News
Optimist Club of Coronado
Weekly Optimist Meeting 11-7-2019
Looks like our President Dorman is getting the hang of the Thursday morning meetings...his reign is in full swing. Cynthia shared a prayer and memory for Veterans Day on Monday. Richard Loomis led the pledge.
Lots of excitement in the room as President Doorman made the announcement:
CLUB ANNOUNCEMENTS
- BofD has adopted budget guideline not to exceed last years income.
- We have agreed to send $2000 requested by Coronado SAFE for a program geared to pre-school and kindergarten aged children in all public and private schools in Coronado to promote self reflection, empathy and skills for problem solving.
- We have granted a request to fund six students for sixth grade camp at $350/each whose families are unable to afford the expense.
- We have agreed to provide a monthly pizza party for all members of the Coronado High Junior Optimist Club in consideration of their many community activities on our behalf.
Brenda Kracht shared our Christmas Party will be
Dec 19th at the Coronado Golf Course...
5 to 6 no host bar and 6 to 9 Dinner....
more to come but mark your calendars!
HISTORY LESSON
- On this date in 1917 the Bolshevik party in Russia led a revolution against the provisional government to establish a communist dictatorship.
The Russian Revolution did not begin as a Communist movement; the Tsar was overthrown and replaced by a democratic coalition. When a free election was held later on November 25,1917, the Communists lost; so they just threw out the election results. On this day in 1917 the Communists opted for armed force as the weapon of change.
BRAGS
Mayor Bailey bragged on the Lawn Bowling Team and Jim Jamison for Avenue of Heroes. As well and he and Karl Mueller attended a SAFE event where they were ID'D as OPTIMISTS! Then thanks to the Cargills for attending a council mtg.
Cynthia bragged about more writing opportunities for her.
Renee one of the lawn bowling team and praised Charles for being the anchor of the team.
Carla is going to be a grandmother again...#3.
HISTORY LESSON
- On this date in 1917 the Bolshevik party in Russia led a revolution against the provisional government to establish a communist dictatorship.
The Russian Revolution did not begin as a Communist movement; the Tsar was overthrown and replaced by a democratic coalition. When a free election was held later on November 25,1917, the Communists lost; so they just threw out the election results. On this day in 1917 the Communists opted for armed force as the weapon of change.
$OPPORTUNITY DRAWING$
School board member, Lee Pontes took home the kitty.
ANNIVERSARIES
Kirk Henry,Nov.1,2001, 18 yrs.,by Eric Raiter; Julia Turpit, 1 yr., Nov.5 by Lyndsey Arendsee
BIRTHDAYS
Erin Downey Nov.6, in New Orleans
GUEST SPEAKER
Our speaker today was Chris Hoffman is the founder and CEO of VET Training and Coaching. The goal of Chris and his staff is to assist Vets in how to re-discover, re-equip, and re-engage with what matters most in their life after serving in the military for their country.
The C.O.R.E. Values of this program helps set the tone for assisting the VETS:
P.A.S.S.I.O.N.
Perseverance-Achievement-Service-Strength-Integrity-Obedience-kNowledge.
Chris is providing innovative and highly effective solutions for three needs 1) Discovering individuality 2) Finding a meaningful life 3) Gaining support needed to create momentum out of uniform.
For more information check out the webpage for Chris-Hoffmann-VET-Training-and-Coaching.
Next Week's Speaker
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Weekly Optimist Meeting 10-31-2019
WHY?
We Optimists were greeted by smiling faces of Past Presidents Diana Drummey and Jack Larison. We had 6 guests and 38 Optimists up and moving at 0700 for a wonderful Halloween Day.
Pat Kelly led us in prayer and Dick Owens started the pledge.
We had dings and brags....fines and 50/50....but our guests were really the best part of the meeting.
PRESIDENT'S ANNOUNCEMENTS
Lawn Bowling: Game is On! Contact is Bill Carinder billcarinder@yahoo.com, but the competition is this Saturday at 1pm Lawn Bowling Green at John D. Spreckels Center....get there early for some practice and libations... GO OPTIMIST GOLDEN ROD TEAM!
CLUB ANNOUNCEMENTS
School Liaisons; Jim Jamison, as our new external VP, is looking for volunteers to be liaisons with the many school groups we support.
GUEST SPEAKER
We have for our entertainment today Lamb's Players BASH WORLD OF RESPECT presentation. We, Optimist help fund this presentation to elementary schools students. This presentation teaches students skills to stop bulling, being kind to fellow students, and techniques to calm themselves down when upset. The actors Jazz Ruiz, Devin Wade, Julie Meram, and John Wells led by Director Kerry Meads presents this event with song, acting and audience participation. It was a wonderful uplifting presentation.
At the end of the presentation President Dennis presented a $2,000 check to Lamb's Players BASH!
Next Week's Speaker
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Weekly Optimist Meeting 10-24-2019
WHY?
Bob Sheridan started by reminding us of the vast and incomprehensible nature of the universe and then lead us in a prayer of gratitude to our Maker and for the world he gave us to inhabit, acknowledging how little of it we understand, but that we trust in Him to always guide and protect us. George Kunberger kicked off the Pledge of Allegiance.
GUESTS
We had two guests this morning. Dave Jones our guest and speaker and Don Crawford's buddy from New Orleans, who also happens to be Erin Downey's dad.
JUST REPORTING WHAT I HEARD
The two smiling Optimists pictured above Mike Lavin and George Bassola were graciuos voluteers for Bill Parry and the Dingmaster who showed up at 6:00 AM to pass off their greeter responsibility so they could run off to some important meeting. I thought I heard them say something about Tijuana, but I might be wrong.
PRESIDENT'S ANNOUNCEMENTS
Lawn Bowling: The second practice session for the upcoming match with the Rotarians is next Tuesday 5-7 PM. We had only six people at the first practice and we need some more folks to make a good showing. The match is on Nov 2. It's a fun day. All the pizza and beer you can drink (well maybe not all). The cost for the refreshments is just $5. So a real deal. Don't miss it. Contact is Bill Carinder billcarinder@yahoo.com.
CLUB ANNOUNCEMENTS
Strand Clean Up was lighted supported by the Optimist Club (3 folks showed up) and we had to rely heavily on the Jr ROTC group from the high school to get the job done
Prayer Leaders; Contact Charlie Ahren at ahren@msn.com or find the signup sheet at the next meeting.
School Liaisons; Jim Jamison, as our new external VP, is looking for volunteers to be liaisons with the many school groups we support.
Coronado Film Festival Volunteers needed: Mark Blumenthal has a sign up sheet going around for volunteers to help decorate the sidewalk with stars as part of the upcoming Film Festival.
Coronado Round Table Talk; Tomorrow 10:00 in the Winn room, Coffee at 9:45. Speaker is Tom Morelli who will speak on Prison Ministry in San Diego County
John Brassert: is recovering at Plaza Village in National City. He'll be there for about three weeks. So if you have a chance stop in and wish him well.
Halloween Happening is tomorrow from 3-5:30. Volunteers still needed. Contact Dianna.
GUEST SPEAKER
Our speaker today was Dave Jones who gave a talk on "asking the right questions about mental health". Dave, in a light moment introduced himself as a member of a drinking club in North County that happens to have a Rotarian problem. He also noted that he has no professional credentials for talking on this subject, but he was wearing a jacket, so he looked professional. This was all meant to be a light hearted introduction to a very serious and somber presentation on why people commit suicide and sometimes take others with them.
Dave started by sharing with us his own story of mental illness in his family that went back to his grandfather and then his father, that eventually lead to Dave loosing both his mother and father in one tragic event (due to his father's severe mental illness) when he was still a small boy. He also shared a story of a local family (son and mother) who were both killed as a result of the son's mental illness. Then of course, we are all too failure with the rash of mass shootings that often end in the suicide of the shooter. All of this human suffering is the result of mental illness, and mental illness is one of the fasting growing causes of death in the US.
In sharing these stories, Dave was illustrating that whenever these tragedies occur, our first reaction is to ask "Why Did This Happen?". This is a normal human reaction to try and explain how tragic things happen. However the facts are that there is rarely an answer to this question In the mentally ill mind, driven to suicide and murder, what healthy people would consider rational thoughts, just are not there.
Dave's point here, was to suggest that we (society) should not simply be asking why did this recent tragedy happen. We should be asking WHY to a much broader spectrum of issues, that get at the heart of treating and healing mental illness. To address the illness before it ever evolves into someone feeling they have no alternative but to commit suicide. Some of the WHY questions Dave suggested we should be asking are:
- Why do 50% of the people in prison have mental illness?
- Why are 80% of people in prison for drug related crimes?
- Why do we spend so much on cancer research and so little on mental health?
- Why can't we eliminate the stigma associated with mental illness?
- In some parts of the developing parts of the world, despite a lack of many basic necessities the suicide rate is very low. Why can't many people in the US face the reality of their situation.
- Why do people consider suicide victims to be selfish, when they are really very ill? There is a lack of understanding of the underlying issues
- Why are we continually shocked when someone commit's suicide?
- Why are so many people in the US treated today with antidepressants and often do not seek therapy?
- Why don't we talk about mental illness?
- Why are we not aware of the signs of mental illness
- We should consider mental illness as a cancer in the brain. We would not have brain cancer treated, but we often don't treat mental illness?
Dave is also a member of the San Diego Suicide Prevention Council and we want to thank Dave very much for his service to the community and for the very personal and meaningful talk this morning.
Brags
Lots of brags today;
- Jim Callaway gave us a quick catch up on his recent activities including a 3 week cruise, winning every 5k race he participated in over the last 3 months which was about 12 and he told us about falling in the last race, badly hurting his shoulder (requiring surgery) but still winning the race. Wow that's stamina
- Carla Fargo bragged about her father in law Capt. Fargo who was responsible for getting the land made available from the government so that there would be a place for the YMCA to have Camp SURF.
- Jim Jamison bragged about the 16 Coronado Residents who are being inducted in the Avenue of the Heros this week and that today marks the 75th aniversary of the sinking of the USS Princiton in the Battle of Leyte Gulf
- Shannon Pavell Bragged about Irish Flynn becoming th new President of the Coronado Hospital Foundation Board. Irish added in that he finally broke the glass ceiling by becoming the first male to hold that job.
- Erin Downey bragged about our Jr Optimist President Cole Mullins being named Home Coming King this year.
- Karl Mueller noted that Sandy Ferguson passed away recently on CHS Home Coming Day. Sandy was a long time beloved and respected teacher and advisor at CHS. In fact April 26,1994 was named Sandy Ferguson Day by the Mayor of Coronado, for his contribution to the CHS students
- Dr. Moore bragged about my (George Kunberger) recovery for shoulder surgery, of course Joe was the first Doc to help me with my shoulder injury. The good Doctor also thanked me for producing such good bathroom reading material in the form of the Green Sheet.
One photo our beautiful sunrise this morning for those early birds, taken by Lee Cargill. The other for those who may miss Fall in the East is a picture right near our home in Pennsylvania, where I'll be spending the holidays with family. I'll miss beautiful Coronado and my Optimist friends, but I'll be in another beautiful part of the country with Diane and our kids. God is good my Friends.
Anniversaries
Oct. 17, Buck Rogers,45 yrs. a member, by Lew Hardy; Karl Mueller, Oct. 21, 5 years by Lee Pontes; Cheryl Sylvester, Oct. 22, 4 yrs, by Jim Zoll; and Bridgette Jorgensen, today, 1 yr., by Cynthia Kosciuezyk.
Birthdays
Oct. 18, John Downey from Pottsville, PA; Oct. 22, Jack Couture from Boston Mass,; and Jim Alley, tomorrow, from Sacramento, CA as well as Mike Croll day after tomorrow from Niagara Falls, N.Y.
$Opportunity Drawings$
Next Week's Speaker
History Lesson
For reasons best known to the people who sell popcorn, the last week of October, beginning today, was chosen for National Popcorn Week. Popcorn is part of our national heritage having been introduced to the Pilgrims by Native Americans. National Popcorn Week, of course, is an event many optimists take with a few grains of salt.
Of international consequence today is also United Nations Day, commemorating the adoption of the U.N. Charter in 1945. In 1963 on this date Adlai Stevenson remarked that “The journey of a thousand leagues, we say, begins with a single step. So we must never neglect any work of peace that is within our reach, however small.” He went on to say that “Our efforts will be erratic, and the world will remain a dangerous place to live”. The last half century of events has confirmed his prediction.
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Optimist Club Oratorical Contest 2012
Optimist Club to Sponsor Oratorical Contest for Students
The Optimist Club of Coronado is encouraging area students to speak their minds about the topic “How my Optimism Helps me Overcome Obstacles” as part of the Optimist International Oratorical Contest for the 2011-2012 year.
The Optimist Club will judge the local students’ speeches based on content and presentation to determine the top winners. Winners will receive cash awards to 1st, 2nd, 3rd and the winning speeches will be sent to the zone level, and possibly the district level for the opportunity to win college scholarships. Several students from Coronado have won scholarships in prior years.
Students under the age of 18 as of December 31, 2011, who have not yet graduated from high school or the equivalent, are eligible to participate. Six students will be chosen to represent each school and competition will be separate gender contests.
“As they prepare for their future, many of our local students need experience expressing their thoughts and opinions to an audience,” Club President Dick Madouse said. “The Oratorical Contest challenges them to do just that and also offers an opportunity for scholarships. In this way, our club hopes to bring out the best in each of them and help them achieve their goals for the future.”
The deadline to hand in speeches is Monday, March 26, 2012. Students wishing to participate in the oratorical contest can find out more about the contest by contacting the club chair Claudia Ludlow (Glorietta Bay Inn) at 619-365-0241 or contacting their local counselor or teacher for their school.
CMS Advanced Performing Arts Program
We had a whole bunch of young guests from the Coronado Middle School Advance Performing Arts who were accompanied by parents and Teacher Linda Coleman. The kids are putting on "Bugsy Malone" in a single performance on Friday, February 17. If the preview they put on for us is an indication, you won't want to be left out.
The youngsters were charming, singing and dancing with all gusto of seasoned vets. Don't miss it.
The group will be taking the show to LA as part of a Musical Theater Competition next month. Good luck!
The Optimist Club’s Early Crew….
A beautiful, early morning start to a Thursday morning! Captured in front of the Coronado Community Center by one of the first Optimists to arrive at the meeting this morning.
New Optimist President is Installed
Photo (L-R) Optimist President Dick Madouse receives President’s Pin from Immediate Past President Irish Flynn
In 1970 at the La Avenida Restaurant, twenty-five charter members founded the club that has developed into one of the premier clubs within Optimist International. Leadership and participation at all levels within the club has been the hallmark of the Coronado Optimists. The beneficiaries have been the youth of Coronado -- students at all of the schools in our village, a variety of youth organizations and individual students who have asked and received assistance for specific individual projects.
Richard ‘Dick’ Madouse is the 42nd President of the club and will serve in that capacity from October 1, 2011 to September 30, 2012. His leadership team includes; Irish Flynn- Immediate Past President, Charlie Ahern– President Elect, Vice Presidents Mark Blumenthal and Jennifer Landry, Directors Lyndsey Arendsee, Clint Coneway, Dennis Dorman, Ted Khrone, Mike Napolitano, Bernie Roeder, Secretary Charles Helsper, and Treasurer Brennan Hovland.
One of the Optimists’ annual highlights is the selection of two individuals to receive very special awards: the Optimist of the Year and Life Member Awards. The two Optimists who received the awards this year are: Don Crawford, Optimist of the Year; and Jack Larison, Life Member. Their contributions to the club and commitment to the Optimist Creed are evident in all they do.
The Optimists salute the leaders and award-winners, thank them for their willingness to serve the club and the youth of Coronado. Each is indeed a ‘Friend of Youth’, the Optimist Motto.
Helping Wounded Warriors
Photo: Betty Michalewicz and Stan Searfus
It began when an injured Army soldier who lost an arm and a leg said, “I’d like to go surfing again.” From that moment, Betty Michalewicz, Director of the Rehabilitation Through Sports Program at the Naval Medical Center SD, decided to add surfing to the sports activities she led. It was in the surfing project that she met Stan Searfus, Coronado Optimist Club member, avid surfer, and coach of the CMS Surf Club. This resulted in the Thursday morning surfing rehabilitation activities led by these two remarkable individuals.
Betty reported that between 35-40 surfers take part in the Thursday morning rehab sessions that she calls, “Ocean Therapy”. The strenuous exercise can be exhausting and that promotes nightly sleep, also very important. She emphasized that this form of exercise is physically, emotionally and spiritually healing and that these attributes occur automatically during the exercise.
This program is so important that the Navy Hospital recognizes this by giving sports rehab activities the same priority as medical appointments for the injured warriors. We salute Betty and Stan and wounded warriors that have served and continue to serve our nation.
Welcome To Our Newest Members Roger Hayden and Elias Rivera!
Two new members were inducted into the Optimist Club. Roger Hayden (2nd from left) and Elias Rivera (far right).