Welcome to the new Millenium!
THE MONTHLY NEWSLETTER OF THE OAKRIDGE OPTIMISTS
January 2000
Message from the President
Welcome to the new Millenium!
Planning for the Detroit Auto Show is well under way and at the time of this writing, there were ten vacant seats left. There is every indication that we will fill the bus and we have events planned that will ensure a great time for all. Hope to see you there.
Our five new members will be inducted at our dinner meeting on January 20th at ThamesValley Golf Course. Lieutenant Governor Len Egan will swear them in and I have received a new member welcome on video tape from International President Dubois. I hope to see a good turn out at the meeting to welcome these new Optimists.
I recently spent some time with Doug McMaster and reviewed our donations for the 1999 calendar year. Our club donated over $19,000.00 from our bingo account to organizations and causes including our sports committees, the PEACE program, Optimist Youth Programs, scouts, guides, swimming, Children's Hospital and much more. This is where all your hard work attending and organizing bingo pays off. Thanks to all who contributed last year.
Your board has many events and meetings planned for the remainder of this term. Please mark the dates down on your calendar and come out to work or play. We can always use one more member.
- Rick
Gillespie
Oakography
Max Davis joined the Lambeth Optimist Club in 1972 and he didn't waste any time getting involved with the organization on a club and district level. He was president of the club in 1974/75 and 1981/82. He served as Lieutenant Governor in 1975/76, 1977/78 and 1982/83. During this last term he earned the title "Distinguished Lieutenant Governor".
At the District level he ran twice for Governor and received an award when he was the Membership Chair for Ontario. Max moved to our club in 1995 and has been active as a Director and call captain since that time.
Max has 2 daughters and one son and a total of 7 grandchildren. After a bit of prying I learned that his good friend Sam (Alice Ann) and he are engaged to be married this year. Congratulations!
Max's hobbies range from trapping, hunting, fishing to woodworking. He tells me that Sam shares his love of the outdoors. He was telling me his system for trapping animals and skinning the pelts with Sam. You could almost hear the music to Muskrat Love playing in the background.
Max spent his youth in the armed forces. He was stationed at Camp Borden from 1940 to 1945 as a weapons instructor and he achieved the rank of Company Sergeant Major. It seems that Max has done it all. He has grown tobacco for two years and worked for Swift Canada for 27 years. Now that he is retired he works full time at the Hunt Club. In the summer he looks after the carts and in the winter he is the range master and looks after the skeet and trap shooting. If you live near the club as I do you know when Max is working because you can hear the never ending sound of the shot guns being fired.
Max tells me he enjoys the fellowship of the club and the service to the youth of our community.
Thanks for all your hard work on the board Max.
CHRISTMAS PARTY DECEMBER 18TH - THE JURY'S VERDICT
HO HO
HO
The Party, held on Dec. 18th at the Ilderton Curling Club, was attended by 33 people. Two thirds arrived early to participate in curling activities - for some it was the first time. A brief instructional session, conducted by veteran curlers, was followed by a 4-end game. Below are some terms you may have heard uttered during play and no explanation was given at the time:
"Tough shot": Anything the Skip misses.
"Shit shot" : Anything you miss.
"Blanked end" : Nobody had draw weight
"Bury" : What you do with your head when you hog your rock in the eighth
end.
"Double" : What you order at the bar when you lose.
"Draw weight" : Darned if I know!
Rave comments were heard regarding the turkey and ham dinner served up by Linda Arthur. Her business is "Village Caterers" of Thorndale and she will do meals for groups 30 or more for about $10.00 per person. Telephone is 461-1470.
Much laughter followed as Santa dispersed gag gifts. Santa also curled
and might have been the only person who was warm out on the ice.
Thanks to Opt. Peter Hegler for dressing up and making this so much fun.
You may some day be interested in seeing a photo taken of Opt. Bruce Pope
playing the role of Captain Condom, complete with rubber helmet and water
gun.
HOCKEY NEWS
Bob Litvinchuk, chair of the Oakridge Optimist Minor Hockey Association, gave a presentation at the January Directors' meeting. There have been rumours of issues concerning the direction of the Greater London Hockey Association and some of the 7 organizations, including our group. Bob wanted to explain the Oakridge committee's position. He advised that the Oakridge Association is considering approaching the OMHA for assistance. Bob wanted the Oakridge Optimists be aware and he indicated the hockey representatives will actively seek resolution. Any results of further discussions will come to Board of Directors of the Optimist Club of Oakridge Acres which is the recognized and responsible sponsor of hockey, baseball and soccer programs in our area.
We have since learned that leaders of the G.L.H.A. have agreed to hold a meeting, later in January 2000, to hear the concerns of any chair persons of the 7 hockey groups which make up the G.L.H.A.. Hopefully the voice of reason will prevail and the focus will be on the general interests of the young people, parents and volunteers involved in a hockey program rich in history and lauded, recently, in the Free Press by Craig Simpson.
GoodNews!
Opt Jim Easton has indicated that Lorne Benner has recovered and continues
to support the club with his skate sharpening.
Upcoming Bingo Dates
January 23, 2000 3:45 PM (Teams 1 & 2)
February 20, 2000 11:45AM (Teams 3 & 4)
March 2, 2000 6:00PM (1 & 2)
Skating-A Community Service Project
Last spring Opt. V.P. Kevin Heslop organized an in-line skating program
on Friday evenings aimed at intermediate aged elementary young people.
Feedback received has indicated that this event should be continued at
Oakridge Arena - probably in April 2000.
During this Optimist Year plans have been discussed in Directors' meetings to expand the idea to Family Public Skating. January 23rd, 2000 (2:00PM to 3:45PM) has been booked for this program. Kevin is able to run the first event alone but will need help with future public skating sessions. He made a request to the Board to provide start-up costs. $250 was approved.
If you are interested in helping with the skating initiative please contact Opt. Kevin at (472-2627) .
In the ZONE
Each month our president, or representative, attends a meeting of club presidents chaired by the Lieutenant Governor, Len Egan. The January 5th, 2000 meeting of Zone 9 was held at our own meeting room. The following information was shared at that time.
Fanshawe will host a dart tournament on January 22nd 2000. The registration is $24/team and it starts at 12 noon at the Sportsplex 2519 Fanshawe Park Road E.
Respect for the Law is scheduled on May 31st 2000 at East London. It is our zone's responsibility to organize the function this year. This year, Optimist members who are active or retired Police Officers will be honored
On February 19th 2000 the 2nd Annual Quarter Board meeting is at the Four Points Hotel. There is a banquet in the evening and awards will be presented. President Gillespie is requesting members attend and show interest.
Junior Golf 2000
The Midwestern Ontario Optimist Junior Golf Tournament will be held
on July 10th and 11th, 2000, at the St. Mary's Golf
and Country Club. The hosts again this year will be the Optimist Clubs
of St. Mary's, Kirkton-Woodham and Downie. The District winner will advance
to the OIJGC in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida.
Small Town Humour
Ontario is full of small towns. For those never having travelled to
or lived in one, the following will illustrate pretty much what life's
like there. My hometown was so small...
· the clinic was called Joe's Hospital
and Grill
· long distance calls are delayed
when the area code is busy
· in order to paint traffic lines,
the road had to be widened
· instead of hoses, the Fire Department
uses water pistols
· you had to make a reservation to
use the parking meter
· during snowstorms, salt was spread
using a salad shooter
· the local Motel 6 sleeps six
· during a boxing match, both men
have to sit in the same corner
· the class valedictorian had both
the highest & lowest averages
· the Mayor was also the Sheriff,
Town Council & street sweeper
· we had no porn movie house; once
a week someone left the shades up
· the municipal water system's pump
was supplied by Water Pik
· before you visited, you could look
out a window & see who was home
· there was no town idiot -- everybody
had to take turns
Next Dinner Meeting
The next dinner meeting is January 20th, 2000 at 7:00PM
at the Thames Valley Golf and Country Club. Lt. Gov. Len Egan will attend
to officially induct the new members. The speaker is the Olympic Rower
Gord Henry. It has been awhile since we have been able to welcome
5 new members at one time. Let's all try to make this a very well attended
meeting. The meal promises to be very good and this will be a super program.
Come out and greet: Bill Chantler, Doug Finlay, Scott Hessel, Dave Kelday,
and Craig Rath.
NOW Breakfast, Again
"New Optimists Wanted"
Our first NOW breakfast was very well attended.
All who were there agreed it was a very pleasant time of the day for a
get together and the golf club was a beautiful setting. That was fall when
the hardiest of golfers were still on the course. The next
NOW Breakfast is scheduled for February 26th,
2000 at 9:00AM. A winter morning at Thames Valley offers another
atmosphere certainly no less spectacular. One function of a NOW Breakfast
is to bring men and women from the community and introduce them to the
good work that we do. They, too, may want to provide service to youth of
our area. Why not invite a neighbour, friend or associate to attend? Please
come to breakfast even if you do not have a guest. You will enjoy!
February Dinner Meeting
The work of many volunteers who serve on the committees which oversee hockey, baseball and soccer programs sponsored by the Oakridge Optimists is appreciated. During the February Dinner meeting we invite members of the committees and recognize them for their highly valued work. Again it is hoped there will be a strong attendance by club members. Dress will be informal. It will be a great chance to enjoy fellowship and fun.
The gathering will occur at: Clyde's (Restaurant and Tavern) 340 Wellington Street 850-3500
Board of Directors
1999-2000
President
Richard Gillespie
641-2815
Vice President
Youth
David Gilmore
663-9057
Vice President
Ways & Means
Kevin Heslop
472-2627
Past President
Don Draper
471-1925
Treasurer/Director
Jim Easton
641-0798
Secretary
Steve Cochrane
657-8865
Director
Rick Harriss
473-2412
Director
Eric Riley
472-2025
Director
Michael Hoy
471-2712
Director
Max Davis
472-9890
Director
Peter Hegler
471-4928
Hockey Chair
Bob Litvinchuk
474-0255
Baseball Chair
Joe O'Neill
641-8441
Soccer Chair
Jim Harkin
474-1074
OI Foundation
Rep
Norm Smith
473-0899
Next meeting
of the Board of Directors is at Oakridge Arena - February 3, 2000 at 7:00
PM.