Optimists help first responders help kids

Every year, at a Boise State University basketball game, the Boise Noon Optimist Club will collect hundreds of teddy bears during its program aptly named Operation Bear Care. These plush characters are then given to first responders who keep them in their vehicles and give them to children when they are in an unfortunate or traumatic situation. Other Optimist Clubs and service groups around the country perform similar projects, reaching out to kids to help relieve their anxiety and bolster a comfortable relationship between youngsters and law enforcement.

From L to R: Brandon Blanchard, David Wilke,
Blaine Shutts, Andrea Brownlee and Lorraine Sinnott.

The Optimist Club of Oskaloosa, Iowa has taken this program a step further. They have created an activity kit backpack that is filled with small toys, crayons and coloring books. Serving the same purpose, its approach reaches across a broader age-range. According to Police Chief Jake McGee, the backpacks help distract children when they are in a stressful situation so that he police can do what they need to do. "Hopefully, [it] comforts them a little bit," he concluded. 

Optimist Club President Andrea Brownlee said, "We thought it was a good idea. Something we could do to help the community."

Understated, but there when needed; yes indeed, Ms. Brownlee,  it is a great way to be of service.

Photo credit: Oskynews.org

Bike safety from the Optimist Club

What does a bike safety day look like? That's a question that I've been asked more than once and I'm almost embarrassed to describe the minimal amount of work that can go into making one a success. Find some volunteers, set up some safety cones, add in kids on bikes, and teach them how to be safe when they are riding, especially in traffic. Of course wearing a helmet is de rigueur, so check to be sure the helmets of your participants fit properly.

The good news is that police departments and fire departments love this type of activity and with proper notice most will get involved with your Optimist Club to provide this service to the community. Involving others is then up to your imagination! What would make the day fun for all?

The Huron Valley Optimist Club and the Friends of White Lake Library recently combined their vision and imagination to host a Bike Fest and Safety Day. Watch the 2-minute video and see what they brought to life for their community and then go ahead, give it a try in yours.


Huron Valley Optimists and Friends of White Lake Library - BikeFest and Family Safety Day 2013 from Huron Valley Schools on Vimeo.

Hollywood Optimist Club presents the Junior Blind Olympics

George Ohan, president of the Optimist Club of Hollywood shares his video production skills with a video of the Junior Blind Olympics 2013. The Optimist Club supports the program through the Optimist Blind Youth Association.

Youth, ages 6-19 , are invited to participate in the annual event where they will gain confidence, friendship, and a true sense of accomplishment through competition. All events are adapted and coaches are on hand to instruct along the way. No experience is necessary for the athletes.

Busy weekend ahead for the Blair Optimist Club

It's a new week! And it is a grand time to promote more of what Optimist Clubs do to make your community a better place to live.

In Blair, Nebraska, the Optimist Club is planning two events for this weekend. Both are worthy of notice. On Saturday, May 4, 2013, the Blair Optimist Club will host the 2nd Annual Pitch, Hit & Run Competition. It takes place on Little League Opening Day at the Blair Little League Fields. How's that for awesome cooperation between organizations?

The second event allows the Blair Optimist Club to collaborate with the Blair Police Department as they host  a Bicycle Rodeo on Sunday, May 5, 2013. The kids get free helmets and a bike safety check-up, and they ride through a challenging obstacle course designed to help them learn the rules of the road. Plus, all kids are entered to win a bicycle.

Optimist Clubs serve many needs in our communities. Working with other organizations makes the experience that much richer for all. Great job, Blair Optimist Club!

Please click on the photos to enlarge and download the flyers.

Let little ones know they are safe

"When I look at the world, I am pessimistic, but when I look at people I am optimistic."
                                 - Carl Rogers







The surreal lockdown of Boston on April 19, 2013, left even optimists wondering about their faith in humanity. Special kudos must go to the townspeople, the government entities and businesses that complied with the Governor's request that people stay home while the manhunt for the individuals suspected of the Boston Marathon bombing was carried out; and special thanks to the law enforcement officers at all levels that brought the Boston Marathon bombers to justice. With one dead and one apprehended, we may never know what led the two young men to hate their fellow human beings enough to cause them harm.

Over the next months we will hear of faith-driven motives and political differences, and probably about teenage angst, mental incompetency, and any number of other possible reasons that terrorists strike. We need to be especially careful at this time to pay attention to our youth. They are little sponges that see and hear what is going on in the world around them and react in a variety of ways. As adults, we must reassure them that sometimes bad people do bad things, but the world is a good place to be.

Some tips to remember:

• Limit exposure to the television and news 
• Be honest and share as much information with them as they are developmentally able to understand
• Take time to talk and listen to their fears and concerns
• Build relationships that foster and convey trust 
• Keep routines as normal as possible

Finally, help children know what to do in the unlikely event something were to happen close to them. FEMA has prepared suggestions for a Family Emergency Plan for explosions, bomb threats, and suspicious packages and letters. Some might think introducing these tools to young children will cause anxiety of its own, but I believe it is a reassuring step that lets the child know that plans for her safety have been thought out in advance.

For children, or for anyone, there is comfort in knowing that in crisis situations, someone will be thinking specifically of them.



Photo credit: North Street at Faneuil Hall from www.boston.com, Neal Hamberg/Reuters. 

April is Optimist International Internet Safety Month

On April 1, 2013, Optimist International shared on its Twitter feed that April was Optimist International Internet Safety Month. "Play a role in keeping youth and teens safe while online," it said as it provided a link to the page on the Optimist International website that describes the Internet Safety Program.

And that was the last I heard of that subject; however, it didn't occur to me again until last night that I hadn't heard of a single Optimist Club that was conducting an internet safety program. I find that sad for a number of reasons.

First, I'm a little disappointed that it wasn't on my mind. Internet safety, especially in light of bullying tactics that teens perpetrate on one another, should be on everyone's mind. We have to do all that we can to be sure that youths, young adults, and others feel safe, and are safe, when they use online media.

But I'm also sad to see that Optimist International hasn't followed up to encourage Optimist Clubs to participate. To be fair, there was a notice sent to members in an "Executive Update" message and the fact that it was Internet Safety  Month was posted on the organization's Facebook page; but posting notices doesn't encourage participation. That only provides information. Where's the encouragement to make sure it happens?

Internet safety is a broad topic that can be addressed from a number of different levels. Optimist Clubs and their members can be involved from teaching young ones not to share information online, and to know that not everyone online is their friend, to helping teens make good decisions about online sharing. They might even teach seniors and their peers how to avoid identity theft or give them tips about online etiquette.  I know I have a few Facebook friends that could certainly use the latter.

There are plenty of angles that Optimist Clubs can use to promote internet safety. I hope that more are inspired to do so. Soon.

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

Getting dressed for school

"We do whatever it takes to ensure all students realize their potential." - Mission statement of the Rockwood School District 

High school and middle school principles in Fenton, Missouri have identified a need shared by many of their students and have enlisted the help of the local Optimist Club to fulfill that need: With tighter budgets and growing children, it's harder and harder for parents to keep their children dressed appropriately for school.

According to Vera Hogan, President, Fenton Area Optimist Club, members of the club will reach out to the community in order to launch the "Threads for Kids" program within the school district.

Not only will they provide new and gently used coats in the winter, the program will offer other items such as tennis shoes, socks, t-shirts and jeans for boys and girls in 5-8 grades. The club has also established a fund that school administrators can access privately as special needs or situations arise.

"Any and all donations will be greatly appreciated by our club membership and the young recipients of your generosity," Hogan told the Fenton Patch.

Meeting local needs and helping children are the main focuses of an Optimist Club. By reaching out and starting the conversation with school administrators, your Optimist Club might find how they can assist more children in a meaningful way and open up the lines of communication to involve even more children in the traditional programs of the organization.

Among other things, Optimist Clubs also conduct scholarship contests, youth appreciation events and encourage the respect for law and good citizenship, always with emphasis of hope and optimism. If you would like to open your life to optimism, find out more by visiting an Optimist Club near you.

When the temperatures drop

We woke up to temperatures in the low 20s today. That means that fall is here and winter can't be too far behind.

With the change in weather, the Optimist Clubs in Idaho will be busy collecting, refurbishing and redistributing coats for children. Find out where you can drop one off, pick one up, make a donation or make an exchange by sending an email to:

• Eagle Optimist Club 
• Jerome Optimist Club 
• Twin Falls Optimist Club 

Warmth is within reach for every child. The clubs also accept coats for adults, but not as many are usually on hand.

If your Optimist Club has a Coats for Kids program, let us know how to get in touch with the chairperson and we'll add their name and location to the list. Thanks!  

• Add your information here. 

Optimists team up with police in Twin Falls, Idaho

The Optimist Club of Twin Falls, Idaho has teamed up with the Twin Falls Police Department to carry out the Every 15 Minutes program in the Twin Falls High Schools.

The program is aimed to help students learn the dangers of driving under the influence. Every fifteen minutes, the police take a student from class and keep them apart from their friends and family for 24 hours in an effort for everyone to experience loss. 

The Twin Falls Optimist Club is helping raise money for the project by selling hand-picked apples straight from the orchard. They can be purchased from an Optimist Club member or at stands being set up around town the weekend of October 8-9.

Please listen to the podcast from 106.7 The Canyon to learn more about the program and how the Optimist Club looks for programs that touch the most kids lives and then make sure they happen in their community. 

The Optimist Youth Home is optimism in action

Optimist Clubs frequently take over projects that would otherwise be ignored or even abandoned by other groups in the community such as Easter egg hunts, sports leagues, distressed parks and buildings, and schools. But none are more ambitious or more fitting with the Optimist Club mission than the Optimist Youth Home and Family Services in Los Angeles, California.

The cover from the summer newsletter of the
Optimist Youth Home and Family Services.

The Optimist Youth Home and Family Services lies in the boundaries of the Los Angeles Juveninile Court. It began quite innocently 105 years ago when Mr. and Mrs. John Strickland brought an orphaned nephew to live with them on their farm. Soon 12 other troubled boys were learning to live together and contribute to each other through their work on the farm. In 1914, the Strickland Home for Boys was officially established and the courts began sending boys to them for training and youth development.

The local Optimist and Opti-Mrs. Clubs entered the picture in the late 1920s, and the name was changed to the Optimist Youth Home with the promise of ongoing financial support that continues to this day.

The Optimist Clubs have now grown to include two supporting districts (groups of clubs) in the Pacific Southeast and Southwest California. Through the years they have added the kitchen, dorms, chapel, administration building and gymnasium. They have acquired land and added vocational programs, outreach programs and an alternative school - the Optimist High School.

In addition to the school and residential program, now co-ed, the Optimist Youth Home and Family Services offers an aftercare program to follow up with students who have graduated from the school, foster care, adoptions, mental health services, and family counseling.

It is managed by professional staff, overseen by a board of directors made up of Optimist Club and community members. Optimist Club members volunteer as mentors and tutors and other community members are encouraged to participate as well.

Find out about more opportunities or make a donation to  the Optimist Youth Home and Family Services.

Read an article from the Los Angeles Times about the Optimist Youth Home and Family Services.

Feeding children close to home

Chilliwack Optimist Club donates
to the Feed the Children Program

My friend Brian Phillips (center) has a favorite project that he ushers through the Chilliwack Optimist Club every year. It might hit with some resistance along the way, but with his drive and personality, the club contributes in a major way every year to make certain that children can get a free lunch every day from the Feed the Children Program at Bowls of Hope. 

Why would there be any type of resistance to such a great campaign? Anytime that an organization raises large sums of money to give away to another organization, people might wonder why. After all, money is needed to operate their own club or organization. 

This is what makes an Optimist Club so special. Because of their local involvement in community causes, and their drive to fit in where they are needed most, Optimist Club members choose the projects that they want to be involved with. And for the Chilliwack Optimist Club, the Bowls of Hope Feed the Children Program comes out on top every year. 

This year, the Chilliwack Optimist Club donated $20,000 to the program. Last year they donated a little more, but that included the van that you see in the picture. The program requires between $30,000 and $35,000 each year, so corporate sponsors are sought as well. The meals are cooked in the Chilliwack Community Correctional Facility kitchen, involving more people in positive service learning opportunities. 

Ten schools are provided approximately 450 meals each day during the school year. According to school administrators, the program has had an added benefit: absenteeism has gone down. More children are in class and learning. What a great project! 

Safety on wheels is fun for all

Optimist Club Bike Rodeos are a way to connect your Optimist Club with the children in the community. Most important, they allow  children the opportunity to meet with police officers on friendly, helpful terms.

The Optimist Club of Chehalis-Centralia, Washington held their annual bicycle rodeo on June 18 and as you can see in the pictures, none were too young to participate. They also welcomed one young lady in a wheelchair, and were able to teach safety on wheels to all.

Helmets were given away to those who needed them and at the end of the event, all participants received goody bags. Three young cyclists had their names drawn at random to take home new bicycles courtesy of the Optimist Club.

Using art as advertising

The Optimist Club of Eagle, Idaho is planning the second annual Optimist Club Child Safety Day for this Saturday. In preparation for the afternoon activity, and to advertise the Safety Day event, the club recently partnered with Washington Trust Bank to host the Family Fun Area at the Eagle Fun Days Festival. One of the booths manned by the club was an artists booth that encouraged children to think about what it means to be safe during the summer and then to draw their ideas as a poster.

About 200 students stopped by to draw, and  58 completed entries into the poster contest that included ideas such as:

• Use sunscreen
• Beware of snakes
• Walk in the crosswalk
• Look both ways before crossing the street
• Don't drink beer
• Don't swim alone
• Don't swim in irrigation canals
• Don't run with scissors
• Wear your seatbelt
• Don't talk to strangers
• Ask if it is okay before you pet a strange dog

According to club president Gretchen Brown, it was a lot of fun for the club members to watch the young artists at work on their projects and to engage the kids in telling a story about their drawing. A winner will be drawn at random for a $25 movie pass to Edwards Cinemas.

The Eagle Optimist Club is considering additional projects that will help encourage the arts.

Bikes, children, and the great outdoors

Optimist Clubs are involved in helping keep our children safe. One of the more popular activities is a Bike Safety Fair or Bike Rodeo.

It is fairly easy to teach bicycle safety and most police departments enjoy being asked to help. They often bring the the safety cones and help the young bikers go through an obstacle course.

Have someone on hand to take a look at the children's bikes, make sure the chain is tight and the wheels are in good shape. Always emphasize how important it is to the use a helmet.

Now, the rest of the activity is up to your Optimist Club! Add refreshments, entertainment, exhibits, raffles, drawings and other safety tips to the day. Make it fun for the family and you are sure to make it fun for the Optimist Club members too.

It's summer! Time to show our kids that it's fun to be outdoors.

Red Deer Optimists give bikes to kids

One of the many projects conducted by the Optimist Club of Red Deer, Alberta is the Bike For Kids Program. Since its inception, Ken Williamson and his fellow Optimist Club members have refurbished and given away over 300 bicycles to children.

Ken is the driving force behind the project. He explains that there are many Canadian families that do not have the resources to provide their children with bikes. The problem is compounded because kids grow out of them quickly as well.

The Optimist Club receives bikes from the community to fix-up and redistribute and so far this spring, they have given away fifteen bikes. Ken says that more are needed, especially adult sized bikes to give to older children as they grow out of their youth bicycle. Donations may be dropped off during regular business hours at the Sunnybrook Farm Museum, 4701 30 St., Alberta.

To learn more about the program, you may reach Ken at 403.318.5803. Click here to learn more about the Optimist Club of Red Deer. 

Optimists promote bicycle safety

With the school year drawing to a close and the days getting longer, it's time for children to take to the streets on two wheels. Bicycle wheels, that is.

That is why bicycle rodeos are very popular with Optimist Clubs. Some call the program Safety on Wheels, while others add in activities like personal safety, internet safety and child identification to make it a full day of safety activities.

Like the sign in the picture, the idea behind safety programs is for Optimist Clubs to help "Bring out the Best in Kids."

Add in "With hope and positive vision, Optimist Club members bring out the best in children" and you've got the Optimist International mission statement in one sentence. Don't you want to get involved in such an active pursuit? Click here to find an Optimist Club near you.

Photo credit: Chris Wall  Please click to see more pictures and read about the Huron Valley Optimist Club Safety Day in the White Lake Patch. 

We're not fooling: Optimists offer Lawnmower Safety Program

Optimist Clubs help keep children safe. They offer bicycle rodeos, internet safety awareness, personal safety demonstrations and now ... a program to teach Lawnmower Safety!

How awesome is that? Lawnmower safety, just in time for the spring season, as entrepreneurial youngsters begin to line up their summer lawn mowing clients. It's a free clinic, aimed at 5th through 8th graders, that teaches lawn mower maintenance as well as mower and trimmer safety.

As a bonus, all participants are entered in a drawing to win a new gas powered trimmer.

The Lawnmower Safety Program is coordinated by the Optimist Club of W. Knoxville, Tennessee and the University of Tennessee Extension Service and will be held on April 9. Parents or an adult must attend with the participant. If you live in or near Farragut, find out how to register here. 

Operation Bear Care brings huggable heroes to children

Optimist Clubs and their members are always looking for projects that will help children. One of the most special ways that I am familiar with is a program called Operation Bear Care performed by the Noon Optimist Club of Boise, Idaho. 

Operation Bear Care takes place once a year, yet serves the community year-round. Through a one-evening event, the Optimist Club collects enough stuffed animals to fill the trunks of first responders so that when a policeman or fireman comes upon a traumatic event that involves a child, be it a fire, motor vehicle accident, or abusive situation, they have something huggable to give to the young victim. 

It is such an easy program to perform, and while the Boise Optimist Club can collect all they need in one day, it is totally scalable. Take a day, week or month, the key is to get the public involved by asking them to donate a clean, new, or even gently used, non-themed stuffed animal to the cause. 

The Boise Noon Optimist Club has very close relationship with Boise State University Athletics. Their Operation Bear Care actually takes place during a home basketball game and thousands of stuffed animals are collected. When it began approximately fifteen years ago, the fans would actually throw the animals to the center of the court at half-time, creating a mound of fluff to be collected by the club. With a little more respect for the heroic service that the bears provide, the donations are now collected as the fans enter the arena. They are boxed up and given to the police and fire departments throughout the valley. 

Over the years, as others have taken to collecting stuffed animals in their organizations, I have heard the Optimist Club consider letting the project go. However, the simplicity of the project, combined with the joy of giving something that will bring a smile to a child at a most difficult time, has made the project a club favorite. I predict the Boise Noon Optimist Club will be performing Operation Bear Care for many years to come.

Bike Beaverton with the Optimist Club

In Beaverton, Oregon, Optimist Club president Bruce Buffington is an avid cyclist. Many of the club members have taken an interest bicycling themselves and participate in rides and activities. Their involvement has made their bicycle safety activities that much more interactive, fun and major community events. One of those events held earlier this month was Bike Beaverton.

I received the following photos from club member Alan Zehntbauer. Enjoy!