I S S U E
3
7 T H
J A N U A R Y ,
2 0 1 4
Caribbean District News Desk R.O.C.K. Plans
TAKE NOTE
OI Leadership
T
summit is 22 Mar, 2014
he Royal Optimist Club of Kingston (R.O.C.K), founded September 29, 2011 was formed by a group of young adults who share a passion for community involvement and assisting the younger generation. Our primary focus is the development and upliftment of children. As such, we have partnered with the Dunrobin Primary School which has a student population of 1387 with a capacity for 955.
Q2 OICD conference cancelled.
Club Oratorical contests by mid Feb, 14
Q2 dues due
INSIDE THIS ISSUE: Stay connected
2
Christmas Cheer
3
Accomplishments
4
Messages
8
Housekeeping
10
More cheers
12
Contact Us
15
Our intention is to renovate Dunrobin’s sick bay, bathroom facilities and to extend our Breakfast Feeding Program which currently benefits some 30 students. Our Breakfast Feeding Program at the school, which we started in January 2013, provides groceries once a month to the Guidance Counseling Department to have them prepare a warm and nutritious breakfast to needy students. Thus far we have
received positive feedback from the school on the impact this meal has on their readiness and focus at the start of the morning sessions. Along with these programmes, we plan to develop a Vertical Garden with drip-irrigation technology to provide fruits and vegetables for breakfast with the excess being sold to the community in an attempt to boost the student’s appreciation for entrepreneurship. (Con’d on pg 13)
PAGE
2
Barbican Pines Optimist Club https://www.facebook.com/optimists.barbicanpines?fref=ts
Caribbean District https://www.facebook.com/caribbean.optimists?fref=ts
Stay Connected in real time...
Optimist Club of Barbados, Bridgetown https://www.facebook.com/OptimistBridgetown http://optimistbridgetown.org/
Optimist Club of Cross Roads https://www.facebook.com/pages/Optimist-Club-of-Cross-Roads/186337188241711 Email: optimistcrossroads@outlook.com
Optimist Club of North St. Andrew https://www.facebook.com/Optimistclub.northstandrew?ref=profile
Optimist Club de Ste Lisi www.optimistclubstlucia.com
Optimist Club of UWI, Mona https://www.facebook.com/uwimonaoptimistclub
Progressive Optimist Club of Barbados https://www.facebook.com/groups/ProgressiveOptimist/ http://www.progressiveoptimist.org/
Rising Optimist Club of Moneague https://www.facebook.com/RiseOptimist
Royal Optimist Club of Kingston, The (R.O.C.K) https://www.facebook.com/rockopts http://rockjamaica.org/
South Circle Optimist Club https://www.facebook.com/southcircleja http://southcircleja.weebly.com/ Twitter: @SouthCircleJa
St. Ann’s Bay Optimist Club https://www.facebook.com/groups/saboptimists/
Sunset Optimist Club of Kingston https://www.facebook.com/SunsetOptimist?ref=stream
CARIBBEAN
DISTRICT
N EWS
DESK
PAGE
3
Breakfast with Santa
O
n the Saturday December the 7th,
Pride of Bar-
bados OC held its annual Breakfast with Santa event for
the class four children of St. Ambrose School. Like last year, it was held at the George Washington House venue at the Historic Garrison Savannah, St. Michael. The full complement of class four students attended, 22 in all. They were chaperoned by the Principal Jacqueline Andwele along with teachers Miss Lewis and Mrs Dixon.
Pride of Barbaos OC
Of course the club was well represented, with some members bringing their kids along for the experience. The event got started at 9:00 a.m sharp. Breakfast was served and well received by everyone. The breakfast with Santa event is not just about breakfast or Santa. The event is also used as an opportunity to educate the kids on the rich heritage and historical aspects of our country. After the breakfast session the children were taken to see a short documentary film on the history of George Washington's stay on the property, followed by a tour of the house and museum. We concluded the event with a surprise gift giving session for the kids. Santa was none other than our very own Jolly Pride Member and Treasurer, Jerry Kellman who was a hit with the kids as well as the adults. The students expressed their excitement and thanked the President and members of the Club for the experience as they hustled back to the bus.
CARIBBEAN
DISTRICT
N EWS
DESK
4
North St. Andrew, JA
PAGE
25th Anniversary Celebrations Q
uarter of a century! That’s how long St. Ann’s Bay has been weaving Optimism into our young people. And what strides have they made in 25 years! Just to note a few accomplishments, they have formed successful clubs:
Optimist Club of St. John's Antigua Optimist Club of Barbican Pines Optimist Club of Wa-
terloo Optimist Club of Harbour View
ALSO North St. Andrew has produced a record FIVE District Governors: Errol Alliman David Garel Granville Newell Judith Reid (deceased) Gene M. Douglas Come join North St. Andrew in celebrating. So far, they have had a commemorative church service held at Grace Missionary Church
SMS JOC, BDS
SMS JOOI Club, BDS On December 13th the SMS JOC hosted 24 underprivileged children from the George Lamming Primary School at the Chefette play park in Rockley. The event was enjoyed by all including the12 SMS JOC members who accompanied the children. Along with the party and gifts for each child the club donated reading books and copy paper to the school. Chefette Restaurants also gave gifts to each child at the party as a token of their support. SMS JOC thanks the management and staff of Cheffette for that wonderful surprise.
CARIBBEAN
DISTRICT
N EWS
DESK
in Kingston in September. The BIG event will be the 25th Anniversary Installation Luncheon and NOW function to be held at the Altamont Court Hotel in Kingston on Sunday, February 23, 2013, starting at 11:30 a.m. Tickets will be JMD$3,500.00 per person. Share your stories : Darshani@jillandee.com OR Visit us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ caribbean.optimists
5
St. Ann’s Bay, JA
Progressive OC, BDS
PAGE
President Cleon and Optimist Orville welcome the first baby born for Christmas 2013. Welcome baby Dayton.
CARIBBEAN
DISTRICT
N EWS
DESK
6
OC Sunsine Club, BDS
PAGE
Christmas party at St. Giles School.
Hindsbury Alpha Club, BDS
CARIBBEAN
DISTRICT
N EWS
DESK
7
Emacipation OC: Jamaica Christian Boys Home
PAGE
Blackman & Gallop Alpha Clus, BDS
CARIBBEAN
DISTRICT
N EWS
DESK
Letters & Shout Outs
OPTI BABIES Double the diapers, double the pins, we proudly announce the arrival of two Opti-babies Baby girl Kailani Marie Antoinette Fearon born to Ltg Karlene and baby boy Carlisle Barrett born to Optimist Paula and Calman. Welcome young Optimists!
Message from OI President Ron “MO means My Optimism and it stands for all the reasons I am an Optimist. ...I am an optimist because I cherish the friendships I’ve made through my optimist club. I’m an Optimist because I believe in bringing out the best in kids.“
To all clubs who shared this month. Keep on sharing!
I
just want to take a quick opportunity to stress the effectiveness of the NOW Program in recruiting new Members. NOW, or New Optimists Welcome, allows your Club to identify potential Members, and invite them to dinner to meet with current Members and show them the benefits of becoming an Optimist. NOW booklets are available for those that want more information. These give a general overview of how to plan and hold a NOW event, while allowing Clubs to inject their own flavor. And remember that NOW events in your District can help you earn a card for President Ron’s Poker Tournament at the Las Vegas Convention! In both the first and second quarters, if 30% of Clubs in your District hold a NOW event that successfully recruits at least 1 Member, you earn a card! Don’t forget that Clubs must report their NOW events to Optimist International headquarters for them to earn you a card. If you have any questions about the NOW Program or the Poker Tournament, just ask us! Thank you, and here’s to an Optimistic 2014. Joe Fetter Membership Manager Optimist International 4494 Lindell Blvd. St. Louis, MO 63108 (314)371-6000 x227
Transferring membership is as easy as 1-2-3: 1. The member transferring needs to be deleted from the club he is leaving. 2. The new club adds him to the roster with a $5 processing fee sent to OI. 3. Club Roster Adjustment Form can be sent to OI or emailed to bakerc@optimist.org indicating change. (Include member’s information on the CRA form and check “Transfer”. IF the member is a Life Member, indicate on the CRA. Transfers cannot be done online)
9
OC of Barbados, Bridgetown
PAGE
When they realized that the decorations were missing, they got creative and made everything with recycled materials. (Children of Sterling Children Home)
CARIBBEAN
DISTRICT
N EWS
DESK
Housekeeping Make Valuable Changes Organization-wide Please take time to evaluate the Optimist International Bylaws, and make sure they continue to effectively serve the organization. This process allows you and your Club to help shape and improve all of Optimist International. To recommend a revision, your Club must submit a proposed amendment citing the Article(s) and Section(s) and exact proposed wording change to the Articles and Sections cited, along with a written rationale in 200 words or less for the chance. The Club must submit the proposal on Club letterhead signed by the Club President. The proposal may be emailed and/or faxed to the International Office, but the original Club letter must be received by the International Office in order for the proposal to be considered. All submitted changes will be brought before the International Convention delegates for vote and possible endorsement. All proposed change submissions for the Bylaws must be received at the International Office by 5:00 p.m. (CST) Friday, April 11. Please mail them to: Dana Thomas, Executive Assistant, Optimist International, 4494 Lindell Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63108.
What else is there to say? Click here
PAGE
11
CARIBBEAN
DISTRICT
N EWS
DESK
Knutsford Circle OC, JA
PAGE 12
ISSUE
3
PAGE
13
OC of St. John, Antigua
I
t may not qualify for the Governor’s Project on a budget award but when the Optimist Club of St. John’s, Antigua decided that come what may they would host their annual Christmas party for the residents of the Boys Home – they knew that there wasn’t enough money in the kitty to do what they normally did each Christmas. For the boys, the Optimist Christmas Party is something that they have come to expect, complete with a gift for each of the 12 – 17 year old residents. As is the case with many clubs the OCSJ has lost many members so what was an easily organized and financed project for 60 members in more prosperous times was something that stretched the pockets and luckily the imagination of the 11 or 12 active members in these economically challenging times. Collaboration was the key to success as members reached out to their Facebook friends to solicit gifts, while inviting members of the revoked OC of Wadadli to taste Optimism again by donating a dish to the Christmas table and attending the activity. Like the loaves and fish, the ham and other dishes seem to multiply while an unending supply of deserts brought smiles to the faces of all who spent their evening bringing joy to boys, many of whom said that what they really wanted for Christmas was a family to spend Christmas day with.
14
South Circle, JA
PAGE
After all the work with the JOOI clubs, they were going to take a break but they decided to take a break with a cause. They partied and raised funds. We’re very proud of our baby Optimists!
CARIBBEAN
DISTRICT
N EWS
DESK
Purposes of Optimism
To develop optimism as a philosophy of life utilizing the tenets of the Optimist Creed;
Optimist International Caribbean District
ernment and civic affairs;
to inspire respect for the law;
to promote patriotism and work for international accord and friendship among all
The Secretariat
people;
36 1/2 Lyndhurst Road, Kingston 10
to promote an active interest in good gov-
to aid and encourage the development of
Phone: 1-246-836-9005
youth, in the belief that the giving of one’s
Skype:
self in service to others will advance the
darshaniworkman
E-mail: Darshani@jillandee.com Whatsapp: 1-246-836-9005
well-being of humankind, community life and the world.
Bringing Out the Best In Kids We’re on the web! http://oicaribbean.wix.com/ caribbeandistrict#!
R.O.C.K. Plans This entrepreneurship angle is in line with our long term plan to have a children farmers market and to educate the residents of the community of the many possible opportunities for urban farming. Throughout 2013 and beyond, we have worked assiduously and passionately to plant lasting smiles on each child’s face who we work with. We see service as an honour and a privilege. The members of the club refer to themselves as ROCKers and believe in creating a fun and relaxing environment for our members as we work hard for the benefit of our youths. Our meetings are held every 1st and 3rd Tuesday of each month at the Kingston YMCA located at 21 Hope Road, starting at 6pm. (President Garvin Grandison)