CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

The Optimist Club of Marshalltown met on Oct. 17 for its weekly lunch gathering at Mama DiGrado’s, with Greg DeSaulniers presiding. President DeSaulniers opened the meeting with an invocation leading the Pledge of Allegiance. Ken Walton presented the Community Calendar. Jim Grimmius introduced the guest speaker, Mark Proescholdt, an avid bird watcher. Proescholdt shared a handout illustrating differences among several types of birds, including falcons, hawks, eagles and vultures. Proescholdt described some of his favorite spots for observing hawks, including a regular group of hawk watchers at Grammar Grove. He enjoys doing birdwatches mostly from August through December. The meeting closed with the recitation of the Optimist Creed. Pictured, left to right, are Grimmius, Proescholdt and DeSaulniers.