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Optimist International Club News
Optimist Club News
by John Laurents, President Charlotte Optimist Club
The Charlotte and Weddington Optimists Clubs undertook a campaign to raise $18,000 to provide 900 brand new coats for every student at Huntingtowne Farms Elementary School in Charlotte, North Carolina. The Optimists partnered with Operation Warm, a national non-profit, serving communities for 20 years, which brings warmth, confidence, and hope to disadvantaged children through the gift of new winter coats. In 2019, Operation Warm’s partners gifted coats to nearly 400,000 children. Two little girls share excitement over realizing they have the same coat.
Operation Warm provided the marketing materials and a donation website that made it easy for members and friends to make an online donation. The fundraising kicked off on October 1 and in less than 90 days, the goal of $18,000 was reached. Optimists and friends and family in addition to members of the school’s PTA, conducted a coat party, on December 10. The Optimists and volunteers were overwhelmed by the stories, smiles and tears, of the students, most of whom lacked a warm coat. How did this happen? It was an accidental happenstance. At an Optimist luncheon, earlier in the year, a young lady showed up looking for the Rotary Club. President John Laurents responded that she
18 • Optimist had found the Optimist Club. The young woman replied that she had planned to join the Rotary Club for lunch. John invited her to join the club for lunch. It was Temeka Brantley, a regional community partnership representative for Operation Warm. John invited Temeka to present the program at an upcoming luncheon meeting, and the board decided that this would be an extremely worthy project. The Weddington Club enthusiastically offered to partner with the Charlotte Club to help reach the fundraising goal and participate in the coat party. This year, the Charlotte Optimists will help the Weddington Optimists raise money to purchase brand new coats for a worthy elementary school in their community.
It was meant to be.
Palmetto Optimist Club of South Carolina
by Beth Abruzzino, Club President
The Palmetto Optimist Club held its fifth Battle Buddies Obstacle Course in Sumter, South Carolina. Battle Buddies is a children’s obstacle course that combines the physical fitness aspect of the Childhood Health and Wellness program with the Respect for Law program. Local law enforcement members assist the kids as a metaphor for how law enforcement can assist people through the obstacles in life while also allowing kids to enjoy fitness. Obstacles are created or purchased by members, including ladder walls, low crawls, balance-beam planks, tunnels and more. The obstacles themselves are inspired by military obstacle courses but painted in colorful primary colors making them friendly for kids. The event in November was held at a county sports pavilion and the obstacle course spanned across two
soccer fields. Law enforcement was well represented by the Sumter Sherriff ’s Department, the Sumter Fire Department, Shaw Air Force Base Security Forces and the Shaw Air Force Base K-9 unit. In addition, the Sherriff Explorers #333 and the University of South Carolina Sumter Campus Fire Ants Baseball team volunteered to help kids through the course. Kids of all ages are welcome to take multiple turns going through the obstacles. Children under five are assisted by a parent with older children being cheered on by volunteers. When kids were not going through the course, they were watching demonstrations from dance teams, martial arts studies and cheer squads. There was even a bit of line dancing. The Palmetto Optimist Club hosted the first Battle Buddies in September 2016 with 40 kids participating. They hosted the event twice in 2017 and have since made it an annual event. The recent edition hosted approximately 800 people.
An officer helps a young participant during the wall climb of the Battle Buddies Obstacle Course.
From left to right are Club President David Glazener, Chief Steve Dye, and Club Member Sonnia Ortega.
Optimist Club of Grand Prairie, Texas
by David J. Glazener, Club President This is what can happen at a District meeting and have lasting after effects.
During a quarterly meeting of the NTX District, Club members Vanessa Wattron and Sonnia Ortega bid on a special Respect For Law plaque in the silent auction. Their bid won, and they presented the plaque to me. I was very surprised but happy to accept their gift to the Club. The plaque had wording on it: “LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER OF THE YEAR.” I began to think how it could be used. When we returned home from the District meeting, we discovered our city police chief was retiring soon. I instantly thought of using this special plaque for him. On January 23, 2020, Chief Steve Dye, and his wife, Mimi, were present along with many Club members and guests for the presentation of the plaque. Upon seeing it, he said, “How impressive! I will be sure to hang this in my office. I have never seen such a nicelooking plaque.” I conveyed my appreciation to the two Club members for their donating this special plaque to the Club and they were happy with how it was used to honor our city’s retiring police Chief.
From left to right are International Vice President Teri Davis, Sunrise President Charles Heller, Milton President Lynn Bousfield, Dennis Cassidy, and Sunrise Secretary Leonard Tilney.
Sunrise Lockport, New York, and Milton, Ontario, Optimist Clubs Members of the Sunrise Optimist Club of Lockport, New York visited the Milton Ontario Optimist Club on November 9, 2019 to celebrate the 40th Twinning Anniversary of the two Clubs. Sunrise presented Milton a first-time issued dual U.S. Mint and Royal Canadian Mint set containing a silver Walking Liberty American dollar and silver Canadian $5 piece commemorating the friendship between the two countries. Milton presented Sunrise with a beautiful handmade lighted bird house inscribed with a 40th Anniversary commemorative plaque. Optimist International Vice President Teri Davis attended the dinner. Club representatives initially met in June 1979 at the International Convention in Kansas City, Missouri. Formal twinning ceremonies were held November 1, 1979 in Milton. The clubs believe they are among the oldest continuous Twin Clubs in Optimist International.
by Linda Shepherd The placement of a time capsule on November 9, 2019 marked the end of the Optimist International Centennial celebration for the North Carolina East Optimist District.
The time capsule was buried adjacent to the entrance of the Optimist Cottage on the grounds of the Boys and Girls Homes at Lake Waccamaw, North Carolina. Immediate Past Governor Linda Shepherd conducted the ceremony attended by 25 people. Items in the capsule represented the treasures of the North Carolina East District, and were collected during the 2018-2019 Optimist year. Each Optimist in attendance presented a small paper with his or her thumbprint and signature for inclusion in the time capsule. The capsule is to be opened in 2083, the 100th anniversary of the formation of the North Carolina East District.
Immediate Past Governor Linda Shepherd and Ray Cockrell, Vice President for Development at the Boys and Girls Homes, are ready to shovel dirt onto the newly placed time capsule.
Submit your Club or District news for the Spring edition of the Optimist Magazine to magazine@optimist.org by April 1. Reports must be less than 400 words, and may be edited for length, clarity and style. Any pictures should be submitted as attachments.
