Citing the club's motto, "Bringing Out the Best in Kids," Vice President Dennis Phares noted that without member participation, that goal is difficult to meet.
The City Recreation Department partners with the Optimist to support the kindergarten through sixth grade ball program each summer. Part of the registration fees cover the cost of T-shirts, but the club's fundraising efforts also help fund the uniforms, as well as ball game equipment.
One such fundraising event is the annual Optimist Pancake Breakfast held in February or March at the Mid-Prairie Middle School. Optimist members also crew the concession stand for the summer ball games.
A second major Optimist project occurred last week - the annual Halloween party at the Community Center, with an estimated 200 children in attendance this year.
The local Optimists sponsor the clean-up of a 2-mile section of Highway 22 west of Kalona, as well as two blood drives every year.
All this takes time and energy - and when the burden is placed upon a limited number of volunteers, it's easy for those club members to become burned out, said Miller. That is why an emphasis will be placed on recruiting new members to the club.
Sheryl Miller, wife of the Optimist president, said the club would like to expand its community contributions with such national club projects as an Internet safety program for parents and kids. This is an animated cartoon illustration designed to show elementary school-aged children how to safely respond, or avoid, unwanted or inappropriate inquiries in e-mails and chat rooms.
The Optimist will be looking to partner with either the schools or Kalona Public Library for the program, said Sheryl.
Optimists on the international level, with the resources contributed by area clubs, have a number of programs that include a Childhood Cancer Campaign, Communication Contest For the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, Essay Contest and Oratorical Contest.
There are more than 3,000 Optimist clubs around the world. The club's website states that "Optimists conduct 65,000 community service projects each year, spending $78 million in their communities. Annually, six million kids are positively affected by Optimist programs."
The local optimists meet every Thursday at 6 p.m. at the United Methodist Church. This week a special speaker at the meeting will be the state Optimist lieutenant governor. Bob Miller said he urges area residents who would like to make a difference in their community, to attend the Thursday gathering to see what being an Optimist is all about.
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