Cocoa Beach Optimist Club Fishing Derby

It's only fifteen seconds, but it is fifteen seconds of one of the best Optimist Club projects that I've seen. The Cocoa Beach Optimist Club, Florida, coordinates a huge fishout with a $10,000 prize.

Take a look at all the fun and imagine what your Optimist Club can do in its community.

How to target a mature audience

I highlight a great number of Optimist Club projects on this blog. Typically they are geared towards bringing out the best in youth or community. However, we have to raise money to do all these good deeds and while I don't highlight that many fundraising projects, I thought this one deserved a nod.

Coordinated by the Sanibel-Captiva Optimist Club, the public is invited to enjoy a food and wine festival on Sunday, March 6, 2016.

The Sanibel Uncorked Food and Wine Festival has been taking place annually since 2010. It features wine, music, cooking demonstrations and a silent auction. While it is aimed at the community to enjoy, it also captures the attention of tourists visiting the area in the winter months. 

For further information, or to buy a ticket, please call 239-472-0836. 

This is an example of providing social activities for members and the community with an adult flair. Working with youth is important and rewarding, but nurturing the interest of a mature audience is critical in the survival of our programs. Optimist Clubs need the support and interest of caring adults in order to continue to do what we do best as friends of youth. 

Children fish for $10,000 prize money with Cocoa Beach Optimist Club

Nothing is better than fishing with children unless it also involves an Optimist Club and the beauty of a Florida beach.

The Cocoa Beach Optimist Club has been delivering a priceless family experience to the Space Coast community at Port Canaveral for 32 years. This year the Great Optimist Fishout takes place on April 25, 2015. Presented by Southeastern Honda, it will be another day for the memory books.

Children in four age categories will vie for $600 in prize money for the top three biggest fish by weight in each age group. However a bigger prize awaits beneath the water. One lucky youth angler and his or her family could win a big catch of $10,000. A specially tagged fish has been released and is available for the catch. It is insured by the Cocoa Beach Optimist Club.

See some photos and read more here about the Great Optimist Fishout. 

Preview: Junior Golf at the OPTIMIST

July is a busy month for Optimist International and its member Optimist Clubs. Early in the month is the Optimist International Convention, currently taking place in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Later in the month is the Optimist International Junior Golf Championships at the PGA National Resort in Florida.

The OPTIMIST is scheduled to tee off next weekend, July 19-24 for boys 10 to 15 and girls 10 to 14.  Boys 16 to 18 and girls 15 to 18 will play July 24 to 26.

One of the premier junior golf tournaments in the United States, the OPTIMIST draws junior golfers from thirty countries outside of the United States and players from every state within. Over 600 junior golfers will participate in 2012.

Find out more about all Optimist International Junior Golf programs by clicking here.

Find out who is playing in the OPTIMIST in 2012 by clicking here.

Find out how you can be involved with youth sports in an Optimist Club by clicking here.

Photo credit: Optimist International Junior Golf on Facebook. 

Be intolerant of intolerance

On Friday, thousands of students walked out of school in the US, many joining a Million Hoodie March to stand in honor of Trayvon Martin, a 17-year-old student killed in Florida one month ago, possibly a victim of the controversial "Stand Your Ground" law.

President Obama spoke in a personal manner saying, "If I had a son, he would look like Trayvon." His words elevated the racially charged incident to the presidential campaign level prompting the GOP candidates to also speak of the tragedy.

Yesterday on Optilink, a member-run listserve of Optimist International, a lone voice commented that the slaying made him very sad because Trayvon volunteered six days a week with his Optimist Club. I had seen that in a similar report in USA Today and if one searches for that information today they will see dozens of news sources have picked up the report that Trayvon's father is active in the Miramar Optimist Club and that Trayvon played football with the program until he aged out. He still gave time to the program by working in the concession stand.

One would think that knowing that this young man was a product of an Optimist Club project would make the incident more personal to Optimist Club members around the world. No one else, not even I, have added a comment to the Trayvon Martin thread in the forum. Is it death we fear? Are we afraid to comment on a racially charged incident? Is there concern that as individuals we don't know enough to make a comment?

How very sad of all of us. If it were a child with cancer, I can think of at least a half dozen people that would chimed in with a story, a quote, or a call to action.

Evil prevails when good people do nothing. This paraphrased quotation is apropos for the situation. There is an elephant in the room and if we are too afraid to speak of problems like guns,diversity and intolerance, they will persist.

There is no doubt that published tapes of the 911 call about the Trayvon Martin incident reveal the intolerance of the caller and shooter. He profiled young Trayvon based on his skin color and while we may never know the actual reason he felt he needed to shoot, there is little doubt that the caller pursued a situation after he was told to stop.

A young man has died and whatever the circumstance that makes me sad; it shouldn't happen. I hope that by participating in an Optimist Club, I can affect such tragedies. It would seem to me that the call to action for this situation must be directed to the adult members of our clubs. We cannot look the other way. Helping the kids on the football field or with a club program means very little if we fail to monitor our behaviors in other situations.

You can begin to change your behavior in small ways. For instance, the next time someone tells an inappropriate joke, say something. Calling foul when someone tells a racist joke may not make you the  most popular Optimist Club member in the room, but it will make you one of the most ethical.

The time has come to make a stand: we must be intolerant of intolerance.

Photo credit: Time Magazine

It's hats-on for kids undergoing chemo

A hat tree, for when it is really needed.

A favorite Optimist Club cause is to help support children who are diagnosed with cancer and their families. On a national level, the Optimist International Foundation collects donations for childhood cancer research at Johns Hopkins University, but at the local level the projects vary, often driven by a need expressed by a child, family or local hospital or support group.

Some Optimist Clubs raise money for travel so that a parent can accompany their child to long-term treatment, others give parties or gifts to raise spirits. The ideas and needs are great and Optimist Clubs love to fill in where they can.

I was quite touched by the simplicity of the project that I came across today on Twitter when Lee Memorial Health System shared this photo: a hat tree.  The accompanying update from @Lee_Memorial was "Originally donated by the Optimist Club of San Carlos Park, here's our hat tree for kids undergoing chemo." 

Giving the hat tree is just the beginning of this practical project. Replenishing it is just as important.  What a wonderful idea for a club that wants to get involved with the Optimist International Childhood Campaign right at home.

Lee Memorial Health System is in Lee County, Florida. The San Carlos Park Optimist Club has been serving the Lee County community since 1987 by supporting community festivals and sports programs, scholarship programs, oratorical and essay contests and other programs that help children live up to their full potential. 

Photo credit: Lee Memorial Thanks for sharing the story.

Getting ready for the big game

Runners are known to load up on carbohydrates when running a marathon and it looks like maybe these cheerleaders from the Marco Island Optimist Eagles Football league are doing the same.

Their first game was last Saturday and along with the players and coaches, earlier in the week, they enjoyed a complimentary kick-off dinner at Nacho Mama's Restaurant.

This is one example of how community partners can support youth sports programs with your Optimist Club. Often we look for monetary donations in return for advertising on the fields and the uniforms, but treating the families to a little something special introduces them to area businesses and encourages mutual patronage. Be open to what your business community can offer.

Besides, what's better than a free lunch? Parents will tell you a free dinner and no dishes to clean up after is always a winning combination.

Find out more about the Marco Island Optimist Club and the football program .

Read the full article about the kick-off dinner at marcoisland.com .

An Optimist Club story found @Twitter

I can't say that I have ever seen 11 retweets about an Optimist Club project until today when it was announced that the Beaches Optimist Club had awarded a scholarship to a student at Florida State University Panama City. (FSU PC)

What's the big deal? 

1. It was the fourth endowed scholarship to be awarded by the club.
2. Each scholarship is renewable for $25,000 per year.
3. The value of scholarships endowed by the Beaches Optimist Club is $105,000 annually. 

The latest recipient is Jennifer White. She is the first recipient of the Optimist Club of the Beaches Law Enforcement Endowed Scholarship.

According to David Blanchard, President, Optimist Club of the Beaches, the decision to focus on law enforcement came from connecting two of the purposes of Optimist International: respect for law and supporting youth. It also comes at the 100th anniversary of the birth of Optimist Clubs in the United States. 

Thanks to Twitter and the NewsHerald.com for the story. 

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.

Junior golfers tee-off at THE OPTIMIST

Five junior golfers named Optimist champions.
Winning their age division at
THE OPTIMIST were:
Evan DeRoche of Key West, FL (Boys 14-15),
Brooke Henderson of Smiths Falls, ON (Girls 13-14),
Philip Barbaree of Shreveport, LA (Boys 12-13),
 Clare Amelia Legaspi of the Philippines (Girls 10-12),
and Parathakorn Suyasri of Thailand (Boys 10-11). 

The Optimist, a premier tournament for junior golfers age 10-18 is underway in at the PGA National Resort in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida.  There are five hundred and ninety-eight players, representing 30 nations involved in the tournament this year.

Most are sponsored by an Optimist Club, having advanced through club and district level play. Some have qualified at-large with championship scores. One of the greatest things about the tournament is the ability to raise positive young sportsmen and women, starting at the early age of 10 years.

All players spend a week at the program; golfing, of course, but also learning from leaders in the field, motivational speakers, and from each other. There's some fun time like longest drive competitions and some serious team-building activities like the Optimist Golf World Cup, where two-person teams play for their country and their teammates.  Team Chile placed first in a play-off with Team Indonesia. Only one stroke behind was Team Mexico.

Tomorrow, the 16-18 year-old players will learn their tee-times tomorrow and play will be underway on July 28. Until now, the younger players have shown their stuff. Check out the results of The Optimist 15 and under players here.

Tee times for girls 15-18 will be posted July 27. 
Tee times for boys 16-18 will be posted July 28. 
Visit Optimist Junior Golf to learn more. 

Picture provided by Optimist Junior Golf and Optimist International.

Optimist International Junior Golf Champion Jeff Overton returns to the PGA National

Jeff Overton as a college
player for Indiana

The Honda Classic tees off this week on the Champion Course at the PGA National Resort and Spa, Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. For player Jeff Overton, it's sort of like going home.

You see, the PGA National is home to the Optimist International Junior Golf Championship, an event that Overton won ten years ago.  Driving from his family's home in Evansville, Indiana to play in that year's event, Overton claimed the only junior golf tournament that he ever won.

Overton went on to play for the University of Indiana before turning pro six seasons ago. According to some, Overton is the best player without a PGA Tour title. Optimist Club members around the world will be cheering on their champion this week to make a similar charge to victory as he did ten years ago.

From Optimists everywhere - best of luck Jeff!

The Optimist International Junior Golf Championships begins later this month as golfers under 18 years of age work through club and district play to qualify for the summer championship series.  Junior golfers can also qualify for additional tournaments. Read more about the series at Optimist International Junior Golf. 

Tough enough to wear pink

The picture comes from a story in Sports Illustrated about recruiting practices in high school football.

The young man is Akeem Jones. He is a high school sophomore who just landed a spot on the South Florida Express, a seven-on-seven football league that was formed to give school-age athletes more access to sports scholarships by giving them more opportunities to play and be noticed by scouts.

My post isn't to chime in on the practice. I wanted to note three things about Akeem, two that are evident in this picture and one that is not.

1. Akeem is a caring person. Look at those pink socks. He is  wearing them in memory of his grandmother who died in October of breast cancer. He provides pink socks to others who are interested in raising awareness for the cause. 
2. Akeem has bigs hopes and dreams. Look at the passion in his face. He has a goal, a gift, and the drive to do what it takes to be successful. 
3. Akeem is a product of Optimist Youth Football. According to SI, he is 6'3", 186 pounds and has a bazooka attached to his right shoulder.

Optimists know that he was a kid that needed an opportunity to play and grow. The Optimist Youth Football program was there for him as a child, teaching positive values and sportsmanship along with football fundamentals.  Should he need them, his coaches will be there as he matures and makes decisions in his life. Most of all, they will be there cheering him on. Good luck Akeem!

Read the story about seven-on-seven football at SI.com. 

I support the (fill in the blank) Optimist Club

Our Optimist Clubs frequently say they need more promotion and wish for celebrity spokespersons. One of the challenges of a celebrity spokesperson would be finding the one person who speaks to all populations.

Earlier this year a new Optimist Club was built in the Little Haiti neighborhood of Miami, Florida. Named for its community, you might imagine that the members of the Little Haiti Optimist Club and the children that benefit from their service are a different demographic than an Optimist Club in Utah, Oregon, or Idaho. Not only do they live in a different part of the country, in differently styled or appointed neighborhoods, they are significantly younger than the average Optimist Club member. So knowing  who could speak to their community best, they created their own Celebrity Support video.

Please take a look at a Celebrity Support video for the Little Haiti Optimist Club.



Don't know the celebrities? That's okay, it wasn't meant for your community. But it is a great, easy idea that you can do for your Optimist Club.

Get out your Flip Video and at your next Chamber of Commerce meeting ask your local celebrities to support your Optimist Club. It's local, relevant to your demographic, plus it really is free and easy promotion. Please be sure to send me your link or your video once it is published. Let's show our support for our Local Optimist Club.

What do Optimist Clubs raise money for?

The Optimist Club of North Pensacola, Florida is celebrating their 48th anniversary this year.  During the annual club officer installation they recognized the groups and organizations who have benefited from their fundraising efforts. This year alone more than $30,000 was given to:

• Take Stock in Children  
• The Leaning Post Ranch  
• Just Say No to Drugs program at five elementary schools  
• Camp Happy Sands  
• Westgate Center  
• West Florida High School Football and Girls Softball  
• Gull Point Dancers  
• Boy Scouts of America (Challenged) Troop 409  
• Bill Bond Boys Baseball  Girls Softball  
• Workman Middle School Cross Country  
• Wings of Hope (Children's Cancer)  
• Federal Naturalization Ceremony 
• Spencer Bibs School Reading Program

The North Pensacola Optimist Club gets involved hands-on with programs as well by coordinating the Optimist International Essay and Oratorical Contests and Bicycle Safety Programs. 

It's always good to see a list of Optimist Club beneficiaries. Yes, Optimist Clubs touch all areas of our lives.

Optimist Club recognizes unsung heroes in Polk County, FL schools

One hundred and forty unsung heroes were praised by the Winter Haven Optimist Club, Winter Haven, Florida at the annual Youth Appreciation Luncheon. This is the 24th consecutive year that the club has recognized students, teachers and administrators from the 70 schools in Polk County.

Each school was asked to send two students to the event who have demonstrated good conduct, positive attitude, school spirit, and a strong desire to do their best at all times. In addition to lunch and praise from the Optimist Club and a host of guest speakers, each student received a goody bag filled with educational items. Four teachers were also recognized as being unsung heroes during the afternoon event.

Over the years, more than 3,800 students have been honored by the Winter Haven Optimist Club during Youth Appreciation activities.  Yes, Winter Haven Optimists are friends of youth.

Selling Christmas trees in Miami

Optimist Clubs sell a great number of Christmas trees every year, even in Miami. I saw this picture and I wondered, where do Christmas trees come from in the southernmost United States?

According to the Optimist Club of Miami Springs, Florida, their shipment came from Boone, North Carolina.  The tree of choice is the Frazier Fir and they sell for anywhere in between $25 and $100.

Like most Optimist Clubs, they plan to sell out of their 1,000 trees in 2 weeks. Happy selling!

See a related article in the River Cities Gazette. 

Fundraising with fashion

A new project! I read about so many projects, programs and fundraising ideas that it is always refreshing when I stumble upon a new idea being put forth by an Optimist Club. The latest isn't really a new idea, but it might be the first time I have seen it conducted by Optimist Club members. What is it? A fashion show.

With such popular television shows as Project Runway and America's Top Model, one might think that a fashion show would be more popular. Perhaps it is in different circles, and evidently it has a following in this community for the fashion show in question is the 4th Annual Fashion Extravaganza for the Wakulla Coastal Optimist Club of Panacea, Florida.

The Fashion Extravaganza will be held on Thursday, October 7 at the Wakulla County Senior Center. All proceeds help continue two endowed educational scholarship programs through the Wakulla County Education Boosters. Click here to read more about it. 

Photo credit: Paperplayday's Blog

Christmas in July?

As I was surfing Optimist Club Facebook pages, I found this intriguing picture of Santa Claus. There he is, the jolly old elf himself, front and center with a group of motorcycles and police officers who have his back. I had to find out more!

As it turns out, this picture was actually uploaded by Susan Messina of the Oviedo Optimist Club back in January.  She was excited about the Annual Santa Run that her Optimist Club organizes with the police department and Boys and Girls Town every Christmas. Santa and his brigade race through town with lights and sirens to deliver presents and cheer to kids at Boys and Girls Town. The Optimist Club barbecues and everyone has a wonderful time.

This might be a good time to start planning for such an event in your community.  It's a safe bet that Santa will be ready when you are!

Thank you Susan for the picture and story and for what you do to share Optimism in your community.

What are they selling?

According to the Jackson County Chamber of Commerce in Marianna, Florida it is time for the 5th Annual Boston Butt Sale.  Tickets can be purchased through May 25 from any Northeast Jackson County Optimist Club member at the smokin' price of only $20.  Purchasers will enjoy "the best butts in town."

Okay, put away your bad jokes for a minute and ask yourself why would anyone place such an ambiguous advertisement in their local community?

• To draw attention
• Because the activity is so well-known it doesn't need further explanation
• For the shock value
• To get the word out with a sense of humor

Wikipedia explains that the Boston butt is the cut of pork that comes from the upper part of the front leg and may contain the blade bone.  According to southern chef Paula Dean, it's a great cut to smoke.

I can think of so many other fun activities that might take place with this fundraiser such as a barbecue cook-off or recipe book.  I hope they have plans to grow their activity into a real community event.

Plant City Optimist Club makes playground donation

A very popular project for Optimist Clubs is building or refurbishing a community playground. In past years, participation usually meant fundraising and lending volunteer hands in its construction. Today, more often than not, Optimist Clubs donate to large playground projects in their community.

The latest group to donate a large amount is the Plant City Optimist Club of Florida. Their donation of $40,000 will take place over a three year period. According to the Parks and Recreation Department, the funds will go towards building concession stands and other park amenities. The park will acknowledge the Optimist Club support with signs near the project.

Here's a picture submitted by the Plant City Optimist Club of the donation being made to the city.