OAKRIDGE OPTIMIST NEWS
Summer 99 Edition
THE PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE
The 98-99 awards banquet at the 2nd Quarter Board Meeting in Waterloo indicated the fine work our club and individuals within it completed.  To ensure the continued success of our organization we must focus on programs which help our young people grow as responsible, happy and fit citizens.  As well, participation in fellowship activities can only strengthen our resolve to work as a TEAM.

Thank you to the many members who responded to the needs assessment at the beginning of the Optimist year.  There was strong consensus about the activities which are valued.  The suggestions for altering or broadening our programs were as varied as are the individual interests of our members.  The ideas (see below) have much potential for the months to come.
 
To simply maintain the good things we do and certainly to expand activities, we need a strong recruitment initiative.  Please approach men and women who are your neighbours, friends or associates to consider joining the Optimist Club Of Oakridge Acres.  Share with them the things we do and the ideas we would like to put in place if we had the workers.
In many ways our club is the glue that strengthens and energizes our community.
PRESIDENT DON
 
Despite the lack of the newsletter in 1998-1999, the Optimist Club of Oakridge Acres was very busy.   It is unfortunate that I did not get the newsletter out to our members in order to keep them abreast of the activities of the club and its members.  Despite the great plans I had for the newsletter and several attempts to get it out, I never did complete the task.  I apologize to President Don and the rest of the membership for not completing my work.  I also appreciate and commend President Don for completing the newsletters that he did.  I thought I would complete at least one newsletter for the membership to digest for 98/99 year.
Ghost Editor:  Peter 
Special points of interest:
  • Bingo
  • Programs
  • Membership
  • Internet
  • Club Awards
  • Funding Requests
  • The Future
Optimist Kevin Heslop in conjunction with the City of London Parks and Recreation Department initiated a "FRIDAY NIGHT ROLLER BLADING" event for teens at the Oakridge Arena.  This a started as a pilot project and it extended from the beginning of May to the end of June.  As it turned out it was a very successful program and 80 to 100 skaters used the arena on the Friday nights. 
 
Bingos
THE FUTURE
President Elect Rick Gillespie is planning an eventful year and I am sure that the membership will appreciate his efforts for such a varied program.  At the Board of Director's meeting held on Spetember 2, 1999, President Elect Rick outlined some of his proposed programs.  Events considered are as follows:

NOW (New Optimists Wanted)
Breakfast at Thames Valley           NOV  6
Trip to the Detroit Auto Show      JAN 20
Christmas Party
Curling @ Ilderton                          Dec 11
The Internet Web Page
The Oakridge Internet Web Site may be accessed at:

http://www.execulink.com/~oakridge/optimist.htm

There is room for more information and it is suggested that baseball/hockey/soccer standings be posted regularly.  If someone provides the information, it will be posted.
 
The Oakridge Optimist Internet Web Page has been very successful and within the two year period since initiating the page, there have been over 1480 visitors to the site.  Some of the visitors just reviewed the site and others as far away as Florida and California have requested additional information about our Optimist Programs such as Junior Golf, Oratorical and Essay Contests, Youth in Education Programs, Soccer, Baseball and Hockey Registrations
The Optimist Internet Newsgroup
Email: optilink@egroups.com to join

1999 APPROVED FUNDING REQUESTS
OPTIMIST HAPPENINGS
that it be raffled off.
SURVEY RESULTS
The results of the questionnaire that President circulated are as follows:

Valued:   Sports programs, Scholarship Programs, O.I Programs, youth programs we already support, fund raising, community activity, respect for law, youth in education/government, O.I. Relationship

To be considered:
Youth Clubs in Schools, greater publicity, increased active membership, alternative fund raising, basketball, community sportsplex goal, more fellowship, 
PEACE program, social assistance, tennis, youth center, sex and drugs program, community fireworks.
 

SPORTS PROGRAMS

Hockey Registration - 956
Operating Surplus from Hockey was      about $ 21,000
Baseball registration around 500
 
 
 
 
 
President:   Don Draper
Past President:   Doug Mackay
Secretary:   Rick Hariss
Treasurer:   Jim Easton
V. P. Youth: Rick Gillespie
Directors: (2 year)
  Steve Cochrane
  Dave Fawcett
  Michael Hoy
Directors: ( 1 year)
  Doug McMaster

DISTRICT HAPPENINGS
As you may know, Oakridge did receive Honour Club status for the 1997-1998 year.  This is a rare event for Oakridge and it is the second time within the last few years that this has been attained.  Past President Doug Mackay and his board are to be congratulated for the fine work done.  The awards night was held in Waterloo on Feb 13 at the District Meeting and Oakridge was well recognized for work and programs undertaken by many of its optimist members.  A list of the awards that was given to our club is given below:

CLUB AWARDS
Honour Club                            Doug Mackay (Banner Patch)
Honour Club President                  Doug Mackay (Citation + President's Pin)
Distinguished Secretary/Treasurer  Award  Linda Hegler (Citation)
Optimist Youth Foundation Award       Banner Patch ($7 per member)
Hugh O'Brian Youth Foundation Award   Banner Patch
Community Service Award               Banner Patch + Year Bar
Membership Award (+5 members)         Banner Patch (Membership and Maintenance)

DISTRICT AWARDS
Distinguished Lieutenant Governor   Peter Hegler (Crystal Trophy, Citation + Pin)