Mecosta County Optimist Club

The Optimist International Mission Statement is: By providing hope and positive vision, Optimists bring out the best in youth, our communities, and ourselves. Th e Mecosta County Optimist Club was chartered in August of 2021. Th e 22 members have been very busy since then.

One of the enjoyable things that most Optimist Clubs do is have guest speakers at our meetings. One meeting we had Kyle Talicska from Mecosta Elementary give us an overview of his student body. We asked what was something he needed for the school that the Optimists could provide? His response was immediate and emphatic: “Fix the Playground”. We immediately made plans that this would be our fi rst major project.

Michelle Kauff old wrote a grant request to see if we could get funding for the playground project. We applied for the grant as a part of the Childhood Health and Wellness Program through the Optimist International Foundation. In May we were notifi ed we were awarded a $1000.00 matching grant. Th is wonderful news expanded our initial goal of just painting the playground, to providing new playground equipment. Th e metal playground equipment was painted in August, right before school started. Th anks to Kyle Talicska who raised our awareness, we were also able to give the Mecosta Elementary Community new basketball nets, bases for the ball fi eld diamond, soccer balls, footballs, basketballs, sleds, plus outside Yahtzee and Connect Four games.

Th is supportive principal set up a surprise event in his gym for the entire school and gave the Mecosta County Optimists some in-person experience of the enjoyment the kids get at their recess time. A part of the grant was to give students healthy snacks, so the Optimists passed out cheese sticks and carrots as the students went out and played with the new equipment.

Another guest speaker was from Angels of Action, one of the local nonprofi t organizations focusing on food and essential needs of the community. We were all moved by the number of families that are served and supported through their many programs. Several of us went for a tour of the facility and enjoyed a soup lunch. While there, we were told about the painted rock garden outside one of the entrances and how there are people that come by just to look and “meditate”. At our next meeting we suggested purchasing a bench for the entrance area. Kim Easler, Director of Community Outreach liked the idea, and this project was undertaken and completed in September.

Another Speaker was Chad Saxton from Eagle Village, a nearby youth treatment center. We couldn’t do a hands-on event for his group, but we were able to supply some happy faces when we showed up with 40+ goodie bags for their annual “Fun in the Sun” day at the Village. Socks, books, candy, chalk and sunglasses were among the many items each student received from the Mecosta County Optimists.

Word of our successful endeavors spread throughout the community and generated curiosity about our group. Members of the Canadian Lakes Fishing Club came to one of our meetings. Th ey discussed the shrinking membership of their club and suggested we become a partner in the non-fi shing related aspects of their events. Another great project for us. We set up the treat station and gave out hot chocolate and doughnut holes for

the youngsters after the ice fi shing event last February. As part of the Canadian Lakes summer picnic weekend, the Fishing Club sponsors the annual Young Angler’s Tournament. Th e Optimists decided to provide lunch for the families that participated in the fi shing contest. Th is was a huge success for all involved. We were overly ambitious and bought too much, so we donated the excess to Angels of Action and God’s Helping Hands, another local charity organization.

Our club is a sanctioned club within the Canadian Lakes Association, so we represented ourselves at the Community Information Day. While there we discovered another need in the area. A wonderful social worker struck up a conversation about her work with Central Michigan University (CMU) students in the American Sign Language (ASL) program. She came up with an idea for us to provide gas cards so the college students could continue working with deaf and hard-of-hearing members of the community as part of the Big Brother Big Sister program. Th e CMU students work with families on their ASL skills, and the Optimists help off set their expenses of gas and snacks. We committed to a monthly donation for as long as we can help these students and families.

None of these great activities would have been possible without the help of the great people of Canadian Lakes. Last December we held a Fundraising Cocktail party that raised over $6,000. We are hoping to do as well again this year. Mark

For $20.00 you get two drink tickets and appetizers. Th ere will be a 50/50 drawing and silent auction items for you to bid on. Get your tickets by calling Michelle Kauff old 313-510-6300 or emailing her, newmichelle@att.net. Tickets will also be sold at Hixson’s and Fates on select Saturdays in November and December.

Lastly, this positive-minded group needs help with continuing their good work. We invite you to attend one of our gatherings to fi nd out more about this club, as well as Michigan District Optimists and Optimist International. Join us the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of each month at the Alpine Haus at 6pm. Contact President Peggy VanderPloeg for more details. 989-240-4615 or peggyvanderploeg@gmail.com