Taste of Optimism
Well it is time to start planning for this year's Taste of Optimism. We have to identify committee chairs to head this event for us. This year's theme is currently open and if you have a great idea let us know. For you Optimists we need to be working on identifying two recipes, and working on the purchase of door prizes.
We raised nearly $1310 last year and will need to try surpass that to raise as much money as possible for our youth support. So lets be prepared to answer the call when our committee chairs ask for our help.
For all those McAlester Optimist Supporters, we look forward to offering you a wonderful collection of local Brunch recipes, the opportunity to taste those recipes, and some great fellowship. Wrap that up in a neat package where all the benefits go to the support of McAlester area youth, and how can you lose? The breakfast will be in October, at the First Assembly of God church at 1800 Hardy Springs Road.
Optimist Flea Market
Every year McAlester Optimists gather unwanted items from caring people and businesses and host a flea market to benefit area children. This year we found a very nice building and thus the collection of items for our event was the critical focus. We did again find the McAlester community responsive to our call for help and ended up with a nice collection of items for the sale. Based on this communities commitment to our youth we raised almost $600.00. Special thanks go out to for lending us the use of his property on Carl Albert.
This years committee was anchored by Shirley Gibson and John Pelzel. They found us a very nice location at 1010 North Main. The building was really very nice and provided ample space for the items we had to sell this year. Let's all take the time to thank Shirley and John for a job well done.
Again there has been a lot of talk about trying to identify a more permanent solution for the storage and hosting of this event. We would like to make the collection of items be a year round event that would better support our flea market during the Spring. So if you think you might be able to help us, contact your local Optimist.
So if you might have a storage location we could use, we would definitely appreciate hearing from you.
Italian
Festival Ring Toss
Well it was another successful year at the Italian Festival thanks to all the Fair attendees who came by and tried thier luck at winning money and soda. It is amazing to realize how much can be accomplished with just a little effort.
We raised a significant amount of money one quarter at a time and we did while everyone was having fun. Thanks to all our sponsors and to the Optimists who donated their time this week end in support of McAlester youth.
If you have a heart for children and you would like to work in support of this community being the best it can for our youth, join on Thursday mornings at the meeting place.
Spaghetti
Run
Well another year added to the great legacy of this run. We have been hosting this run for 30 years and currently are one of the longest and most established runs in Oklahoma. Again McAlester showed great support this year with one of the best community commitments we have ever had. Hopefully we can harness that support to push this run into a much larger more publicized event.
This event raises funds for local area youth and everyone has fun in the process, how can you ask for more. This year our particiapation went back up to 64 total runners and while that is an increase over last years event we want to push harder for next year and are already looking for supporters and ideas to increase the draw of this event.
Last year Wal-Mart, Pepsi, and Bank First all worked hard to partner with us in this event and became charter members of what we call the Partners of Optimism here in McAlester. Don Lagasse worked hard to make this event happen and we really need to recognize his efforts. Again this year we had strong support from the community and beautiful weather for the run.
We did manage to get the winners pictures in the local McAlester News Democrat. Honestly it is only through the support of local businesses and individuals that we are able to work towards making McAlester a Youth Friendly city. So please make sure to acknowledge their efforts when you visit thier stores.
This years 10K winner (Scott Downard) is pictured below and he did an absolute smoking job on this run finishing in 33:45. Congratulation to all those who ran. Not only did they do a wonderful job but they also joined in our efforts to support the youth of McAlester.
The final standings for all three runs are posted below, just click the appropriate link;
Youth In Government
Well we completed another round of the Youth in Government and there was a lot to be thankful for this year. What a blessing to see the type of young people and their character that make up our community. As Optimist we definitely want to thank the city of McAlester and all our local government representatives that helped make this program such a success. We were concerned that with all the different issues that demand their attention these days that they would not be able to support, but they came through like champions.
We also need to send a big thank you out to Bill for all his efforts in making this happen. There were numerous mentions of his tireless efforts on the behalf of local Optimists. Thank you Bill! Obviously we need to thank Vicky for her efforts in coordinating all the logistics of our awards ceremony, and finally all the Optimists that worked so hard the night of the awards ceremony.
Well it never seems you can recognize all the people who work so hard for this event, you always miss someone. In that respect I think I had better mention all the McAlester Youth who worked so hard and accomplished so much. What an encouragement to see the future of McAlester looking so bright in the hands of these fine men and women. CONGRATULATIONS! You deserve it.
Special Olympics Ring Toss
Well it may be hard to see, but John Proctor and Bill Bailey spent Friday the seventh of April representing the Optimists at the local Special Olympics event. Bill and John ran a small version of the Ring Toss in an effort to both support the event and also to raise funds for other youth programs.
If you get a chance make sure you make them aware how much we appreciate thier efforts on behalf of our club and the youth.
Thanks Bill and John and thank you McAlester Special Olympics participants.
Weekly Breakfast Presentations
(May 3rd)
This week the we were visited by Mr. James a reporter with our local McAlester News Democrat. He shared some very interesting stories from his career and provided a very colorful look into McAlester's history. James actually started his career by creatively working to get an interview with Mr. Robert Mitchem.
This week's business allowed us the distinct privilege of welcoming new members Robbie Vanverkoven and Bill Pool. Welcome guys and we hope that you will enjoy a long membership in our local club and help us find innovative ways to enhance the support we offer to McAlester Area kids. Attendance was at 18 this week with Pastor Glen leading prayer and Bob Wells leading the pledge.
(May 10th)
This week we were affored the opportunity to hear from the McAlester High School Principle, Mr. Allen Wadsworth. He updated us on the 1.5 million dollars in scholarships awarded to McAlester high school students and helped us to coordinate the presentation of the McAlester Optimist Scholarship.
His comentary on the scholarship programs available to Oklahoma youth with a gpa of 2.5 or higher, and parents with an annual income of less then $50,000 was very encouraging. It will help a large group of Oklahoma youth get a college education. Hopefully we can help to communicate its availability to those who might be interested in this opportunity.
He also explained some changes being implemented in regards to the state algebra and english tests being mandated for 7th graders who will graduate from McAlester High School.
Club business focused on the selection of the this year's scholarship recipients, the naming of next year's officers ( John Pelzel: President, Sally Riggins: Vice President, and Shirley Bishop: Secretary), and the naming of two new board members. Attendance was at 21 members and Pastor Tom opened our meeting with prayer while Robbie led us in the pledge.
(May 17th)
Well we were offered a unique opportunity to hear from two different programs this morning. Sarah Fry (Dusty's wife and Rhonda's daughter) presented on the WAIT program and John Lester updated us on the Red Cross efforts to prepare for emergency response to hurricanes.
The WAIT program stands for Wanting Abstinence in Teens and is a program aimed at helping teens decide to wait until marriage to begin sexual activities. It was very encouraging to hear the successes this group has had in helping our teens make the right decision. We were pleased to add this group to our support list and look forward to thier continued successes.
Our own John Lester, then shared with us the planning that is being done to prepare for the emergency evacuation of Texas residents in the event of a hurricane. McAlester has been identified as the first stop in moving more then one and a half million people. That evacuation would be by rail and bus. It was very encouraging to know that we are working to improve on the response offered to those in our area that might need this kind of help. John said that we were very well prepared to respond.
Visitors this week were Hannah, Bailey, and Sarah Fry. Attendance was 21. Club business was focused on identifying the totals raised at the Ring Toss ($501.60). Fliers were handed out for the Taste of Optimism and dates were also provided for the Optimist Bowl.
Thanks again for all your support!
(May 24th)
This week we were privileged to have Mr. Richard Carney of the McAlester High School track team. Coach Carney updated us on the accomplishments of this year's track team and offered a special blessing by bringing along some of the many fine young women and men who represented McAlester this year.
Each track member gave us an insight into their accomplishments and thier future plans. What a great day it is when we get the chance to have a face to face meeting with the fine young men and women of McAlester.
It was inspiring to know that in the last ten years this program has been ranked in the top ten in Oklahoma. Way to go Buffs!
Attendance this week was at 17 members and club business focused on preparing for the Spaghetti Run. Remember to bring your door prizes and to show up at the Boy's and Girls club at or around 6:30.
A special note Pastor Jerry Burnside is in the hospital having surgery on his foot. Please make sure to keep him and his wife in your prayers and if you get a chance stop by and tell him we miss him at the meetings.
(May 31st)
Well this week we did not have a program, so we focused on club business and good fellowship. It was good to have time to iron out last minute details on the upcoming Flea Market. Work was accomplished against the preparations on Thursday evening, Friday Afternoon, and finally we will open the doors around 6:30 AM.
Attendance was down this week with only 17 members making our breakfast. Pastor Myers opened with prayer and Bill led the pledge of allegiance.
We talked about the totals for the ring toss this year and for the spaghetti run. It looks as if we made around $1000.00 at the Italian Festival ring toss and it obviously helped that we were one of the only game booths at the festival. Spaghetti Run totals are not final yet so we will look for answers to that in the near future.
We did discuss putting a stronger support structure in place for the next years programs to bettter enable members to identify programs if they just cant come up with thier own. Please fellow Optimists if you are scheduled to handle the presentation make sure that you make the required arrangements to maintain interest in our weekly meetings.
Check back often to keep up to date on our activities!