Shop with a Cop brings kids and cops together

The Fort Smallwood Optimist Club, Annapolis Optimist Club and Cherry Hill Optimist Club came together on December 5, 2014 to hold the 11th Annual Shop with a Cop program. The clubs paired police officers with 82 children and set them loose in Walmart to do some Christmas shopping.

The officers were there to provide moral support for the children's shopping spree. Afterwards, they had lunch at the Outback Steakhouse and tackled some Christmas wrapping for the presents they bought for others.

Shop with a Cop programs are popular because they give children an opportunity to interact with police officers in a positive manner, building trust and letting them know that police officers can be their friends.

As Optimist Clubs provide youth-serving projects for communities, they are a natural catalyst to bring the two groups together. They provide the administration and funding support to make the program successful.

Fort Smallwood Optimist Club
Shop with a Cop 2014

Photos courtesy of the Fort Smallwood Optimist Club. Check out the full collection on Facebook.

Optimists, cops and kids

Here is a great picture from the Fort Smallwood Optimist Club in Pasadena, Maryland. The club held its annual Shop with a Cop program today and the officers and their shopping-buddies are about to enjoy lunch at the Outback Steakhouse.

The FortSmallwood Optimist Club teams up with the Cherry Hill Optimist Club and Annapolis Optimist Club for this activity. By including the police officers, the children are able to meet law enforcement officials at a non-threatening activity and it helps them build relationships and trust for instances when they might connect in the future. 

According to a club member, it's a good feeling to see the smiles and excitement on these less fortunate children!

And it's wonderful to see Optimist Clubs making a difference, one project at a time. 

Thanks to the Fort Smallwood Optimist Club for the picture.

Optimist volunteers help special needs children

The Optimist Club of Tall Timbers, 2nd District, Tall Timbers, Maryland received a well-earned honor this week when they were recognized by the St. Mary's County Disability Commission for their work with special needs children. As part of the ceremony, Commission Chair Susan Erichsen explained that the Tall Timbers Optimist Club is "dedicated to bringing out the best in kids through its local community service and outreach programs."  She described the Spring Dance, Shop With a Cop and the Fall Festival full of kid-friendly activities.

She then hit on two programs that set the Tall Timbers Optimist Club apart from the rest: Camp Inspire and donations annually to a specific local child in need. Each year, the Fall Festival proceeds are designated to these two programs.

• Camp Inspire is the first summer day camp in Southern Maryland designed especially for children with Autism Spectrum Disorders. It is coordinated by the St. Mary's Recreation & Parks District. 
• Specific children in need are also beneficiaries of the Optimist Club's fundraising efforts. Among others, some stories of past recipients include a 4-year old with cancer whose family received help with medical bills and a young boy with Cystic Fibrosis. 

The members of the Tall Timbers Optimist Club received the honor together as they were named "Volunteers of the Year."

See more at the Optimist Club of Tall Timbers, 2nd District website.

An active Optimist Club earns well-deserved recognition

At the last meeting of the Maryland South Delaware District - Optimist International, the Optimist Club of Mechanicsville, Maryland received multiple awards.

First, they were recognized for earning the Honor Club status, a recognition that signifies the club is doing everything right to ensure the continuity of the organization.

Next they received membership growth honors for adding nine new members and raising their club roster above 75 members. Member Kim Rye received  a special pin from Immediate Past International President Mark Shriver as a thank you for sponsoring five new members.

And finally, and most deservedly, the club was honored for having the best newsletter in the district. I haven't seen the other newsletters, but I have seen theirs and I think it is great! Please take a look at the March 2011 edition of The Northender, the official publication of the Mechanicsville Optimist Club.

The newsletter is eight pages full of activities that indicate to me this club is a fundraising machine. In March, they are hosting a live and silent auction, a yard sale and a Texas Hold 'em Tournament. On April 2, they are hosting a Fantasy Night dinner and dance. They have raffle tickets for sale and share in ongoing fundraising with the McKays Community Rewards Program  and a rebate to the club for Sandals Resort.

And guess what? In between all of that fundraising, they are hosting the Optimist International Essay Contest and a NOW (New Optimists Welcome) recruitment dinner; and they are planning a number of community service projects that include rehabbing a house for the Christmas in April program, a Halloween activity and Shop with a Cop at Christmas.

Congratulations to the Mechanicsville Optimist Club for your honors. Thank you for all you do to make your Optimist Club a vibrant, vital part of your community.

Fundraising to scale

Due to culture, geography, needs and various other reasons, fundraising efforts vary by Optimist Clubs. Nothing can be more telling than the two different stories I heard today.

The first one came from Meridian, Mississippi and it warmed my heart. I learned that the Meridian Downtown Optimist Club had just completed their Annual Pancake Jubilee and after serving 2,700 happy patrons, they were $8,000 to the good. That money will be used for T-ball and other youth activities in their community.

Later in the day I learned about a major fundraiser conducted by the Ocean City/Berlin Optimist Club in Maryland that allowed the club to give away more than $100,000 in prize money. The event was the 28th Annual Boat Show. It is held in collaboration with the Ocean City/Berlin Optimist Youth Foundation, Inc.  and organized under the joint control of the Optimist Club and the Worcester County Board of Education. The State Lottery Board is also involved and tickets priced at $100 each were sold online through the Lottery. The money raised by this event will be used for scholarships. Over the past 22 years, $1,386, 000 has been given away to students in the school district.

The second event made me think wow, what a business.

Compare the two examples. Consider how much more there is to be done in between. Then imagine how you might do the impossible in your community with the help of an Optimist Club.

You can turn your entrepreneurial spirit into a new Optimist Club and meet so many needs, big and small, and release so much potential right at home. Contact me to get started today. 

Optimist Clubs help children give to others

I've posted a few stories with pictures of Shop with a Cop programs on the Experience Optimism page on Facebook. Oddly,they weren't clicked through as frequently as other stories have been.

I thought Christmas was all about kids, and Optimist Clubs were all about making sure that everyone had the opportunity to celebrate?

Yes, I know there is a "reason for the season" and we shouldn't teach children to be materialistic, but if you aren't familiar, a Shop with a Cop program generally works like this:

• The organizing group raises money to send children on a shopping trip.
• On the day of the event, each child is told how much they have to spend.
• An adult, often a police officer, is partnered with a child and goes along with them to be sure that they buy something for themselves.

That's right; most kids want to spend the money purchasing gifts for others. Now I think that is the spirit of Christmas.

Click here for pictures from the Calvert County Optimist Club Shop with a Cop Day.
Click here for pictures from the Timonium Optimist Club Shop with a Cop program.
Click here to see more about the Gresham Optimist Club Shop with a Cop program.

Photo courtesy of Jean Jensen, Optimist Club of Gresham, Oregon. 

Information overload!

 I'm not sure if I'm shocked, thrilled or in awe about the Jacksonsville, Maryland Optimist Club website.

It is packed full of information about their club projects,where they meet and how to join. Plus it has dozens upon dozens of back pages opening up to more information about the zone, district and Optimist International than one can digest in one viewing.

Imagine this, the landing page is three home pages in one or more specifically, 12 pages when printed on legal size paper. Wow!

Kudos to the club and their very passionate webmaster who has taken on the task of promoting the club's activities and preserving their history. With a couple additions, you can make your site even more enjoyable. Please consider these suggestions:


Navigation is a good thing. There is nothing wrong with giving your readers some directions as to how to best get around your site and find the information they need. Very simple tabs for Home, About Us, Projects, Membership, Optimist International, and District would make it so much easier to find information and much less overwhelming.

Bullet points rock. Pictures and stories are interesting, but online people are busy people. They want fast, concise information and often less is more.

It is good to have choices for your prospective new members; however information overload can cause indecision if it is difficult to figure where one might fit in or how they can make a difference. Make it easy for others to participate by helping them sort through the information you provide in a timely manner. Make it easy for everyone to say, "Yes, I want to be involved."

The pictures represent approximately one third of the Jacksonville Optimist Club home page. 

Four Optimist Clubs to benefit from Poker Run

Perhaps diversity means having a few bikers in your Optimist Club. If so, you have probably considered holding Poker Run to raise funds for your next event.

A poker run is an organized activity usually involving motorcycles, bicycles, boats or cars. Participants visit five to seven prearranged stops and collect a playing card from each and the objective is to collect the best poker hand. Prizes might be awarded at the end, bragging rights are certainly in order, and everyone comes back together just to have a good time.

The Jacksonville Optimist Club, Timonium Optimist Club, Cockeyesville Optimist Club and Hereford Optimist Club in Baltimore County, Maryland are combining efforts for the annual Shop with a Cop Poker Run this Saturday, August 28, 10:00 a.m., beginning at the Maryland Line Inn.  Cost to participate is $20 for the driver and $5 per passenger with all money raised going to buy gifts for underprivileged children through the Optimist Club Shop with a Cop program at Christmas.

Download the flyer here. 

Optimist Clubs promote bicycle safety

   Isn't this fun?    I found this entry today at ExploreBaltimoreCounty.com:

An article in the April 28, 1960, edition of the Herald Argus and Baltimore Countian noted a successful safety event for kids.

The Catonsville Optimist Club was host to 90 children of the Catonsville area last Saturday, April 23, for the annual bicycle safety inspection sponsored by the club.

The inspection, conducted by members of the Optimist Club, was held on the Catonsville junior high school grounds.

Safety stickers were attached to all those that passed the inspection. Free soft drinks and doughnuts were distributed to all children participating. James B. Murray was chairman of the affair.

Across the country this weekend the Worthington Optimist Club in Minnesota was one of many Optimist Clubs holding a safety event this month.  Shown in the picture are Schianna Baumgartner and Optimist Club member Steve Bassett.

You know the project is just right when it stands the test of time.  Bicycle rodeos and safety events do just that.

Timonium Optimist Club features Young Artists Showcase

I have a new favorite Optimist Club website.  Please visit the Optimist Club of Timonium, MD.  This well-organized website explores the 50-year heritage of the Optimist Club serving their community. The reader can find out about:

• Optimist International Programs
• Timonium Optimist Club Projects
• Fundraising and Events
• How and Why to Join

But what brought me to their website today was an advertisement for the Young Artists Showcase.  Coordinated by the Timonium Optimist Club and the Towson Arts Collective, the showcase was a juried selection  of original, two-dimensional works by high school students in Baltimore and Baltimore County.  Eighteen schools and fifty-one students participated. 

Six students received honors for their work. Best entry in their respective media: Kelsey Heyman, of Owings Mills High School; Gen O'Keefe, of Notre Dame Preparatory, and Rob Payne, of Hereford High.  Honorable mention went to Rachel Peichert, of Garrison Forest; Katie Kim, of Roland Park Country, and Brooke Powell, of Garrison Forest School.

Optimist Clubs are well known for their hands-on participation in youth-serving projects.  Nurturing creativity through art exhibits is one way that Optimist Club projects seek to engage all types of students.  What a great activity!  Hurry ... the exhibit ends on February 19. 

Dundalk Optimist Club recognizes Citizens of the Year

The Optimist Club of Dundalk, Maryland honors members of the community for being Outstanding Citizen of the Year and Humanitarian of the Year.  These awards represent two ways they can recognize the efforts of others, residents and non-residents, Optimist Club members and non-members, for making the City of Dundalk a great place to live. 

Does your Optimist Club take time to recognize others?  By recognizing community builders and leaders,  your club can gain valuable exposure to others who share similar ideals and goals.  Throw a party, invite everyone and let them know how the Optimist Club encourages positive interaction and programs between youths and adults.  You might even share the Optimist Creed and invite them to be a part of the upbeat Optimist Club movement in their town. 

The Dundalk Optimist Club is currently accepting nominations for these prestigious honors.  Find out how to nominate someone here.

Optimist Clubs work to ensure all children enjoy the holiday season

For thirty-six years, families in the Prince Calvert, Maryland have been buying their Christmas trees from the Calvert Optimist Club. Generations return to the Optimist Club's designated spot on the Safeway parking lot. This year they are selling 1,050 trees and making wreaths from the fresh cut boughs.

In Champagne, Illinois, Optimist Club president Laura Auteberry spoke with the newspaper to promote their club's Christmas tree lot. "We are the only fundraising tee lot in town," she boasted.

All around the country, Optimist Clubs get in on the Christmas tree action. According to Ms. Auteberry, there are needy kids in every area, and Optimist Club programs provide joy and excitement for those kids. The Christmas tree sales are one way to go about ensuring that all youth get to enjoy the holiday season.

Blessing of the Fleet

The 7th District Optimist Club of Bushwood, Maryland has a signature event that puts them on the map as a tourist destination.  The event also serves as their major fund raiser.  What is it?  The Annual Blessing of the Fleet.

The Annual Blessing of the Fleet is a two-day family affair that takes plase at the ST. Clement's Island Museum Grounds, Coltons Point, Maryland.  There are historical tours around town, to St. Clement's Island and the Blackstone Lighthouse.  There are petting zoos and reptile exhibits.  There are magic shows, native dancing, fireworks, and all of the food and entertainment of a usual family festival.  But most important, and the reason for the event, is the Blessing of the Fleet on October 1 as the oyster harvesting season begins in Maryland.

The 7th District Optimist Club decided to organize the event at the suggestion of Father John J. Madigan and the activity has been continually celebrated for 40 years.  More than 5,000 people attend each year.  Find out more at the 7th District Optimist Club website.

It's a chain gang!

The Hereford Optimist Club in Monkton, MD was formed in 2001 and every year they have served their community with programs that include Shop with a Cop, Essay and Oratorical Contests, Adopt-a-Highway, Youth Appreciation and the Chain Gang.

Yes, you read that right: the Chain Gang.  According to Optimist members, this is the easiest project to fill with volunteers.  Every week during the school year, for varsity and junior varsity football games, Hereford Optimist Club members serve as the "chain gang" that measure and mark the ten-yard indicator for a first down. 

They claim they have the best seats in the house.  I have to say I agree.  Congratulations to the Hereford Optimist Club Chain Gang. 

Photo by Brendan Cavanaugh.