evaluated
further to determine if they are qualified to be an assistance dog for a physically
disabled or hearing impaired person. If the dog passes the test, then it goes through
advanced training to learn more commands such as turning lights on and off, and
retrieving objects. Dogs are then matched with a qualified individual. Some dogs are
trained as Facility dogs and are taken to educational facilities as well as nursing
homes and hospitals to cater to the needs of special needs children and those who
are sick. CCI relies totally on donations and does not charge for the dogs. For more
information, log on to www.cci.org.
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Fishers Optimist Club
FOC Adopt-A-Road Cleanup Campaign, March 2012
Submitted by: Fishers Optimist Club / Deb Reel, President
Adopt a Road was held on March 17th. Volunteers helped pick up debris on our
“adopted stretch of highway” 116th Street which is located just west of Allisonville Road.
Participating were FOC members Dan Stocks, Lisa Zack, and Pat Newton as well as
several students from Hamilton Southeastern High School.
Why ADOPT-A-ROAD????
* It gives back to our community !!
* Gives the Fishers Optimist Club exposure in our community !!
* Provides an opportunity for youth to give back to their community - hopefully fostering
a lifelong cycle of giving back!!
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TURN THE PAPER SIDEWAYS
Sometimes I need to approach a persistent problem with a new way of thinking. The Spanish poet Juan Ramón
Jiménez said, "If they give you ruled paper, write the other way." His image reminds me to always be my own
person, but it also challenges me to think creatively. Turning the paper sideways is like looking at situations from
different angles.
Henry L. Mencken said it first: "For every complex problem, there is a solution that is simple, neat and wrong." And
how often I am determined to keep pounding on that simple and neat solution until I make it work, or else I finally
give up altogether. But success will surprisingly come when I decide to look at the thing from a wholly different
perspective.
Several all night convenience stores in New York City learned something about viewing problems another way.
Evidently, some of the stores had a problem with teenagers hanging out in their parking lots late into the night.
Not that they didn't like kids; they liked them very much. But customers complained that they were afraid to
approach them in the dark and push through them to enter the store. Neighbors complained that couldn't sleep
with the noise. And store personnel were worried about the well-being of the young people themselves. Late at
night, these neighborhoods were unsafe.
Managers tried various methods to solve the problem. They asked the kids to find a safer place to congregate.
They asked them to move away from the doors so customers didn't have to push through them. They asked them
to discard their cigarette butts and trash in outdoor receptacles and not litter the parking lot. Each solution was
simple, neat and completely ineffective. It seems that any of them should have worked. But none of them did and
many of the store managers eventually gave up in frustration on solving the problem.
Finally, one man came up with an unusual idea. He decided he had been approaching the situation all wrong. Asking
the teens to change their behavior didn't work, so he tried something different. He just piped easy-listening music
into the parking lot -- slow, soothing instrumentals especially suited for mature listeners.
No more loitering.
Sometimes we just need to look at things differently. Again and again we butt up against the same old problem. It
may involve a child or parent, a friend or lover. It might be a problem with a co-worker. Maybe it's just a complex
situation we're working through, or a personal problem with which we can't seem to make any headway. And so far,
everything we've tried has failed. Perhaps it's time to turn the paper around and write the other way; to look at
the problem a whole new way.
Here's a good question to ask: "How can I come at this thing from a different angle?" Because there is likely
something you're not seeing.
A father and his daughter were stopped by a flight attendant before boarding their plane. The problem? The
little girl was clutching a large bouquet of balloons. In sympathetic tones, the attendant told the child that she
would not be permitted to travel with all of the balloons. "Only one is allowed per passenger," she said in a voice
that concluded there's nothing to be done. After all, rules are rules.
Father and daughter decided they could each carry one. So with tears in her eyes, the little child selected her two
favorite balloons for the flight. But before she could discard the rest, another passenger intervened. "Here, I'll
take one," he said. He quickly saw a solution to the problem and proceeded to give one balloon to anybody in line
who would take one. As she disembarked, every balloon was returned to the happy child.
Here was a man who just looked at the problem a different way. Instead of saying, “There's nothing be done," he
turned the paper sideways and the answer was clear.
When you turn your paper sideways, what do you see?
-- Steve Goodier
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Attention ALL Club Presidents
Presidents of all Clubs in the District serve as
members of the District Board of Directors. Make
sure to attend your Board meeting at every District
Conference and at the Convention.
The Southern Exposure is published for all Optimists
located in the Indiana South District, Optimist
International.
The editor is Paul R. Grant, 770 N
County Road 625 E, Avon, IN 46123. Submissions may
be sent to p_grant@fastmail.fm and are subject to
extreme editing.
Club Presidents: Please
make copies of this
Bulletin and distribute to
the members of your
club.
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