How to play baseball in Alamogordo

Donkey basketball? Seen it and done it way back in high school. However, donkey baseball is another story. I had never heard about it or seen it until the Alamogordo Optimist Club put on their most recent fundraiser while fielding grounders astride little burros. Even the Major League Baseball organization called out the club for it's uniqueness.

"Think fielding grounders is hard? Now try fielding grounders while on a donkey," said Matt Monagan at the Cut 4 blog. And that appeared under a classic headline, "There are people playing baseball while riding donkeys in New Mexico."

My rendition of their stories would not do justice to the sport. Please read more here:

Cut 4 Blog

Almogordo News

Way to make headlines Optimists! We love your spirit at the Alamogordo Optimist Club.

In Albuquerque, Optimist Club remembers the forgotton

Optimist Clubs find not only unmet needs in their communities, but sometimes they identify the unseen needs as well. So it was for the Evening Optimist Club of Albuquerque, New Mexico when member Leland Yates explained to his Optimist Club that as a cross-country bus driver he saw many unhappy children who had to travel at Christmas-time.

In order to meet this need in their community, the Optimist Club created Santa's Workshop so that children in transit through their downtown bus and train station would receive a gift bag. According to Leland, families often hit the road, traveling across the country, without any toys or games for their kids.

The program has been successful because the train and bus stations help coordinate the space on Christmas Day and other organizations get involved with donations. According to the coordinating committee, this program is growing. They are planning at least 20 additional gift bags this year. Good news, the community is engaged and individuals make contributions to the cause as well.

The Optimist Club credits the news stations for helping them to get the word out to the community. Contributors often cite that they were moved to give by the news story.

Please watch "The Forgotton."

Alamogordo Optimists learn about the White Sands

As part of the annual Youth Appreciation Celebration, the Optimist Club of Alamogordo, New Mexico welcomed the JOOI Club from the Academy del Sol to a meeting. In return for their hospitality, the students entertained the group with puppets. That's right, puppets.

The JOOI Club is developing a production that uses puppets as characters, "The Invasion of the White Sands Critters."

The White Sands National Monument is approximately 16 miles from Alamagordo. It's pristine white sands make it a natural wonder. Even more so, according to the national parks website, there is no water source for animals that live on the White Sands. All of their water must come from the foods they eat and that makes me wonder, how do plants grow without water? There would be much to learn about this unusual habitat. 

Kudos to the JOOI students on their production. 

Thanks to the Optimist Club of Alamogordo for sharing their pictures with us.

Mad Hatters Optimist Club promotes literacy

I saw this promotion for Tom Clancy's book Shadow Watch:

"This book has been released into the wild by the Mad Hatters Optimist Club of Las Cruces. PROMOTE LITERACY!! Let a child catch YOU reading!!"

I have no idea what it means for this book to be "released into the wild" by this Optimist Club, but I do know that reading is a good thing.  Helping children to discover the joy of reading is an even better thing.

The Mad Hatters Optimist Club of Las Cruces, NM has been involved in literacy programs since being chartered in 2007.  They have held book drives; they promote the Optimist International Essay Contest, and have a lot of fun celebrating Lewis Carroll's birthday, tea party and all. 

Adults, children and reading.  What a great mix.