Club Activities - Sports and Recreation
Projects include sports activities such as baseball leagues, basketball teams, Tri-Star Sports events, fishing derbies, sports camps, field days, hobby clubs and junior golf tournaments. Easter egg hunts, Breakfasts with Santa, parades and related recreational activities are included in this category.

Tri-Star Sports
This is an optional activity Clubs can sponsor that focuses on three skills competitions in each of the following sports: basketball, baseball, soccer, football, in-line hockey or ice hockey. A planning guide with suggested activities is available upon request.

Contact:
Optimist International
4494 Lindell Blvd.
St. Louis, MO 63108
(800) 500-8130, ext. 235
programs@optimist.org

Cerritos Noon Optimist Club (15202) - Pacific Southeast District
Golf Day for Mentally and Physically Challenged Students
Members of the Cerritos Noon Club wanted to give students who normally were not invited or asked to participate in sports an opportunity to learn how to golf. Their local school district has a mentally and physically challenged student program and the Club invited those students for a day of golf. A local golf course was contacted and the golf pro arranged to have members volunteer to work with the students. The county supervisor was asked to provide buses for the students. On the day of the event, the students arrived at 9 a.m. and were given breakfast before being split into three groups and assigned a golf instructor. One group was put on the putting green, one on the driving range and one on the chipping range. After 30 minutes, the groups rotated. Students were given a Polaroid picture of themselves in action.

Project Contact: Carolyn Sievers
9918 Del Rio Way
Cypress, CA 90630
(714) 995-3562
c.sievers@sbcglobal.net

Optimist Club of Coquitlam (32066) - Pacific Northwest District
U-18 Curling Championships
The U-18 is the showcase for 8- to 11-year-olds to become aware of the podium opportunities in curling. Day 1 is a development camp with national trainers. Every curler is engaged 100% of the time and plays in every game of the competition, including the finals. Children in curling do not need to be bigger, stronger or faster to go from the playground to the awards podium. The spirit of curling promotes life skills, fitness, wellness and well-being. Any Optimist Club can get involved with the assistance of the ice arena or curling club or association in their area.

Project Contact: Al Kersey
328-19528 Fraser Hwy
Surrey, BC V3S 8P4
Canada
(604) 533-2839
akersey@telus.net

Pacific Southwest and Pacific Southeast Districts (20 Clubs)
Junior Blind Olympics
The Blind Olympics provided blind youth an opportunity to participate in Olympic events, learn sportsmanship and build character. The planning continues on a year-round basis with meetings held by the Optimist Blind Youth Association, a foundation established to obtain funding and assist with organizing. The association is responsible for travel arrangements and housing of the out-of-town athletes. Workers were recruited for the weekend activities, which included the meals, games set-up, supply ordering, etc. Volunteer are found to be coaches and junior coaches. Throughout the year, money is raised by selling pins, T-shirts, a sponsor-a-child program and donation solicitation of the Optimist Clubs in the District. The event provides fun for everyone and buils self-confidence in each of the participants. It also helps the community achieve a better understanding of what being blind is like, what the challenges are and how they can be overcome.

Project Contact: Steve Duben
30535 Hasley Canyon Road
Castric, CA 91384
(661) 257-6867

Optimist Club of Herndon (16090) - Capital-Virginia District
Youth Sports
The Herndon Club knew that their small community lacked the resources to provide youth sports activities and they decided that they could fill that void. Their goal was to provide a quality comprehensive program that was accessible to all youth regardless of their financial status or physical abilities. The Club provided softball, baseball, basketball (girls and boys), football, fall softball, fall baseball and lacrosse. Before the beginning of each season, notices that list the time, place and date for registration are placed in the newspaper. Registration forms are placed in various places youth and their families frequent and this year online registration forms were available. Many teams are sponsored by local businesses or individuals, which helps maintain the Club’s low registration fee. The Club benefits from community recognition and association with a worthwhile, successful program.

Project Contact: Seth Watari
829 Moffett Forge Road
Herndon, VA 20170
(703) 787-9280
wataris@msn.com

Breakfast Optimist Club of Las Cruces (19110) - New Mexico/West Texas District
29th Annual North South All-Star Baseball Series
This event showcases the talents of the best high school baseball players in the state. The Club coordinated ad sales and sold corporate sponsorships. The flag ceremony, singing of the National Anthem, scorekeeping and field preparation all has to be planned and executed. Staff had to be arranged for the gates during the series. The Club worked with the New Mexico High School Coaches Association to extend invitations to players and collect assessments from coaches. A player recognition brunch with a keynote speaker was planned. Trainers are selected for teams and umpires are hired. Surplus funds are donated to a scholarship fund. This program brings statewide recognition to the players and tourism revenue to the city.

Project Contact: Jack Barclay
P.O. Box 1002
Mesilla, NM 88046
(505) 524-2580
jbarclay@zianet.com

Optimist Club of Aurora (47005) - Central Ontario District
Aurora Tri-Star Skills Competition and Minor Hockey Showcase
This competition and showcase provided the opportunity for 1,100 boys and girls playing house league hockey to participate in a Tri-Star Skills competition in conjunction with a tournament for local house league players. The Club established specific team Tri-Star Skills tests for each age division and incorporated the competition into the tournament schedule. Tri-Star Skill points counted toward the team standings for each division and had a direct bearing on which two teams played in the championship game of each division. Trophies and gold and silver medals were awarded to the championship and runner-up teams in each age division. An NHL old-timers game provided entertainment between periods and the entrance fee of food provided much-needed items for the local food bank.

Project Contact: Alex Ansell
2 Timbertrail Crescent
Aurora, ON L4G 4V1 Canada
(905) 727-5012
ansellas@interlog.com

Hagerstown Optimist Club (04255) - Indiana North District
HOOPS Basketball Program
The HOOPS program included children in grades 1 to 4 and taught them basketball fundamentals such as dribbling, passing, free throws, shooting and layups. There was also plenty of opportunity for fun! Flyers were distributed around town, notices and applications were passed out in the local school and stories were run in the newspaper. The Club approached local businesses to act as sponsors for the teams, so participants did not have to pay for anything. Individuals donated funds to cover the cost of gym time for practices. Club Members and volunteer parents filled the coaching jobs and other positions. No win or loss records were kept. Each participant was given a brand-new basketball for Christmas.

Project Contact: Everett Hampton Jr.
6086 Tidewater Road
Hagerstown, IN 47346
(765) 489-5328
seheh@aol.com

Optimist Club of Carrollton (21076) - Georgia District
Optimist "Mini-Golf for the Kids"
Carrollton Optimists built a three-hole Mini-Golf Course to be used at their city’s Mayfest Celebration. Members designed the course, purchased materials, then built and painted the holes and course obstacles. This project was conducted to achieve three goals: provide youngsters with entertainment at the city’s event, make the Club more visible in the community and establish an Optimist Club-golf connection to promote the Club’s 2006 First Annual Golf Tournament. Hundreds of youth and many parents enjoyed the fun of playing mini-golf and received free T-shirts promoting Optimism, the Carrollton Optimist Club, Mini-Golf and the Annual Golf Tournament. Parents received Optimist brochures, Club brochures and personal invitations to become Members. The Club has received requests for the course to be run at other community events.

Project Contact: Dr. Richard Folk
218 Hidden Lakes Drive
Carrollton, GA 30116
(770) 214-9341
folkra@bellsouth.net

Optimist Club of Radcliff (03295) – Kentucky-West Virginia
Fish Fry/Fishing Derby
The Optimist Club of Radcliff provided a safe and fun environment for children and their parents to fish and eat. There was no age limit set for the children, but they were the only ones allowed to fish without being required to have a fishing license. Parents with a license were welcome to fish. The event was listed in the community news section of the local newspaper and flyers were handed out to the schools in the area. The location was sponsored free of charge by the Saunders Spring Nature Preserve. Volunteers helped the children with their fishing and putting worms on their hooks. The Club provided hot dogs, fried fish, chips, cookies and drinks for everyone. Door prizes were raffled off. This was also a great opportunity for Members to discuss the Club and the programs they sponsor.


Project Contact: Denise Haynes
884 Rhonda Ct.
Radcliff, KY 40160
(270) 351-1755
dhaynes@radcliff.org

Optimist Club of Rolla (30370) - East Missouri District
Rolla Youth Soccer
The goal of this program was to provide a recreational and fun way to keep the children of Phelps County active. All children ages 5-7 were eligible to play free of charge. Handouts promoting the activity were given to children in grades K through 3 in local elementary schools and public service announcements regarding signups were given to the local newspaper, radio and television stations. Program donations were accepted on each sign-up day. Non-Members served as coaches and many showed an interest in joining the Club after participating. The participants learned the game of soccer, teamwork and the value of developing new friendships. Each participant was given a free Optimist T-shirt.

Project Contact: Melissa Hoffman
13350 State Rt. CC
Rolla, MO 65401
(573) 465-1164
Melissa.hoffman.10tq@statefarm.com


Other Club Activities
Childhood Cancer
Citizenship
Community Improvement
Culture and Education
Health and Welfare
Joint Projects with a JOOI Club or Youth Organization
Safety
Youth Appreciation