Breakfast with Santa Fights Hunger

Over 300 Sparks, Brownies, Beavers and Cubs (with assorted leaders, parents and siblings) enjoyed food, fun and a visit from Santa at the Coquitlam Optimist Club's annual Pancake Breakfast.  Admission was by donation of a non-perishable food item.  Thanks to the generosity of the participants, many of whom brought bags of edibles, the event netted 554 lbs. of food for the Share Food Bank.  The youngsters left with full tummies, candy canes, balloon art and a sense of having helped the less fortunate.

Optimist Club Offers Scholarships for 2012 Student Essays

The Coquitlam Optimist Club is offering $175 in cash prizes and an opportunity to win a $2,500 scholarship in Optimist International’s 2012 Essay Contest.

The Essay Contest is open to students under 18 years of age as of December 31, 2011, who have not graduated from secondary school. Contestants must submit essays of 700-800 words in length on the topic “How my Positive Outlook Benefits my Community.”

The Coquitlam Optimist Club will award cash prizes of $100 for first place, $50 for second place and $25 for third place. The first place winner will advance to the Pacific Northwest District contest with the opportunity to win a $2,500 college scholarship. The Pacific Northwest District includes Optimist Clubs in British Columbia, Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Alaska.

Optimist International sponsors the Essay Contest to give young people the opportunity to write about their own opinions regarding the world in which they live. The approach can encompass a young person’s personal experience, the experience of their country or a more historical perspective.

To enter, students must first fill out an application form. To receive the application form along with detailed contest rules and information on how to submit essays, contact Peter Smith (604-469-1514) or e-mail the Coquitlam Optimist Club at coquitlamoptimists@gmail.com. The Coquitlam Optimist Club must receive completed essays by February 6, 2012.

Essay contest rules and application forms are available at the Optimist International website http://www.optimist.org/Form/Essay_RULES_PAD-E_11-12.pdf. However, all application forms and essays from local students must be submitted to the Coquitlam Optimist Club.

SPORTS TEAMS, SCHOOL GROUPS/PAC COMMITTEES, YOUTH ACTIVITY GROUPS: Do you want an easy way for your group to earn money?

Join the Optimist Walk for Youth

ALL YOU NEED TO DO IS WALK 5K … and collect pledges. 

We look after all the event management, signage, promotion, advance/walk day registration and refreshments.  Plus we’ll hold a bonus draw and match 100% of the winning group’s pledges up to $1000.

We keep 25% of the funds raised to cover our costs.  Any balance that remains after our expenses are paid goes back into the community through our many Optimist programs. This year the remaining funds will support Optimist Childhood Cancer initiatives.  Everyone benefits!

WHEN:           November 11, 2011
                        Registration at 12 Noon
                        Walk begins at 1:00 PM

WHERE:         Coquitlam Recreation Center

To Register phone:      604 936 3649 (Rick Todd at Grapes 4U) or
Email: coquitlamoptimists@gmail.com

Download a pledge package here (4 documents).

Don't miss the annual Free Skate that follows the Walk for Youth (1:30 to 3:30 PM).  Bring a non-perishable item for the Food Bank.

Coquitlam Sponsors New Optimist Club in the Okanagan

The Coquitlam Optimist Club has sponsored a new Optimist Club to serve the youth of Vernon and the surrounding communities. The North Okanagan Optimist Club chartered on September 27, 2011, with 23 charter members. Past International Vice-President Sandy Larivee officially organized the club on behalf of Optimist International. Ed Murphy III, Governor of the Pacific Northwest District, and Peter Smith and Hal Griffin, President and President-Elect, respectively, of the sponsoring Coquitlam Optimist Club, attended the chartering ceremony.

The North Okanagan Optimist Club is the 50th Optimist club in the Pacific Northwest District of Optimist International, which encompasses Optimist clubs in British Columbia, Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and Alaska. The new club joins Zone 2 with clubs in Chilliwack, Abbotsford, Mission and Coquitlam.

Led by Charter President Janice Mori and Charter Secretary-Treasurer Pam Hargreaves, the new club has already talked about running oratorical contests and other community activities. The club will also raise money to meet needs of young people in the Vernon area.

Optimist Club Presents 2011 Scholarships

 

The Coquitlam Optimist Club has presented the annual Robert Simms Memorial Scholarships to nine 2011 graduates of secondary schools in Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam and Port Moody. The scholarship recipients and their schools are Ian Chen, Centennial; Ashley Tam, Gleneagle; Cindy Ding, Pinetree; Christy Hui, John Hwang and David Hwang, Port Moody; and Ana Adriyanta, Marleis Bowering and Nicole Labayo, Archbishop Carney.

The $500 Robert Simms Memorial Scholarships are awarded primarily based on the students’ service to their communities.

The scholarship recipients have chosen a variety of post-secondary schools both within and outside British Columbia. Cindy Ding is attending the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, while Christy Hui is attending UBC’s Okanogan Campus. Ashley Tam is a student at Simon Fraser University. Nicole Labayo is studying at Douglas College, and Marleis Bowering is at the University of Victoria. Students who have chosen eastern universities include John Hwang and Ana Adriyanta, McGill University; David Hwang, University of Toronto; and Ian Chen, Waterloo University.

A Busy and Profitable Weekend

June 11-12 was a busy Optimist weekend. On Saturday several Optimist stalwarts served burgers and hot dogs at PoCo Building Supplies to celebrate the 90th anniversary of Port Coquitlam’s oldest business. Sunday was the annual Teddy Bear Picnic. Optimists and friends assisted at the gates, operated a putting range for young golfers and had a profitable day serving burgers and hot dogs.

Special thanks to the Galer family (owners of PoCo Building Supplies) and Greg Graham (the company’s controller) for their generous donation to support Optimist sports programs.

Raffle Winners Announced

The winners of the Optimst Clubs-Curl BC raffle were announced on Monday, May 28.  The winners are:

1. Allison Sutherland, Nelson $5,000 on her birthday!
2. Sandra Dawson, North Vancouver $1,000
3. Robert Holland, Revelstoke $1,000
4. Bob Chartrand, Nanaimo $1,000
5. Joyce Young, Coquitlam $500
6. Kelly Hamm, Victoria $500
7. Brenda Nord, Sparwood $500
8. Anne Galibois, Marpole $500
9. Dave Fallis, Kelowna $500

Congratulations to all and thanks for your support!  The raffle supports youth curling development camps throughout British Columbia.

Optimist Club Offers Scholarships to Student Orators

The Coquitlam Optimist Club is offering $500 in prizes and an opportunity to win scholarships with values up to $2500 in Optimist International’s 2011 Oratorical Contest.

Contestants must give a 4-5 minute speech on the topic “If I Were Leader of the Free World, the First Issue I Would Address Would Be...”

The Oratorical Contest is open to students under 19 years of age as of December 31, 2010. The age limit has changed from previous years, giving older students a chance to compete.

The Coquitlam Optimist Club will award cash prizes of $250 for first place, $150 for second place and $50 for third place. The first and second place winners will have the chance to advance through zone and regional oratorical contests. Regional winners will compete at the Pacific Northwest District contest with the opportunity to win a $2,500 college scholarship.

The Coquitlam Optimist Club’s Oratorical Contest will be held on April 6, 2011 at 7:00 PM at the Royal Canadian Legion, 2675 Shaughnessy St., Port Coquitlam. To enter, students must fill out an application form and submit it to the club by March 18, 2011. Applications and detailed contest rules are available at http://www.optimist.org/Form/Oratorical_Rules_Pad_10-11.pdf or by e-mailing us at coquitlamoptimists@gmail.com.

Optimist International has been conducting Oratorical Contests since 1928. The Coquitlam Optimist Club is one of nearly 2,000 Optimist clubs in Canada, United States and the Caribbean that hold Oratorical Contests each year. Optimist International awards more than $150,000 in college scholarships annually from this program.

$5,000 Prize - Raffle Supports Young Curlers

The Optimist Clubs of British Columbia in partnership with Curl BC are offering a $5,000 cash prize in a raffle to support youth curling development (BC Gaming License No. 111340). In addition to the grand prize, there will be three $1,000 prizes and five $500 prizes. Tickets cost $20 each and are available from your local Optimist Club or your local curling club. Only 1,600 tickets will be sold.

The money raised from the annual raffle funds curling development camps throughout the province. At each camp, 15-17 year old juvenile curlers assist a professional trainer in teaching skills to the younger (9-11 year old) curlers.

The 2011 draw will be held at 9:30 pm on March 28th. The draws will be made during the post-game celebrations at the Coquitlam Curling Club, 640 Poirier Street, Coquitlam, BC.

Optimist Club Offers Scholarships for Student Essays

The Coquitlam Optimist Club is offering $450 in prizes and an opportunity to win a $2500 scholarship in Optimist International’s 2011 Essay Contest.

The Essay Contest is open to students under 19 years of age as of December 31, 2010. Contestants must submit essays of 700-800 words in length on the topic “How My Education is the Key to a Successful Future.”

The Coquitlam Optimist Club will award cash prizes of $300 for first place, $100 for second place and $50 for third place. The first place winner will advance to the Pacific Northwest District contest with the opportunity to win a $2,500 college scholarship. The Pacific Northwest District includes Optimist Clubs in British Columbia, Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Alaska. In addition, one international winner entered through an Optimist Club in Canada, the USA or the Caribbean, will have his or her essay published in the Optimist International Magazine.

To enter, students must first fill out an application form. To receive the application form along with detailed contest rules and information on how to submit essays, e-mail the Coquitlam Optimist Club at coquitlamoptimists@gmail.com. The Coquitlam Optimist Club must receive completed essays by February 10, 2011.

Additional information, including the application form, is available at the Optimist International website http://www.optimist.org/e/member/scholarships3.cfm. However, all application forms and essays from local students must be submitted to the Coquitlam Optimist Club.