News
Optimist Club of Coronado
Weekly Optimist Meeting 05-16-2019
The Middle School Fav Students, Track, Robotics
The Room was full of young folks, parents, and finally Optimists.
John Bowen had orchestrated another of our special days to celebrate the youth of Coronado, and we also had on hand school activities leaders to take home our Big Checks. But first President Fargo hit the bell, Irish Flynn gave us prayer, and Karl Mueller led the pledge.
At the top left we see Coach George Green and four of his champion league track folk taking home a check for $500. The athletes are all bound for college track teams. Nick Dunn, Madden Hundley, Teresa Perez, and Sofia van Arsdale all hold school records and have been participating in invitational meets.
Coach Green said that the money we donate is used to help fund their travel. George thanked us for our help with the meets, and drew our applause for his long 25 years as his coaching career winds down with a fine team. In the picture over to the right Don Crawford hands a check for $795 to CMS Principal Karin Mellina and Coach Todd Thielman who thanked us for funding among other items a Lap Tracker that lets the kids log the miles and miles that they run. No more pencil notes on a bulletin board. Finally, Jack Miller, next year's president of the Robotics Club takes a check for $400 from Lee Cargill and President Carla. Jack told us that this year's robot stacked plates and climbed a wall because, well, why not? Yeh!
The Coronado Middle School Student Achievement Awards were next up. We had a glowing introduction by John Bowen to cap off this third week of the Awards. Counselor Mike Crooker, Assistant Principal Brooke Falar, and Principal Karin Mellina told us all about these wonderful young people. The students were all chosen by their peers which make the award very special.Sixth graders Salma Ali and Jack Harvey were introduced by Mike Crooker. She loves dance, tennis, and is pleased to have given the speech at her elementary school graduation. This your lady wants to be a general surgeon. Jack Harvey is in advanced band, has a black belt and is into robotics. Jack want to become a cyberwarrior in the Navy.
Brooke Falar presented 7th grader Susana Pate who is a lover of softball. Susana has earned academic prizes and was awarded a special rank in the Safety Patrol. She hopes to play Division One Softball in college. Her classmate Wyatt Riebe is a Boy Scout who wants to be an eagle. After he lives a great life as a Navy pilot he would like to discover a new land species.Karin Mollina said that she loves the time that 8th grader Olivia Karnas spends in her office. Oliva is very active in Junior Optimist International as the Treasurer. She is also the local President. Olivia has a optimistic goal of empowering others. And she has a wonderful smile. Classmate Ryan Kennedy has been to school all over the country and all over the world. He loves water polo and works hard at it above his grade level. He hopes to go to the Naval Academy and fly Navy aircraft.
We sent all these youngsters back to school with blessings and smiles for them and for Mike, Brooke, and Karin as well as Matt Smith and Kevin Perez who are advisors for the Junior Optimists. Just look at all those happy faces of the youngsters and their proud parents in the picture below.
Don't forget the Ad Sales Effort. Open that manila envelope and please get busy.
Bragging
Weekly Optimist Meeting 04-18-2019
Introductions
Much to do this morning and so we start with potpourri, to wit: bread baked sans leaven and brought annually to our meeting by BJ Adleson to mark the Passover. This morning somebody got all the cream cheese and jam before I arrived at the table.
Next, everybody gets to be "inked" on her 60th birthday, right? Our master gardener chose leaves for her ankle to answer a family challenge.
And our betters wuss out before the furrowed brow of Big Brother. The club is suspending our opportunity drawings because the IRS is watching. If Lyman Green were not in Sick Bay he would cry out Patrick Henry-like, "This shall not stand!" What happened to the spirit of Lexington and Concord?
Meanwhile the board of directors meet to give stuff away legally on Monday next at 6PM in the library boardroom. You are welcome to come and watch.
And--drum roll please-- we have a slate of officers to vote for pretty soon. Here be it.
For President Elect Rob Kracht; For VPs Paul Lull and Jim Jamison; for Directors (2019-20) Richard Loomis, Mike Croll, and Tom Catlin. We will have the slate read one more time and then a vote. If you have another candidate be ready next Thursday.
$$$$ Giving Away The Cash $$$$
No big checks this week, but a couple of letters of thanks from the Middle School for the sixth grade camp donations and from United Everybody A Reader.
Cheri Aegerter who gave our prayer also bragged with joy that her 20 year old daughter has graduated and flown from the nest.
Irish Flynn told us that our able helpers at the Middle School Track Meet Wednesday met the challenge of many heats of many runners. Don Crawford and Lee Cargill were up to the task.
The fine story in the paper about the HS Surf team taking home all the bacon must have Stan dancing up in the stars.
The Eggstravganza was a hit with all the little folk last Sunday. Thanks to our crew of helpers for Easter Bunny.
Spring Fling is right around the corner
There is still time to join us at the new old Mexican Village on Tuesday, April 30. Renee is taking reservations. Give her a call to join us.
Announcements
Thirty-three years ago Lance Massey found his table and he has kept his spot.
We hosted the zone Oratorical Contest Wednesday at the Winn Room. The speakers all did their clubs proud. At the left above is 2nd place finisher Faith Talamantez from the Bonita Club; next is Logan McKerring who was third representing our club. In the green dress was the winner Deanie Woodruff from the Point Loma Club, and our alternate is Ian Sturak also representing Point Loma.
The photo on the right shows all the family and friends who came to the show. Look at all the smiles. And thanks to the Optimists and Rotarians who put shoulders to the wheel to bring this off.
Below we have our speaker from the Writing Den. Christian Michael started the project when he found a treasuer chest of cards, stationary, and postage in his mother's things after she died. Christian found a wonderful way to use tihis material while honoring his mother by connecting homeless people with friends and family though writing. Read his story at writingden.org. You will love it.
2019 Oratorical Contest Results
MeOptimism Declaimed, Wonderfully: Fourteen eager students, aged eleven to fourteen, from Sacred Heart Parish School and Coronado Middle School, spoke on the topic Is There A Fine Line Between Reality And Optimism? at the Coronado Optimists 48th Annual Oratorical Contest on February 27th in the Library’s Winn Room. All the students carried themselves well and dealt with this seemingly dry topic with winning charm, vivacity, and persuasive sincerity to the delight parents, siblings, and Optimists filling the Coronado Library’s Winn Room. The Gold, Silver, and Bronze Medallion winners were: Logan McKerring, Valeria Quiroga, and Marietta Renison. Bravos to all!
There were many memorable moments in the students’ 4 – 5 minute speeches. They quoted many historic optimists including Henry Ford, “…If you think you can or you can’t you are right,” “…Failure is simply the opportunity to begin again, this time more intelligently,” and added their own insightful aphorisms, “…Reality is life, optimism makes life better,” “…Reality is the facts of life that surround you, but optimism is a positive lens through which you view your reality,” “…Things happen because of our optimism in ourselves and in others,” “…If Jack can climb the beanstalk, you can get your job…,” “…it was through optimism and family love that we got through that reality…,” “….Optimism is a state of mind...that can steer you to accept any reality…,” and “I am optimistic that I have a chance of winning this contest today, and that is my way of showing optimism in reality.” Coronado
Optimist Club President Carla Fargo and President-elect Dennis Dorman presented each student a well-earned Certificate of Participation and thanked the parents and teachers for encouraging their students to enter the contest. All were very proud of their students, daughters and sons who are terrific young adults with bright futures
Judges for the contest were Mike Lavin, Paul Lull, and George Kunberger, with Sue Cargill serving as timekeeper; Marta Radcliffe, Julia Turpit, and Molly McKay as greeters/curators; Pat Kelly, Sergeant-At-Arms; Lee Cargill, photographer; Irish Flynn, contest scribe; and Gene Rathswohl, contest coordinator – Optimist Club members all.
Announcing the 2019 Oratorical Contest
The Wall! Immigrants!! Climate Change!! Violence and conflicts!! Poverty!! Security!! The list of human concerns goes on and on. What is the reality of these issues? Can we be optimistic about the future? Coronado school students are urged to express their own thoughts and concerns in the 2019 Coronado Optimists Oratorical Contest on the topic Is There A Fine Line Between Optimism And Reality?
This is the 48th year of the Coronado Optimists’ contest and will be held in the Winn Room at the Coronado Library on Wednesday, February 27th at 3:30 – 6:00p.m. The contest is an enjoyable but serious public-speaking opportunity for Coronado students to explore why they are so confident and optimistic about their future. All are invited to attend the contest, especially the students’ families and friends, and be amazed with the students’ insights and the quality of their speeches.
All Coronado school students, including home-schooled students, under the age of 19 as of October 1, 2018 (there is no minimum age) are eligible to participate and encouraged to apply. Students are urged to work with his/her teacher to prepare their speech.
The students’ 4 – 5 minute speeches are judged on content, presentation, poise, and overall effectiveness. All the students receive participation certificates and the top three students receive medallions and cash awards. The top two students can go on to compete at the Optimists zone and district level contests in April for college scholarships up to $2,500; the district level winner can participate in the Optimist Oratorical World Championship in July for a college scholarship up to $22,500.
The Application form, which includes all the contest rules, is below. It is also available from Gene Rathswohl, the contest coordinator, at erathswohl@san.rr.com.
Completed application forms should be mailed to:
Gene Rathswohl
924 Eighth Street
Coronado, CA 92118
Applications must be received by Friday, February 22, 2019.
A maximum of 20 students can participate, so the earlier an application is submitted the better. Feel free to contact Gene with any questions you have regarding the contest.
(image above is from the 2018 Oratorical Contest)
Optimist Club Sports Fiesta 2018 Results
Thank you to all participants of the Optimist Club of Coronado's Sports Fiesta 2018!
Optimist Sports Fiesta 2018
New and Old Events Highlight 2018 Optimists Club’s Sports Fiesta
It is historic. It is fun, and most importantly, it is an inspiring collaboration of local businesses joining forces to support Coronado’s youth.
Returning events include the 1-mile rough water ocean swim, a 5K run, and the longest, continuous running triathlon in the world. The triathlon consists of a 400 yard ocean swim, 1-mile run and 4-mile bike ride.
New events on Saturday, July 28, include a Cornhole tournament (youth and adult divisions) and Family Carnival. Both will run from noon - 4:00 pm at Sunset Park. Beach Volleyball at North Beach begins at 9 am. Pickleball and Lawn Bowling tournaments will be on Sunday, July 29th at the Coronado Marriott and Spreckels Community Center and Bowling Green, respectively.
For spectators and those who just want to hang out and enjoy a Coronado tradition, there will be a picnic area from noon to 4pm at Sunset Park. All are encouraged to bring their own food and drink, (no alcohol please) or they can order from Panera, which will be taking orders and delivering to Sunset Park July 28th.
Entrance fees range from $10 (for under 18) to $40 (day of registration). Some events are capped, so sign up early by clicking the Sports Fiesta link at the top of this page. Carnival games are just 50 cents and everyone wins a prize!
A Tribute to Optimist Stan Searfus
This morning we had a special presentation by Ben Ruef. His mother, Julie, is an Optimist Club member. Ben was one of the lucky kids who was mentored by our own Optimist, the late Stan Searfus. Ben produced a spectacular tribute video of Stan and gave us a showing. Excellent and inspiring work, Ben. You've created a lasting legacy for one of the good guys, our friend Stan.
CHS Girls Basketball
The CHS Girls Basketball Team came to update us on their season. We give them a check to help with their expenses. It's always a pleasure to see the youth we support at our meetings!
Coronado Junior Optimist Activities
Coronado's Junior Optimist Club, sponsored by the Optimist Club of Coronado, participated in group activities and team building with other Junior Optimist clubs from the San Diego/CALSOUTH area.
A nice turnout of 18 enthusiastic Junior Optimists and three Junior Optimist Club Advisors met at the Mission Bay Santa Clara Recreation Center near the Sail Bay area of the Park on January 20, 2018. Junior Optimists representing six California South (CALSO) District Junior Optimist Clubs shared a morning of fun activities led by Immediate Past President of Junior Optimist International, O'Hara Wickham, and current Junior Optimist International Director, and Coronado's own, Cole Mullins.
The group performed a team oriented, "ice breaker" activity searching the floor for answers to questions posed by the leaders. New friendships were made, and a lot of fun was had by all. The Club Members shared their recent and current Club activities and upcoming plans. The leaders shared news from the CALSO JOI District and Junior Optimist International and upcoming Scholarship Contests, including Essay, Oratorical, and the Reel Optimism Video Contest. A pizza luncheon was enjoyed by all before the teams headed out for the beach cleanup community service project. Books were collected for the inner city school in the CALSO JOI District wide 'Joy of Reading' service project. The event was concluded with a clean beach, happy Junior Optimists, and thanks from the Park Ranger for a job well done!
Optimist Sports Fiesta Video 2017
We are fortunate to have a member who has a very talented son! Ben Ruef documented our Sports Fiesta with a beautifully creative video. Thanks, Ben!!!
Installation Dinner Sep 18, 2017
On Monday at Spiros we had our annual Installation of the new board with President Crawford and release of the old board with President Zoll. Molly and Renee did a marvelous job setting up our party...food was delightful, and the company was superb. Matt Heinecke was a great addition to the evening of friendship and lovely sunset on the San Diego Bay. Again mission accomplished by Zoll and welcome Don and his team. Looking forward to another great year of Optimism.
Eagle Scout Candidate Jack Schiaffino
Jack Schiaffino, accompanied by his parents, came to share his completed Eagle Scout project at NASNI. He thanked the Optimist Club of Coronado for helping him with expenses of the project. Congratulations, Jack, on a job well done!
New Member Johnny Perez
The Optimist Club of Coronado welcomed a new member into our club. Johnny Perez was a guest speaker and apparently liked what he saw, so he came back and decided to join! Welcome to the club, Johnny!!!