I S S U E
4
7 T H
F E B R U A R Y ,
2 0 1 4
Caribbean District News Desk Optimism & Love TAKE NOTE
JOOI Buddy Week, pg 4
By: Patrick Prendagast
OI Leadership
F
summit is 22 Mar, 2014
ebruary is a very special month in many ways. For many people all over the world the month with ‘28 days clear and 29 in each leap year’ brings us Valentine’s Day and lots of thinking about love. In my family two of my daughters were born in February – one on Valentine’s Day and the younger exactly one week short of nine years later.
Q2 OICD conference cancelled.
Club Oratorical contests by mid Feb, 14
Q2 dues due
Well, the latter who turns eight this year (2014), has bowled me an Optimism love story I wish to share. Her name is Jordis; and just a few days ago, completely out of the blue, she came up to me
INSIDE THIS ISSUE: Stay connected
2
Vacancies
8
Notices
10
Housekeeping
12
and declared, “Daddy,
one day I’m going to be president of your Optimist club just like you and Tetrice”. Her confidence and sincerity got me thinking, ‘wow, here is a story, worth exploring’.
Celebrations
Jordis
More celebrations
Contact Us
17
Tetrice, my first daughter is the 2013/2014 president of my club, Sunset Optimist Club of Liguanea. We have had members of the same family as president before; but with this bold statement the Prendergast clan seem set to challenge the Walkers whose family has given us three outstanding presidents – four if we count Past District Secretary-Treasurer, Optimist Heather.
hope and positive thinking. The second is that as Optimists we should remember that working with and for children is an expression of love but it is also about promoting and exposing them to the tremendous benefits of becoming and being junior optimists. I asked Jordis to tell me why she wants to be an Optimist – and I will share her enthusiasm in a while. What struck me most about our dialogue was not the goodness and honesty of her response but the pure excitement when I told her about JOOI (Junior Optimists Octagon International).
Admittedly, Jordis does have a long way to go before she could even become a member of the club – at least a decade – so to see a challenge in her declaration could even be seen as a little premature. That is unless Jada, the Valentine’s Day born, carries her When she learnt that it takes only Optimism into college and beyond eight members to start a junior optimist club at her school the to the adult club level. interest went up a degree. I don’t Anyway, Jordis’ desire to be presi- know if she was thinking about her dent highlights two things for me. friends but immediately upon The first is that Opti- hearing that bit of information her fingers and vocals synchronised in mism is really about counting: one, two, three, four…
love
in as much as it is about
Cont’d on page 17
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/
Add your club’s Facebook page here
South Circle Optimist Club https://www.facebook.com/southcircleja http://southcircleja.weebly.com/ Twitter: @SouthCircleJa
Darshani@jillandee.com
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
Hampers for Optimists
T
he youngsters participating in the Sports For Life programme at Kensington Oval showed that they have been embracing the core values of helping others and being charitable when they gave a number of hampers to the Optimist Club at The Oval on Saturday.
OC of Barbados, South
Receiving the timely gifts on behalf of the Optimists was Margaret Chapman-Farley, who indicated that the contribution would greatly help in bringing cheer and smiles to some of the families and children who they look to assist throughout the year. Tricia Forde, facilitator at Sports For Life stated that in addition to teaching the children some of the finer points of sports they were introduced to the core values of sports and life such as respect and assisting those in need. (KB)
T
HERE ARE many families who go hungry in Barbados. This revelation has come from deputy director of the Child Care Board (CCB) Denise Nurse who said many Barbadians were not aware of that reality. And that is why Nurse is thanking the Optimist Club of Barbados South for the 18 gift hampers donated which would help supplement its distribution programme this Christmas season. The gift hampers, handed over by club president Margaret ChapmanFarley on Wednesday, will be distributed to the children and families the CCB deals with through their programmes. Last year the board gave out 213 hampers to families with children compared to 206 the same time this year. Nurse said they were seeing a new dynamic in Barbados where each bedroom in a home represented a family unit of a mother and children.
The Optimist Club has been making the donation for the past 12 years. Chapman-Farley said each hamper contained a personalized gift for a child as the children involved in the Sports for Life programme decided that inShe said many people were unaware that they stead of having a gift exchange among themcould give. Nurse also said the CCB was for- selves this year, they would give the gifts to tunate to be at the receiving end, considering charity. The Optimist club was identified as what was happening in the economy. the recipient.
CARIBBEAN
DISTRICT
N EWS
DESK
4
OC Barbados, Bridgetown
Knutsford Circle, JA
PAGE
CARIBBEAN
Youth Appreciation Days
I
n November 2013 the Optimist Club of Knutsford Circle engaged all 112 students of the Torrington United Early Childhood Institute in a “Youth Appreciation Day” at the school. The celebrations took the form of a Presentation and Ice-cream celebration among all the children. The Top Boy and Top Girl of the school up to that date were recognized for their outstanding academic per-
B
formance. A Certificate of Achievement was presented to the Top Boy Javauhn Jennings and to the teacher for the Top Girl Paulie-Ann Bernard who was absent on
that day due to illness. All the students were then feted with ice-cream. There were lots of fun, laughter and ice-cream games.
ridgetown club featured one main event:
Youth Awards & Engagement Session. The club recognized seven youth groups for their outstanding work in their local communities.
The Barbados Youth Development Council
The SJPP student Guild
The UWI Guild
Student
The BCC Guild
Student
The Young Democrats
The Young Socialists
generational dialogue which The Pine Lands Crea- was ably facilitated by Jason Charmichael, former Orative Workshop torical contest winner. An interactive session followed which fostered inter- The session addressed topics including teenaged sex,
DISTRICT
N EWS
DESK
roles and responsibilities of parent and child, importance of goal setting and most importantly, the power of perspectives.
OC of St. Thomas, JA
PAGE
5
Christmas treat at the Saunders Basic School. They treated 25 children and left with many smiles on their faces.
Optimist Veronica Doyley & Veronica Facey presenting Ms. Loris and family
Knutsford Circle, JA
with their quarterly food basket.
President Noreen, DPltg Sonia Barr, Optimist Dolcie & IPP Sonia visited a Cancer Hospice & delivered groceries
CARIBBEAN
DISTRICT
N EWS
DESK
6
Pride of Barbados
PAGE
Weekly reading continues at St. Ambrose Primary School.
OC of St. Thomas, JA
Opt Sherie presenting back to school
President Aneesha ensuring that the
supplies to Lyssons Primary School
children in her class have writing books
CARIBBEAN
DISTRICT
N EWS
DESK
7
OC Kensinton, JA
PAGE
Visit ot Jerusalem Village Children’s Home. The club visited the Jerusalem Village Children’s home in January to hand out toiletries and clothing for the residents there. Also to comb their hair and cut their nails etc.
CARIBBEAN
DISTRICT
N EWS
n! o ds n Ha
DESK
VACANCIES
Governor Elect Requirements: Presidential Experience, would be good if the person has also served as an LtG but no longer a requirement. Optimists currently serving as LtGs are also encouraged to make their interest known
14 Lieutenant Governors Requirements: Presidential Experience. If you are serving as president now you are eligible and I’d love to have you on the team Plenty Club Presidents & twice as many Vice Presidents.
Hear-Ye Hear EE Be part of the Optimist year when the unusual will become usual. Governor Elect Barbara would like to advise the general membership that positions are currently being filled in readiness for the 2014/15 Optimist year.
District Chairpersons If you are considering running for office you should first ask yourself the following: Am I a little crazy? – not completely nuts but at least a little? Am I willing to entertain unusual thoughts? Do I enjoy laughing? Am I able to laugh at myself? Do I enjoy watching others laugh and have fun? Do I care a whole lot more about thing than most people would expect? If you have answered yes to at least 4 of these questions than you have met the basic requirements for being a part of the Step By Step 2014/15 Team. GE Barbara and her DST in waiting Jason Gilead would like to hear from you as soon as possible. If you know of someone who is too shy to admit that he or she has all of these qualities please submit the person’s name and email address and we will make contact with them. Awesome & Unusual Training opportunities in exotic environments await those who dare to STEP UP
To all clubs who shared this month. Keep on sharing!
Apply within: barbaraarrindell@yahoo.com
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
Barbican Pines
PAGE
Tree Planting at Immaculate High School with the JOOI stuents and Teachers. The tree was planted in honour of the Late Dancel Taylor, member of Barbican Pines and Vice Principal of Immaculate High School
CARIBBEAN
DISTRICT
N EWS
DESK
PAGE
11
Registration for the summit is open to all Optimists and must be done online here.
Kingston, Jamaica Sat 22 March, 2014
CARIBBEAN
DISTRICT
N EWS
DESK
Housekeeping Message from JOOI District Co-Chair– Lloyd Smalling Attention Adult Optimists: The JOOI Caribbean Board is requesting that all Optimist Clubs who are planning to or are in the process of sponsoring JOOI Clubs to please advise us of such. This will help us as we continue to strive towards a cohesive JOOI District. Let us keep the lines of communication open as we facilitate this process. We will also do our very best to keep you informed of the happenings in the JOOI district. Please send information via email to our: District Secretary Olivia olivia.ewright@yahoo.com JOOI Governor jooigovernoredward@hotmail.com Adult District Team members: CP Genevieve Gomes vieve2000@yahoo.com Cecile Hale cecillehale@yahoo.com Clive Savage porkrum@hotmail.com Ann Sealy ann@valuevacationsbds.com
What else is there to say? Click here
13
OC UWI, Mona, JA
PAGE
Tutoring Programe at Mountain View
CARIBBEAN
DISTRICT
N EWS
DESK
OC of Barbados, North
PAGE
14
Youth Appreciation with the students of Lester VaughnSchool
ISSUE
4
PAGE
15
Super Stars Junior Optimist Club, Anguilla
S
uper Stars Junior Optimist Club at the Adrian T. Hazell Primary School observed JOOI Buddy Week in earnest. The club members read with students from Kindergarten to grade 2 during 'Golden Time' and lunch breaks. For Grade Two, they sat in with the students and assisted them with their science assignments. For Grade One they read with the students. Students had the opportunity to choose a quiet area on the school grounds where they wanted to read. Apart from reading with the students, the Super Stars have decided to supervise the Kindergarten and Grade One students on the playing field during lunch break and teach them how to play safe. They will also teach them how to play different fun games. Super Stars plan to have this activity at least once a week in every month.
16
OC of UWI, Mona, JA
PAGE
Scenes from their Health and Wellness Fair
CARIBBEAN
DISTRICT
N EWS
DESK
Purposes of Optimism
To develop optimism as a philosophy of life utilizing the tenets of the Optimist Creed;
to promote an active interest in good government and civic affairs;
Optimist International Caribbean District
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 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
well-being of humankind, community life
Whatsapp: 1-246-836-9005
and the world.
Bringing Out the Best In Kids We’re on the web! http://oicaribbean.wix.com/ caribbeandistrict#!
Optimism & Love
from page 1 club she says, “I like painting the schools and fixing up the place. I like planting trees and flowers to beautify the surroundings for the children and teachers. I like the health fair… to see the children happy”.
It will take some investment on the part of adult clubs, but I do believe it would be value-added to sponsor clubs at all three levels of the JOOI – Alpha clubs (6-9 year olds), junior clubs (10 – 13) and Octagon clubs (14 to 18+). JOOI clubs are the perfect feeder for, among other things, the Optimist scholarship competitions, and personal development through mentorship, self-esteem and confidence building activities, as well as setting the foundation for stronger growth in Optimism. Jordis was particularly enthused about the JOOI of Reading programme. It is always good to start from what the children love and how they see themselves in the future. That is what Jordis was projecting when she says, “Daddy, one day I’m going to be president of your Optimist club just like
Then to cap it all the assured Jordis asserts, “When you and Tetrice!” – The future. “I
want to be an Optimist, to help children who are poor… to make sure they have something to eat so they can be healthy and strong; and things to wear so they can feel nice and good about themselves. I want them to go to school to get a proper education so they can learn and speak and be confident”, she says On her exposure to the work of our
I
become president I am going to raise money for a children’s home in the country”. These words are more than the future of Optimism. This is positive thinking, hope, and the love that Optimism encourages and builds among both adults and children. Man, do I love an environment of Optimists. Happy Valentine’s Day to all present and future Optimists. Patrick Prendergast is past Lieutenant Governor (Caribbean District – Zone 4)