Well, we do need something, don't we? Earthquakes/tsunamis/reactor malfunctions/radiation leaks/civil wars/revolutions/government shutdown. Holy cow. I guess it makes last year's Haiti earthquake almost pale in comparison. Almost.
I find my good news where I can. And when I can. Dreary, rainy weather for the last week is having a noticeable effect on lawns. Greener by the day. Tulips, irises and more are sticking their shoots above ground, reaching for the sun. Trees are budding. First the small, almost unnoticed growth. Then, getting larger and more colorful until they burst out in an explosion of color. An explosion of beauty that is all too short lived.
More birds, and different kinds of birds are noticeable by the day, too - if you're watching. Soon the trillium will be blooming in the hardwood forest areas. They will give way to the other wildflowers. One of my favorites is the imported ornamental 'Dames's Rocket'. It will grow to almost 4 ft tall and has a beautiful fragrance. You'll find it in moist woodands, open meadows and thriving along roadsides. It comes in shades of white and pink and purple. Yes, it is an invasive species, but one that I tolerate easily. The sight of a patch of it growing, and the scent as I drive by with my windows rolled down never fails to lift my spirits.
The Tigers had their Home Opener today and beat Kansas City 5-2. Go Tigers!
The Detrot Syphony Orchestra (DSO) strike has been settled (officially as of about 40 minutes ago) and free concerts at Orchestra Hall this weekend are going to be a full house! It always amazed - and yet disturbed me - that a relatively small and beautiful venue like that could not sell out for every performance. It really is 'pure' music. And so masterfully performed and conducted. It has been a very strange year without our monthly fall and winter journeys to hear the DSO.
I've also been privileged to participate in some great community activities, one of which was the recent Brighton Optimist Spring Beak Fun Day. A totally free day for kids in the grades K-4, filled with a variety of activities and even the proverbial 'free lunch'. Watching the 170 or so children exerience crafts, karate, swimming, kayaking, face painting - even a small scale version of 'Minute To Win It' - made me smile deeply.
If you're searching for a positive way to spend some time, start looking at your local community groups. We're all busy and we all have a lot of reasons to not participate, but I have to tell you that your time spent on activities like this pay huge dividends in your mental state, your outlook on life and in your sense of value and fulfillment. It's a beautiful thing to give back to the kids in your community without a thought of what you'll get in return. If nothing else, they got a chance to interact with other kids and do things that didn't involve keyboards and video screens.
Nothing stays the same forever, and there is still much to be thankful for in our lives. If you're getting down about world or local events, cut your news time to 20 minutes a day. You can't do anything about those big news events anyway. Find something in which you can make a difference and get out and do it.
Friday, April 8, 2011
Saturday, April 2, 2011
Brighton Optimists Sponsor Spring Break Fun Day
Talk about a great youth event. But first some history.
Like many Optimist Clubs, the Brighton group conducted a 'youth appreciation' event every year. One of Optimist International's (OI) 'legacy' events, it was originated to recognize kids for just being good kids. Over the years, Brighton took nominations from parents, neighbors, teachers - almost anybody, really - and set aside a day to present the kids with certificates. Family was invited, refreshments provided. It was a good event.
But participation started to fall off. It was getting tougher to get nominations. Fewer teachers participated. The event just quietly went away for a number of years. And sadly, nobody in the community asked about it. One of our members, Peggy Hall, then went a Michigan District Conference, her first appearance at one in 12 years. She went specifically to try to get some ideas for re-establishing 'youth appreciation'. And did she ever!
At a roundtable session, she heard about a spring break day concept that the Alpena Optimist Club had been conducting. They got permission to use the high school during spring break, when it would normally be closed, and had this great event for the kids. Peggy came back charged up and started making plans.
On April 5, 2011, the Brighton Optimists will conduct their 2nd Spring Break Fun Day, aimed at grades K-4. There will be sessions on karate, yoga, origami, geology, musical theatre, cooking, swimming, kayaking - and a lot more. Some classes are tought by local businesses, things like yoga, karate and kayaking. Others that are more hobbyist in nature are taught by either Optimist members or others in the community.
This event is totally FREE to the kids and a light lunch is provided, too. Registrations are pouring in and it looks like we will easily surpass the 150 kids that we had last year. The event is open to all Livingston County residents. It's just one more way that a group of dedicated people are trying to make a difference in their community, and in the lives of children.
The Brighton Optimists have been very busy as of late. They awarded a $500 scholarship to their Essay Contest Winner in early March, awarded two $500 scholarships to their Oratorical contest winners later in March, they're doing the Spring Break Fun Day on April 5th, and planning the 25th Anniversary of their Free Fishing Derby For Kids on June 11th.
Like many Optimist Clubs, the Brighton group conducted a 'youth appreciation' event every year. One of Optimist International's (OI) 'legacy' events, it was originated to recognize kids for just being good kids. Over the years, Brighton took nominations from parents, neighbors, teachers - almost anybody, really - and set aside a day to present the kids with certificates. Family was invited, refreshments provided. It was a good event.
But participation started to fall off. It was getting tougher to get nominations. Fewer teachers participated. The event just quietly went away for a number of years. And sadly, nobody in the community asked about it. One of our members, Peggy Hall, then went a Michigan District Conference, her first appearance at one in 12 years. She went specifically to try to get some ideas for re-establishing 'youth appreciation'. And did she ever!
At a roundtable session, she heard about a spring break day concept that the Alpena Optimist Club had been conducting. They got permission to use the high school during spring break, when it would normally be closed, and had this great event for the kids. Peggy came back charged up and started making plans.
On April 5, 2011, the Brighton Optimists will conduct their 2nd Spring Break Fun Day, aimed at grades K-4. There will be sessions on karate, yoga, origami, geology, musical theatre, cooking, swimming, kayaking - and a lot more. Some classes are tought by local businesses, things like yoga, karate and kayaking. Others that are more hobbyist in nature are taught by either Optimist members or others in the community.
This event is totally FREE to the kids and a light lunch is provided, too. Registrations are pouring in and it looks like we will easily surpass the 150 kids that we had last year. The event is open to all Livingston County residents. It's just one more way that a group of dedicated people are trying to make a difference in their community, and in the lives of children.
The Brighton Optimists have been very busy as of late. They awarded a $500 scholarship to their Essay Contest Winner in early March, awarded two $500 scholarships to their Oratorical contest winners later in March, they're doing the Spring Break Fun Day on April 5th, and planning the 25th Anniversary of their Free Fishing Derby For Kids on June 11th.
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Optimists Do Great Things For The Community
One of the greatest 'jobs' in Optimist International is being Lt. Governor. Within your District (mine being the Michigan District), you are elected to interact with clubs in your 'zone'. My zone (Zone 10) has seven clubs. Part of my duties are to get around to the clubs, answer questions, be a resource, and to provide encouragement and guidance.
It is so gratifying to see what our Zone 10 Clubs are doing for their communities. One has just completed their Essay and Oratorical contest, others are busy with either 'Student of the Month' or Youth Appreciation activities, as the Breakfast Optimist Club of Ann Arbor is conducting. Some have recently started or are working on Junior Optimist Clubs at their schools.
There's a free 'Spring Break Fun Day' for elementary school aged children coming up in Brighton, and Ypsilanti is getting ready for their day of service for the Ronald McDonald House at Mott Children's Hospital in Ann Arbor.
Of course it takes a lot of energy to plan and conduct these projects. Most Optimist Clubs could use a few good new members to help with existing projects and perhaps add some new ones, too.
If you're considering some kind of community service, look up your nearest Optimist Club in the directory at Optimist International and make contact. You won't be sorry.
It is so gratifying to see what our Zone 10 Clubs are doing for their communities. One has just completed their Essay and Oratorical contest, others are busy with either 'Student of the Month' or Youth Appreciation activities, as the Breakfast Optimist Club of Ann Arbor is conducting. Some have recently started or are working on Junior Optimist Clubs at their schools.
There's a free 'Spring Break Fun Day' for elementary school aged children coming up in Brighton, and Ypsilanti is getting ready for their day of service for the Ronald McDonald House at Mott Children's Hospital in Ann Arbor.
Of course it takes a lot of energy to plan and conduct these projects. Most Optimist Clubs could use a few good new members to help with existing projects and perhaps add some new ones, too.
If you're considering some kind of community service, look up your nearest Optimist Club in the directory at Optimist International and make contact. You won't be sorry.
Friday, July 30, 2010
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).
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).
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
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.
Thursday, June 10, 2010
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
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
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
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!
--------------------------------------------------------------------
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!
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