The Noon Optimist Club of Marshalltown met at the Best Western Regency Inn on July 20 with President John Danielson presiding. Rev. Michael Herschberger provided the invocation and the club followed with the Pledge of Allegiance. Larry Park presented the community calendar of events to the club.

Danielson provided an update on the Avenue of Flags project. Volunteer spots are still open for the Labor Day and Veteran’s Day holidays. Contact Randy Bishop, Herschberger or Danielson for information regarding signing up to volunteer at one of the remaining holidays during the year 2017.

Danielson provided an update on the Iowa State Pedal Tractor Pull Championship project. The Championship will be held on Sept. 9 at the Marshalltown Coliseum. More information, including volunteer information, will be presented to the club in the upcoming weeks.

Roger Heatwole reminded the club the Club Director Election will take place on July 27 where the club will vote on Directors for the 2017-18 Optimist calendar year.

Danielson introduced the club’s guest speaker, Emma Chase, community event coordinator at Child Abuse Prevention Center. Chase talked about the programs within Caps including Building Healthy Families, Refugee Health Connections, Strong Foundations and Crisis services. CAPS is funded by two national grants, local grants and private donations. CAPS receives a lot of referrals from Crisis Interventions organization.

Chase explained several other programs CAPS is involved with including The Nest, School Readiness, Mandatory Reporter Training and Drug Endangered Children Alliance. She also noted CAPS is involved in community engagement through events and social media. The CAPS staff completes annual training on mandatory requirements.

CAPS was founded in 1981 and today has 19 employees. In 2016, CAPS served 8,000 children and families in Marshall, Hardin and Tama counties.

The meeting concluded with the Optimist Creed. Join the group and find out how you can help enrich the youth in the community. Guests are always welcome. Lunch meetings take place every Thursday at noon at the Best Western Regency Inn. Visit the website www.noonoptimist.org.