Collector's Edition #9, Year 2 September 2001
Message From the President
Mid-Western Ontario District of Optimist International held its annual convention in Collingwood, Ontario last month. Attending with me was President-Elect Kevin Heslop, Secretary-Treasurer Elect Doug Mackay, Vice-President Elect Craig Rath and Newsletter Editor and our wheelman Optimist Don Draper. Our club was represented at each of the Saturday seminars and the President-Elect luncheon. This crew did a great job and returned early, as the club was short bingo workers for a Saturday evening bingo. Thanks to these Optimists for a fun and educational two days of fellowship. It hardly seemed like work and you have never lived until you experience a Jeff Gordon wanna bee' behind the wheel with a tight time deadline.
This month will see the charter dinner meeting of a new club in our district. Congratulations to the sponsoring club, The Optimist Club of Burford and good luck to our newest Optimist Club in Port Rowan, Ontario.
Baseball and soccer programs have almost ended. Optimist Coach Bob Caron and his Mosquito team won 'A' OBA championship in Sault Ste. Marie and Optimists Eric Riley and Bruce Pope led their 'AA' Juvenile team to an OBA championship. It has been many years since a London team has captured the 'AA' title. Optimist Dave Peach worked hard again on the OBA Rookie championship which was hosted here in London. Other Oakridge teams participated successfully in tournaments throughout the summer. Congratulations to all. This was an especially difficult summer with the City workers strike. Let's look forward to a more 'normal' and fun season next year.
Please check out our BINGO POKER contest that has just begun. All workers at bingo are eligible to enter.
Your new Executive and Board of Directors will be sworn in at our dinner meeting on
September 20th at Anna Banana's at 1967 Richmond Street, London (west side just north of Fanshawe Park Rd.). Lieutenant-Governor Jackie McGrenere will also be swearing in a new member. The club will be paying the bar tab this evening and the food here is wonderful. I look forward to seeing everyone.
Finally as I close out my term as President I extend my heartiest best wishes to Optimist Kevin and the new Board. Work hard; reap the rewards and good luck to one and all.
OAKOGRAPHY
Linda Hegler has been a member of the Oakridge Optimist Club since Norm Smith was President for the 1993 to 1994 term. She has served as a Director and as Secretary-Treasurer since then. During Pete's term as Lieutenant Governor she supported him by traveling around the Zone and District to a great number of meetings.
Linda has been married to Pete for 31 years and they have two adult children, Jenna 27 and Graham 25, who grew up playing Oakridge Optimist sports. Jenna remains a member of the Intermediate Fastball team.
Linda was a member of a National Championship winning rowing team in 1966. Her Mississauga Rowing Club was based in Port Credit and her team won a gold medal that year. Pete refers to this as a "paddling team". I didn't want to delve any further into their personal relationship.
She began her teaching career in 1971 and later took what she calls a "12 year hiatus" to raise her family. The details she left out include what she did while she was away from teaching. Aside from raising two active children she went back to school and got her degree, worked part time at a number of jobs including the St. Joseph's Hospital Hemophilia program, Scouts Canada and for a lawyer.
When she graduated from University in 1988 she returned to teaching and has spent time in Bracebridge (teaching jobs were scarce but who wouldn't want to get away from Pete for a couple of years), Glencoe and now in Komoka. She has taught many grade levels as well as special education and has most recently taught Grade 4.
Linda has been a valued member for eight years and for most of that time has been the club's only female member. I am sure she would enjoy the company of some new female members and if they worked half as hard as Linda they would be great contributors.
SCRAPBOOK WINNER
At the District Convention in Collingwood, Optimist Don Draper entered our club scrapbook in the district competition. This book was an exceptional work of letters, photos, newspaper clippings and anecdotes covering the club year. Anyone who has seen the effort will recognize the time and work that made this a wonderful collection of this years club activities. Don completed this work by himself on behalf of the club. Our entry placed second in its class with a 93 score at the convention. For us this scrapbook will always be a winner and an outstanding memento of the 2000-01 year. It will be at our general meetings to be shared with guests. The book offers one tool we have of sharing with others what we are about.
Great Job Optimist Don!
Pres. Jim
NEW BOARD INDUCTION MEETING
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2001
SPOUSES ARE WELCOME!!!
WHERE: Anna Banana's, 1967 Richmond Street. On the west side of Richmond north of Masonville, south of Sunningdale Road. House is a two storey bed and breakfast. Parking is limited so you may want to car pool. The food at this establishment is great and you should have a wonderful time.
TIME: 6:30 pm sharp
DRESS: Jacket suggested
COST: $15 per person. Club will be paying bar of your choice - wine or beer.
As is the case for all meetings, guests are welcome so if you have a perspective new member by all means invite them out. The club pays the guest dinner cost.
Lt-Gov. Jackie McGrenere and her husband Marty will be attending. New board to be inducted. New members to be inducted. Award to be presented. ALL ARE WELCOME.
We need to know the numbers attending so please let you call captain know when he calls next week.
LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING YOU
THERE!
Presidents of Zone nine - you, fellow Optimist
members & guests are invited to our Autumn
Dance,Awards & Silent Auction on Saturday
September 22,2001.
Cocktails 7-8 pm, Awards & Inductions 8-9pm, Dance 9pm -1 am. Light Luncheon door prizes and Mike the DJ. Come spend the evening with us at the RCAF building on Crumlin Rd north of the airport. Our special guest will be Gov. Margie and Lt-Gov Harvey.
Tickets $10.00 Optimist members and $5:00 guests. Tickets are limited call Mary Crump at 649-4608 before Sept 13,2001 to reserve your tickets.
There will be a sale of Canada Games merchandise at SPORT2OO1, Masonville Place (second floor, outside Zellers) on Saturday September 15, 2001 from 10 am til 4 pm. Lots of great items at great savings! This will be open to the general public. Please spread the word.
"BINGO BUCKS FOR KIDS"
Recent decisions by the Board have resulted in the following donations from our Bingo account:
1. $300.00 to support the London 86er's competitive basketball team. Rick Harriss has a daughter on this team.
2. $500.00 to Oakridge Secondary School to fund "Healthy School" displays in the school.
3. $255.00 to Optimist Junior Golf. We pay half of the registration fees for local youth in the Zone (at Thames Valley G.C.) and District (at St. Mary's G.C.).
4. $300.00 to London Ringette
5. $200.00 to Westdale School and to Clara Brenton School to assist with playground equipment, safety upgrades.
During the last 3 months several other worthy applications for funding were considered. Unfortunately at this time of the year our Bingo Account tends to be diminished and the above groups were all that could be looked after.
BINGO DATES FOR YOUR CALENDAR
Sat., Sept.29, 2001(10:00 p.m.) Teams 1&2
Sun., Oct.28, 2001(11:00 a.m.) Teams 3&4
Sat., Nov.24, 2001(10:00 p.m.) Teams 1&2
Wed., Dec.26, 2001(6:00 p.m.) All Teams
Mon., Jan.07, 2002 (6:00 p.m.) Teams 3&4
Sat., Jan.26, 2002 (6:00 p.m.) Teams 1&2
Fri., Feb.22, 2002 (10:00 p.m.) Teams 3&4
Sun., Mar.17, 2002 (6:30 p.m.) Teams 1&2
MEMORIALS
Memorial banner patches have been purchased from Opt. Int., in honour of Doug McMaster and Phil Stumpf. They will be presented during the Sept. dinner meeting for mounting on our club banner. It is with sadness we learned of the passing of a former Director and member of the club - Jim Steele. (Wed., Sept.12, 2001)
BINGO POKER
Commencing with the Bingo of September 2, 2001 and for each bingo held by the club going forward each member of the club working a bingo will be entitled to draw a playing card to be entered in the contest. The contest ends with the last bingo held in May, 2002.
Rules
1. One 52 playing card deck is used.
2. The cards are drawn from the 52-card deck at each bingo. Cards are drawn in random fashion established beforethe bingo and are replaced after each bingo. In other words the draw starts at each bingo with 52 cards and is drawn one at a time. The first member draws, then the next members draws from the deck with 51 cards, then the next with 50 and so on for that bingo.
3. If a member draws the same card that he/she had drawn at a previous bingo then that card is replaced in the deck, shuffled and the member draws again.
4. There are no wild cards.
5. Maximum number of cards drawn per member is 7.
6. Top four poker hands are declared winners. (4 winners).
7. Only one hand per club member.
8. Only club members are entitled to participate.
9. Each winner and their spouse/significant other (8 persons) will be treated to dinner as a group with the club contributing $300 towards the cost.
Approved by Board of Directors: September 6, 2001.
NOVICE HOCKEY TOURNAMENT
Bill Chantler is serving as Chair of the
committee organizing the Novice Hockey
Tournament to be held during mid-November.
If you would like to assist on the committee call
Bill at 641-6483
MEMBERSHIP FEES -2001-2002
Membership dues are payable as of October 01, 2001. This is the date when the new Board of Directors assumes the leadership of the Oakridge Optimists. The current Board has seen the need for a slight increase in dues; the new amount has been set at $75.00 (regular members) and $50.00 for Life Members. Approximately $62.00 of our dues go to Optimist International. $13.00 per member is needed for our own club's administration, such as newsletter costs and new member surcharges.
Cheques, payable to the "Optimist Club of Oakridge Acres" can be given or sent to the 2001-02 Treasurer- Doug Mackay, 1050 Mahogany Cres., London, ON, N6H 4V9.
CELEBRATIONS
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO:
Ab Chabbar Oct 10
Steve Cochrane Oct 13
Kevin Heslop Oct 05
Richard Hooper Oct 01
Bruce Pope Oct 12
Mike Wolowich Sep 07
HAPPY ANNIVERSARY TO:
Pam & Bill Chantler Oct 12
Marie & Jim Foster Sep 30
Brenda & Vince Giannantonio Oct 11
Hillary & Cam Halliday Oct 05
Rick & Dana Harris Oct 13
Cathy & Dave Kelday Sep 23
Cathi & Dave Peach Oct 11
Karen & Alex Poulette Sep 04
Lisa & Craig Rath Oct 22
SEPTEMBER HUMOUR
How to give a cat a pill.
1. Pick cat up and cradle it in the crook of your left arm as if holding baby. Position right fore finger and thumb on either of side of cat's mouth and gently apply pressure to cheek while holding pill in right hand. As cat opens mouth, pop pill into mouth. Allow cat to close mouth and swallow.
2. Retrieve pill from floor and cat from behind sofa. Cradle cat in left arm and repeat process.
3. Retrieve cat from bedroom, and throw soggy pill away.
4. Take new pill from foil wrapper, cradle cat in left arm holding rear paws tightly with left hand. Force jaws open and push pill to back of mouth with right fore finger. Hold mouth shut for a count of ten.
5. Retrieve pill from goldfish bowl and cat from top of wardrobe. Pull spouse from garden.
6. Kneel on floor with cat wedged firmly between knees, holding front and rear paws. Ignore low growl emitted by cat. Get spouse to hold cat's head firmly with one hand while forcing wooden ruler into mouth. Drop pill down ruler and rub cats throat vigorously.
7. Retrieve cat from curtain rail, get another pill from foil wrapper. Make note to buy new ruler and repair curtains. Carefully sweep shattered figures from hearth and set to one side for gluing later.
8. Wrap cat in large towel and get spouse to lie on cat with its head just visible from below spouse's armpit. Put pill in end of drinking straw; force cat's mouth open with pencil and blow down drinking straw.
9. Check label to make sure pill not harmful to humans, drink glass of water to take taste away. Apply bandage to spouses forearm and remove blood from carpet with cold water and soap.
10. Retrieve cat from neighbours shed. Get another pill. Place cat in cupboard and close door on to neck to leave head showing. Force mouth open with dessert spoon. Flick pill down throat with elastic band.
11. Fetch screwdriver from garage and put door back on hinges. Apply cold compress to cheek and check records for date of last tetanus shot. Throw T-shirt away and fetch new one from bedroom.
12. Ring fire brigade to retrieve cat from tree across the road. Apologize to neighbour who crashed into fence whilst swerving to avoid cat. Take last pill from foil wrap.
13. Tie cat's front paws to rear paws with garden twine and bind tightly to leg of dining. table. Find heavy duty pruning gloves from shed. Force cat's mouth open with small spanner. Push pill into mouth followed by large piece of fillet steak. Hold head vertically and pour pint of water down throat to wash pill down.
14. Get spouse to drive you to hospital; sit quietly while doctor stitches finger and forearm and removes pill remnants from right eye. Stop by furniture shop on way home to order new table.
15. Arrange for SPCA to collect cat.