Lost Wages – “Had a great meeting last night!” reported Kathleen Hale, “things are moving right along.”  One of our own, Jeff Reinke, is sponsoring a table (and has paid up already!), and Plant Therapy has committed to being our Gold Sponsor ($2,500) this year!! Our other precious metal sponsors are: Scholes Dermatology, Silver Sponsor ($1,000), and Bronze Sponsor, Idaho Power ($500).  We’re still looking for a “Title Sponsor” so please put your thinking caps on so we can reach out to them ASAP.  We’ve reserved six blackjack table sponsors ($250 per table) to date, and are waiting for many of others to confirm for this year’s event. It is time to start calling our friends and family and gather up donations!!  LeeAnn Cline is updating our google doc list so please email her at [email protected] or Kathleen at [email protected], so we can keep the club up to date on our donations and silent auction items.Remember, our 2020 Goal is to raise $20,000 for the youth of our community.  Thanks to everyone for your help!  It’s true that “many hands make light work”.

Youth Essay Contest – we received four entries, and they’re out for judging.Coats for Kids® – Danae Klimes reported that we distributed three more coats this past week, making our total for the season 657.  We’re busy stocking up for next year, so if you spot any really great sales on kids’ coats, let Anna Scholes or Danae know.

Membership – Eva Craner reminded us all to wear our Optimist lapel pins when we’re out and about; if someone asks you about yours, invite them to lunch!

Ronald McDonald House – The ribbon cutting took place on Saturday, and our Club was well-represented there (see pictures above). The 42 thousand square foot house is quite spectacular, with 47 rooms of varying sizes for the families, three laundry rooms, and individual kitchens.  Aside from the obvious physical and financial benefits to the families that will stay there, the presence of other families similarly affected provides mutual support and strength.  Bill Kyle expressed his gratitude for all the TFOC folks that attended the ceremony; we were the only service club that participated.  There were 171 families that were turned away last year due to the lack of space in the old 17 room facility, which will now be used by St Lukes for adults.

Our Guest Speaker | Mike Gemar, the Director of Support Services for the Twin Falls School District

Mike started off with a compliment and his emotional thanks for all the coats we provide under the Coats for Kids® program. In addition to the gifted and talented programs, his office is all about kids with special needs in the District’s 16 schools, those on Individualized Educational Plans (IEP) and “504” plans. IEPs are required by the Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA), which controls the procedural requirements. They are developed to ensure that a child who has a disability identified under the law attending an elementary or secondary educational school receives specialized instruction and related services. 504 plans, required by Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, are developed to ensure that a child who has a disability (identified under the law) attending an elementary or secondary educational school receives accommodations that will ensure their academic success and access to the learning environment. The IDEA process requires documentation of measurable growth. 504 plans outline the child’s specific accessibility requirements, and like the IEP, should be updated annually to ensure that the student is receiving the most effective accommodations for his/her specific circumstances. Mike also is involved with the Special Olympics, and has been for the past 17 years. He urged any of us who’ve not been involved to do so: “It’ll change your life,” he said.

Put these Optimist Events on Your Calendar!

• Lost Wages – March 14 at Canyon Crest 7-10 PM
• Lost Wages committee meetings – Wednesdays @ 5:30
• Guild Mortgage Golf Tournament – June 26 (not an Optimist event, but one benefiting the Ronald McDonald Youth House!)