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Thursday, February 25, 2010

Opportunities for Involvement

There was a full house at the PNW District Second Quarter Meeting in Portland.  This great picture from DFR Steve Andersen represents about two-thirds of our Optimist Club members present. To the right of the post was a another full group of friends and Optimist volunteers.

The theme of the day was  Opportunities for Involvement. Governor Linda Jackson facilitated the program and presided over the District Board Meeting.  Some highlights included:

  • A presentation on club foundations from Vancouver, WA Optimist Club member Lisa Joerin
  • Leadership Opportunities were presented by the LD team training duo Gay Enyeart, Vancouver, WA and Jean Jensen, Gresham, OR
  • Seventeen first-timers found out about Optimist Club and District Fellowship from Angie Bridge, Jerome, ID and Wayne Bohrn, Twin Falls, ID
  • David Morrison and Gerry Morrison and the Optimist Club of Abbotsford, BC were presented a 25-year Anniversary certificate from International President Mark Shriver IV 
  • Membership Chairs Lorraine Coots, Mason County, WA and Adele Heinrich, N. Kitsap, WA, led a  forum on membership development with an emphasis on attitude, participation and the importance of relationships
  • Mike Gray, Nampa, ID received a fifty member pin
  • Gretchen Brown and Mike Harris of the new Eagle, ID Optimist Club were presented certificates as charter co-presidents 
  • Rocky Jackson, Jerome, ID and Ron Petersen, Meridian, ID were presented Builder of Excellence Awards
  • An Optimist Club story from each zone was shared to provide ideas and inspiration for every member to take home
  • Our District Chairpersons told what was happening in their committees and gave us of important dates to remember
  • Immediate Past Governor Peter Smith presented Honor Club awards and 2008-2009 DFR Don Heavirland presented recognition patches for club donations to the Optimist International Foundations.
  • The Mountain View Middle School Jazz Band performed
  • Four students from the Clackamas and Grant High School JOOI Clubs joined us for lunch
  • Scott Keller, President, Portland-Northeast challenged us to survey our community to build mutually beneficial programs and develop our membership
  • DFR Steve Andersen hosted a Basket Auction for the International Foundations and shared the spotlight with the Chair Marlean Stevens and the Childhood Cancer Campaign
Many thanks to our participants and presenters.  We hope that you returned to your home clubs inspired to do more wonderful things in your communities.

Second Quarter Meeting Slideshow

Please enjoy a slideshow of some of the activities at the 2nd Quarter PNW  Meeting for Optimist Clubs in the Pacific Northwest.  Photos are courtesy of Alan Zehntbauer, Zone 4 Lt. Governor, Beaverton Optimist Club and Steve Andersen, DFR, Past Governor, Gresham Optimist Club.

Saturday, February 20, 2010

Experience Optimism: Chili cook-off for membership

The Meridian Optimist Club takes third place in the Annual Chili Cook-off. Find out why they participate here: Experience Optimism: Chili cook-off for membership

Monday, February 15, 2010

Spring cleaning

Wanted!  Wheelbarrows, rakes, shovels, weed whackers, lawn mowers and gardening tools and the people to put them to good use at the Vancouver, Washington Optimist Club Big Camp Clean-up Party on March 27. 

There are both indoor and outdoor tasks in store to get the Optimist Camp ready to go for the season.  Clean-up day is a great opportunity to spend some time with the M.O.B., the Vancouver Optimist Club Junior Optimist Club. 

If you want to help get the camp ready, enjoy some fun Optimist fellowship and spend some time outdoors, please contact President Gay Enyeart at 503-718-8350 for details.  You can also read more about the project in the Vancouver Optimist Club bulletin, The VanGuard. 

Sunday, February 14, 2010

Feel the love? Tell us about it...

In less than one week, the PNW District Optimist Clubs are going to talk about their favorite things at our Second Quarter District Meeting. 

Don't wait!  Tell us now.  What Optimist Club project or program helps your community feel the love of their Optimist Club? Click on the comments to leave a message.  Thanks! 

Happy Valentine's Day!

Friday, February 12, 2010

Abe Lincoln Visits Gresham: Really!

We have a guest post today from Don Weston, President, Gresham Optimist Club in honor of the 200th anniversary of Abraham Lincoln's birth.  Happy Birthday, Mr. President. 



Residents of Courtyard Fountains might have thought they had taken a step back in time recently when Abraham Lincoln, or at least the spitting image of him, surfaced in full presidential regalia to recite the Gettysburg Address recently.


Honest Abe was portrayed by Ed Murphy, a Governor Elect for the Pacific Northwest District Optimist Clubs. Murphy was in Gresham for a local zone meeting of Optimist clubs and brought along his Lincoln attire to entertain and educate the retirees.

“One of our residents spent the entire last week researching Lincoln just for this event,” said Mary Beisley, administer for Courtyard Fountains. They’ve been looking forward to it all week.”

“I decided to give it a try a few years ago in Seattle and discovered I have kind of a knack for it,” Murphy said. “I kind of look like Lincoln even without the beard.”

And he does, sporting the same long angular face as Lincoln. Murphy lets the beard grow in when he thinks he will have an opportunity to portray the former president. He often tries to book lectures when traveling. “I wanted to do a couple for Gresham elementary students while I was here, but they were on half days, and they don’t do assemblies on half days,” he explained.

Murphy, a member of the Issaquah, WA. Optimist Club, says he will try again if he returns to Gresham in his upcoming capacity of Pacific Northwest District Optimist Governor in October. He serves Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, Washington, and British Columbia.

As Abraham Lincoln, Murphy talks as if he was Lincoln alive in the 21st century and marvels at what today’s life offers. He talked about his four minute Gettysburg speech and how it upstaged a more prominent speaker. Talking directly to Courtyard residents, he answered questions and read passages from various books about himself.

Afterwards he posed for pictures with staff and residents.

Thursday, February 11, 2010

Bring Friends Potluck Dinner a hit

What does every Optimist Club need? That's right! New members who bring fresh ideas, lots of enthusiasm and the desire to work with others to make the community a great place to live and bring out the best in children.

Where do we find these new members? We look to our friends, families and colleagues and their friends, families and colleagues and then on to their friends, families and colleagues. When we invite others to be a part of our Optimist Club circle, we share the gifts of friendhip and purpose. Those are pretty nice gifts to share.

The Sandy Optimist Club has developed an unique way to share their friendship with others. Each month they hold a "Bring Friends" Potluck Dinner. Collaborating service clubs and family members are regular guests. But thanks to the extra effort of Alan Stockam, Heather Rieder, and Dora Gulvin the Sandy Optimist Club used their latest Bring Friends Dinner as a membership drive. It was a successful event and they are looking forward to adding a few new members from the activity.

In addition to sharing information about Optimist International and the projects of the Sandy Optimist Club, the Bring Friends Dinner also had some musical entertainment from the bluegrass band the Why Nots.

Good job Sandy Optimist Club! Our challenge to all other Optimist Clubs - Why not have a new member drive today?

Thursday, February 4, 2010

Jim Slauson recognized by Gresham Chamber of Commerce

The Gresham, Oregon Chamber of Commerce recently honored Gresham Optimist Club member Jim Slauson with a Volunteer of the Year Award.  Following is an excerpt of his nomination:
Jim Slauson, a retired Gresham police captain, joined the Gresham Optimist Club in 1975 and used his knowledge of Gresham and his relationships to benefit the community. His “physical fitness” program collects tree trimmings from the city and cuts, splits, stacks and dries the wood, which is then donated to residents who need heat.
Slauson was instrumental in coordination and execution of the annual Shop With a Cop, Fireman and Optimist event. He is also a founding member and past president of Beat the Heat, which was created to crack down on illegal street racing.

These successes led Slauson to later act as the Pacific Northwest district governor and the district secretary, not once but twice.

Congratulations Jim, and thank you for your commitment to your community through the Optimist Club.

Wednesday, February 3, 2010

PNW District will host two qualifying tournaments for the Optimist International Junior Golf Championships

The qualifying tournaments have been set for the PNW District Optimist Junior Golf Championships.  The PNW District consist of British Columbia, Alaska, Idaho, Oregon and Washington.  Players from British Columbia will qualify through the Canada Qualifier on May 22-23.  US players will qualify through the US Qualifier on June 21. 

CANADA QUALIFIER
Date: MAY 22-23, 2010

Tournament Information
Golf Course: SWAN-E-SET RESORT & COUNTRY CLUB
Location: PITT MEADOWS, BC

Age Divisions Offered: BOYS & GIRLS 10-11, 12-13, 14-15, 16-18
Registration Fee: $125
Registration Deadline: MAY 17, 2010
To download a tournament entry form, please click here.

Notes
- For more information, go to http://www.jrlinkster.com/

Contact Information
Harry White
604-261-4390
jrlinkster@shaw.ca



U.S. QUALIFIER
Date: JUNE 21, 2010

Tournament Information
Golf Course: MERIWETHER NATIONAL GOLF CLUB
Location: HILLSBORO, OR

Age Divisions Offered: BOYS & GIRLS 10-11, 12-13, 14-15, 16-18
Registration Fee: $75
Registration Deadline: JUNE 16, 2010
To download a tournament entry form, please click here.

Notes
- Local pre-qualifying tournaments will be held in Meridian, ID and Auburn, WA. Stay tuned for details.

Contact Information
Bill French
503-936-8311
frenchw503@aol.com

For more information abou the Optimist International Junior Golf Championships, please visit the Optimist International website.

Each year Optimist International is questioned about eligibility and amateur status for players who receive financial support for participating in the Optimist Junior Golf Tournament series.  To answer this question, Optimist International has reviewed the rules in accordance with the NCAA and published the following, "... Optimist Districts are not violating the rules of amateurism as defined by the NCAA by providing financial support to golfers who advance to the Optimist International Junior Golf Championships."

Persons with specific questions or concerns may refer to this article or visit the NCAA website at http://www.ncaa.org/.

Tuesday, February 2, 2010

The Foundations allow you to honor or memorialize your Optimist Club members

The Optimist International Foundations offer banner patches in memory of or in honor of our respected fellow Optimist Club Members.  These patches provide an ongoing memory of their service to your club and community and the contributions allow the Optimist International Foundationx to continue to provide ongoing support to our Optimist Clubs.

Patches are available beginning at the $100 contribution level.  Download the PDF form here.

The Optimist Club of Vancouver, Washington is accepting donations in memory of Al Gross and all contributions will be forwarded to the Optimist International Foundation.  Please contact club treasurer Dick Fisher for information. 

If your Optimist Club has lost a member and you would like their memory to be recognized by others in the District via this blog, please forward the information to us and we will post it in an appropriate manner.  Thank you.

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