Optimist Club
Monroe-Area Optimist Club
Local Contact: Darrel Basford
Phone Number: 513 600-3528
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 85, Monroe, OH 45050
Official Monroe-Area Optimist Club Website: http://www.Monroeoptimist.com
Meeting Location: Comfort Inn, Senate Drive, Monroe, Ohio
Dates: 1st & 3rd Thursday at 7:00 p.m.; Dinner at the 2nd meeting of
each month. Program followed by brief business meeting.
Current Optimist members are:
Darrel Basford, Sharon Birkenhauer, Cherie Gentry, Joe Gentry, Roxanne Gentry, Michael Irwin, Richard Lehman, Carol Lunkens, ViJay Patel, Mark Phelps, Sally Schmidt,
Patti Shull and Mike Watkins.
Community Involvement: What the Monroe Optimist do for us
100 Book Club (Reading Program)(Monroe Elementary School), Sponsor Soccer and Baseball/Softball Teams, Conduct Essay and Oratorical Contests, Awards two (2) 8th Grade Volunteerism Awards, Awards (1 or 2) Senior Scholarships, Food Collection for the Needy, Clothing Collection for the Needy. Fundraisers: operate Concession stand for the Monroe Soccer Association, Garage Sale, Fourth of July Booth and Scrip Program.
About Optimist International:
1919 THE FOUNDING OF OPTIMIST INTERNATIONAL Times were good. World War I
had been fought and won and spirits were high in America. An ideal time
for the birth of Optimism. The association of clubs that is known today
as Optimist International was formed on June 19,1919, when
representatives of 11 clubs held a convention in Louisville, Ky., and
adopted the name International Optimist Club. During the convention,
William Henry Harrison, a descendent of the ninth President of the
United States bearing the same name, was elected the first International
President of Optimist international.
Through the next three years, the organization grew to 49 clubs and
4,000 members. To learn more about this great organization go to:
www.optimists.org
The Name: The proper name of the association is "Optimist International”
The Optimist Creed
Promise Yourself
To be so strong that nothing can disturb your peace of mind.
To talk health, happiness and prosperity to every person you meet.
To make all your friends feel that there is something in them.
To look at the sunny side of everything and make your optimism come
true.
To think only of the best, to work only for the best, and to expect only
the best.
To be just as enthusiastic about the success of others as you are about
your own.
To forget the mistakes of the past and press on to the greater
achievements of the future.
To wear a cheerful countenance at all times and give every living
creature you meet a smile.
To give so much time to the improvement of yourself that you have no
time to criticize others.
To be too large for worry, too noble for anger, too strong for fear, and
too happy to permit the presence of trouble.
The Emblem:
The Motto: The motto of every Optimists is "Friend of Youth” and
“Bringing Out The Best In Kids”.
Mission Statement:
The Optimist Club of The Monroe-Area
The mission of the Optimist Club of the Monroe-Area is to serve the
local community with a variety of positive programs and activities which
will benefit the youth of the community. It is our belief that by
promoting the tenets of the Optimist Creed, and the Purposes of
Optimism, we will improve the quality of life for our Club members and
the community in general. Through the use of our Club’s many and varied
resources, we will strive to provide the youth of our community with a
wide variety of opportunities to grow, compete and prosper as
individuals, and as the future leaders of their community. To strengthen
our ability to achieve our goals, the Club will provide a variety of
forums for the social interaction of its members, as a means of
promoting the camaraderie we all seek and enjoy. In all aspects of its
activities, the Club will represent itself, through its members, as
responsible and contributing citizens of the local community.
Adopted by the members on Wednesday, January 30, 2002.