Coats for Kids –  Danae Klimes reported that we provided six coats this week, raising the total for the season to 641.  Same messages as always:  if you won’t be able to deliver on time, let Danae know; if you see blank spaces among the hangers, fill ‘em from the boxes; if there are any sizes missing, let Danae know; and if you see great sales on coats – let Anna Scholes know by texting her at (208) 539-4269.

Lost Wages – The LW committee meets regularly on Wednesdays at 5:15-6:30 at Canyon Crest Dining and Event Center. Kathleen Hale said they can always use more participants and great ideas!  This is a fun way to get involved in planning our biggest fundraiser of the year. All are welcome.  The event will be on March 14 from 7-10 p.m. at the Canyon Crest Dining and Event Center.  We’re going to try to recruit the Canyon Ridge High School’s graphic arts program to provide us a banner for the Lost Wages event, similar to the one(s?) they did for Wings’n’Things!  (Hmm, maybe we could stand to have one to use for general purposes whenever our club has a presence at an event?)

Ronald McDonald House – the ribbon-cutting will take place at 1:00 p.m. on February 1st, in Boise.  Some members plan to carpool up and back, so if you’d like to participate, please contact either Dennis Bowyer or Dawn Soto.

OI Youth Essay Contest – The applications are going out to the schools now; entries have to be postmarked by February 28th.  (Oooops!  Isn’t this a leap year?  Does that mean the date will be changed to the 29th?)

Membership – Eva Craner reminded us that if you bring a guest, they will get their first lunch on us; if they join the TFOC, the sponsoring member will get a free lunch!  Our two newest members didn’t make this meeting, so we’ll plan to induct them at next week’s meeting, said Dawn.

Youth House – We’ll have three new residents coming in this month, and one exiting.

Member News – Brent Evans broke his hand in several places while vacationing in New Zealand (Ouch!)

Program Information – Mark your calendars for the January 16th meeting – Brent Evans will tell us about his trip to Australia and New Zealand….but don’t offer to shake his hand!

The 9th Annual Avenues for Hope Housing Challenge has raised 18,455 from 68 donors for the Twin Falls Optimist Youth House. Thanks to everyone who donated and spread the word on their social media!

Ya’ know, if we each try real hard to start off every day this-a-way, it’d be a much happier world! I’m game; how ’bout you?

Put these Optimist Events on Your Calendar!

• Ribbon cutting for the new Ronald McDonald house in Boise – February 1
• Lost Wages – March 14 at Canyon Crest 7-10 PM