Find your calling to serve

This notice @ niagarathisweek.com caught my attention:

"The Boys and Girls Club of Niagara is seeking volunteers to help work the Lions Club bingo at the Optimist Club on June 28, 29, 30, and July 1, 2009. If you would like to come out and help please contact Dana Snyder at events@boysandgirlsclubniagara.org."

Add in the Rotary Club and Kiwanis Club and everyone would come to the party! This has been the way of many service organizations in recent years; they all lend their hands to help each other accomplish tasks and carry out fund raising activities. Since the mottos of the major service clubs are similar, one might wonder why so many different clubs are needed.

Kiwanis International - Serving children of the world.

Lions Clubs International - We Serve.

Optimist International - Friend of youth.

Rotary International - Service above self.

The reason is simple; each club goes about their mission a little differently. Rotary clubs unite business professionals in service. Optimist clubs bring community leaders together with business and offer a positive outlook on life. Kiwanis clubs have artfully blended the above together for an eclectic membership base and Lions clubs were the first to capitalize on membership for all walks of life with a unified international service project.

I encourage you to visit a service club in your community, find the one that fits your personality and get involved. Yes, I like Optimist Clubs because of the Optimist Creed, but I know that every flavor of club is needed. You are needed. Don't miss your calling to serve.

Optimist Club of Hagerstown, IN says Happy Sweet Sixteen

What would you think if a big bunch of Optimists turned out for your birthday? That is just what happened in Richmond, Indiana when the Optimist Club of Hagerstown surprised Whitney Jennings for her 16th birthday celebration. They brought a special gift: a handicap accessible van to help Whitney go more places.

Whitney has had health complications since very early in her life when she was diagnosed with diabetes. In 2007 she suffered a stroke in her spinal column during a multipurpose surgery. The spinal cord injury left her paralyzed and requires her to use different medical devices daily. The community has stepped in to help with upgrading the electricity in her family's home and expanding her bedroom to accommodate the equipment. Friends from the Boy's and Girl's Club frequently visits her, but the van will help her visit others.

It's a special community that works together to make a young woman feel included. Read the full story here.

Frankfort Optimist Club takes part in Longest Day of Play

For three years Franklin County, Kentucky has celebrated the longest day of the year as the Longest Day of Play. Sounds like a perfect event for kids, but it is meant for kids of all ages. According to the Franklin County Health Department, Kentucky ranks fifth in the nation for heart related mortality, sixth in the nation for diabetes related mortality, and second in the nation for inactivity.

The event at Lakeview Park in Frankfort, KY is designed to get people moving. Different groups and organizations man activity stations and help children and adults play. The Optimist Club of Frankort was in charge of the scooter obstacle course. What fun! And as the famous athletic shoe maker says, just do it! Get active now.

Optimist Club helps Battle Creek celebrate 150 years

Battle Creek, MI - the cereal city, home to Kellogg Company and their famous breakfast cereals celebrated Fun Before Breakfast last week with the help of the Optimist Club of Battle Creek.

The event kicked off with a parade with the noisy Snap, Crackle and Pop threesome. Clowns, Shriners, motorcycles and classic cars traveled down Michigan Avenue for this family event. The big attraction though happened as promoted - before breakfast - when the community laid out the world's longest breakfast table and everyone enjoyed a meal together from 8:00 to 10:00 am on Saturday, June 14, 2009. The fun continued into the afternoon when other cereal celebrities made an appearance. This was the 150th celebration of the city of Battle Creek.

Photo courtesy of The Battle Creek Enquirer.

Optimist Club raises awareness for their amazing programs

Optimist Clubs really do amazing things in all communities that they touch. They build playgrounds, hold relay races, sponsor scholarship programs, take kids to the movies, buy them lunch and many other big and small projects.

The main thing that every Optimist Club does is provide services needed most in their hometown. Our mission is to help Optimist Clubs promote their good deeds. We look for special programs and spotlight them on our blog. It is especially rewarding when we find Optimist Clubs making a concerted effort to promote themselves.

Kudos to the Optimist Club of Meridian, Idaho for telling their story to all who will listen. They will be walking the streets, talking to businesses and inviting Meridian residents and business owners to learn more by visiting a club meeting. According to the club spokesperson, communication creates transparency and awareness. They would love to add members from the effort, but most of all they want people to know that the Optimist Club is there when you need them.