JANUARY 4TH, 2022 - Sandy Arguello, Foster Homes and Family Services -
Sandy Arguello is a Marriage and Family Therapist, licensed since 1996, and the Associate Executive Director and Clinical Director of Koinonia Foster Homes & Family Services in Reno, Nevada. She started with Koinonia in 1996 and has been the Director in Nevada since 1999. Most recently, to complement her 25-year career in mental health, she was certified as a Life Coach in 2017.
JANUARY 11TH, 2022 Debbie Meyer, American Olympian -
Deborah Elizabeth Meyer, also known by her married name Deborah Weber, is an American former competition swimmer, a three-time Olympic champion, and a former world record-holder in four events. Meyer won the 200-, 400-, and 800-meter freestyle swimming races in the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City. JANUARY 18TH, 2022 - Marching Orders - The Pay Pez Memorial Golf Committee -
The dream team leading the first annual Ray Pezonella Memorial Golf Tournament is launching the sponsorship and foursome drive. All members neede- participate, contribute, volunteer and sign up for some good old-fashioned fun! If you don’t come, you know what will happen …. Save the date for the tournament on June 3rd, 2022! http://www.pezgolf.org/, Sponsor Opportunities
Sponsor/ Speaker: Ricci Rodriguez Elkins, Steve Seeds, Jeff Lowden, Randy Elliott, David Block, Dee Frewert, Paul Ferrari JANUARY 25TH, 2022 - Joe Sellers, Career and Tech Education, Washoe County -
Joe Sellers will be speaking about the new Career and Technical Education, A New Program at Wooster. This may inform how Optimist builds and designs a scholarship program that supports students going into trade schools.
FEBRUARY 1ST, 2022 - Anna Miller, Desert Farming Initiative, UNR -
Anna is a Reno native and loves the community as much as she loves the surrounding Sierra Nevada Mountains and the Great Basin Desert. She graduated from UNR in the spring of 2019, where she studied ecohydrology and Spanish and was involved in numerous campus organizations. Anna has been involved with water resource monitoring programs on multiple National Forests and has diverse experience in education: from instructing elementary students in environmental science in the field, to teaching English language classes in Spain. While a student, she co-founded the UNR chapter of the Soil and Water Conservation Society and participated in the 2018 conference regarding soil health in California’s agricultural systems. She expanded her experience with farming through a year-long AmeriCorps service at the Desert Farming Initiative and is enthusiastic to combine her passions for people and the environment in her new role as DFI’s Education Program Coordinator. Office: (775) 682-9782, Email: annamiller@unr.edu FEBRUARY 8th, 2022 Yvette Myers, The Empowerment Center
Yvette Myers, Director of Community Development
The Empowerment Center Yvette has more than 17 years in the social services field. Yvette has served on the CCUSA Communities of Practice for both Food and Nutrition, and Housing and Asset Development. She is proud to have participated in the CCUSA disaster relief efforts in Houston, after Hurricane Harvey. Yvette is a native Nevadan who attended the University of Nevada, Reno where she studied Business. She sits on the board the AVA Ballet Company and has served with Lake Tahoe Summerfest and the Association of General Contractors Community Outreach and Emergency Services Committee, Secretary for the State of Nevada VOAD. Sponsor: Taylor Russo Contact: 775-853-5441 Office 775-530-6209 C yvette@empowermentcenternv.org
FEBRUARY 15th, 2022 - Edie Veatch, Alpine Kids
Edie Veatch, Alpine Kids, Families Play Together Without Drugs or Alcohol, alpinekids@live.com 775-781-1416 Cell
Goal: To make life better for the children in Alpine County by teaching families how to play together without the use of drugs & alcohol. Mission Statement: The mission of the Alpine Children's Center is to prevent child abuse and neglect, and domestic violence while strengthening families and community.
Goal: To make life better for the children in Alpine County by teaching families how to play together without the use of drugs & alcohol. Since 1981 the Alpine Kids Program has been serving families in Alpine County. Alpine Kids is an all-volunteer non-profit organization under the umbrella of Alpine Children's Center, a 501(c).(3). Sponsor: Steve Miller https://www.facebook.com/ACCsAlpineKids/
FEBRUARY 22nd, 2022
Optimist Achievement Celebration Program: Chair Irene Kimura-Kern and the committee made up of Stacy Verdun, Alanna Martin, Lori Radoumis, and David Block will share the highlights of our annual program recognizing youth winners, JOI clubs, and
All members are encouraged to come and be part of the planning for our annual recognition dinner called the Optimist Achievement Celebration. This event focuses on recognizing our youth.
MARCH 1st, 2022 - Matt Hock, Chick-Fil-A in Carson City
The new fast-food franchise is owned by Matt and Kelly Hock. The Carson restaurant has hired 130 employees, 60 percent of whom are high school students.
Owner Matt Hock will present the Chick-Fil-A story, philosophy, beliefs, and its impact on communities.
https://www.chick-fil-a.com/about/who-we-are
Sponsor: Irene Kimura Kern
Optimist Junior Golf Program: Rick Jones will also present the Optimist Junior Golf Program’s origin, its impact nationally, and share plans for the Qualifying Tournament 22 in Reno also at Red Hawk.
MARCH 8th, 2022 - Michael Reynolds, Captain, US Army Experimental Aircraft Association Ambassador, Young Eagles
Listen to Mike Reynolds, Optimist member and a national aerospace education ambassador for the Experimental Aircraft Association Young Eagles Program. He will talk about opportunities to inspire youth to love flying and consider careers in aviation and aerospace. Book students to fly with the Young Eagles Program at any EAA chapter. www.eaa403.org
MARCH 8th, 2022 - Bo Sellers, Career and Tech Education Program Wooster High School
March 15th, 2022 - Angie Salcido
Premier Credit Solutions
MARCH 22nd, 2022 No noon meeting. See everyone at the Red Hawk Resort for the Optimist Achievement Celebration
MARCH 29thd, 2022 - Doc Stockton, Executive Director of Battle Born Veterans, Veterans- State of Support, Needs, Initiatives
April 5, 2022 - Mark Cameron, Initiatives, programs and your part in keeping Truckee Meadows Beautiful
Executive Director of Keep Truckee Meadows Beautiful (KTMB), a non-profit environmental organization dedicated to creating a more sustainable and beautiful region through waste reduction, education, and active community involvement. Prior experience as Vice President of Operations and Public Safety with a 20 year demonstrated history of working in the airlines/aviation industry. A strong personnel management professional with a Bachelor’s Degree (B.S.)in Business Management from Western Governors University.
775 851-5185, Office 775-851-5187, mark@ktm.org
April 19, 2022 - Vanessa Robertson, Co-Executive Director, Envirolution, a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to developing and scaling dynamic K-12 education, youth leadership development, and community outreach programs centered around energy efficiency, sustainability, and Science Technology, Engineering, Art and Math (STEAM) carer development. https://enfirolution.org/ April 19, 2022 - Dan Pike, Director BaseCamp. BaseCamp Before and After School Care strives to provide a quality, enrichment program for school-aged children in a loving, Christian environment. We will give campers a safe place to develop healthy academic, social, physical, and communication skills while instilling Christ-like character traits to guide them down a path to become thriving members of their family and community. https://www.facebook.com/kidslifereno/ April 26th, 2022 - Shareena Mir, Affordable Housing in Reno
Our very own member will speak about the state and direction of affordable housing in the Reno area.
HomeSmart ICARE Realty,
Shareenamir8@gmail.com,
(775) 200-2825
Website: www.hsicare.com June 7, 2022 - Joy Heur, Executive Director, Girls on the Run (GOTR),
Joy Heur is a high energy executive director of Girls on the Run.
When I talked with her today, she was running the 5K!
Girls on the Run is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization dedicated to creating a world where every girl knows and activates her limitless potential and is free to boldly pursue her dreams. See the GOTR Programs and specifically the upcoming July camp. I am also thrilled that GOTR is collaborating with FIRST Nevada. on an upcoming camp.joi joy.heuer@girlsontherun.org https://www.girlsontherunsierras.org/ Sponsor: Caroline Hanson June 14, 2022 - Kevin Price, Program Manage, Special Olympics Nevada
Kevin Price – Northern Nevada Programs Manager for Special Olympics
I am a Reno native who graduated from the University of Nevada, Reno with a bachelor's degree in Secondary Education/English. I taught middle school for six years before making the jump to Special Olympics. As the Programs Manager, I oversee the Community Sports Program and Unified Champion Schools Program. (I’ll discuss more on the 14th) In my spare time, I like to wrench on classic cars and ride motorcycles.
My message: Nevada is the only state in the U.S. that does not currently stand on its own with Special Olympics. We exist under the umbrella of Northern California. We are striving for independence by the middle to end of 2023.
kevinp@sonv.org https://www.sonv.org/ Sponsor: Randy Elliott 
