THE
OAKLINE
The Optimist Club of Oakridge Acres, Inc
President –
2002/2003
v Fred Fickling
President Fred joined the
Optimist Club of Oakridge Acres in 1976 and was honoured with a Life Membership
on November 09, 1990. This year marks Fred’s third term as President, which
must be a record. Fred is retired from a memory-filled career as an elementary
school teacher. Often, whether it is the arena, Bingo hall, or any public
place, former students or their parents will approach him with greetings. It
has been written that “the Oakridge Optimists have been synonymous with sports
in London” since the club was chartered in 1957. Youth programs in Hockey, followed by Baseball, and later, Soccer
were initially organized by this club. Fred has served on both the Baseball and
Hockey Committees and manages the equipment and sponsorships for Hockey. We
remain the “umbrella” organization for the 3 committees, which operate the
sports programs. Fred’s background will be most helpful as we review and
strengthen our function in relationship to these committees. Fred has always
been a key member of our fund raising efforts. His co-chairmanship of the Bingo
program, for many years, will be a real asset, as this remains our best money-maker.
As the club begins a new year, we set our focus on membership growth and
community projects for young people along with fellowship activities for
members.
We look forward to a great
year under the leadership of the new Board of Directors, under the guidance of
Fred.
N.O.W. Breakfast Meeting
Oakography
v
Bruce Pope
Bruce Pope has served the
youth of our community through Optimist Club membership since 1990 when Bob
Stark sponsored him. Bruce has been married
to Marianne for 23 years and they have two kids, Brian 19 years and Becky 16
years. Bruce has worked for Bell Canada
as a technician for 26 years.
Brian is attending
university at Brock in the Sports Management program. He has participated in Oakridge sports from the age of 5 in
T-Ball to the present on the Junior team.
He has a lot of championship hardware to show for his efforts. He has also played hockey from age 4 to last
year. Most of that was in the Forest
City program for Oakridge.
Becky is currently in Grade
11 at Oakridge SS and has played ball for Oakridge from T-Ball to
Fastball. She had to register in Byron
this summer because no team existed in Oakridge for her age group.
Bruce has coached baseball
with his kids from the beginning. He
got his start with Bob Stark in T-Ball and since he is still coaching today he
is truly a survivor. He coached Becky
for one year and the rest with Brian.
Most of those years have been spent teamed up with Eric Riley. (From Bob to Eric, this guy likes
punishment.)
These two and an incredible
group of kids that have played together for all these years have amassed an
incredible success story in Ontario ball.
They have won 3 OBA “golds” and 2 OBA “silvers” along with other city
championships in various age groups.
Bruce is very quick to place the credit for this success on Eric and the
boys but as an observer for several years it is plain to see that there is a
special chemistry and an abundance of talent between these coaches and the
players. Well done to all!
Bruce has served for six
years on the Board of Directors, served for several years on the ball committee
as LDBA rep, photo convener and was the uniform convener until, in his words,
Riley gave me a heart attack and I had to quit.” He is also responsible for organizing several euchre tournaments
at our dinner meetings.
Bruce had difficulty sharing
one particular Optimist memory, saying he has enjoyed it all. Thanks for all your help, work and
dedication to the youth of our community and to the social health of our club.
Optimist Rick Gillespie
MIDWESTERN ONT. DISTRICT LOGO
Coats for Kids for Christmas
Sign
at the Memorial Boys and Girls Club
Ten London Optimist Clubs,
participated in an effort to collect good, used winter coats, scarves, mittens
and gloves to assist the Boys’ and Girls’ Club of London in its annual “Koats
for Kids for Christmas” program that provides these winter garments to needy
youngsters and young adults. Those in need
will collect their coats on November 2nd at the Boys’ and Girls’
Club.
Collectively we gathered 223
coats, sweaters and snowsuits, 24 scarves, 49 mitts or gloves, 37 hats, 16
extra pairs of leggings and 4 pairs of boots.
The London Police Service assisted
by providing transportation
of the clothing to the Club on October 15th.
Optimist Kevin Heslop
represented our club and our organization received some timely media
coverage. Optimists Cam Halliday, Hal
Fraser, Dave Kelday and Rick Harriss each acted as liaisons to the other
Optimist Clubs and arranged for the pooling of the clothing. Optimist President Fred Fickling and
Optimist Paul Weeks, his son Jeff, my son Rob and I got the coats to the police
station to be ready for drop off.
Thanks to everyone in our club and the other participating clubs for
your help. I hope that we can do even
better next year.
Optimist Rick Gillespie
Optimist
International Logo – 2002 / 2003
GREY CUP PARTY
Sunday, November 24, 2002
Cuffs Lounge - London Police
Association
330 William Street
Time to be determined by
Game Time
Snacks, food and prizes
Bring your spouse, friends
and family
More information on time and
cost to follow
Oakridge Optimist Club
Legacy Committee
The 50th
anniversary of the Optimist Club of Oakridge Acres Inc. is in the year
2007. On September 12th the
Board of Directors approved the establishment of a Legacy Committee that would
be responsible for the identification of a suitable community capital project
to be completed during our anniversary year.
This committee would be separate from the organization of club
celebrations.
The Project
The Project should involving
something or things that the community needs and wants and it should be lasting
and relevant to youth in nature. The
committee should undertake to seek out an appropriate community project by
polling our population through public meetings, ads in community newsletters,
through a mall display or any other suitable method.
Although we should wait to
consult the public and our membership, some lasting projects could include
running hydro to the diamonds, a splash pad, enhanced playground equipment or
some other upgrade at Oakridge Park.
Club Recognition
I would propose that our
club should seek suitable and lasting recognition in 2007. I think that the renaming of Oakridge Park
on Valetta Street to Oakridge Optimist Park or similarly, Oakridge Arena to
Oakridge Optimist Arena, or both, would be appropriate forms of recognition.
Budget
I propose that we plan on
expending a minimum of $50,000.00 on this project. Some of the funds could come from bingo, a new raffle ticket
program, Trillium Fund and any other grant source applicable. Fundraising will be key to this as will a
commitment from our members to participate.
First Steps
The Board approved the
concept in September and the membership was given an overview at our dinner
meeting on October 17th. The
committee includes Rick Gillespie, Kevin Heslop, Doug Mackay, Vince
Giannantonio, Norm Smith and Jim Easton.
We will be meeting soon to set our direction and formulate fundraising
plans. The success of this endeavour
will depend on the involvement of all our members.
Optimist Rick Gillespie
Bingo Dates For Your
Calendar - 2003
All times listed are the
times that workers should arrive. The
first numbers are called at 12:30 noon, 4:00 pm, 7:00 pm and 10:30 pm.
Sunday, January 5, 2003
- 3:15 pm
Teams 1 & 2
Saturday, February 1, 2003 -
11:30 am
Teams 3 & 4
Saturday, March 8, 2003 -
10:00 pm
Teams 1 & 2
Sunday, March 23, 2003 -
6:00 pm
Teams 3 & 4
My intensity and focus are
at inordinately high levels, and my ability to complete
projects on time is
unspeakable.
Education: Curses in liberal
arts, curses in computer science, curses in accounting.
I am a rabid typist.
Exposure to German for two
years, but many words are not appropriate for
business.
Personal interests: Donating
blood. 15 gallons so far.
I have become completely
paranoid, trusting completely nothing and absolutely no one.
References: None, I've left
a path of destruction behind me.
Don't take the comments of
my former employer too seriously, they were
unappreciative beggars and
slave drivers.
My goal is to be a
meteorologist. But since I possess no training in meteorology, I
suppose I should try stock
brokerage.
I procrastinate - especially
when the task is unpleasant.
I am loyal to my employer at
all costs. Please feel free to respond to my resume on my office voice-mail.
Qualifications: No education
or experience.
Accomplishments: Oversight
of entire department.
Extensive background in accounting. I can also stand on my head.
Optimist Club of Oakridge Acres Board of Directors 2001/2002
President - Fred Fickling
(472-1062)
V.P. (Youth) - Andy Friyia
V.P.
(Ways & Means) - Vince Giannantonio
Sec.-
treasurer - Doug Mackay
Past
President - Kevin Heslop
Director
(1 yr.) – Steve Cochrane
Director
(1 yr.) - Bill Chantler
Director
(1 yr.) – Pat Moffatt
Director
(2 yr.) – Craig Rath
Director
(2 yr.) –Gary Shawyer
Director
(2 yr.) – Hal Fraser
The
Optimist Club of Oakridge Acres, Inc. is a member of Zone 9 in the Midwestern
Ontario District. of the Optimist International Organization
· Dinner Meetings held the third Thurs. of each month at Thames Valley Golf Course,
unless announced otherwise. (7:00 p.m.) · Board of
Directors Meeting held at the Oakridge Arena on the 1st
Thursday of each month at 7:00 p.m.
THE
OPTIMIST CREED
The Optimist Creed
PROMISE
YOURSELF
To
be so strong that nothing can disturb your peace of mind.
To
talk health, happiness and prosperity to every person you meet.
To
make all your friends feel that there is something in them.
To look at
the sunny side of everything and make your optimism come true.
To
think only of the best, to work only for the best, and to expect only the best.
To
be just as enthusiastic about the success of others as you are about your own.
To
forget the mistakes of the past and press on to the greater achievements of the
future.
To
wear a cheerful countenance at all times and give every living creature you
meet a smile.
To
give so much time to the improvement of yourself that you have no time to
criticize others.
To
be too large for worry, too noble for anger, too strong for fear, and too happy
to permit the presence of trouble
Oakridge
Communicates!
1.)
Newsletter Staff
Editor
- Don Draper (471-1925)
Email
articles to “don.draper@sympatico.ca”
Oakography
- Rick Gillespie,
President-
Fred Fickling
Sports
– Andy Friyia
2.)
Check out the website for the Oakridge Optimists.
Web
address - http://www.execulink.com/~oakridge/optimist.htm
Email
address - oakridge@execulink.com