Weekly Meeting of the Hutchinson Ambucs: Tom Hymer, editor
Welcome Guests: Ron Williams, 2nd time guest, invited by Preston Clark: Jeff Sutton, todays program presenter, invited by Jay Pitzer.
Big Hat Friday: Big Hatter chief Duke Wiggins opened the meeting with prayer and a flag salute. When there are five Fridays in a month the Big Hatters conduct the meeting. What is a Big Hatter? Big Hatters is the group of Ambucs within Ambucs. When an Ambuc recruits three new members in a twelve month period he/she is inducted into the Big Hatters and awarded a big hat. The Big Hat is a cowboy style hat and is required apparel on the 5th Fridays and other occasions. Big Hatters work to have fun, conduct socials, promote fellowship, membership recruitment, and promote principles of local and national Ambucs programs.
Impostor Sergeants: Brad Thompson and assistant Doug Foss seemed much too eager in taking over the sergeant duties near fanatical enjoyment. So with great zeal they fined Chief Duke for no notice that they were todays sergeants. Mark Clark dropped in today after missing about ten meetings and paid renewal fees. Darren Wicks paid for being late. Big Hatters without their hats is like a sin, you have to pay penance. The violators were Bill Long, Doc Powers, and Guy Gann. Being that Guy is habitually hatless his penance was to wear the mock paper hat made by Tom Hymer. Guy protested that hats mess up his hair, hello! hairless. Doug Foss noted that new member Doug Hoffman had no badge for which Steve Conard paid a buck.
The Round Tuit: Second Tuit keeper Dean Brigman is still absent after 4 weeks. However original Tuit keeper Tom Hymer made phone calls to Preston Clark and Guy Gann who failed to ask about the Tuit within 45 minutes after last weeks meeting. Pam Brooks called Toms wife Virginia at the Hutchinson Clinic and did not ask her about the Tuit. However Brad Thompson asked about the Tuit when Tom called him. Also Brad Thompson was the only one smart enough to acknowledge Toms email to all Ambucs that the newsletter is ready meaning everyone else in the room paid for Tuit negligence. Randall Haltom is now the keeper of the original Tuit. It is known that Haltom is making some creative plans for Tuit adventures, fair warning.
Club Announcements: Because Big Hatters were in charge of the meeting President Scott Potucek had to buy a fine in order to say he felt recharged after the Ambucs Regional Convention in Wagner, OK. He learned that the Salina Chapter is engaged in a fund raiser that works like a lottery or a gambling game of cards with proceeds divided between community service funding and a winner. As of this date the game has generated $3,700 and still going. Scott believes our club might also try this and while it sounds workable, the sergeants dinged Don Grossardt for being a tight wad with a possible influx of such money. And Don might say, wheres the proof?
Christmas Party and Social: Jeff Brewer started the circulation of a sign-up sheet for a Christmas social on Wednesday December 9th at the Airport Steak House. Social time begins at 6:00pm, dinner served at 7:00pm. Adult beverages available at the restaurant on your own tab. Other beverages, coffee, tea, soda, water are provided. Cost is $24 per person payable that evening. The menu will offer 10oz. filet, salmon, and chicken. December 2nd is an absolute deadline to make your reservations. Please note reservations made but are a no-show will be billed. This is a great opportunity to invite guests.
Program: Jay Pitzer introduced todays program Jeff Sutton of Daymon Worldwide Private Brands. The company manages store brands for Kroger and many other companies like Radio Shack, Windixie, Dollar General, Safeway, Office Depot, and others. Sutton discussed at length the companys business relationship with Kroger. When Dillon Stores was acquired by Kroger many of the management functions were taken into Cincinnati. This created an opportunity for Daymon to establish operations in Hutchinson utilizing many of the Dillon personnel with their specific skills in marketing, accounting, data management, and clerical duties as well as the infrastructure of buildings and warehouses. Essentially Daymon provides the link between suppliers and retailers to bring competitive non-branded products that in many cases are identical or nearly identical to name brands at a lower price. For example Kroger canned beans compare to Del Monte beans. The company has another division that analyzes sales data gathered from point of sale scanners. Such analysis can provide the basis to make marketing decisions to retain customers and control inventories.
Drawings: Stan Macgirvin won the 50/50 pot of $25. Luke McConnaughys name was drawn for the newsletter question, however he was absent today. The newsletter question for the next meeting is: What is the date of the Ambucs Christmas Social?
Future Programs:
Nov 6th Tech Christmas Event Ward Davis, Prog. Mgr.
Nov 13th Possibly Mary Hemming Fox Theatre Brigman, Prog. Mgr.
Nov 20th Mike Galloway Kids Hunger Jim Kicklighter, Prog. Mgr.
Nov 27th No meeting day after Thanksgiving
Dec 4th Mike Fredericksen ESGR Thomas Stanton, Prog. Mgr.
Dec 11th Fill bags for Head Start
Dec 18th Guy Gann, Prog. Mgr.