Christmas tree sales fund youth projects in the community

'Tis the season! The Meridian Optimist Club Tree lot opened today. The hours of operation are:

Mon-Fri 2:00 to 8:00
Saturday 9:00 to 8:00

Sunday 10:00 to 6:00

The tree lot is open until all trees have found a home. According to President Mark Sullivan, that's usually about 17 days so hurry in for the best tree around! The tree sales fund all Meridian Youth Projects for the coming year.

If your Optimist Club has a tree lot, please send us the location and hours so we can include them on the blog.

Thanks for the special wonders of the season

It's Thanksgiving Day - the official beginning of the holiday season. It is a time when we express our gratitude for our family and friends and the freedom and privileges that we enjoy every day. It's also a time when we stop and share the wonders that we see in the world and people around us. I hope you enjoy the wonder of this short video.

Thank you for all that you do as an Optimist Club member to bring out the best in children.  Thank you for you for your special friendship.  Happy Thanksgiving and cheers to the holiday season. 

The Foundation for a Better Life is a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization. They are privately funded and non-commercial. Their sole objective is to promote positive values, using print and broadcast media.

Eagle, Idaho is home to a new Optimist Club

Please help us welcome the newest member of the PNW District family:  The Eagle Optimist Club.

The Eagle Optimist Club was organized on Tuesday, November 17.  They meet at 12:00 noon on Tuesdays at Chicago Connection, 344 W. State Street, Eagle, Idaho.

Sixteen charter members are working on several programs for the season.  The first is Coats for Kids, chaired by Rachel Cushing.  New and gently used coats are being collected, cleaned and repaired and redistributed to children in the community. 

Also in the works are Christmas Food Baskets, chaired by Brian Doerty.  Both projects are being coordinated with the Landing Community Center. 

The Eagle Optimist Club is currently welcoming new members and charter membership status will remain open through December. Please contact us for more information.   A charter banquet is being planned for January. 

Showin in the picture (left to right): Board Member Jessie Horney, Co-President Mike Harris, Board Member Brian Doerty, Co-President Gretchen Brown, and S/T Randy Rabehl. 

Lots of trees, lots of raking going on

Boise is known as the City of Trees.  In fact, as the French fur trappers came across the desert and first set eyes on the fair city, they cried "Les Bois" - the trees - and the American-ized name Boise came to be. 

Many years later we have those beautiful trees to thank for the shade in the summer and the opportunities for service in the fall. That's why teams from the Boise Noon, Eagle and Meridian Optimist Clubs all went out in force to rake-up their respective cities.  What a great way to build friendship, serve others and make our communities some of the best places to live.

Students compete for $2,500 scholarship in the PNW District Optimist International Essay Contest

District Essay Chair Karon Yaden needs your help!  She is creating a list of all Optimist Clubs in the PNW District that are participating in the Optimist International Essay Contest.  This list is so important because she receives many inquiries from students who would like to submit an essay through their local club.  Please send Karon a message now to let her know that your club is participating. 

The Essay Contest is an easy and rewarding project.  Students who have not turned 19 by January 1, 2010 are eligible to participate by completing an essay on the topic “The Internet: Today’s Evolution or Tomorrow’s Menace?”  Find the Optimist International Essay Contest rules and application form here.

The winning essay at the district level will earn the participant a $2,500 scholarship.  All first place district essays move forward to International competition where they compete for an additional $6,000 scholarship. 

It's not too late to start your Optimist Club Essay Contest today.  Read all that you need to know to conduct an Optimist International Essay Contest here. 

Optimist Clubs set their own submission deadline for club contests.  Please be sure to set yours in order to have your winning essay to Karon Yaden by February 28, 2010.  In addition to the winning essay, all club entries must include a copy of the student's birth certificate, application form and a $35 entry fee.

For more information, please contact Karon Yaden, PNW District Essay Chair today.

Are you using Twitter?

I know that many people think that Twittering is not their thing, but here is an example of how you can use Twitter to get your message out about your Optimist Club.  Be sure to follow us at http://twitter.com/newoptimistclub. 

Optimist Clubs promote internet safety for children and adults

Optimist International has launched a new program to help keep children safe online. The best part about this program is it is truly designed to reach adults and encourage discussion between parents, guardians and their children. Watch the introductory video here and then contact your local Optimist Club for a full presentation.