Fourth annual Certificates with Bursaries were Given to two Elementary School Students on June 26, 2014

For the fourth year in a row, Certificates of Personal Achievement and Community Spirit with Cash Bursaries were presented at a Leduc area elementary school to one female student and one male student selected by school staff from any grade. In 2014, they were presented at Covenant Christian.

These awards are rotated to a different school each year and provide the staff with another way to recognize two deserving students based on the criteria outlined in the framed documents which are presented. Each recipient:

* Displays initiative, scholastic effort, and academic achievement
* Demonstrates respect for school rules and the rights of others
* Promotes friendship among all students and staff
* Shows a willingness to be involved in school or community activities and events
* Has a respect for self, respect for others and is responsible for personal actions
* Best exemplifies the Optimist Creed

The happy recipients stand with documents and cash before Optimist members Ray and Denise

Dime-A-Day Campaign funds were totalled and a Donation has been sent to Camp Quality Alberta

At our June 25th 2014 meeting, Executive Director Judy Tobe of Camp Quality did a phone-in talk providing our members with concise and heart felt information on Camp Quality Canada; including the Alberta location on Sylvan Lake.
Young cancer patients (up to 18 years of age) can experience a fun week of camping, at no cost, while being cared for by medical and other companion volunteers.

Our members, plus an Optimist from another Club, personally contributed $425.00 and it was topped up by $75.00 from Club funds to make it a $500.00 donation; which was post mailed the next day to Camp Quality Alberta.

A sincere Thank You email was received from Judy when she was advised of the approved donation.

Leduc Optimist Club members to meet again on Wednesday June 25, 2014

The Black Gold Optimist Club of Leduc will conduct its next regular meeting on the night of Wednesday June 25th  in the back section of Smitty's Restaurant Leduc, with the actual meeting to start at 7:30 PM. Arrive earlier to personally order food / dinner - if desired.
All members are encouraged to attend adding your valuable comments and ideas to the discussions and decisions on our programs and activities. Remember that everyone has a voice to be heard.

Guests and potential new members are welcome to attend and gain understanding on what we do and how we operate. Our Club of volunteers is always open to anyone wanting to join and assist in our efforts for Youth and the Community.

Garage / Yard Sale on Saturday June 21, 2014 provides additional funds for our Club Programs & Activities

Items generously donated by Leduc Optimist Club members, family, friends and others were put on sale at the Millet Community Garage Sale on Saturday June 21st at the Millet home of Donna and Bob Scott. An appreciated total of $761.45 was raised for our General Account to help fund our various programs and activities related to youth and community needs.
Many THANKS to all the donors and to the Club members for assistance with the displaying and selling. It was a group effort that made it successful.

There will also be a deposit of $6.50 made to our General Account - the result of cashing in the one bag of recyclables gathered on the June 7th Optimist Clubs cleanup of a portion of Highway 2, south of Leduc.
Note: We don't thank those who discarded the items into the environment - just Optimist members who picked them up to tidy the area.

Edmonton and Leduc Optimist Clubs Combine to Clean up a Portion of Highway 2 Roadside south of Leduc

On the morning of Saturday June 7th 2014, ten members of the Edmonton Dinner Optimist Club (Keivin, John, Ruby, Ron, Terry, Doug, Maria, Belinda, Leona, Desiree) together with seven members of the Black Gold Optimist Club of Leduc (Bob, Donna, Ian, Barbara, Ray, Connie, Trevor) set out to clean up an east side portion of Highway 2 - south of Leduc.

Thirteen bags of trash and one bag of recyclables were gathered to spiffy up the environment to a degree. An appreciated lunch was provided by Edmonton Dinner. THANKS to all the participants!

The Leduc High School Tigers Football Team Receives a Donation and Thanks from the Leduc Optimist Club

On the afternoon of Friday June 6, 2014, a presentation of $1000.00 was made to the Leduc Tigers Senior High School Football Team during a spring practice session.
Thanks were expressed to the team for assisting our Optimist Club in selling some fundraising raffle tickets.
It was also pointed out that not only did they help their team, but some of the additional net funds realized from their ticket sales formed part of a $500.00 donation made the day before to help build a new playground at a Black Gold Regional elementary school.
Congratulations to the players and Coach Olischefski for the sales success and community spirit.

Tigers player Zach Burgess (from whose booklet the Draw winning ticket was actually sold)

receives the donation cheque from Optimist President Ray in front of other team members



Donation Made to a Parents Group to Help Build a new School Playground

After an informative talk (at our June 5, 2014 meeting) on the need to replace the potentially unsafe playground at New Humble elementary school, south of Calmar, a donation of $500.00 was approved and presented to speaker Giselle Messer - the representative attending from the New Humble Centre Parents Group.
Through their substantial efforts, the fundraising goal has almost been achieved. Congratulations!

Our Club was pleased to be able to provide some level of support for the youth & community.

Giselle, on the left, receives the funds from Optimist member Barbara

The Winning Ticket was pulled in our Fundraiser Raffle Draw on June 5, 2014

At our meeting on the evening of Thursday June 5, 2014  - the winning ticket was pulled from a rotated lottery drum by a guest (Giselle) who is not an Optimist member or a ticket holder.

The winning ticket was #0360 owned by Rebecca Dow of Edmonton who bought the ticket in Leduc. Congratulations to the winner - notified by phone immediately after the draw.
We deeply appreciate all those who purchased tickets and the sellers who made it another complete sellout supporting our youth and community programs and activities.

A smiling Rebecca receives the Prize Package on Saturday June 7, 2014

Our Next Meeting and the new Raffle Draw Date will be Thursday June 5, 2014

Our next regular meeting is scheduled for Thursday June 5, 2014 in the back section of Smitty's Restaurant Leduc starting at 7:30 pm. Those wishing to personally order food/dinner should arrive earlier. This gathering will include the advanced Raffle Draw to take place around 8:00 pm.
Guests and potential new members are always most welcome to attend for information.

The Fundraiser Raffle Tickets are Sold Out - The Draw Date has been advanced to June 5, 2014 from June 12th

As all raffle tickets (Licence 370184) are sold out on the Prize Package of two Eskimos 2014 Gold Season Tickets plus $350.00 in Gift & Concessions Cards (to spend at the games), the Draw Date is being advanced to June 5, 2014 from June 12, 2014 as stated on the tickets.
The tickets are printed in December, before the league schedule comes out in February, and the first Eskimos home game this year is slated for Friday June 13, 2014.
This advancement gives our Club a needed week to get the Prize Package to the winner. The draw date on future raffles will be scheduled for the first week of June so this won't happen again.

Gifts and Volunteer Time provided to the Rodeo of Smiles on May 30th by the Black Gold Optimist Club

On the morning of Friday May 30, 2014 seven Leduc Optimist members (Margaretha, Trevor, Donna, Bob, Denise, Connie, Ray) assisted at the Rodeo of Smiles in the Leduc Rec Centre. It featured a number of simulated rodeo events enabling approximately 175 special needs kids to participate and have fun in a Rodeo atmosphere.
Additionally, there were 175 gift bags for the participants put together by Optimists Barb and Ian.

Held in conjunction with the Leduc Black Gold Pro Rodeo which ran July 29 - June 1, the Rodeo of Smiles is a terrific annual event which our Club supports and applauds.

 

The pictures above illustrate why it is called the Rodeo of Smiles

Leduc Legion Branch 108 receives a Donation and Thanks from Leduc Optimists

On May 30th 2014, a donation was presented and Thanks were expressed to the Royal Canadian Legion Leduc Branch 108 for helping the Optimists sell some fundraiser raffle tickets.

The non-profit Legion organization recognizes and assists current and veteran military personnel whose service is & was vital to our freedom and supports other community and youth activities.

We Salute all their efforts.

Legion President Iain Weikl (left) receives the donation from Optimist member Ray
 

We encourage everyone to patronize the Legion and all the other organizations and businesses that help our volunteer, non-profit Optimist Club to raise funds for our various and valuable Programs & Activities.