Children are the unsung heroes of the future

"Children: America's Unsung Heroes of our Future" - It's a simple statement that says so much about why Optimist Clubs and their members do what they do every day to bring out the best in children. 

Children are unsung heroes today. They persist through the challenges of childhood, frustrate us as teens and always make us smile.

Children are also the unsung heroes of our future for they will grow up to be our first responders, our physicians, accountants, educators, politicians, community builders, soldiers, small business owners, thought leaders, mothers, fathers and friends. Yes, hopefully, they will also grow up to be good citizens and Optimist Club members.

"Children: America's Unsung Heroes of our Future" is the theme for
the Middleton Area Optimist Club 4th of July Parade float

Thanks to club member Brooke Winston for designing, building and so aptly naming the Middleton Area Optimist Club float for the community's 4th of July Parade and celebration. We can't wait to see the finished product, adorned with kiddos, in the parade.

Find out more about the festival coordinated by the Middleton, Idaho Chamber of Commerce.

PNW District junior golfers qualify for THE OPTIMIST

Friday, June 22, 2012 - It was a rainy day at the Meriwether National Golf Club in Hillsboro, Oregon, but that didn't deter the hardy junior golfers at the PNW-US District qualifier for the  Optimist International Junior Golf Championships from playing some outstanding rounds of golf.

Finishing with a round of 68 and placing first in the boys 16-18 division was David Ganz followed by Sean Destro, 74 and Daniel Badaracco, 76.

In other divisions:
Girls 13 -14
Bridget Standard - 85
Rio Smith - 89

Boys 10-11
Samuel Pyon - 77
Drew Halili - 80

Boys 12-13
Timothy Lee - 81
Elijah Lai - 82

Boys 14-15
Brian Humphreys - 67
Trent Standard - 75
Joash Farlow - 77

All golfers are eligible to attend the Optimist International Junior Golf Championships. Registration must be completed and confirmed via the PNW District following Optimist International rules. Please click on the links to find more information from Optimist International Junior Golf or the PNW District.

Many thanks to District Tournament Chair Chris Hill for the pictures. Chris has offered to add an album to the PNW District Facebook page. Please be sure to watch for more.

Click here for the post about qualified junior golfers from BC Canada.

(2012) Annual Convention registration is open for the PNW District

The Pacific Northwest District - Optimist International is headed back to Chilliwack, British Columbia for the 2012 District Convention on August 16-19.

Regular features of this annual gathering are great fellowship, new officer training for club and district leaders, and the election of our next governor-elect. However, we predict there will also be beautiful sunsets like the one shown here in photo from Ken Wall of the Boise Noon Optimist Club. Ken took this picture when the district met in Chilliwack in 2008. 

This is your early notice that registration is now available online at the PNW District Convention page. Register by July 31, 2012 and pay $115 US or CA. After that time, the fee is $125 US or CA.

Make your hotel reservation at:
The Coast Chilliwack Hotel
45920 First Avenue
Chilliwack, British Columbia V2P 7K1
604.792.5552

Call 1.800.663.1144 and ask for "Pacific NW District Optimist International."

Optimist rates:
Double double: $89 plus tax of 14.5%
Superior king: $99 plus tax of 14.5%
Premium king or suite: $109 plus tax of 14.5% (as of 5/15 there were only 2 of these rooms available)

More information about the agenda and the Optimist International President's Representative Gloria Kloster are forthcoming.

Cruise in to Gresham

Gresham Optimist Club's Cruise in has been rescheduled for September 23, 2012, 1:00 to 5:00 p.m., Gresham High School. 

Do you have plans for Saturday, June 23? Now you do! 

Plan to join the Gresham Optimist Club at the Benefit Cruise in for Oregon Beat the Heat. It's one of the club's main fundraising events plus the project keeps "hot-rod" youths from being involved in street racing. 

The open event gives car owners an opportunity to show off their ride and earn trophies in 23 categories. It also gives car enthusiasts an opportunity to talk to owners who have refurbished their classic cars. It's a fun, family-friendly event. Won't you stop by and visit the Optimists on Saturday, 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., Gresham High School, Gresham, Oregon. 

Teddy Bears take center stage in Coquitlam, BC

The Evening Optimist Club of Coquitlam, BC is an annual sponsor for the Festival Coquitlam, a reflection of spirit and pride. Members claim that their participation in this is event is one of their favorite activities of the year.

What is it? The Teddy Bear Picnic!

The Teddy Bear Picnic is a culmination of all good things for Teddy Bears and their companions. There is a parade, a concert, and then a picnic with a variety of entertainers for the families, owners and lovers of Teddy Bears.

The mission of Festival Coquitlam is, "To host a series of quality family entertainment experiences which will reflect the spirit and pride of our community." Sounds like a perfect connection to share with an Optimist Club!

Photo credit: Jennifer Gauthier, Coquitlam Now.

Picture them speaking at the Optimist Oratorical Contest

The winners of the Pacific Northwest District - Optimist International Oratorical Contest for 2012 are Katrina Nguyen, 3rd place; Ester Frederick, 2nd place; and Matt Ferguson, 1st place.

All students gave a five minute presentation on the topic "How my optimism helps me overcome obstacles."

In an unusual occurrence, Matt was also named the winner of the PNW District - Optimist International Essay Contest. He won $2,500 for each effort, making his scholarship total for the weekend $5,000.

Thank  you to all of our participants in Optimist International scholarship programs this year and congratulations to our PNW District finalists. You rock.

Click here for information about the Communications Contest for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing and here for a picture of the finalists.

Portland Peninsula Optimists take first place

Submitted by Sharon Speer

Although the St. Johns Parade in Portland, Oregon, just celebrated its 50^th year on Saturday, May 12, for the first time, the Portland-Peninsula Optimists participated in the parade!  

In planning our entry, Secretary George Galati suggested that we should ride a school bus as our entry since that is representative of kids.  Mr. Galati, former principal of Roosevelt High School, was able to secure the donated use of a school bus and driver.  The cheer team at the high school made signs for the sides of the bus.  Many Optimists and kids rode the bus and waved to and kibitzed with the parade onlookers while traveling the parade route.  

Everyone had a great time, and it was a fun opportunity to let more people in the community become aware of our organization.  To top it off, we won first place in the Service Division!

Shown in the picture, left to right:  Dave Trabucco (newly elected president), Dave’s son, Don Lee, Bev Lee, Dave’s daughter, Bill Van Nostran (immediate past president holding first place ribbon), Sharon Speer, George Galati (Secretary/Historian), and Wayne Henry.

Optimists on parade in Mason County, Washington

It's summertime - time for family, festivals, parades and Optimist Clubs!

The Mason County Optimist Club started off the season with a Pet and Family Parade as part of the Mason County Forest Festival.  

The community has been celebrating its timber heritage and the legend of Paul Bunyan for more than 60 years. The celebration includes a week of events including a carnival, fireworks, vendor festival and craft booths, a logging show, parades, and royalty! 

Shown below are Smokey Bear and Paul Bunyan with the Princesses of Cedar, Hemlock, Fir and Spruce supporting the Queen of the Forest along with a sample of more scenes from the Mason County Optimist Club Pet and Family Parade. 

Thanks to Lorraine Coots for the pictures.  Thanks to the Mason County Optimist Club for the story. 

The importance of Optimist Club programs and projects

The McCall Optimist Club is planning for one of their biggest events of the year: the Senior Party. It's a grand event for the grads and a fun-filled, if long, evening for the Optimist Club members. There are prizes, food, casino style-fun, raffles, wally-ball, table tennis, basketball and swimming and other activities to keep the teens busy and safe after graduation.

The McCall Optimist Club is also one of those that takes a few months off from weekly meetings (but not projects) in the summer. Living in a resort community, it's probably not a bad idea. In preparation, Tom Crawford just announced the last presentation before the break and it sounds great! He said:

This Tuesday will be our last program for the season, but it’s one you won’t want to miss. Isaac and Bjornen Babcock will speak about their experience spending a year in the Frank Church Wilderness filming wolves and other wildlife. PBS produced their work into the Nature film, River of No Return that premiered on April 18, 2012. Here is a chance to listen and talk to them about their incredible story.

Watch River of No Return - Preview on PBS. See more from Nature.

The club meets Tuesdays, 7:00 a.m. at the Pancake House. Why not take a road trip and enjoy!

We all choose to belong to an Optimist Club for different reasons. For me, I enjoy learning new things. Sometimes that comes from fellowship and sometimes that comes from the projects that we perform; but the most consistent way to stay involved and knowledgeable about our community and the world around us is to  invite a wide array of speakers to our club meetings. Be diverse and inclusive and you'll find your club programs can be a retention, recruitment and awareness booster.