Happy Valentines Day!
Congratulations to Past President Rick and all involved in the recognitions we achieved last year.
Also is a report on the birth of a new Optimist club and new member to our Zone 9. Welcome to Stoney Ridge Optimists.
We extend a hearty welcome to three new members to our club: Glen Shawyer, Cam Halliday and Don Lucas. Glen and Cam are first time Optimists and Don joins via transfer with several years of Optimist service in St. Thomas.
To date this year Oakridge leads all Mid-Western Ontario District clubs in new memberships and is third in net gains. We now can boast 50 members strong.... and growing.
Soccer commences its registrations Februrary 17, 21 and 24 and Baseball follows on March 3 and 7. We extend our thanks to all committee members and program volunteers in these sports.
Consider inviting someone you know in these programs to our NOW breakfast in March.
Thanks to Past President Rick for volunteering to co-ordinate the Youth in Government program this month.
Optimist Kevin will be looking for volunteers to assist with the in-line skating program which he started up last year.
Optimist Don will soon be searching for helpers for the Safety on Wheels programs at local elementary schools.
Check our calendar. We have two breakfasts scheduled for March. The breakfast on March 31 will be a NOW (New Optimists Wanted) event. Plan to invite a perspective member NOW. In April, Optimists Fred and Peter are working on a reunion night. Current and past members will be welcome to attend. Plan to come and see what age does to the body and mind! The annual meeting on April 19 will feature club elections. Nominations have already begun and a campaign for President has started. Wonder if the campaign manager will offer free booze?
Welcome to our Newest Members
· Gary Shawyer Lives at 449 West Mile Road with his wife, Bonny. Has 2 children -Scott (29) and Cohn (27). Employed by 3M Canada as a Marketing Manager. Has previously been a member and Past Pres. of the Kitchener/Waterbo Kiwanis Club. Has a high interest in community service.
· Cam Halliday Lives at 19 Brinley Crt. With his wife Hilary and two children, Megan (6) and Coleman (2). Employed by London Police Service as a Police Constable. Has a keen interest in sports, reading and the fellowship offered by our club.
· Don Lucas Transferring from the St. Thomas Opt Club where he was recognized as a Life Member. With wife Judy he has two children, Victoria and Barbara. Don worked 25 years as a teacher and has valuable experience with Optimist projects.
Phil Stumpf joined our club in the mid '70s for the same reason that brought most of us here our children's sports programs. His son Mark participated in baseball and hockey beginning in the early '70s; his son, Andrew, played baseball and his daughter Krista enjoyed soccer. Phil's involvement includes many years of coaching house league hockey and ball from the T-ball age to Bantam as well as long term participation on the baseball and hockey committees. He has also served on our Board of Directors as Secretary and Treasurer. He was the 1980 recipient of the Lorne Heycock trophy as that year's Oakridge Optimist of the Year. Phil is also very proud of his membership in the Knights of Columbus which began at the early age of 15 years. He has been there for 44 years and counting. You do the math.
Phil retired from Canada Trust on January 31, 2000 after 38 years with that firm. Unfortunately his health failed him two months later which has limited his attendance at meetings lately. Phil couldn't centre out any particular Optimist moment but rather pointed to the camaraderie and fellowship that he has enjoyed over the years as the things he enjoys most about his club membership. Oh yeah, he's an old timer - he remembers the garage sales! I know I am not alone in wishing Phil the best. We all hope to see you at a meeting soon.(By Rick Gillespie)
Lt.-Gov. Jacqui and Marty have been welcomed regulars at our meetings. It usually means the induction of a new member as was the case this time. Optimist Bob Caron was officially welcomed to the club. Rachel and Jennifer talked about their experiences at the HOBY workshops. Jennifer expressed that it didn't change her as a person but it did help her focus on her better qualities. Both young women felt more confident as a result of their training. President Jim outlined the background behind the Optimist of the Year Award and presented the Lorne Heycock trophy to DonDraper. (see separate article) Look for future opportunities to enjoy Breakfast at Thames Valley and the camaraderie within our organization.
The Lorne Heycock Memorial Award was presented at the January 13, 2001 breakfast meeting in honour of the Outstanding Oakridge Optimist for 2000.
We should all commend and reflect on the participation and dedication of this year's winner:
- A regular attendee at his team's bingo nights.
- 100% attendance at Board of Directors meetings.
- 100% attendance at all club dinner and breakfast meetings in 2000 (one of only 2 club members to meet this level)
- Participated on both the bus trip to Detroit for the auto show and the trip to the Tiger Cat game in Hamilton
- Developed a club history for the year in an Optimist Scrapbook which is second to none in the district and one that our club can be extremely proud.
- Regularly attends functions and events as club photographer.
- Regularly works month in and month out to produce one of the best Optimist newsletters in Mid-Western Ontario District.
- Never overlooks kids as he led and arranged two excellent bicycle safety rodeos at Notre Dame and Westdale schools.
- An Optimist member since 1971.
Optimist Don Draper received a standing ovation at the meeting and warmly accepted his award as Optimist of The Year. CONGATULATIONS Optimist Don Draper.
The evening was a great kick off, raising over $3000, with lots of fun. Best of luck to charter President Jennifer Jolliffe!
On March 24, 2001 our International Optimist President Bob Garner and his lovely wifeToni will visit our District. The location is the New Dundee Community Centre. The meal promises to be outstanding and an exciting evening of Optimist entertainment is planned. The Wilmot club is working diligently on the final touches for the evening. A limited number of tickets are available. Contact President Jim for further ijiformation at 641- 0798.Rick Gillespie
Our club received Honour Club status, we were the Zone winner of the Awards and Activities competition, we received recognition for HOBY participation, we received a granite pyramid in recognition of inducting three new members in the last quarter of the year alone, we received an engraved Optimist clock as recognition by the District for our membership increase and we also received patches for being the District winner for the joint Community Projects Awards report which was submitted on behalf of our Zone for the Respect for Law banquet by Mary Crump.
Thanks to everyone for your hard word during 1999-2000 which made this success possible. I know Jim will continue this year and Kevin will do even more in 2001-2002.
Optimist Past President Rick Gillespie
I can't believe the momentum that is building.I never thought Kevin Heslop's early nomination for next term's president at our January breakfast meeting would be greeted with such enthusiasm.
As Chair of the ELECT KEVIN HESLOP PRESIDENT committee I assumed that I would have to work very hard to get enough support to ensure his election to this post.
As it turns out every member of our club, and some people who don't even belong to the club, have overwhelmingly endorsed this nomination.
I can hardly wait for the April meeting when we can make it official!
Rick Gillespie
2.) Remember the $300 dollars we gave to the Volunteer Organization at C.P.R.I.? They called it Operation Santa Claus. In a thank you letter they indicated that 600 needy children enjoyed a brighter Christmas through donations such as ours.
· A guy walks into a post office one day to see a middle-aged, balding man standing at the counter methodically placing "Love" stamps on bright pink envelopes with hearts all over them. He then takes out a perfume bottle and starts spraying scent all over them.His curiosity getting the better of him, he goes up to the balding man and asks him what he is doing. The man says "I'm sending out 1,000 Valentine cards signed, 'Guess who?"
"But why?" asks the man. "I'm a divorce lawyer," the man replies.
Hog and kisses!
· Did you hear about the nearsighted porcupine?
He fell in love with a pincushion!
· Liz: "I can't be your valentine for medical reasons."
Jon: "Really?"
Liz: "Yeah, you make me sick!"
· What did the caveman give his wife on Valentine's Day?
Ughs and kisses!