Academy Optimist Club Newsletter; April, 2020

ACADEMY OPTIMIST CLUB Newsletter

April, 2020

Visit our website

Check out our Facebook page

YES!

We're still having meetings...

using Zoom!

* * * *

When:

Tuesdays at noon

Where:

wherever you & your device are!

How:

President Sam Bartley sends you a link by email

Click & join us!

*it's really fun!

* we still have "Blooms"

* we share jokes & stories

*you can wear your PJ's

* all are welcome!!

Find out more about ZOOM

MAY BIRTHDAYS

10th - Billie Nigro

23rd - Ronda Riley

ANNIVERSARIES

May

Sharon Foster - 13 years!

Sister Jeannette - 7 years

Bob Slemmons - 1 year

We have 7 participants & are hoping to have the contest in mid-May using Zoom!

The National Oratorical contest will be in mid-August, via Zoom.

Locally, there will be no Zone contests. Regional contests will be held, via Zoom, on May 23, 2020, with District finals on May 30th. All scholarships will be awarded as usual.

KING SOOPERS Rewards!

Hooray!! Our Club's first reward check is on the way! We estimate it will be between $130-$140! This will enable us to serve even more kids in our community!

If you haven't signed up yet, please click below:

Learn more...

CHANGES IN JOI DISTRICT

As AOC member, Donna Priester , steps down from JOI Colorado/Wyoming Optimist District Chair (the District she was instrumental in creating!), her position will now be taken over by our own Nicole Powell (south region) and from the Wheat Ridge Optimist Club, Linda MacDonald (north region).

Donna will still be very involved with JOI - it's in her blood!

We are eternally grateful to all our advisors that continue to build JOI clubs & strengthen our District!

" One year ago, I got my official Optimist shirt with my name embroidered on it. There are no words to express how incredible this year has been and how happy I have been to be Governor of our CO/WY JOI Clubs! It has been such an amazing experience and I will remember it forever. Thank you everyone who helped make this experience memorable and amazing! "

CO/WY Junior Optimist District Convention

Fortunately the Convention was held on Saturday, March 7th, just days before the “stay home” policies began! The turnout was smaller than the JOI committee had hoped, but it was powerful! The JOI officers, Governor Elise, Governor –Elect Makenna, and Sec./Treasurer Soraya, had the convention well planned and had invited adult Optimists to come and see what JOI can be!

Governor Elise did a wonderful job of combining the JOI members and the adults together in all that was happening. Icebreakers were fun and all found new friends and acquaintances! The workshops went well: some chose to learn about Leadership, others made Bracelets to take and share with those outside of the convention that needed a smile or feeling of someone caring about them, and the third workshop was making pull toys for dogs at an Animal Rescue. We had a chance to get to know others, to hear the importance of Optimism, JOI, and Community Service. All JOI member attendees received a certificate of participation and were applauded for all their clubs are doing for others.

Elections were held for JOI District officers for the 2020-21 Optimist year. Makenna Weiner (Vista Ridge High School) will go from Governor Elect to Governor; Emma Schlosser (Horizon Middle School) will become Governor – Elect; and Rachel Jacks (Vista Ridge High School) will be Secretary/Treasurer. It was exciting as we had several candidates who sent videos as they could not attend. Emma was one of them! We installed Makenna and Rachel to take office Oct. 1st of 2020 and will install Emma at a future time.

We especially were thrilled to have CO/WY Optimist District Governor Tony Carpenter with us to speak and install our officers! We had many past Governors and officers attending and helping us to make the convention a success. Past Governor Curt Merrill ran the technology portion for us and we greatly thank him. We had Advisors and Optimist members helping with food, set up, and clean up. Elise’s family was indispensable and their support was true optimism and caring for this JOI District. Now, we look forward to next year and a great Optimist adventure as we “Cook” with joy in JOI.

*submitted by Donna Priester

Sand Creek and Vista Ridge High School JOI Clubs are still doing amazing things!

Despite their Easter Egg Hunt being cancelled, they were able to donate the 1,000 candy filled eggs to the organization, Tessa.

https://www.tessacs.org/

These eggs were used to give joy to a huge group of women and their children during the Easter season.

Sand Creek has also challenged members to write letters and create care packages for Make-A-Wish children who have had to delay their wishes due to the COVID-19 restrictions. JOI continues to bring "joy" to their community, no matter what!!!

submitted by Rebecca Clark

SAND CREEK JOI

Our news from April: our April project would have been gathering items for a basket to be raffled off for the Make a wish organization. We were able to bring in over $70 for the group last year.

Since the raffle won't be able to take place this year, we donated the $90 that we earned working the concession stand at Brain Bowl to Make a Wish. They will use it to send cards and things to the children that are waiting for their Make a Wish to happen!