Wendy Mieske “YMCA Camp Flaming Arrow”

Editor: Andrea Meador
June 7, 2016
Volume 39 Issue 25
2015 - 2016 Officers &
Trustees
Inside this issue:
President
Inside Story
2
Lance D. Leone
Vice President 2
Inside Story
Helen Jacobs
Inside
StoryWinchester2
Stan
Secretary
Inside Story
Tuesday, June 7, 2016
12 Noon Luby’s Cafeteria
Fiesta Room
3
Julie Strentzsch
Inside Story
4
Treasurer
InsideTerry
Story Cleveland5
Sergeant at Arms 6
Inside Story
Jan Oord Graves
Chaplain
Mikepoints
Litiwn
Special
of interest:
Briefly highlight your point of interest here.

Briefly highlight your point of interest here.
Jim
Hollerbach
Briefly highlight
your point of interest here.
David
Luschen

Guest Speaker:
Trustees


Built on the Core Values of: Caring, Honesty, Respect, Responsibility, and Faith.
Lived out through the staff to campers each day.
Wendy Mieske
Briefly highlight your point of interest here.
Luncheon Meetings
Tuesday 12:00 Noon
LUBY'S FIESTA ROOM
911 N. Main
downtown
Optimistclubsa.org
Executive Director
Camp Flaming Arrow
Topic
“YMCA Camp Flaming
Arrow”
The San Antonio Optimist
Page 2
A Message From the President
Good afternoon Optimists,
I missed you this week but it was great to have another week to think about our last guest speaker. His story of
redemption was amazing and now how he plans on continuing to help others who were in his situation. Our
speaker this week is Wendy Mieske with YMCA Camp Flaming Arrow.
We look forward to seeing you,
Lance D Leone
President
City Wide Bike Rodeo
Optimists Russell LeDay, Nickey
McCasland, Don Hand and Lance
Leone at the
City Wide Bike Rodeo on May 28,
Don Marquis, Allen Guidry and
Patsy Greeman scoring the kids as
they go through the course at the
City Wide Bike Rodeo on May 28,
2016 at Rosedale Park
Despite s slow start we had
about 700 kid show up by
gate close at 11AM. There
were 13 optimist there having a great time with the
kids. Rosedale park turned
out to be a great place. The
kids were all over the park
while waiting for the ceremonies to start having a
great time. Weather was
cloudy and breezy. Great
cool breeze while we were
under the two pavilions
scoring the contest. Overall
it was a great Bike Rodeo.
The San Antonio Optimist
Page 3
A Youths Journey to Optimism
Jose Macumba who spent time at Roy Maas Youth Alternatives told us his personal story of abuse and his rise to
Optimism. Jose Macumba, Jr. is a Legalman Chief in the
U.S. Navy and currently stationed at Navy Medicine
Training Support Center at Fort Sam Houston. He said, “
at the end of my presentation, I hope that you take away
two things: One, don’t be afraid to say something if you
are a victim of abuse; and two, that life is not easy but you
may overcome most challenges by surrounding yourself
with people that you admire and that care”.
The man who abused and violated Jose and his siblings
was his step Father. He was almost five when the first
physical abuse was reported. This is one small passage
from the report.
(continued on page 4)
Lance Leone and Jose Macumba
Dates to Remember:
Tuesday, June 7, 2016
Tuesday, July 5, 2016
Guest Speaker: Wendy Mieske
Topic: Camp Flaming Arrow
No Lunch Meeting
**Fourth of July Weekend**
Tuesday, June 14, 2016
Saturday, July 9, 2016
Guest Speaker: Linda D 'Spain
Topic: Spine Surgery
Board of Directors Meeting
Bowling Party at
Bandera Bowl
Tuesday, June 21, 2016
Tuesday, July 12, 2016
Guest Speaker: Max Westerman
Topic: Financial Wellbeing
To Be Announced
Board of Directors Meeting
Tuesday, July 16, 2016
Tuesday, June 28, 2016
Guest Speaker:
Topic: Community Wellbeing
To Be Announced
Tuesday, July 23, 2016
To Be Announced
The San Antonio Optimist
Page 4
John Trejo has faced no legal consequences.
Below are the life changing experiences that stand out in
Jose’ memory in chronological order and in his own words.
Having to tell my brother he was next after my mother’s
second husband sexually assaulted me.
My mother’s second husband getting shot (front door
pushed open, I could not keep them out, I blamed myself).
Always kneeling down on rice and pebbles when I got in
trouble. (I requested copies of my CPS records which was
over 2 reams of paper. CPS records—most of the abuse I
did not remember—but now realize why I have particular
scars)
My mom did not come to the final court hearing.
Pedophiles have a strong, almost irresistible, desire to have sex with children. The average pedophile molests
260 victims during their lifetime. Over
90% of convicted pedophiles are arrested again for the same offense after their release from prison.
John Trejo has faced
no legal consequences
Meadowlands. This is a residential program and I have some of my best positive memories from living at
Meadowlands. While the staff may not have realized it—they provided me with the best months of my childhood.
My brother, sister and I were adopted. And then I was removed without any notice from Kathy Gray’s house—
It was probably my good fortune to be removed from this home as it grew into a very negative experience for
my brother and sister who remained. Nonetheless, it was crushing to leave my siblings behind and to again get
the message that I was not wanted. I could not understand because I was doing well in school, making good
grades and getting along. Twice my siblings and I were featured as Wednesday’s children—
Dare to Love Program - Nancy Thompson
Selling plasma so I could have some money. SAMM shelter.
Trying to commit suicide because I had nothing to live for
Joining the Navy
Arrested twice and placed in Jail with brother—a turning point in my life.
Not only was there severe abuse and neglect for me and my siblings, but even after being removed from the
home, life was unstable. I was removed from the home in 1984 and from 1974 until I was 18. I lived in about
eight places I can remember. These included: The Children’s Shelter; The Elizondo’s, The Vasquez’s; The
Bridge; Roy Maas Youth Alternatives, Kathy Gray, MHMR and Nuestra Casa. Jesse, Diana and I were placed
in two foster homes together. Neither was a positive experience. Diana was molested in one foster home. I did
better in group homes and residential programs because of consistent experiences that told me family homes
were not safe for me and I could not trust the parents in the homes.
The navy gave me stability, gave me time to mature and offered me opportunities for personal, professional
and educational growth. My assignments and honors I'm a Chief Legalmen in the Navy and have over 20 years
of active duty service. I have been awarded six Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medals and One Navy
Commendation Medal. I was also selected as Sailor of the Year in 2011 and 2012 for Defense Service Office
North and Naval Legal Service Office in Europe, Africa and Southwest Asia. Lastly, I have
a Bachelor's degree in Paralegal Studies from Roger Williams University.
In 1999 I married my first wife at the age of 25. We had one daughter, Brittney Mackenzie, in 2000 and divorced in 2002. I was not ready to be married in 1999—and yet I so wanted a family. In 2012, I married
Maricela Gutierrez. By that time, I had participated in counseling and had taken parenting classes as a single
The San Antonio Optimist
Page 5
(continued from page 4)
father. I was so much better prepared for being a husband and father than in 1999. With Maricela came my
two step children, whom I consider as my own: Giancarlo (who is 8) and Isabella who is soon to be 5. On May
11, 2014 our daughter Natalia was born and this past July 5, our son Abraham was born.
I love my brother and sister and have more connections and history with them than my ½ siblings. They did
not experience academic success or social success as I enjoyed. It does not appear that they had one caring,
competent adult who was consistent in their lives. My brother has been twice convicted of attempted murder.
My sister has six children and all have been removed from the home. I know their lives could have turned out
differently – just as mine did.
Resiliency—overcoming the ravages of abuse—is complex. What made a difference for me? Going to school
was a refuge for me. It made a difference. Participating in swimming and the Latin club helped me have a
place where I could be successful regardless of what was doing on. People who cared for me—sometimes
when I didn’t even realize it—made a difference. Counseling helped me find myself and learn new ways to
respond to life. And I’m still in therapy. It is a long journey from an abusive childhood. The Navy made a dif-
HVAC Scholarship Success Fulfilled
By Helen Jacobs
Stephen Myers of Apache Air and
Heat was our club's HVAC St.
Philip's College scholarship recipient in 2013. He and his family attended the club meeting, and he still
reads Ron Graves' book “Optimistic
Quotes” that he was given that day.
Stephen has serviced our air conditioners and heating system for several years and recently replaced
them all. He and his crew worked
diligently on the hottest day so far
this year, and were all extremely
polite and answered all my questions. Stephen informed me of tax
credits and CPS Energy's rebates
for 2016.
Wally and I would definitely recommend Apace Air and Heat for
your home HVAC needs. Stephen is trying to build his business by advertising, websites apacheairandheat.com and word of mouth. The World's Greatest Optimist Club made a positive effect on this young man,
and he is succeeding!
The San Antonio Optimist
Page 6
Fun-d Raising Campaign
Jim Hollerbach - Captain of the Hatfield’s came
ready with gun in hand as Terry Cleveland Captain of the McCoy’s stood firmly in the lead.
The Optimist Creed
Promise Yourself—
To be so strong that nothing
can disturb your peace of
Fundraising Totals
mind.
To talk health, happiness and
prosperity to every person you
meet.
To look at the sunny side of
everything and make your
optimism come true.
$2,478.00
$5,585.00
To think only of the best, to
work only for the best and
expect only the best.
OPTIMIST CLASSIFIEDS
To be just as enthusiastic
about the success of others as
you are about your own.
To forget the mistakes of the
past and press on to the
greater achievements of the
future.
To wear a cheerful
1
countenance at all times and
THOMAS A. TRIMBLE
CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANT
give every living creature you
15600 SAN PEDRO, SUITE 301
SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS 78232
Phone: (210) 491-9999
Fax: (210) 491-9986
meet a smile.
To give so much time to the
improvement of yourself that
“Be Optimistic”
Cohen-Berg
& CO., P. C.
you have no time to criticize
Stegemueller, Jett & co.
CERTIFIED
PUBLIC
ACCOUNTANTS
optimist steve jett
Phone (210) 342-5665
Fax (210) 342-7424
40 N.E. Loop 410, Suite 506
San Antonio, Texas 78216
Optimist Stanley Cohen
Certified Public Accountant
(210) 222-8054
130 E. Travis St., Suite 400
San Antonio, TX 7825
JOSEPH’S
San Antonio’s leading men’s stores since 1948
SHARE YOUR OPTIMISM
THINK MEMBERSHIP
John Anthis
Optimist Robert Rubin
344-9285
others.
To be too large for worry, too
noble for anger, too strong for
fear, and too happy to permit
the presence of trouble.
OPTIMIST INTERNATIONAL