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Wednesday, September 30, 2009

Passing forward the spirit of Optimism

Tonight is the night when all Optimist Clubs pass the baton as we move from one administrative year to the next.  It is not an ending or a beginning; but rather, just like a relay race, the time to let the next runner advance to the next station, a site that he or she will reach in 365 days. 

Thank you to our 2008-2009 PNW District Governor Peter Smith and his team of Lt. Governors, Committee Chairs and all of the retiring Optimist Club presidents in British Columbia, Alaska, Idaho, Oregon and Washington.  You rock! 

Friday, September 25, 2009

Optimist Club of Vancouver, WA help celebrate the oldest apple tree


The Optimist Club of Vancouver, WA is hosting an old-fashioned baking contest as part of the family-friendly Old Apple Tree Festival celebrating the oldest apple tree in Washington state on October 3. According to the Vancouver urban forestry division, the tree is 182 years old. 

As part of the event, apples from the tree will be given away as well as tree cuttings - one per household - while supplies last.  The festival will be held at Old Apple Tree Park, located on Columbia Way just east of Interstate 5 Bridge.
Activities at the festival include live music, children's activities, pruning classes, ask the arborist, and the Optimist Club baking contest.  How fun and tasty!  Download a flyer for the baking contest here.

Sunday, September 20, 2009

Plan ahead for the Optimist International Convention


It may seem early, but did you know that right now is the best time to start planning your trip to the Optimist International Convention?  The 2010 Convention will be held in Denver, Colorado making it one of the closest and most affordable conventions for Optimist Club members in the Pacific Northwest District.

All events will take place at the Sheraton Downtown Denver Hotel on July 8-10, 2010.  Convention registration will be open soon, but just to get you into the spirit, please take a look at the photo gallery of the 2009 Optimist International Convention.  You'll see a lot of eating, walking across the stage, and "speachifying," but look closely at the smiles, cameraderie and hope that you gain from sharing your Optimist spirit with others who share similar stories and ideals.  It's refreshing.

Photo: Optimist International President Don and Anita Sievers perform the ribbon-cutting ceremony to officially open the 2009 Optimist International Convention at the Gaylord Palms, Kissimmee, FL.

Sunday, September 13, 2009

Hope to see you in Coquitlam!

Are you looking forward to the new administrative year?  Is your club making plans to pass the baton from president to president-elect smoothly?  Remember, what we do as Optimist Clubs has no ending; we move from one year to the next in service to our community and with a promise to help bring out the best in kids. 

At the district level we do the same thing and as we look forward to the new year we continue to work hard and plan activities so that your club can be engaged.  It with great pleasure that I invite you to attend the next district meeting on October 30-31, 2009 in Coquitlam, BC.  Please register online now or download the registration form and mail to your district secretary/treasurer.

Some things to look forward to:
  • Meet our regional vice president Mark Weinsoff as he inducts all club presidents as members of the district board of directors
  • Review and accept the district policies and new budget
  • Sessions on how to recruit and retain members
  • Discover why giving to the Optimist International Foundations is important to you
  • Learn all you need to know to conduct the Optimist Essay, Oratorical, CCDHH and Junior Golf Championships at the Optimist Club level
  • Dress up for the Halloween Party!

PNW Optimist Club members are known for their fellowship; we know how to have a good time and we will be having a good time in Coquitlam.  Club presidents and secretary/treasurers - don't come alone.  Please bring your Membership, Fellowship, Bulletin, and Publicity Chairs and your Club Foundation Rep.  We hope to see all of you there!

Thursday, September 10, 2009

Beaverton Optimist Club awards scholarship for public safety

Cesar Rubio, a recent  graduate from Aloha High School, was awarded a $1,000 public safety scholarship from the Optimist Club of Beaverton, Oregon. Rubio plans to attend Portland Community College and pursue a degree in criminal justice. His goal is to become a police officer.

The Beaverton Optimist Club has awarded the scholarship for 15 years in honor of the late Dean Mitchell, a former club officer who was interested in public safety.

The club meets at 7 a.m. Thursdays in the Peppermill Restaurant, 17455 S.W. Farmington Road, Aloha.

Coquitlam Optimist Club awards scholarships

Nine graduates from the class of 2009 were honored by the Coquitlam Optimist Club on September 9, 2009 as the recipients a Robert Simms Memorial Scholarship.  Each were chosen based largely based on their service to their school and community and rewarded with $1000 scholarships.  Read more and meet the recipients on the Coquitlam Optimist Club blog. 

Monday, September 7, 2009

Sandy Optimist and Kiwanis Clubs share community service

The Optimist Club of Sandy, Oregon and the Sandy Kiwanis Club share fundraising and community service activities throughout the year.  Recently they came together to unify their support by sharing ideas for future activities.  Kudos to President Bill Wardy and incoming President Lori Felix for making the service club connection.                                          
According to the Sandyside Up, "It was a great evening of mutual interest and concern for this great community, and also of friendship between the members of these two service groups."
Photos courtesy of Lori Felix.  Shown are the presidents of the Sandy Optimist and Kiwanis Clubs and the members during the August 13 meeting. 

Thursday, September 3, 2009

It's Optimist football season in Idaho

For the next eight weeks, many Optimist Clubs in Idaho will be focused on football. With more than 10,000 children participating in the Optimist Football program and thousands of young ladies cheering for them, it is easily the largest program conducted by clubs in the PNW District.

The Optimist Clubs of Boise Noon and Nampa have both developed large football complexes in their communities and the Boise Noon Club has reached out to bring other communities into the program including the Optimist Clubs of Emmett, Horseshoe Bend, McCall, and Mountain Home.  The teams are coached by Optimist members and the concessions are manned by Optimist members.  In Boise, the concession trade has become so large that even the neighboring Meridian Optimist Club has taken on a trailer to assist their friends and make some money in the process.

So for the next eight Saturdays, these clubs will be super-busy.  If you would like to volunteer with the Optimist Football program, please send me a message and I will forward it to the club of your choice or take a look at the websites for direct contact information:
Photo of the Kituku Warriors, a team in the Boise Noon Optimist Football program.

Tuesday, September 1, 2009

Hillsboro Optimist Club invites you to participate in a golf scramble

The Optimist Club of Hillsboro, Oregon is holding the 4th Annual Bringing Out the Best in Kids Golf Tournament on Friday, Sept. 25 at Meriwether National Golf Club. The tournament is a benefit for the Optimist Club of Hillsboro in support of its programs for Hillsboro youth.

The event is an 18-hole scramble with check-in beginning at 11:00 a.m. and tee-off at 1:00 p.m.    Entry fee: $100 for adults and $75 for players 18 and under.  Mulligans will be available at three for $10 per player.  There is also a putting contest  for $5, save a stroke string for $5, or all three specials are $15 (save $5) .

Form your own four-person team or put one together at the event!  Register online now at http://www.hillsboro-optimists.org/.

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