Happy St. Patricks Day
Quite a few events that deserve honourable mention have taken place since our last Oakline. On March 10th, Andy Friyia, Noble Supersad and I played a little sledge hockey against the London Blizzards Sledge Hockey Club at the Western Fair Sports Centre. The Blizzards are made up of twelve outstanding kids who happen to be physically and mentally challenged. Once they're strapped onto a sledge - something like an old-style toboggan on rails - they head out onto the ice armed with mini sticks. They propel themselves along the ice with the pick-end of a mini stick, then control and shoot the puck with the blade-end. Since this is London's only sledge hockey team, they have to travel throughout southwestern Ontario to play. Needless to say, the cost of running this team is quite high. We offered to help out - by organizing a sledge hockey game between the Blizzards and the Oakridge Optimists. The ice is booked: Sunday, May 26th, 2:45 to 4:15 PM at the Western Fair Sports Centre. Pop and pizza will follow. Enclosed with your Oakline will be a pledge sheet. We are asking each member to get some sponsors, with the proceeds going to the kids, through our bingo account, after the game. Anyone interested in playing should give me a call. We'll field six player at a time but our team can be as large or small as we like, since we have ninety minutes of ice time. Larger would be better - to spell off the old guys. Please call me by May 22nd and I'll make arrangements to pick up the money. Joe Foster of the Nor' West Club has already thrown in twenty dollars.
Those who came out for our dinner meeting on March 21st saw Lt. Gov. Harvey Munroe induct our four newest members; Shawn Flick, Len Van Esch, Rick Bender and Scott Fickling. It's always nice to see new life being injected into the club. Welcome aboard guys! We also had updates on club projects from quite a few of our members. Nita Gillett, from the White Oaks club gave a nice presentation on the new million-dollar wing the Optimists are building onto the Children's Hospital of Western Ontario. Our club has committed funds for this project for the next five years.
On March 23rd Don Lucas ran our club oratorical contest at Riverside United Church. We had three speakers, with two moving on to the zone contest on April 6th. Don did an outstanding job. His attention to every detail was very evident on the day of the event, everything from arranging judges to decorating the hall. Thanks again Don! Thanks also to Rick Gillespie, Linda Hegler and Shawn Flick for helping out at the event.
We have an exciting event in the works. Since this year is the 45th anniversary of our club charter, we have booked a weekend celebration to show our appreciation to our sponsor, the Optimist Club of Byron. We've booked a cabin on a lake just outside Ilderton for the weekend of June 21st to 23rd. The Spring Haven Trout Farm will be our host for the weekend (had to be a trout farm so Optimst Rick Harriss could catch something). Friday night will be set aside for some fellowship, Saturday will be an afternoon of family fishing with Bryon with a barbeque and bon fire to follow. We're in the process of putting a working committee together - please give me a call if you can help out.
We've also booked some rooms for the international convention in Indianapolis July 7 to 10, 2002. More about that as we get closer.
The next dinner meeting will be held on WEDNESDAY, April 17th at Thames Valley. Social at 6:30 PM, Dinner at 7:00PM. This will be our election night. Some nominations are in place and more are welcome. See elsewhere in this Oakline for names of nominees. Also, we will have a guest speaker: Constable Bob Philps from the London Police Service, Community Services Unit will explain the Values, Influences and Peers Program. The dinner meeting was moved from the traditional Thursday to Wednesday to accommodate schedules. See you at the next meeting.
Kevin Heslop
President
Cam Halliday is presently in his second year of membership in the Oakridge Optimist Club. He was sponsored by Rick Harriss and is active at bingos, involved as a call captain and enjoys the social aspects of the club. He and his wife, Hillary, have two children; Megan 7 years and Coleman 3 years. Megan is involved in dance and Oakridge Optimist soccer.Cam has been a member of the London Police Service for 12 years and has experience in Uniformed Patrol and the Criminal Investigation Division. Cam recently concluded four years of work on the Sexual Assault and Child Abuse Section where he was responsible for the investigation of a large number of very serious cases and for the support of victims as they move through the justice system. As Optimists, I think we can all appreciate the efforts undertaken by Cam to protect our youth.
I have known Cam for several years and have had the pleasure of being at a couple of Christmas parties with him. When the music starts you better stand back. Who says disco is dead? Cam is one of the newer members of the club and states that he joined not only for the social contact but to reach out to the community that he and his family live in. Note to committee chairs and nominators - Cam may be ready to take the next step. Thanks for your involvement in the club so far Cam.
Rick Gillespie
Zone 5 (the other London group of Clubs) is responsible for the organization this year.
* Tuesday, April 30, 2002
* At the Duchess of Kent Hall, 499 Hill Street
* Social - 6:00 p.m., Dinner - 7:00 p.m.
* Tickets - $13.00 or 2 for $25.00
* Come out and pay tribute to the Emergency Services Personnel who risk their lives every day
* 50/50 draw and door prizes
* Proceeds to the O.I. Foundation
In the past we have been well represented at these events. Spouses are more than welcome. Call captains will get a count of members/guests wishing to attend.
Midwestern Ontario Optimist District has supported Junior Golf for 25 years.
* London Zones 5 & 9 Championships June 28, 2002 at Thames Valley Golf Course
* Midwestern Ontario District Championships - July 9th and 10th at St. Mary's Golf Club
* O.I. Championships . Ages 10-15, July 18th - 23rd ; Ages 16 - 18, July 23rd - 28th at PGA National Golf and Spa, Palm Beach Gardens, Florida
* Canadian Optimist Championships - August 12th to 14th at Ingersoll Golf and C.C.
* Ontario Championships - August 26th & 27th at Niagara Falls Golf Club
Many local youth have participated at the Zone level. Our club offers partial subsidization for these golfers.
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Registrations have gone down during the last few years. In an attempt to introduce 4 and 5 year old children to having fun with a ball and bat, the Baseball Committee is introducing Blast Ball. In this game the batter hits the ball from a Tee and runs to the Blast Base - the only base on the field. The defensive team gets an out by successfully fielding the ball, in the air (an automatic out) or on the ground and yelling "Blast" before the runner gets to the base. If the runner gets to the base first a run is scored. Sounds like fun and hopefully helps to revive some interest in baseball!
President - Fred Fickling
V.P. Ways and Means - Vince Giannantonio
V.P. Youth - Andy Fryia
Past President - Kevin Heslop
Secretary/Treasurer - Doug Mackay
Director (1 Year) - Steve Cochrane
Director (1 Year) - Bill Chantler
Director (1 Year) - Pat Moffatt
Director (2 Years) - Craig Rath
Director (2 Years) - Gary Shawyer
Director (2 Years) - Hal Fraser
1. Grade by Grade Chess Tournament - $250
2. London Police PEACE prog. - $1500
3. London Police Safety Patrollers' trip - $100
4. UTRCA river study (school program) -$250
5. London Minor Lacrosse - $200
6. London Children's Connection - $100
7. Hole sponsorship - Zone Opt. Junior Golf - $150
8. Respect For Law Banquet - $50
9. Carling Heights Golf Tournament - $100
* This event will be held on June 8th. Cost is $65 for 18 holes and 2 meals. An extra meal for spouses can be purchased for $20. If interested in participating, call Doug Mackay at 473-5885.
On the chart are plotted the profits, based on attendance for the past 5 Bingos. The "profit" in this case is the figure shared at the end of the night's work and excludes earnings we get later as a result of Nevada ticket sales. Here's a test of your math skills:
1. Can you find the dot that represents our last bingo, April 8th, when 173 attended and we earned $652?
2. Can you use the pattern of dots to determine how many players must attend for us to "not go in the hole"?
3. If you kept this chart in your wallet, would it help you guess the winnings on any given night?. For instance, if 153 bingo players attended, what would our profit be?
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Optimist Fred Fickling reported at the last dinner meeting. He has met with the principal of Oakridge Secondary School and outlined how students would contribute to and benefit from membership in an Optimist Youth club. The principal was quite receptive to the idea and is willing to provide a meeting room. It was recognized that a staff advisor would be needed to assist. Fred indicated he would also approach the principal at St. Thomas Aquinas S.S.
"Sounds like you could use a drink," she says as she unzips one of her pockets and offers the man a flask of 12 year old Scotch.
"That's the best drink I've ever had!" he exclaims.
"Would you like a smoke?" she asks as she unzips another pocket on her suit and offers the man a Cuban cigar.
"This must be the best cigar in the world!" he shouts as he blows smoke rings in the air.
As she begins to unzip the front of her wet suit, she asks with a wry smile,
"Would you like to play around?"
"Wow, you got golf clubs in there, too!?"
The Optimist Club of Oakridge Acres, Inc. is a member of Zone 9 in the Midwestern Ontario District.
2.) Check out the website for the Oakridge Optimists.
Web address - http://www.execulink.com/~oakridge/optimist.htm
Email address - oakridge@execulink.com
Web Master is Peter Hegler