Meeting February 4 - change of locations that day

Hello Friends and Optimist,

We are changing the venue for the next Tuesday's McCall Optimist Club meeting to the Alpine Pantry at 7:00 a.m. The Alpine Pantry is located immediately to the east of the bridge next to Shore Lodge. Attached is part of the breakfast menu. This coming Tuesday, Sally Ferguson, the Executive Director of the Selway Bitterroot Frank Church Foundation, SBFCF, will give us a slide presentation about the organization. The foundation's motto is: "No Politics, No Advocacy, Just Boots-On-The-Ground Work".

Sally Ferguson just was recently name Executive Director of the Foundation. Sally brings over 15 years of experience in non-profit management, conservation advocacy, and organizational development to the SBFC. Sally is coming to SBFC from several years with the Student Conservation Association, where she worked closely with wilderness and trails managers on forests across USFS Regions 1, 2, 3 and 4 to create conservation internships. She was the founding president of the Idaho Trails Association and remains an active board member.

The SBFC Foundation raises private money and employs crews and volunteers to provide maintenance for trails and bridges. It recently replaced the boat ramp at Indian Creek on the Middle Fork, which was rapidly becoming a hazard for boaters. The Foundation has contributed nearly a million dollars in improvements and maintenance; noxious weed abatement; plus keeping public sites open, such as the Lochsa Historical Ranger Station near Wilderness Gateway Campground, which was slated to close due to lack of funding. Information about the Foundation can be found at the Foundation website:http://www.selwaybitterroot.org/

Jim Thackeray was the winner of our free breakfast drawing this week. Check out Alpine Pantry’s website, http://alpinepantry.com/ and come try Alpine’s fresh, delicious breakfast and cozy atmosphere. Invite a friend!


Tom Crawford, secretary

Promise Yourself....... To talk health, happiness and prosperity to every person you meet.

Optimist Meeting - January 28

Hello McCall Friends and Optimist,

There is a movement for Community Radio for the McCall/Donnelly area! Wheels are in motion to be broadcasting in the near future. Tomorrow, Tuesday, Jan 28th, Katherine Lanspery will present a slide show on the concepts and goals of Long Valley Community Radio and discuss where they are in the process. Community Radio can be a great opportunity for our community businesses, non-profit organizations, education, and other public services. I’ve known Katherine for many years. Her background is in Environmental Science and has a very diverse and interesting work experience. However her passion is in community organizing and event planning especially for music and arts. Katherine has organized many events that successful blended environmental awareness and music. Community Radio is one of her newest projects. Come see what it is all about at breakfast tomorrow.

The schedule for this month:

• Feb 4th, Selway-Bitteroot-Frank Church foundation, Sally Ferguson
• Feb 11th, Women in the Military, Retired Col. Tyler
• Feb 18th, Snowpack trends and fire weather forecasting, Francis Russo

Also, The will be a free breakfast for whoever won the drawing from the roster last week. Come and see if you won.


Tom Crawford, secretary
Promise Yourself....... To talk health, happiness and prosperity to every person you meet.

Optimist Meeting - January 21, 2014

Hello Friends and Optimist,

This week, George Pool will talk to us about the Senior Center. George is dedicated volunteer for many of our community youth programs, but he is also the Chairman of the Senior Center. George will give us an update on the status of the Center and what might be in store for the future.

Also, Winter Carnival is already here! We need to coordinate the Parade this coming Saturday and the fund raiser for next Saturday.

We started a lottery program for a free breakfast. The name drawn from our club roster this week is Hank Boomer. We hope you can take advantage of the free breakfast, Hank.

Tom Crawford, secretary
Promise Yourself....... To be too large for worry, too noble for anger, too strong for fear, and too happy to permit the presence of trouble.

Optimist Meeting - January 14

Hello Friends and Optimist,

Jodi Lee just got back from Mexico and will be presenting a slide show of her adventures. Come for breakfast to enjoy her beautiful photography and interesting discussion on the different cultures.

We will also hold a board meeting shortly after the presentation. Topics will include: winter carnival activities and the budget.

We started a lottery program for a free breakfast. A name from our club roster will be drawn each week and the club will buy their breakfast at the next meeting. This week's winner is John Leedom. We hope you can make it John.


Tom Crawford, secretary
Promise Yourself....... To be too large for worry, too noble for anger, too strong for fear, and too happy to permit the presence of trouble.

Optimist Meeting January 7, 2014

Hello McCall Optimist and Friends.

Happy New Year! Tomorrow morning at our breakfast meeting, Mallory Getto from the Shepherd’s Home will come and tell us about the Home and her job as the Administrator. Here is some history from the website:

The idea for the Shepherd’s Home was born in the home and hearts of Bill and Dottie Basye. The Basyes, working closely with the Department of Health and Welfare, sought a way to overcome the lack of adequate foster care available to children in central Idaho. To provide for the many children in crisis who needed a safe and loving home, they created a community initiative which quickly gathered support and momentum. The Shepherd’s Home was incorporated as a nonprofit organization in 1996 and opened its doors, fully operational, in the spring of 1998. During the brief interim between dream and reality, several donations of local money, time, and professional labor made the building of the Home possible. The local Lutheran church donated an acre of land and several large foundation grants were used to build the Home and hire the Home’s first staff. Community members provided enormous support and established fundraising events to support the new Home. Since that time the Shepherd’s Home has grown into a cherished and highly-regarded regional resource, providing not only a loving home for children in crisis but also providing additional programs for its residents and for community members to support the prevention of child abuse.

We should also have some planning discussion about Winter Carnival Activities that is coming up very soon.

Help Needed: Come join us on Saturday, Jan 11th; our Boy Scout Troop 246 is hosting an Ice Fishing day for Boise Troop 1. There should be about 30 boys and 12 leaders fishing between the Downtown Marina and Brown’s Park starting about 11am. We can use some help and instruction from experience fisherman and any ice augers. There will be a lot of holes to drill! Call me if you think you can make it or have an ice auger to loan. Thanks.


Tom Crawford, secretary
Promise Yourself....... To be too large for worry, too noble for anger, too strong for fear, and too happy to permit the presence of trouble.