The Weekly Bulletin - Optimist International: East Missouri District

THE OPTIMIST CLUB OF COLUMBIA (Downtown Optimist)
Mailing address: P. O. Box 1959 * Columbia, MO 65205-1959
Web: www.downtownoptimistclub.org
The Weekly Bulletin
Monday, May 11, 2015
Call to order:
Invocation:
Pledge:
12:05
Charles Neville
Noelle Case
Introduction of Guests:
none
Tail Twister:
Max Miller – Target fugitive
Birthdays and Anniversaries
None
Mystery Guest
From: Steve Winters
To: Brian Pfifer
Announcements:
 Cyrilla Galbreath – Cyrilla and Carl Scott attended the Partner’s in Education celebration on
May 8th. They sat at the table with New Haven and asked us to be their Partner’s in
Education. So we will partner with them. Cyrilla will call to see what we need to do to officially
partner with them.
 Cinco de Mayo Social was a hit. Thanks to all that helped make it such a success.
 Soapbox Derby will have meeting in the club house on Tuesday, 5/12.
Today’s Speakers
May 11 - Max Miller – Habitat for Humanity







Max volunteers with Habitat, an independent nonprofit organization.
Max retired in January of 1995 and started helping with Habitat.
History: It was started by Millard Fuller 1976. Jimmy Carter started helping 8 years after. It is
an international organization. http://www.habitat.org/
Habitat builds for people in the 30-50th % income level. People have to have income, but
usually can’t qualify for a loan.
There were 4 people in Columbia that started the local Habitat for Humanity program.
A typical house has 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms.
Families that are selected are required to put in “sweat equity” to help build their home.
Bringing Out The Best In Kids Since 1936
Contact Information
Columbia Habitat for Humanity
1906 Monroe Street
Columbia, MO 65201







E-mail: showmehabitat@yahoo.com
Website: http://www.showmehabitat.org/
Telephone: 573-499-1202
The first house was built in 1988 in Columbia. There are two groups that work on homes.
“Saturday group”, these are usually volunteers that work during the week and have little
experience and the “Old Geezers”; they are retired and work during the week.
Habitat raises some money through the “restore”. Old appliances are donated and then
resold. They raised $180,000 for this. http://www.showmehabitat.org/#!restore/cykt
Everyone that gets a Habitat home goes through a financial and criminal background check.
They want the families to be successful long term in the homes and to meet specific
requirements of the organization.
Many of the homes now are being built for immigrants. Many immigrants don’t have credit
cards, and don’t have lots of consumer debt. Many of them can qualify, whereas many of
those that are local may often have too much debt to meet the financial requirements.
Mortgages are principal, taxes and insurance only. There is no interest paid on them.
White Westinghouse provides range, refrigerator, etc. HVAC is paid by owner and is usually
added into the mortgage.
Every month $10 a month from the mortgage goes into an escrow fund for them.
Upcoming Speakers
May 18 - Alex Dzuick – Energy Educator, City of Columbia. Topic: Energy Generation at the City
Landfill
May 25 – NO MEETING (MEMORIAL DAY)
June 1 – Brook Turk- Central MO Humane Society
June 8 - Dr. Kathleen Lampitt, Associate Clinical Professor, College of Education, Univ. of Missouri
June 15 – Stacey Button, President REDI
June 22 – James L. Cook, DVM, PhD, William & Kathryn Allen Distinguished Professor in
Orthopedic Surgery, Director, Comparative Orthopedic Laboratory, University of Missouri,
Topic: Regenerative Orthopedics at Mizzou: Turning “what if” into “we can”
June 29th – Dr. Churchill, OSHER
July 1st - Joel Vance, “A Short Survey of Columbia Beer Joints of Years Past ”
Adjourn with the Creed: 12:58
Optimistically Yours,
Noelle Case, Secretary
Bringing Out The Best In Kids Since 1936
A special thank you to Charles Neville so taking such great meeting notes (again).
Bringing Out The Best In Kids Since 1936