Another Pancake Jubilee is history

I've been watching the activities of the Optimist Club of Meridian, Mississippi for a few years now, ever since I set up an alert for the Optimist Club of Meridian, Idaho. Google doesn't seem to know the difference between the states and that's quite alright with me. The Mississippi club is doing vital work in its community.

One of my favorites is its annual Pancake Jubilee. I've written before here and here, among other entries, how pancakes can bring a community together. At breakfast, you see your neighbors, colleagues, friends and family and share stories. I believe it is much like how sitting around a campfire nurtured the cultures of our ancestors.

But I like one more thing especially well about this particular pancake breakfast. It's not just a breakfast; it's a jubilee! There is just something joyful about an event when it's given a festive, extraordinary name.

Please enjoy some scenes from the Meridian, Mississippi Optimist Club Pancake Jubilee courtesy of WTOK. 

Pancakes advance our communities

As I grew up, the Lions Club Pancake Breakfast and Jaycees Fish Fry were social gatherings that families didn't miss. In addition to helping out the clubs in their fundraising efforts, attendees would visit with friends and families and in social parlance, they would just hang out and be seen.

For a small business owner, being seen in the community was an important part of their public relations plan. During the event, my father would field questions about new appliances and television problems; my mom would inquire about families and kids and both of their actions solidified relationships. There was no doubt that the majority of those they met at the service club event would visit State Radio and Television when it came time to purchase their next TV or appliance.

Times have changed. Service clubs hold fewer food-related fundraisers. My work with the Middleton Area Optimist Club has led me to believe that part of the reason is that it's not cost effective. By the time one purchases supplies and complies with food preparation rules supplied by the health district, the price of the ticket is likely higher than one would want to pay to eat pancakes on a parking lot. Not to mention, the one or two dollars that the club receives from each ticket isn't a big return on investment.

However, I must say that the way we socialize has changed as well. We text and email and reminisce with our friends on Facebook, making the annual pancake breakfast rather obsolete. That's why I was so heartened to see that the Optimist Club of Lebanon, Oregon finds its Strawberry Festival Breakfast to be part of the appeal to belong the club.

At the recent Biz Expo sponsored by the chamber of commerce, the Lebanon Optimist Club was there in force to explain what they do in the community. The Optimist Club Strawberry Festival Breakfast banner was there, front and center, publicizing the event; but more important, reminding visitors that when they support the community, they support each other.

I don't want to slow down technology. I'm all for advancing its power; but I would sometimes like to slow down time so that we are mindful of where we live and how a pancake breakfast put on by an Optimist Club has the potential to improve our relationships. Perhaps, coming together for pancakes  could advance our community one relationship at a time. Perhaps some traditions need to be revived for service clubs and all.

Post by Lebanon Optimists.

Optimist Club creates calendar to connect newcomers to the community

Find out what is happening in 2014 with a
Middleton Community Calendar from the Optimist Club.

The Middleton Area Optimist Club is only three years old, but it's made quite an impact on its hometown in Idaho. Most of the club's members are new to the community so they've come with fresh ideas about how to make their city a great place to live. Of course being a newcomer in a small town of less than 5,000 people can also be difficult because long-time residents "just know" when things happen and community events can pass by without the new resident's knowledge.

In order to overcome this problem, the members of the Middleton Area Optimist Club decided to create a community calendar for 2014. Members sought out dates for annual activities like craft bazaars, church socials, sports league sign-ups, among other things, and then added in their own events that include their popular Free Movies in the Park series in the summer and charity bingo throughout the year. The calendar also includes phone numbers to city services and other organizations so that a newcomer or a long-time resident can be plugged in to the events and activities year-round.

The calendar includes photos from events and activities in Middleton in 2013 and all money raised goes towards the Middleton Area Optimist Club's next big project. They are raising $150,000 for playground equipment in Foote Park, home to their signature movie in the park program.

The Middleton Area Optimist Club has become a point of pride for the community. According to one member, Victor Islas, who is shown holding the calendar in the above picture, a lot of groups start in Middleton with good intentions, but they somehow fail to follow through.The Optimist Club isn't like that, he says. They do more than talk about projects. They get things done.

Learn more about the Middleton Area Optimist Club at this link. 

Buy a Middleton Area Community Calender by sending an email here. 

Pizza Party!

The sun was shining and it was a beautiful day for pizza. That's right! On September 7, 2013, the Middleton Area Optimist Club in Idaho treated their community to free pizza. It purchased 100 pizzas and 36 orders of breadsticks from a local pizzaria and invited everyone to enjoy a free slice while it lasted.

The pizza party coincided with three events. First, it was the club's third birthday. Three years ago, the Middleton Area Optimist Club was chartered and began doing good things in the community. Club members thought the pizza party was a nice way to say thank you to all of their supporters. The pizza party also took place on a Free Movie in the Park night. Free Movies in the Park is the Optimist Club's signature event. And being the weekend after Labor Day, the club also helped kids celebrate the return to school. 

Middleton, Idaho's population is approximately 5,000 residents. According to a club spokesperson, the 800 pieces of pizza went a longer way than expected, but even so, they are looking at increasing the number of pizzas for next year. "Watching the kids smile is worth it every time," explained Tyson Sparrow, coordinator of the event. 

Yes it is, Tyson. Those smiles are the individual payment for a productive Optimist Club.

Just like us

I haven't weighed in on Twitter or Facebook with my opinion about gay marriage by changing my avatar, but to be absolutely clear, I support it and I always have.

Does a post about gay marriage belong on this blog? Some would debate that it does not, but from my perspective, I am for equality for all in every aspect of our lives. I've talked about that frequently by pointing out how long it took for service clubs to allow women to join their ranks. On International Woman's Day, I discussed how even women can keep women down. It's inconceivable to me that as human beings we would want to keep anyone down for any reason.

Last weekend, I finally went to the theater to see Django Unchained. I'm not a Quentin Tarantino fan, so I had put off seeing it longer than I would normally do for an award-winning film. I absolutely enjoyed the movie, even more than the other film that dealt with human rights last year, Lincoln.

The movies shared the same message: for more than 150 years, black people, or African-Americans if you prefer, have struggled to be equal. Women suffrage movements began about the same time, yet today women and other minorities are still struggling for equality. Moving forward with gay marriage rights must happen now for it will still take years for it to be accepted by all. Proclaiming human rights through the judicial system is only part of the battle. The practice must become part of the mainstream culture as well.

Service clubs should be part of the culture that leads the way. Service clubs must be intolerant of intolerance, and demonstrate that message by opening their doors to more diverse members, partners, and stakeholders. We know that our lives are richer when we broaden our circle of friends; and likewise, our community service will be more meaningful when we embrace and empower those who are different, yet still, just like us.

Camp Optimist in Grand Rapids hopes for the winning entry

Erhardt Construction, in Grand Rapids Ada, Michigan, is celebrating its 50th anniversary with the "Building Our Community Contest." Collaborating with a group of building partners, the companies are giving away a construction project and prizes totaling $50,000 to area nonprofit organizations.

What a great idea! Helping those who do community service by providing a community service. The deadline to enter was Monday, June 11, 2012. According to the company's Twitter feed, applications "poured in as the deadline grew near."

And that is where I found the following entry from the Optimist Club of Grand Rapids. The Club's project is to refurbish Camp Optimist, "a 120-acre woodland, full service day camp that was purchased by the club in 1956. Since 2005, the club has been working to refurbish it for the various community organizations that use the camp including the EcoBus Program, Girls Scouts, Boy Scouts and Camp Fire kids, among others.

 The Optimist Club video features Camp Fire Kids USA enjoying the camp's rustic amenities.

Winners will be decided by voting beginning June 18. Good luck to the Optimist Club of Grand Rapids on your entry.

Form community partnerships and do even more

"Providing exceptional services during tough economic times requires innovative thinking and strong community partnerships." - City of Boise 



The Boise Parks and Recreation Department recently entered a contest. Unfortunately they didn't win the contest, but they did produce this video that emphasizes how to "Live a Better Life...in Boise!"

You might say that the residents are winners every day thanks to the services and amenities provided by the forward thinking parks department that leverages their relationships with local nonprofits and service clubs to do more. Some of the special projects include a mobile recreation program that takes activities to the children where they live (3:37), community centers established within existing schools (4:06), the Boise Noon Optimist Club Youth Sports Complex (6:08), and athletic programs for special populations (9:23).

The City of Boise acknowledges that they couldn't provide this level of service without input from residents and the participation of so many groups, nonprofits and service clubs that make Boise a better place to live.

Please watch the video for ideas of ways your service club can partner with your parks and recreation department, district, city or county to provide special opportunities for children and their families and then take action. Approach them and develop a plan and a partnership.

If you don't come up with at least one idea for getting involved, you aren't trying.

An elevator lifts the spirit of community

Thanks to Facebook, I know that the Oregon City Optimist Club is participating in a car show today on Main Street, Oregon City, Oregon. That little bit of information prompted me to learn more, so I clicked on a link that took me to the flyer advertising the 2nd Annual Cruise to Historic Downtown Oregon City (right).

Okay, there are cars, sponsors, free parking and admission for spectators,  and my goodness, what is that thing in the middle of the page? Is it a restaurant? Since I have never been to Oregon City, I had to find out!

According to the Oregon City Public Works Department, that structure is a municipal elevator. Oregon City is one of four cities in the world that has such an elevator. "Elevator Street" connects the lower city to the upper bluff and is the only vertical street in North America.  It was built in 1954 and carries over 120,000 riders each year.

At the top, the elevator lets out onto historic Main Street, location of the Annual Downtown Car Show. And now, thanks to an Optimist Club activity, you know a little bit of Oregon City and elevator trivia. Click here to read more. 

Optimist Clubs are well known for supporting the spirit of community. Participating in car shows and highlighting the uniqueness of our cities and culture are part of the fun of belonging. Why not join an Optimist Club as a way to give to your community and to yourself today? Click here to find out how to be an Optimist.

Making a difference in the lives of youth

Their motto is "Making a difference in the lives of youth."

Yes, the Little Haiti Optimist Club is making a difference in  Miami Beach, Florida.

One of their early activities enabled students to produce  their own video segment for Reel2Real TV. This is only  one of the ways this new Optimist Club, formed in April 2010, is giving back to their community. They also provide sports opportunities, education and tutoring, an empowerment conference for girls, ongoing community beautification programs, toy drives, family activities and more.

• Click here to see a complete list of Little Haiti Optimist Club activities for 2011. 
• Check out some of the people, companies and organizations that partner with the Little Haiti Optimist Club.
• Donate to or become a member of the Little Haiti Optimist Club.
• And please, be sure to check out the video, produced by the kids. 

From Reel2Reel TV Show from Little Haiti Optimist Club on Vimeo.

Release positive thoughts into the world

Disaster. When the 8.9 earthquake rumbled through the islands that make up Japan two days ago, it created a tsunami that reached all the way to Hawaii, California, Oregon and Washington, USA. Of course the immediate threat waned as the magnitude of the wave subsided, but it was still an eye-opening experience for all.

And the eye-opening continues. In pictures posted online by the Wall Street Journal, it is easy to see the tragedy of the situation. (WSJ Strong Earthquake Strikes Japan) In a video posted on YouTube, buildings can be seen swaying, demonstrating their architectural prowess. (Skyscrapers Sway during Japan Earthquake) And perhaps the scariest of all are the news reports of damaged nuclear reactors and the efforts to contain them. (WSJ Japan Tries Using Seawater to Cool Damaged Reactor)

We live in a global society. That is well-proved through social media as we connect quickly with stories from around the world. However, no matter how well we network or raise money and awareness for causes, geological forces and weather remain outside our grasp. We would do well to remember that as we plan for our future.

But today, that just doesn't matter. There are people, more than 9,000 from one small coastal town alone, who are missing. People must first be made secure. Then there will be infrastructure to rebuild, and lives to reconstruct. The US Air Force and Navy have been deployed to help Japan's own Self-Defense Forces; the Red Cross is at the ready, and Japan reports more than 70 specialist rescue teams have offered their services.

What should nonprofits, service clubs and individuals do? If the last global relief effort taught us anything, I believe it taught us to wait for direction. And pray. And perhaps share a positive message by reciting the Optimist Creed aloud. There is nothing wrong with sending a positive message to the world, to God, to others around us, and to the universe. It's true, positive thoughts help heal all wounds.

Download your copy of the Optimist Creed here.

Optimist Clubs participate in "Tuscon Has a Heart" Campaign

The Casas Adobes Optimist Club, along with the other Optimist Clubs in Tuscon, are joining in the community  effort to bring 12,500 people together to let the country know that Tuscon has heart.  The project is an honor to the victims of the shooting in Tuscon January 8th. It is also meant to celebrate the strength of the community.

Compassion, courage, and heart: that is what an Optimist Club is all about so the Optimist Clubs jumped wholeheartedly into the project. They are recruiting volunteers and are acting as part of the coordinating team.

Volunteers wearing red shirts will make up a giant human red heart on the the field. The design requires 12,500 individuals, and others may be seated in the bleachers. Only 20,400 people will be admitted to the free event. Donations for the Community Food Bank are appreciated.

The Tuscon Has a Heart Campaign will take place on Sunday, February 13 at Hi Corbett Field. The stadium will open at 11:00 a.m. and the photograph will be taken from the air at 2:00 p.m.

Photo credit: KVOA.com - Please click to read "Tucson Has a Heart" event going for record-breaking gathering.


Thanks to the Casas Adobes Optimist Club for the story. 

It's okay to promote your business through an Optimist Club

It's not very pretty, but it is effective. That's right, I'm reviewing another Optimist Club website today. I came across this one from an alert about sponsorships. According to the alert, the Optimist Club of Glenview, Illinois was offering sponsor links from their website for a mere $25 annual donation. Seems like a good deal to me. I clicked over to find that was an offer for members only, and still a good deal.

In addition to making a little money from this endeavor, it allows the Optimist Club to promote local businesses and increase networking activities. We join Optimist Clubs to serve our communities, but networking and increased business opportunities are a positive way to reward our dedicated members. Don't be afraid or too shy to promote your connections to your community on your Optimist Club website or blog.

We are all connected by Optimist Club projects

Sometimes I wonder how many of my posts are being read by Optimist Club members or others. I wonder if I am building an online community that treasures their involvement in an Optimist Club as much as I do.  Of course, I also wonder if anyone outside of an Optimist Club cares.

It is a strange and cathartic rhythm that I have created on this blog. I get to chronicle good news every day. Writing such stories allows me the opportunity to identify projects and programs, large and small,  that make a difference in local, physical communities around the world - you know those communities that we also call neighborhoods and cities.

I feel good every time a read and write about what an Optimist Club has done to serve their community and because I belong to an Optimist Club I intrinsically feel that I am a part of every project that is conducted under the Optimist International umbrella.  What a feeling! Such empowerment; such connectivity.

It seems that I have accidentally on purpose become a conduit for connecting the online world to the physical world at least for Optimist Clubs. I hope that others appreciate the effort.  Thanks for reading and for helping me pass our good news forward.
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Friendship builds community

There are a lot of things to love about being a part of an Optimist Club: the  projects, the purpose, the Optimist Creed  and best of all the people.  I snapped this picture last evening at the Caldwell, Idaho Optimist Club meeting.  These ladies were enjoying themselves with a little mystery.  

The mystery? They had renamed themselves for the evening: Helga, Olga and Heidi. Why?  I don't know, but it made them smile and that happiness  was enjoyed and reciprocated by all around them. 

Just for the record, a little business was conducted as well. The business and marketing manager for the Caldwell Night Rodeo made a an in-depth presentation about the renewed direction of the major community event. The Caldwell Night Rodeo (CNR) is a top-20 rodeo on the Professional Bull Riders tour making it a destination rodeo. The event draws tourists to town and in doing so, all service clubs benefit because they are the sole authorized vendors within the arena confines. The CNR volunteer board has committed this year to reinforce the fundraising opportunities within the community.  

The Caldwell Night Rodeo Queen was part of the presentation to share information about opportunities for students to benefit from scholarships generated by the rodeo.  She also described her year serving as the representative of the CNR. 

Service clubs come together to refurbish old town

It only takes one is the theme for a restoration project in Abilene, Kansas.   It only takes one person, one hour and one paintbrush to help restore the T.C. Henry Barn in Old Abilene Town; and the community's service clubs are coming together to make sure it gets done.

Working together are the Abilene Optimist Club, Rotary Club and Lions Club.  Together with the Boy Scouts, 2nd Battalion Soldiers from Ft. Riley and community volunteers, and with donations from local contractors and hardware stores the 130 carriage house will be refurbished and repainted in two days.

According to the project coordinators, the renovations will allow the legacy of Old Abilene to live on.  It houses an old stagecoach and other significant historical antiquities in an old western town.    If you are available to help on June 11-12, 2010 please call Cindy Issitt at 785.236.1770

Relationship building is the outcome of networking

It should come as no surprise to my readers that I believe in social media and the importance of the social networking phenomenon.  Building relationships online is not the future; it is here. It is now.  This video explains it all.

Enjoy, and please, share your thoughts and comments.  I'm especially interested in how you believe technology might enhance your experience and involvement with an Optimist Club.

Visit the Oregon City Pioneer Family Festival today

I wrote about it in March, but this weekend is the time to enjoy the community event that  is a major fun and fund raiser for the Oregon City Optimist Club. The Pioneer Family Festival runs this weekend and it is jam-packed full of family fun and activities.

Experience Optimism: Visit the Oregon City Pioneer Family Festival

Chillicothe Optimist Club to host Red Carpet Event

The Town Theater in Chillicothe, Illinois will open tonight with a red carpet event.  According to the article in the Peoria Journal Star:

Plans Saturday night include the arrival, starting at 6 p.m., of dignitaries - a list that includes Chillicothe Mayor Troy Childers and the mayors of Lacon and Henry - who will be let out of shiny new cars at the curb and onto a red carpet. Paparazzi will be snapping their photos and microphones of interviewers will be thrust in their faces.

Restored and now operated by the Chillicothe Optimist Club, they will use the profits to fund youth programs in the community.

The opening night movies are "Ironman 2" with Robert Downey Jr. and "The Back-up Plan" with Jennifer Lopez.   The movies will begin at 7 p.m.


For more information on this project, please read:Experience Optimism: Optimist Club reinvests in their community first published October 25, 2009.  

Economic development and optimism

Economic development is one of my passions.  When I saw that the Iowa Economic Development Corporation recently spoke to the Shenandoah Valley Optimist Club, I had to find out more.  

During a regular meeting, amidst the fun raffle drawings, planning for a blood drive and sharing Optimist Club news, Director Greg Connell enlightened the group about how important industry was to the valley.  He spoke in secret economic developer terms about "project d" and how it will require big water demands that the community can meet.  He also spoke of a lake project, algae plant and new hotel and parking facilities. 

There is more to being a social welfare organization than working with children.  The only way to be engaged with the needs of the community is to reach out, ask questions and be involved in all aspects of development.  

Has your club reached out lately?  If not, please do so first thing Monday morning.  

The "real" governor visits South Carolina Optimist Club

Optimist Clubs are not immune from politics. By politics, I mean the type where candidates are running for public office.  I always advise service organizations to remain neutral because choosing to take sides on a political issue or candidate can be polarizing not only to your members, but also to the community.  However, when the Governor of the State says he wants to visit, by all means, say yes.

That is what happened recently at the Optimist Club of Grand Strand, South Carolina.  Governor Mark Sanford made a visit on his way to the Republican gubernatorial debate.  He gave an informal presentation to the Optimist Club and asked for their help to "move South Carolina forward."

Governor Sanford also stopped by a local elementary school that had been trying to arrange a visit from him for two years.