Praise for all contributors

This picture caught my eye today.

It was published at JenksJournal.com with a descriptive paragraph, "Optimist provides holiday food baskets ... The Jenks Optimist Club, partnered with the Jenks Police Department, area churches, the Jenks Chamber of Commerce and the Jenks Alternative Center, donated holiday food baskets to Jenks West Elementary and the Jenks Alternative Center."

What crossed my mind when reading the paragraph was wow, those three ladies are sure doing the work for a lot of people. And then I thought how easy it would be to dismiss the great number of partnerships that help service clubs thrive in their communities. It takes collaboration to prevent needs and people from falling through the cracks during the holidays and even more so throughout the year.

Next time your Optimist Club is fortunate to be photographed for the paper, try to be aware that the picture gives a good representation of the story because we know, it's a lot easier to read the headline, look at the picture and move on. As an Optimist Club, or any service club, be sure that your partners receive praise for their contributions at the same time that you receive praise for your coordination of an activity. We're all in this together!

Foster Children treated to Christmas Party

The Optimist Club of Bixby, Oklahoma enjoyed caroling at its club Christmas party and then two days later, the members shared their special brand of joy with others when they hosted the Foster Children Christmas Party. This annual event assists families by providing gifts for foster children.

While there, the children also got to talk to Santa and they enjoyed pizza, face painting, and yes, Christmas carols. Miss Bixby and her court were also in attendance and they took turns reading Christmas stories to the group.

The Foster Children Christmas Party has been a community tradition for 20 years. To support the program, the Optimist Club receives a list of area foster children from the Department of Human Services. They then reach out to the families to see if they want to participate in the event. Those that participate provide a wish list to the Optimist Club and Santa's Helpers, aka Optimist Club members go to work to find the items on the lists.

According to a club spokesperson, the kids will often ask for warm clothing and bedding, but the club also makes sure to make the gifts fun. After all, making kids smile, especially at Christmas, is what the Optimist Club strives to do best.

Photo contributed by the Bixby Optimist Club. 

Caroling at the Bixby Optimist Club

Optimist Clubs support children's programs throughout the year and it is always delightful when students come to Optimist Club meetings to say thank you. Sometimes those remarkable young people visit and perform. That happens frequently during the holiday season and that's what's happening here.

Recently, the North Intermediate Choir visited the Optimist Club of Bixby, Oklahoma and shared songs of Christmas cheer. I hope you enjoy.

 

Bixby Optimist Club goes fishing

Fishing derbies are a popular Optimist Club activity. Where else can you teach traditional values and patience, and enjoy the outdoors at the same time? The latest Optimist Club to share a video with me about their fishing experience was the Optimist Club of Bixby, Oklahoma. Hope you enjoy!

Optimist Day in Oklahoma and beyond

March 2, 2013 was officially declared Oklahoma Optimist Day by Governor Mary Fallin. This auspicious event coincided with the Southwest Parallel District Conference held in the Southwest that included Optimist Clubs from South Texas, New Mexico/West Texas, Colorado/Wyoming, Arkansas, Kansas, North Texas and Oklahoma.

The leadership activity was open to all members and included lectures on new club building, membership, social media, fundraising and governance. The keynote presentation was given by Sean Kouplen about finding fulfillment and clarity in one's life.

Have you ever wondered what does a gubernatorial proclamation mean to an organization? It means awareness on many levels, but most important, I think, is it means that someone cares enough to share the mission of the organization with influential citizens who bring added recognition to the cause.

Perhaps every day should be Optimist Day somewhere. Everywhere.

Optimist Oratorical Contest season is underway

The Optimist Club of Bixby, Oklahoma is off to an early start with this year's Optimist International Oratorical Contest and they went to YouTube to let the student speakers tell us about it.




The Optimist International Oratorical Contest takes place between January and May and all Optimist Clubs use the same topic to launch the students on their way to a $2,500 scholarship. Funded by the Optimist International Foundation, approximately $150,000 is given away annually.

The official topic for 2012-2013 is "Why My Voice is Important." Download the Optimist International Oratorical Contest application. Find out more about the contest at Optimist.org. 

Oklahoma junior golfers are headed to Florida

With more than ten alerts in my inbox today about golf, I would say the most predominant activity taking place with Optimist Clubs this month is the Optimist International Junior Golf Championships.

The Oklahoma District held its qualifying tournament on Wednesday. Placing first in the Girls 15-18 Division was Anna Kim and in the Boys Division 16-18, Holden Crago. Both are shown here with District Governor Judy Evans with the Bixby Optimist Club.

Twenty-five golfers participated in the tournament at the Page Belcher Course in Tulsa.

Anna and Holden advance to the Optimist International Junior Golf Championships at the PGA National Resort and Spa being held at the end of July.

See all qualified junior golfers at this link. This will be updated until all Districts have reported.

Thanks to the Oklahoma District - Optimist International for the story. 

An Optimist Club member's work is never done

It's July 6. The 93rd Annual Optimist International Convention has come to a close. Optimist Club members came together to tweak policies, elect officers, learn about new opportunities to work with our communities and share our spirit of positivity.

It was a good weekend, and at home, our Optimist Clubs continued their fine work. For example, in Bixby Oklahoma, a new shoe drive began.  According to Dr. Tom Outhier, school begins on August 11 and shoes are needed, any size for school-aged children. The Optimist Club distributes the shoes before opening day through the Bixby Community Outreach Center.

In Middleton, Idaho, the Optimist Club set up a refreshment stand at the annual 4th of July parade in order to help raise funds for a new middle school tennis program with the potential players as the lead salespeople.

In Huntsville, Alabama, the new "Everybody Can Play Playground" opened with an 8-year child with Downs Syndrome as one of the first taker. The Kiwanis and Optimist Clubs raised $450,000 to construct the playground and plan on raising another $250,000 for a splash pad.

The Morning Optimist Club of Sioux Falls, South Dakota planned a carnival to raise money to send kids with cancer to camp Bring it On. The carnival will be held August 27.

In Canada and the Caribbean, throughout the United States and all countries with Optimist Clubs, great work continues with the spirit of optimism. Our cause, our mission is strong.

"All You Need is Corn"

It's back! The Bixby Green Corn Festival will start tomorrow, Thursday, June 23 and run through Saturday evening, June 25, Charley Young Park, Bixby, Oklahoma.

Presented and coordinated by the Bixby Optimist Club, the Green Corn Festival brings the community together for weekend of old-fashioned family fun and entertainment. 

Download the complete schedule here: Bixby Green Corn Festival 2011. 

Be sure to note the times for free roasting ears - while they last, the talent show, contests for all ages and skills, and the Green Corn Parade. End your evening with the Bixby Round Up Club Rodeo or with music at the Charley Young Park Gazebo Stage. 

The celebration will wrap up on Saturday evening with a Street Dance, north of the park, featuring Danny Davis & His Detours Band. 

The Bixby Green Corn Festival is now in its 36th Year.  It's a great example of how a service club can bring the community together to play and grow. 

Optimists reinforce good behaviors

For an organization whose original motto was "Friend of the Delinquent Boy," Optimist Clubs do a lot of recognizing of good children.

Could it be that Optimist Clubs believe in positive reinforcement of good behaviors? I would say so, yes.

Optimist International has five driving purposes. (Purposes of Optimist International) All are aimed at making our society a better place to live by developing responsible, caring citizens and fostering a positive outlook on life. To that end, the founders of the organization created social programs to address the needs they saw in their communities and adopted a framework that would be flexible as time passed and needs changed.

Since its adoption in 1922, the motto has changed from "Friend of the Delinquent Boy," to "Friend of Boy," to "Friend of Youth," and has now largely been forsaken in favor of the last clause of the mission/vision statement "Bringing out the Best in Children." Over the years, the needs have changed and Optimist Clubs have evolved to meet specific needs in their own communities.

One constant has remained: Optimist Clubs help children reach their full potential by honoring them, recognizing them, working with them, and encouraging them to be better citizens. One might even say that  Optimist Clubs hold Youth Appreciation Week year-round, fifty-two weeks a year and by showing their appreciation, they encourage others to try harder and do more to contribute to their families, schools and communities.

Such positive reinforcement is a model for a positive, optimistic life.

Thanks to the Optimist Club of Bixby, Oklahoma for the photo of Susan Bevard, Club President presenting honor cords to student members of the National Honor Society. 

Bixby Optimist Club sponsors and coordinates Green Corn Festival

The Optimist Club of Bixby, Oklahoma will host the Annual Green Corn Festival on June 24-25 at Charley Young Park in downtown Bixby.  The event includes music, parade, carnival rides, bingo and other great games for young and old; but some of the greatest entertainment of the weekend is the Miss Bixby Pageant and the Youth Talent Show.


Optimist Clubs pride themselves on bringing out the best in kids.  Additionally, they support local communities in the way that the community needs most.  The Green Corn Festival is a celebration that brings the community together for traditional fun activities.


Check out the schedule here. 


Shown above is Miss Bixby, Sara Subramaniam, with the Bixby Green Corn Festival poster for 2010.  Students in 9 - 12 grades created posters that were judged and then auctioned to guests at a chamber luncheon meeting.  All proceeds benefit Optimist youth projects in the Bixby community.

Miss Bixby Contest presented by the Optimist Club

Sixteen lovely young ladies are vying for the title of Miss Bixby, Oklahoma in the 31st Annual Optimist Club Miss Bixby Contest. The event takes place on Saturday, April 3, 2010, but so much goes on before the contestants take the stage.

In the weeks leading up to the event, the ladies practice; they participate in mock interviews, practice walking on stage with lights and using microphones, learn poise  and discuss fashion and evening gown appearance and their overall image.  It is more than a beauty contest; the Miss Bixby Contest teaches poise and helps participants develop character and presence.

And for the community... a $5 entry fee to watch these young ladies as they perform helps raise money for scholarships for students from the Bixby area.  It is victorious night for the community.  Best wishes to the ladies and the Bixby Optimist Club. 

Photo courtesy of the Bixby Optimist Club.

Optimist Club coordinates Science Fair

The Optimist Club of Duncan, Oklahoma received 220 entries in the annual Stephens County Science Fair. Students from fifth through eigth grade participated and first, second and third place winners were named in each age group for life science, engineering and physical science categories.

The judges also named top entries from all categories for Innovation and Communication. Collaborating organizations also named top entries for an entry by a young lady, an agriculture science award, hospital scene award, science and engineering, environmental and energy awards.

Photo courtesy of the Duncan Optimist Club.  Left to right are the fifth grade winners: Darien Vassella, first; Graham Cox, second; Perri Presgrove, third; Sydney Ashton, honorable mention; Aubrey Edmonson, honorable mention.

No Poison program in Bixby, Oklahoma

The Optimist Club of Bixby, Oklahoma received a $500 grant from the Optimist International Foundation for a start-up program aimed at reducing drug and alcohol abuse and smoking in teens. 

On October 30, they will roll out the second phase of their "No Poison" awareness program during the Bixby High School football game.  Here's how it works:  every student who brings in a t-shirt or cap that advertises a nicotine or alcohol product will receive a new t-shirt or cap that says no to drugs, alcohol and tobacco.  The shirts and caps will be handed out as long as they last.

In the first phase of the program teens participated in a sticker party by placing stickers on cases of beer at a local market.  The sticker reminded the clerk and the consumer to check for identification and not to sell to minors.

What an interesting way to engage with the students.  Way to go Bixby Optimists. 

Fishing Derby hosted by Optimist Club of Bixby, OK

As we head into summer, what could be a better activity than fishing? You guessed it! Teaching kids to fish. That was part of the fun at the 34th Annual Optimist Fishing Derby hosted by the Optimist Club of Bixby, OK.

Bixby area personalities Dick Faurot of Channel 6 and Keith and Cody Hays of KWHB-46 were on hand to offer fishing advice and film footage that will be aired on an upcoming edition of The Future of Fishing.

According to the Optimists, 78 children from ages 2 to 15 participated in the derby. The largest fish was a black bass caught by young Easton Abel. It weighed in at 1 pound, 13 ounces. All participants received T-shirts and all the hot dogs they could eat from the Optimist Club. Zebco provided prizes for all winning anglers.

What great summer fun! See the article online at the Bixby Bulletin. Or on Scribd: Bixby Fishing Derby. Photo courtesy of Anthony Jumper.