Tri Star Basketball in Tacoma

Before the school year ended, the West Tacoma Optimist Club held a very successful Tri Star Basketball Competition at the Narrows View Middle School. Led by chairpersons Shirley Zurfluh, Optimist Club members hosted more than 500 students in the two-day event. The winners are shown here.

Thanks to Dick Disney for the picture.

Junior golfing, Victoria Optimist Club-style

Bruce Davenport, treasurer, Optimist Club of Victoria shared some pictures this week of youngsters enjoying golf and lunch and basically having fun. Tell me more, I said.

It turns out that the Victoria Optimist Club sponsors an inner city golf program that lets young people experience a sport normally unavailable to them. Through golf, the youngsters also learn personal courtesy and discipline along with skills required.

A golf pro donated his time and gave instructions to the junior golfers and Optimist Club members were available on the course as mentors. It looks like they also got to enjoy the pizza party afterwards!

Thanks for sharing the story, Bruce!

Coquitlam Optimist Club kicks off Daisy Day with free pancakes

Saturday, June 22, 2013 is Daisy Day in Coquitlam, British Columbia.  Kicking off the event will be the Pancake Breakfast, brought to you by none other than the Coquitlam Optimist Club. Kilt-wearing Mayor Stewart showed his flapjack-flipping prowess at last year's event. The only question I have is for the Optimists: Where are your kilts? We want to see them...pictures, please.

Daisy Day is  hosted by the Austin Heights Business Improvement District. The festival introduces families to the shopping district and builds awareness for shopping locally. As a family friendly activity, the festival brings  all ages outside for free breakfast, live entertainment and lots of activities for the kids. Area merchants also feature special promotions. Find a full schedule for Daisy Day 2013 here.

Sandy Optimist Club awards scholarships

With the ending of the school year comes the granting of scholarships. The Sandy Optimist Club wrote in today to brag about their scholarship recipients. It said,

"On June 5, our president, Bob Felix, presented the Sandy Optimist Scholarships. From left to right:

• Ana Martinez, Math & Science Scholarship, $500
• Faith Susie Russell, Nick Roth Performing Arts Scholarship, $1000
• Sarah Rutledge, Pat Wolf/FFA Scholarship, $500

This was the first Senior Awards Program in the new school and it was attended by many friends, families and Optimists." 

Thanks for sharing the picture with us and more important, thanks for supporting such deserving students.

Energize your Optimist Club NOW

I received a note from Phillip Hansen today via Slideshare.com. It was nice to connect with a PNW District Optimist Club member via a third party social media source. It was even nicer to hear what he had to say.

Phillip said, "Thank you so very much Linda. We are preparing to launch our NOW program here in Vancouver, BC, Canada. This will be real benefit in our efforts. :-)"

Now how awesome is that? The Optimist Club of Vancouver, BC is hosting a NOW program so that they may replenish their membership roster.

The greatest thing about hosting a NOW program is that it also revitalizes the enthusiasm your current members have for their Optimist Club. Telling stories about the great things that we do for our community brings forth the passion for our cause.

I challenge your Optimist Club to hold a NOW program too.  Here's the slide presentation to get you started. Send us a note and let us know how it goes!

New Optimist Club Presentation from Linda Jackson

Some days, life is a parade

Shelton, Washington held its annual weekend celebration of Forest Festival May 30 through June 2, 2013. Of course the Mason County Optimist Club was right there in the midst of the fun.

The big event for the Optimist Club is the Kiddie and Pet Parade, a pre-show for the bigger than life Paul Bunyan parade that follows later in the day. The kids and pets dress up for the occasion and some snagged some whimsical prizes like the best junior Paul Bunyan award and the best Fairy Tale costume award, among others. And the pirate family shown below...they are none other than one of our favorite Mason County Optimist Club members Lorraine Coots's family.

Thanks for sharing the pictures, Lorraine! Click to check out more shots on Facebook.

Pancakes were served, fun was had

Last weekend, the Optimist Club of Lebanon, Oregon held its Annual Strawberry Pancake Breakfast.

Of course the pancakes were delicious, but the best part of any service club fundraiser has to be the people that get involved.

There are those who are there to set up and serve and those who are there to enjoy their families and friends.  Best of all, everyone is there to enjoy the day.

There's something magical about eating pancakes with friends and supporting the community at the same time. Don't you agree?

Thanks to Wyatt King for the pictures.  Click to enlarge and see more at the Lebanon Optimists Facebook page.