New Year, New Officers

Welcome to a new, exciting year!

As you guys know, the Optimist Club is getting bigger each year, and we have Eunhie Kim, last year's president, to thank for that!

This year, we're going to be putting ourselves out even more, starting with Club Day. Club Day is October 2nd this year, and we have to be as ready as possible to get new members. Our first meeting will be to discuss Club Day and any new ideas you guys have for this year.

In other news, here are the new officers for this year:

President: Hoai-Tran Bui

Vice President: Stella Kim

Secretary: Tiba Tavassoli

Treasurer: Marlee Baucom

And of course, are helpful collaborator, Elyse Moy, will be there too.

Looking forward to a new year with you guys!

Officer Elections!

Hello, optimists! I know it's been a long time since we've last updated and a lot of things have happened.


First of all, our food drive was a huge success! We want to thank you all for participating, and we especially congratulate our ice cream winners for their donations.


Secondly, T-shirts are in! And if you haven't gotten yours, you're really missing out. Contact one of the officers if you still need to pick up your shirt.

Perhaps you've seen flyers for the Great Falls Optimist Club oratorical contest? The deadline has since passed, but we hope a few of you decided to try out for the $500 prize!

Today we held officer elections for the 2009-2010 school year. Those who ran have been notified of the results, and the rest of the members will find out at the next meeting. A mass email containing the results will also be sent out following the officer swear-ins.

As we're coming to the end of this year with final exams, SATs, college applications and AP tests, please keep optimistic and just know that summer is only 49 days away! (Give or take a day, depending on if you include today.)

Be happy! And don't forget to spread the JOI :D

Meeting #3:

If you've read your e-mail, no need to read this because it is the same thing. ^^

T-shirts are STILL not here because there apparently are some issues with the school's credit card/account (something like that), but they will be handed out at our next meeting, which will take place sometime in January

Our *amazing* club sponsor at Great Falls, Ms. Thompson, will need EVERY MEMBER'S NAME, EMAIL ADDRESS, HOME PHONE NUMBER, HOME ADDRESS, AND GRADE LEVEL IN ORDER TO OFFICIALLY REGISTER EACH OF YOU AS AN OFFICIAL CLUB MEMBER (WE ARE ACTUALLY PART OF AN INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION)

Please email this information to us (lhsoptimistclub@gmail.com) by this Friday in order to be inducted as a member at our next meeting!!

Our next project is a holiday food drive for needy families - here's a list of what we will and won't be collecting:

Most-Wanted Foods

Nutritious foods:

• canned meats (tuna, chicken and salmon, etc.)

• canned vegetables

• canned fruits

• canned and boxed meals (soup, macaroni and cheese, etc.)

• peanut butter

• canned or dried beans and peas (black, pinto, lentils, etc.)

• pasta, rice, cereal

• 100 percent fruit juice (canned, plastic or boxed)

Our Daily Bread, Inc. can't use:

To ensure food safety, Our Daily Bread, Inc. cannot use:

• rusty or unlabeled cans

• expired items

• perishable items

• homemade items

• noncommercial canned or packaged items

• alcoholic beverages, mixes or soda

• open or used items

**PLEASE NO GLASS ITEMS

To participate, you can...

Make a poster advertising the food drive in our school - the deadline for this will be this Friday, December 5th and don't forget to put your name on the back of the poster to receive credit for it

Donate items yourself!! This is an individual-based drive, which means that, instead of collecting items by classrooms and having classes competing against each other, the person who brings in the most items will be rewarded with a free quart of their favorite Cold Stone Creamery ice cream!!!!!

The good news about being a member is that, since posters will not be put up until next week, you get a head start in the competition!

And don't worry, people who don't bring in the most, but still bring in a considerable number of items/put forth great effort in other ways will definitely be rewarded as well!

Last minute notes:

Please check the *bulletin board* outside Ms. Stanley's room, ROOM 130, for information that you can put on any posters and reminders/updates!!

Thanks again to everyone for being part of a club that really works to help people in need as well as benefit their own members!!!

LHS Optimists

Response: Letters to Soldiers in Iraq

Here is a letter that our patron from Great Falls, Mrs. Thompson, received for our work on the letters to the soldiers in Iraq. Thank you everyone for participating that day!

Dear Mrs. Thompson,

I am the Special Agent in Charge of the Army CID Office, Camp Slayer, Iraq in Baghdad. I have nine Soldiers who work for me, and seven who support our office. Our unit is made up of active duty agents from all over the eastern U.S. and a reserve unit from Fort Dix, New Jersey. We really enjoy receiving letters from you and your kids at the Optimist Club. We posted your picture on our door so everyone else can see those who we care for. Here in Iraq, those pictures are status symbols. They are reminders of all those that we have back home, even if they aren't family. They are a constant reminder of our purpose and allow us to focus on our mission. We would all love to be at home, and I am sure my reservists would love to be carrying on with their normal lives as well. However, this is the duty we were called to perform and so we are going to do to the best of our abilities. Much like the optimist club, we work toward the future for all of us. I am proud to represent women like you, who dedicate their time to promoting the goals and dreams of our young people. As a mother of two, I understand the importance of inspiring our children to live out their dreams. My children, twins (boy and girl) are home with my husband, also a Soldier, who is continuing on with that mission alone in my absence. Though our children are only two and may never remember this part of my life, it is important for us to continue to promote their dreams. They are the future, and hopefully it will be a little brighter after this war is over and we can all go home. I respect all you do, and am proud to serve you and the children at the Optimist Club, Great Falls, VA.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Mailing Address Amber A. Wojnar
CW2 Amber Wojnar CW2, MP
Special Agent in Charge Special Agent in Charge
Camp Slayer CID Office
Unit 42232
APO AE 09342-2232

1st Meeting, Barn Dance, 2nd Meeting

Hey, everyone!

Our first meeting was a HUGE success-- so many people turned up! Last year it was just the current officers and a few people once in a while, so we were really glad to see a bunch of new faces and hope you'll all return.

We wrote letters to soldiers in Iraq through the Neighbors International Foundation, ate delicious food, and discussed upcoming events. Speaking of, congratulations to 5 optimists for their hard work at the barn dance! Ms. Thompson wrote a letter specifically to you:

I wanted to finally thank the 5 girls that showed up to help for the Barn dance. You guys were fantastic!

Stella, Grace, Maddi, Ayesha, and Sara. You guys were irreplaceable. Doing things that the old people were incapable of or at least at risk for. Using your creativity and suggestions and being so responsive when we needed you for something specific. If I have forgotten someone, please email me back because you were all so good. I am meeting with the club this thursday for a review of the barn dance and will be recommending a donation to the JOOI club. Will keep you posted.

Please don't stop your fundraising effort - The more money, the club has, the more powerful you can be to make a difference where you want to. Remember to THING BIG IDEAS! There is power that comes miraculously to those who have grand intentions. Be inspired by others and inspire others - don't shrink from who you are deep down, just to not offend someone, or because you are afraid of what others might think!

Just a thought!

Love you guys,

Linda

Be proud :D

Hopefully everyone received the email to turn in dues-- we received a total of 51 checks and are ordering the t-shirts now!

We'll update you as to the status of the shirts in our second meeting, scheduled for:
Monday, December 1st or Tuesday, December 2nd. Still in the planning stages, so check your emails frequently this weekend!

T-Shirts & First Meeting

Hola, Optimists! Exciting news!

Hopefully you've all been checking your e-mails, so you'll know that the first meeting is this Monday, October 20th, 2008 in room 130 from 2:30-3:00 pm. We will introduce our first project, our (awesome) officers, and there will be food.

Even better news:

This is the finalized version of our club t-shirt!!

It will cost $16.88 - checks made out to Langley High School. For: [Your name]'s Optimist club t-shirt.

The sooner you bring in your money, the sooner we can order them (The price will go down if we order more than 25, so order soon and encourage your friends to buy them, too!)

I plan on setting the ABSOLUTE deadline by October 31st

When you turn in your money for the shirt - PLEASE indicate what size you prefer (from Small to Extra Large - all adult sizes)

By the way...the shirt says "Optimists know how to...spread the JOOI" (stands for Junior Octagon Optimists International) with a slice of bread that is spread with JOI peanut butter running from the jar :)

We will start accepting money on Monday, which (what a coincidence) will be our first meeting!!

REMEMBER: room 130 from 2:30-3:00 pm...and YES there will be food so that everyone will be happy :)

Thanks again,

LHS Optimists

Optimist Club Constitution

Optimist Club Constitution

Article I: The purpose of the Optimist Club is to provide services and aid to those in need.

Article II: The Optimist Club is important to the school and community because it offers all students the opportunity to get community service hours, learn the values of generosity and compassion, raise awareness for issues that affect people throughout the world, and, above all, make a positive impact on the less fortunate.

Article III: President: Eunhie Kim – in charge of making announcements; organizing club activities; finalizing the dates for club meetings and projects; making sure that the sponsor, officers, and all other members are aware of events and upcoming dates; creating and putting up flyers; and obtaining approval from administrators when necessary for any club action.

Vice President: Antonia Nguyen – in charge of designing club advertisements and logos, helping all other officers with their agendas, and serving as an aide to members with questions or concerns.

Treasurer: Jenny Wang – in charge of keeping track of our budget, record which members desposit their dues and which members still owe money, totaling the profits of any fundraising activity, and presenting these profits to the designated cause.

Co-Secretaries: Hoai-Tran Bui and Elyse Moy – in charge of taking attendance and participation at every meeting and club event, maintaining an active blog for club members, and keeping records of active members and the rewards they have earned.

Article IV: The Optimist Club will hold around 6 meetings during the 2008-2009 school year which will be presided by the president, the sponsor Ms. Stanley, and at least 2 other officers. Meetings will be held in order to initiate and prepare for community service projects (i.e. setting up flyers and tables, helping coordinate bake sales, collecting items for fundraisers/drives). All other meetings will consist of an open discussion in which all members are open to share their comments, opinions, ideas, and suggestions for upcoming and/or potential club projects. In addition, active members will receive rewards (i.e. candy, ice cream, a gift card) for their devotion to and enthusiasm for the club and the welfare of the community. Finally, the whole club will participate in a democratic vote that will confirm the ideal time for the next meeting.

Article V: Meetings will be held on Mondays after school from 2:15-2:45 in Room 130. The sponsor for the Optimist Club is Ms. Stanley.