The Noon Optimist Club of Marshalltown met at the Best Western Regency Inn on Thursday with President John Danielson presiding. Rev. Michael Herschberger provided the invocation and the club followed with the Pledge of Allegiance. No guests were in attendance besides the meetings guest speaker. Greg DeSaulniers presented the community calendar of events taking place in Marshall County over the next week.

Danielson noted the month of May is “Optimist in Action Month.” He reminded the club of the upcoming Youth Appreciation Luncheon program, which will be held on May 11 at the Marshalltown Public Library and of the Avenue of Flags project, which will have its first work day on Memorial Day, May 29. The Optimist International Junior Golf Iowa State Championship, which will be take place June 8 at Elmwood Country Club and the American Legion Memorial Golf Course.

Danielson introduced the club’s guest speaker, Mike Schlesinger, publisher at the Times-Republican. Schlesinger gave a presentation to the club on the Marshall County Crime Stoppers organization. He noted the organization officially began in September 2015. The organization purchased Tipsoft software recently, which has been very successful in helping solve crimes.

The organization has a current proposal to add security cameras throughout Marshalltown and the Marshall County area. In addition, the security cameras require software to be purchased in order to allow the security camera system to work in its entirety. The idea for the project originated from the city of Dubuque who implemented security cameras and software a few years ago. Schlesinger provided some video examples of the Dubuque security camera system. The Marshall County Crime Stoppers have developed a proposal to purchase the required software and nine security cameras initially. “The software can hold up to 250 cameras if needed, so there is space to grow off the original proposal,” said Schlesinger. The Crime Stoppers organization is proposing funding for the security cameras project be funded three ways: City of Marshalltown, Marshall County and fundraising efforts by the Marshall County Crime Stoppers organization. He ended with, “The organization will be reaching out to community members and businesses in the near future regarding help with the fundraising efforts.”

The meeting concluded with the Optimist Creed. Guests are always welcomed. Lunch meetings take place every Thursday at noon at the Best Western Regency Inn. Thursday noon meeting on May 11 will take place at the Marshalltown Public Library. Visit the website www.noonoptimist.org.