Thursday, June 20, 2013

Meeting notes from June 11 and June 18, 2013

TUESDAY JUNE 11 @ Twin Dragon
 
Garrett Coburn, Deputy Warden
Boise Optimist President Scott Muir gaveled the meeting to order at 12:10 PM. Pat Brown led us the Pledge of Allegiance, and Stub Clarkson said the Invocation.

SUNSHINE DOLLARS: There was talk of how well the HOBY picnic went, except of course (As Larry Highley said) the smoke from the BBQ. Dyan Graybeal said, "Now you know how I feel BBQing at the football fields!" The Oliver's went camping with their grandson. Rocky Jackson talked of his 96 year old aunt passing away.

Our speaker this day was Garrett Coburn Deputy Warden of Operations at the Idaho State Correctional Institution. Garrett has three years in the Juvenile Dept and has a masters in counseling.
The prison facilities hold about 5,500 internee's. It was built in 1970. It's the flagship unit. It houses about 250 mentally ill. They must take care of the older inmates. Garrett oversees programs that hopefully will reduce recidivism. Over 5,000 meals are served every day. Garrett has been asked many times: "Are you afraid to be among the prisoners?" "No ... just careful." Says Garrett. 99% of those incarcerated just want to do their time and get out. There is a 98% chance an ex-con could be your neighbor.


TUESDAY JUNE 18 @ Casa Mexico
 
Nathan Hall, Marine Biologist
Boise Optimist Club President Scott Muir gaveled the meeting to order at 6:35 PM. Steve Oliver led us the Pledge of Allegiance, and Stub Clarkson said the Invocation.

SUNSHINE DOLLARS: Sue Oliver said the concession stand is doing well and we actually have funds in the Boise Optimist Club account.


The 7 on 7 high school competition will be held on July 8th. The MSTI Picnic will be held on July 13th. It will be a circus theme!

Our speaker this evening was Marine Biologist Nathan Hall, head of the Idaho Aquarium. The aquarium has been his pride and joy for a while now. Construction was started in 2011. He and other volunteers built it themselves. The aquarium is not funded. I took a look at it Tuesday morning and was pleasantly surprised. Very clean with many different exhibits.

Some 250,000 people went through the aquarium last year, and Nathan expects over 300,000 this year. The ticket sales and the gift shop are their only income.

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