Brighton Optimists Donate To Heavner Nature Connection

The folks from Heavner participated in our Free Fishing Derby For Kids this year, and we found out that they have a variety of youth-related outdoor activities. One of them is ‘Go Fish’, and it was such a natural fit for our group that we decided to help them out with some equipment.

The Board of Directors approved buying some rods and reels for Heavner Nature center. With our great relationship with a local retail outlet, Fishing Derby Committee Chair Donna Campbell was able to increase the buying power of the $188 greatly and at the July 8th Brighton Optimist Club meeting we presented the fishing rigs to the staff of Heavener Nature Center.

We know that the kids will enjoy the new equipment and that many will discover the joys of fishing through this donation. Pictured are Brighton Optimist President Adele Stocker (left), the staff of Heavner Nature Connection (center - with fishing poles), and Brighton Optimist Club Fishing Derby Chairperson Donna Campbell (right).

Brighton Optimist Fishing Derby

This past Saturday, the Brighton Optimist Club's 24th annual free fishing derby for kids was held at the millpond in downtown Brighton. About 280 kids participated. There was a casting contest, face painting, a Lil' Angler booth for young children, demonstrations by Heavener's Canoe (who have a lot of outdoor programs geared towards kids), and of course - fishing.

The largest fish caught was a 27" carp. We usually see largemouth bass in the 17-22 inch range, but this year the biggest bass was only 12.5". We're not sure why, although it was noted that the water level was about 2 ft higher than typical, and the weeds in the millpond were a lot thicker than usual for this time of year.

When the derby ended at 11 am, the kids were treated to pizza and entertainment by a local jump rope team, the Jumpin' All Stars. When they finished their routine, awards were given out, which included trophies and rod & reel rigs.

This was a great event with high participation from Brighton Optimist Club members, and other volunteers. This event costs about $4,500 to put on, and we thank our sponsors and volunteers.

If you're in the area next year, check it out. It was a great time.

Brighton Optimists Busy In June!

This Saturday, June 12th, the Brighton Optimist Club will be holding its 24th annual Free Fishing Derby For Kids, the longest running free and touth oriented fishing derby in the State of Michigan.

Registration begins at 7:30 am at the Brighton Mill Pond and runs 8 am - 10:30 am. The first 300 kids are guaranteed an event tee shirt. While results are tabulated, kids will enjoy lemonade and pizza. Trophies will be awarded beginning at 11 am. Bring your tackle and fishing poles, they will provide bait and have a limited number of 'loaner' rods & reels, too. The event costs about $4,500 to put on, much of it offset by sponsorships.

Every Saturday this month, you can skate for free at the Meijer-SELCRA skatepark at 300 Orndorf Drive, in Brighton. The Brighton Optimists were the driving force behind this park and continue to support it. Skateboarders and rollerbladers can work on their tricks and techniques here. Helmets are required.

For more on the Brighton Optimists, see http://www.BrightonOptimist.org

A Small Step Yields BIG Results For Community Youth

I'm privileged to be the Zone 10 Lt. Governor for the Michigan District Optimists. There are seven clubs in my Zone, and I sometimes send the club officers a note about events. This is one that I sent last week after my home club sponsored a first-time activity called Spring Break Fun Day. I think it's self explanatory, whether you're an Optimist, or not.
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Fellow Optimists, here is a perfect example of how freely sharing ideas and experiences can help your community and its youth.

A Brighton Optimist, Peggy Hall, wanted to chair her club’s Youth Appreciation activity but had no clear focus regarding its format. She did know that she wanted to try something ‘different’ from what the club had always done (participation and interest had been flagging), but wasn’t sure of how to proceed. Peggy went to this year’s First Quarter Michigan District Meeting in Pontiac (October 31, 2009) and attended a breakout session called, “Best Practices Discussions.” In that session, there was give and take among the participants and moderators on Essay and Oratorical Contests, Youth Appreciation, Fundraising, and Achievements & Awards. Obviously, Peggy was most interested in the Youth Appreciation topic.

She heard a member of the Alpena Optimist Club talk about their Spring Break Fun Day, where 800 kids (yes – 800!) attend and have a fun-filled day of many different activities, including a lunch. All for free. Peggy came back charged up about this format and immediately petitioned her club’s Board of Directors for start-up funding, started investigating costs to use the local High School when it was empty during Spring Break, and formed a committee of other interested members. All of this knowing that she had only a few months to do an investigation of feasibility, work out a budget and plan how to safely conduct the event.

Peggy had also heard about the OIF Club Grant Program during a general session at the District Meeting and she set herself to writing a grant proposal. While grants have not yet been announced, she has received word that she made the ‘first cut’ and her Spring Break Fun Day grant is ‘provisionally accepted’. If you’re not familiar with this program, the OIF is giving out $500 matching grants to clubs for NEW projects. (Peggy checked with OIF to be sure that this event would qualify as a ‘new’ project before writing and submitting the grant application.)

This past Tuesday, April 6th, the Brighton Optimist Club held its first Spring Break Fun Day with around 140 kids in attendance. Gym activities, bounce house, jump roping, swimming, face painting, gardening, no-bake cooking, first aid and craft classes were all available to the kids, along with a free lunch. It was restricted this year to grades K-5 and some parents stuck around to volunteer, in addition to the HS basketball players that assisted in the gym, a local jump rope team, and of course, Optimists. The Brighton Area Fire Department brought a fire truck out for a demonstration, too. Executive Chef Tim Ortbring at Mt. Brighton’s Bauery Restaurant got his vendors to donate almost all of the food for that day – hot dogs, juice boxes, chips, fruits, veggies and cookies. Peggy and her team have noted areas to improve next year’s event, but everybody was happy with the final product – especially the kids.

What a great story and what a great result for the kids and the community. I see many lessons from this experience. Here are just a few:

1) If you’re really committed to serving your community and its youth, you owe it to them to get to at least one District Meeting a year. If it can’t be you, it should be somebody in your club. There’s too much valuable information there for your immediate use and for the immediate benefit of your community.

2) You and your club may be able to help another club the way Alpena did with Brighton. Where else would those two geographically diverse members have met and exchanged ideas if not at a District Meeting? I haven’t talked with Alpena, but I’m sure they are not offended that another club used their idea to serve kids in another community. I doubt that any of us would feel that way, so why not share YOUR successes with other clubs? Or if you need a success of your own, find a model for one at a District Meeting.

3) Don’t be afraid to try something new. Just because you or your club has always done something a certain way does NOT mean that it won’t work another way, or perhaps be even better. Many clubs are struggling to attract new members. Some are struggling to attract any members. Younger members think and react differently than older members. Don’t let the great achievements and the history of your clubs wither away because you’re in a rut of not getting new members. Shake things up a bit and see what happens.
4) Be enthusiastic. Peggy and her committee could have powered the county with the energy they displayed, and positive energy is contagious. Generate it! Tap into it!

5) Support the Optimist International Foundation. They supply the scholarships for the CCDHH, Oratorical and Essay Contests and the Club Grant Program, as well as other programs. If your club doesn’t have a Club Foundation Rep, please appoint one and support the Foundation because whether you know it or not, they are supporting you. See a full list of what they do for kids and clubs at: http://www.oifoundation.org/oifprograms/programs.htm - and please support them somehow, at least a little. Every dollar counts and every dollar is important.

It’s easy to come up with reasons for not going to District Meetings. I hope that you’ll be optimistic, go to an upcoming District (and a Zone) Meeting, and attend with an attitude that you’ll get something valuable from the experience. I don’t think you’ll be disappointed – but then again, I am an Optimist.

By the way, the First Quarter District Meeting that Peggy Hall attended was her first District Meeting appearance in a very, very long time! Who would have thought that the one little step of registering for a District Meeting would have such an huge impact on the kids in her community? Of course, being a member of the Brighton club myself, this example was right in my field of vision. I’m sure you all have a success stories of your own, so please share them with us. We all need a shot of Optimism now and then!

Brighton Optimists Announce Oratorical Winners

The Brighton Optimist Club (Brighton Michigan, Livingston County) conducted it's 32nd annual Oratorical Contest on Sunday March 21st, at Lord of Life Lutheran Church in Brighton. Contestants from both the Brighton and Howell School systems competed by presenting four minute speeches on the topic, "Cyber Communication - Progress or Problem."

Moderators Kate Lawrence and Kelly Thompson did a great job, and we want to thank our judges - Carol McMacken, Kathryn Hall, Rick Smith, CJ Teahan, Sue Burkhart, Austin Szelkowski, Tom Harris and Sheri Richards.

Oratorical Committee Chairperson Eunice Kallio presented the awards as follows:
Girls contestants Kate Yuhas, Lorryn Cruz, Rachel Wehrly, Rylie Haupt, Samantha Myers, Kristin Walker, and Tegan Chesney received Certificates of Participation. The 3rd place winner was Rebeckah Iafrate, 2nd place Loren Bendzinski, and 1st place winner Pauline Devlin.

Boys contestants were Mo Charawi, Jimmy Birney, Jeffrey Walker, Matt Pierce, Jacob Trisch, Jack Kosaian, and Beau Godwin. 3rd place boys winner was Andrew Tucker, 2nd palce was Keith Hutchins, and the 1st place wiiner was Harrison Jones.

The first through third place winners received gift cards and medallions. The first place winners will now progress to the Michigan District Region 3 competition on Saturday, April 17th at the Southfield Public Library. Regional winners then progress to the Michigan District Competition, where the students can win a $2,500 college scholarship.

Oratorical Contests are one on Optimist International's hallmark programs for youth, introducing them to public speaking and proper methods of verbal communication. We appreciate the educators that take time to work with their students and help them to prepare their speeches.

The Brighton Optimist Club is one of 3,100 clubs worldwide that conduct 65,000 service projects every year. For more information on the Brighton Optimist Club, see http://www.brightonoptimist.org/, email info@BrightonOptimist.org, or visit them any Thursday morning, 7:30 am, at the Bauery Restuarant at Mt. Brighton, 4141 Bauer Rd, 48116. First-time visitors and guests receive a complimentary breakfast.

Brighton Optimists Meet Reaching Higher Graduates

At this morning's meeting of the Brighton Optimist Club, Reaching Higher Director Sue Dahlman, and Brighton High School guidance counselor Barb Williams accompanied five of the Reaching Higher Program's recent graduates. The five students are all either sophomores or juniors this year, and each gave a brief presentation on how the Reaching Higher program has helped them personally and academically.

It was very moving to hear the stories from these young people, and to know that when we go off track in life, there is hope. Sometimes it's in our attitudes, sometimes in our circumstances. These five great students have turned themselves around, improved their grades, and are now getting more involved in activities in a positive way.

My kudos to Sue Dahlmann and Barb Williams for getting this program up and running here in Livingston County. And of course, to the Brighton Optimist Club for providing the first batch of 'seed money' to fund them. (Disclaimer:I am on the Board of Directors of the Brighton Optimist Club and am decidely biased.)

Some of these five have volunteered to be graduate assistants to the next group of Reaching Higher students at Brighton High, and my bet is that they'll be more fulfilled in that role than they were as students. Isn't it almost always the case that the more we do for others, the more meaning we find in our lives, and in life in general? I think it is.

If you want to learn more about this program, or help fund it, please see their web site at:
http://www.reachinghigherinc.org/.

If you have interest in the Brighton Optimist Club, see their web site at http://www.brightonoptimist.org/. We have an ambitious schedule of events for the year and can always use more service-minded individuals to help.

And congratulations again to the recent graduates of Reaching Higher!

Brighton Optimists Help Sponsor Students

Last fall, the Brighton Optimist Club heard a guest speaker, Sue Dahlmann, talk about a program called 'Reaching Higher'. She had been conducting this program in other SE MIchigan schools and wanted to start it in her home community.

The Optimists were so impressed, that they allocated money to sponsor two students, the first community group to do so. The Reaching Higher program provides tools for building a student's confidence level, overcoming limiting beliefs and moving toward their goals.

A February 3, 2010, article in the Livingston County Press and Daily Argus featured this program and mentioned the role of the Brighton Optimists, and other community groups.

The Brighton Optimist Club is proud to have been a part in the inaugural year of this program for local youth, and we hope it is an important part of the community for many years to come.

You can see the full article here, at http://www.livingstondaily.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=20102030302, and you can see the Reaching Higher web site at http://www.reachinghigherinc.com/index.php

Clubs Are Planning Events

It's great to see so many Clubs planning so many events. Right now, clubs that planning Oratorical Contests are in full swing. They are also getting ready for Optimist International Junior Golf Qualifiers. This post will focus on the Optimist International Oratorical Contest.

What's an Oratorical Contest?

It's a structured public speaking opportunity for children 16 and under. They must prepare a 4-5 minutes speech on a topic announced by Optimist International. This year's topic is, "Cyber Communication: Progress or Problem?"

They are judged on poise, content, presentation, and overall effectiveness. Points can be deducted for long or short speeches, use of props, and a few other infractions of the official rules. All contestants receive a copy of the rules.

Club winners progress to a Regional contest. Regional winners (Michigan has five regions) compete in the Michigan District contest, where the boy & girl winners get a $2,500 scholarship and the opportunity to compete for Optimist International's $6,000 scholarship.

It's an amazing contest, and I am floored every year by the competitors. I remember myself at their age. There's no way that I would have been able to stand before a room of mostly strangers and speak as these kids do. It seems that every year, there is more ability and passion among the contestants. Many adults could learn a lesson about getting across a point in a short amount of time from these remarkable young people.

Contests are being held by clubs across Michigan in March. Find an Optimist Club near you and check one out. It's just one of the things that Optimists do for our youth. And you don't have to be a pie-in-the-sky, 'Pollyanna' type to be an Optimist. You just need a desire to serve your community and to help provide positive opportunities to the youth in your community. Even if you're a pessimist, don't worry. Our positive attitude is contagious!

My club, the Brighton Optimist Club, will have their Oratorical Contest on March 21, 2010.

What's an Optimist?

A lot of folks feel that an 'optimist' (notice the small 'o') are pie-in-the-sky, unrealistic, see no evil kind of people. That's really not true. Optimism doesn't preclude realism, and expecting (or even hoping) for a favorable outcome isn't a weakness.

There's been a lot of study into positive thinking and the effects of positive attitudes and generally, being an optimist doesn't hurt, it helps.

On to the Optimist (with a capital 'O'). These are members of a club chartered under Optimist International and work to better their communities, focusing on the youth.

Clubs I know are doing everything imaginable to make their communities a better place to live, and to "Bring Out The Best In Kids". A variety of youth appreciation days, providing sporting, recreational or athletic events, offering scholarships, developing academic and leadership qualities in youth, cleaning roads, collecting food for the hungry, and the list goes on and on and on.

If you have an interest in supporting the youth of your community (after all, they are the future), or want to make your town a better place to live - find or start a local Optimist Club.

I consider myself an independent, politically, but last February (2009), I noticed this quote from President Obama, "You know, I am an eternal optimist. That doesn't mean I'm a sap." That's kind of how I feel about being an Optimist, too.

Optimism Abounds!

Yes, this is a blog about Optimism - and Optimists. You don't have to be a member of Optimist International, but it sure wouldn't hurt!

I hope to highlight stories and projects from Optimist Clubs on this blog, but posts that reflect optimism outside of the organization will not be turned away, either.

Optimist Clubs are civic groups that chartered under Optimist International. They work on projects within their community, but with a focus on the youth of the community. They believe in the 'Optimist Creed' and practice it in their daily lives.

You can find more information on Optimist International at http://www.optimist.org/, and the Michigan District Optimists at http://www.michiganoptimists.org/. There's probably a club near you - find it and get involved!