Early mornings are for Optimists and other times are too

Did you know that the Oregon City Optimist Club meets at 6:30 a.m. every Tuesday morning? The West Tacoma Optimist Club and Hillsboro Optimist Club meet at 7:00 a.m. on Tuesday morning, the Meridian Optimist Club meets at 7:00 a.m. on Wednesday morning, and the Beaverton Optimist Club meets at 7:00 a.m. on Thursday morning.

I think that some of our most successful Optimist Clubs are early-risers and they honor their commitment to their communities to serve by showing up for the programs and fellowship that make their service complete.

Perhaps that is a piece missing from our membership puzzle. Many have forgotten how important the regular meeting is to the success of their club and the Optimist International organization. Lives are busier, commuting times are longer, the ability to make excuses is more readily acceptable. We used to say that busy people make the best Optimist Club members because they know how to budget their time. I think Optimist Club members make time for the much-needed break that a club meeting brings. It restores their positive feelings and helps them to share optimism with others.

Please watch the Optimist Story from Mike Novak, Governor, Indiana South District - Optimist International and learn why the 6:00 a.m. Optimist Club meeting became a regular activity in his life and then please find an Optimist Club near you and put its meeting on your calendar as a weekly event.

Mission Optimist Club highlights children's talents

File this under my bad. I knew that the Mission Optimist Club had talent shows occasionally and that's where I went wrong.

Please allow me to correct the record and congratulate the Mission Optimist Club on 20 years of hosting the Mission's Got Talent contest.

The most recent contest was held Saturday, February 23, 2019. The winners were highlighted in a full-page spread in the Mission City Record.  Shown here are:

Top row, left to right, Senior Category

• Third place - Taeryn Berg - Tairen sang and played an original song, "Mess"
• Second place - Jarom Fischer - Jarom sang "A Million Dreams"
• First place - Taylor Crowdis - Taylor sang "Everybody Knows"

Bottom row, left to right, Junior Category

• Third place - Serenity Gibson and Samara Dejong Nemeth - Serenity and Samara sang "This is Me"
• Second place - Brooklyn Ford-Hack - Brooklyn sang "Never Enough"
• First place - Andy Kyte - Andy performed "Good Old Medley" 

Our best wishes go out to all of the contestants and an extra special "BRAVO" for the winners. 

We're proud to have the Mission Optimist Club as part of the Pacific Northwest District, doing its thing, serving its community, and helping kids be great since 1985*.

*Helping kids be great since 1985 is the Mission Optimist Club's motto.