Noe who?

Perhaps you've heard the name, but have you ever met the man?

The Nampa Optimist Club has a history of earning the Honor Club recognition from Optimist International. However, few outside of the Optimist Football Program have had the opportunity to meet the president. When I heard he was scheduled to speak to the Middleton Area Optimist Club, I knew I had to be there.

Finally! I met Noe Rodriguez and was able to present the Honor Club patch to him in person. As the immediate past district governor, it was my pleasure to do so.

Noe is very passionate about football and especially about serving at-risk children in the Nampa School District.  Thank you Noe, for your dedication and leadership.

The Optimist Club affiliation makes it easier to serve the community through sports and the Middleton Area Optimist Club is looking forward to being involved in the regional football program this year.  If your club or community would like to get involved by starting an Optimist Club, please send us a message or call 208.861.2310.

It's Optimist football season in Idaho

For the next eight weeks, many Optimist Clubs in Idaho will be focused on football. With more than 10,000 children participating in the Optimist Football program and thousands of young ladies cheering for them, it is easily the largest program conducted by clubs in the PNW District.

The Optimist Clubs of Boise Noon and Nampa have both developed large football complexes in their communities and the Boise Noon Club has reached out to bring other communities into the program including the Optimist Clubs of Emmett, Horseshoe Bend, McCall, and Mountain Home.  The teams are coached by Optimist members and the concessions are manned by Optimist members.  In Boise, the concession trade has become so large that even the neighboring Meridian Optimist Club has taken on a trailer to assist their friends and make some money in the process.

So for the next eight Saturdays, these clubs will be super-busy.  If you would like to volunteer with the Optimist Football program, please send me a message and I will forward it to the club of your choice or take a look at the websites for direct contact information:

• http://www.optimistyouthfootball.com/
• http://www.nampaoptimistfootball.org/

Photo of the Kituku Warriors, a team in the Boise Noon Optimist Football program.