Butler Optimists celebrate Charter

Kip Yoss presiding over Charter Banquet

 The newly formed Butler Optimist Club held its charter banquet held on Friday, October 28, 2011, at the Youth Building at the fairgrounds. Kip Yoss from the Adrian Optimists served as master of ceremonies adding humorous commentary to the event. Yoss introduced Adrian Optimist Andy Enos who encouraged the Butler group to “find their ‘why’.” Butler Optimist members Michael Hill led the group in the Pledge to the American flag and Pastor John Prichard gave the invocation.

After a delicious steak dinner cooked by the Adrian Optimists, Josh Brennan from the Adrian club installed the officers of the Butler club: Marcia Rader, President; Mike Hill, 1st Vice President; Brian Schrock, 2nd Vice President; Amy McVey, Secretary; Emily Swaters, Treasurer; and Board Members Tyler Green, Sean Cook, Miles Umstattd, Kacey Chandler, Stacey Lawson, and Rodger Koehn. Past Western Missouri District Governor Bob Floyd from Eldorado Springs congratulated the Butler Optimists on reaching a record number of 104 charter members. Floyd said that this was the largest Optimist club chartered in the past 100 years.

Floyd also presented President Marcia Rader with the official Optimist International banner. Sponsoring Club President Mike Burris from Adrian presented the bell and gavel and Mid-America Region Vice-President Debbie Hill presented the club with its official charter. Each of the Butler Optimist charter members also received their own charter member certificate.

Carl Hoaglund, current Western District Governor, presented Butler club president Marcia Rader with a flower arrangement. Mayor Don Malan of Butler and Representative Barney Fisher also made remarks congratulating the local Optimists on their achievements thus far.

Marcia Rader, Butler Optimist Club President, then took the podium for some brief remarks. In her speech, Rader thanked the Optimist dignitaries from the district and state level and recognized several other local dignitaries in attendance. She also thanked those members from the Adrian Optimist Club that have been so helpful in getting Butler’s club organized.

Emily Swaters led the group in reciting the Optimist Creed.

To close out the evening, Auctioneer Wayne Seider presided over an auction of donated items with the proceeds going to help the Butler Optimists club get its funding growing. The Butler Optimist club thanks all those who generously donated items for the auction.

Butler Optimist Club officer installation

-our thanks to Alan Mundey