A MESSAGE FROM PRESIDENT LEE Page 2

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1 Newsletter for the Optimist Club of Gilbert, Arizona NOVEMBER 2015 Arizona District Zone 6 Optimist International International President Dave Bruns District Governor Brian Goldstein Lt. Gov. Zone 6 Tommy Vaughn Gilbert Club Officers President Lee Buist Vice President Chuck Wersin Secretary Ernie Merritt Treasurer Lee Buist Past President Yvonna Burkle Gilbert Club Board of Directors Marilyn Pell Ann Roland Sue Kruse Joanne Kontak Newsletter Editor Ernie Merritt Club Meetings 2nd & 4th Saturday 8:30 AM Paradise Bakery, Dana Park 3426 E. Baseline Rd. Mesa AZ A MESSAGE FROM PRESIDENT LEE Page 2 Scholarship Contest Info Page 2 Club Garage Sale Page 3 Caps4Kids Page 4 We support Ranch Elementary School Pages 5&6 Christmas Party Plans Page 10

2 A MESSAGE FROM PRESIDENT LEE Dear Gilbert Optimists and Friends, Gratitude means thankfulness, counting your blessings, noticing simple pleasures and acknowledging everything you receive wrote Marelisa Fabrega in her book titled How Gratitude Can Change Your Life. Combine that with optimism and you have a recipe for a bright and healthy life. As we continue our year of optimism I am very grateful for all of you, and for family and friends, and the opportunity to help as many children as possible. May God Bless all of you and your families and may your hearts overflow with gratitude always. Yours in Optimism, Lee Buist NOVEMBER 2015 Headlight Page 2 President Lee It is time to start planning for our scholarship contests. Julie Wersin Oratorical Contest Chair Kristy Staron Essay Contest Chair Oratory Topic: How My Best Brings Out the Best in Others." Keep your eyes and ears open for youth who may be interested in participating in our Oratorical or Essay Contests this year. Our Oratorical Contest Chair is Julie Wersin. Our Essay Contest Chair is Kristy Staron. Let Julie and Kristy know of any potential candidates. Also, they have all the information you need. Or you can check the Optimist web page for the info at Essay Topic: Lead by Example: Reality or Fiction"

3 FROM OUR GARAGE TO YOURS! NOVEMBER 2015 Headlight Page 3 Gilbert Optimists were busy selling all kinds of donated items at Kim and Vicki s home November 14. The Harding Home is in the Sunland Village East community. This was the date that the whole community had its fall garage sale. The community did all of the sale advertising and it was attended by thousands of people looking for items. We must have behaved ourselves because Kim invited us back for the community garage sale next year. Pausing for a group photo are Gilbert Optimists Lee Buist, Kristy Staron, Sue Kruse, Vickie Harding, Ernie Merritt, Kim Harding, Yvonna Burkle, Jim Burkle, Julie Wersin, and Charles Wersin. Not pictured: Em Schroeder, Joanne Kotak, and Lorraine Cline. President Lee made a final report to the club: First let me say a special Thank You to all of you who worked so hard on the garage sale, and those of you who sold raffle tickets. Without your efforts none of the proceeds would have been received. A special Thank You to Kim for allowing us to use his garage for our sale, and also to Vicki and Kim for the delicious treats served. We made $ on our garage sale and $ on our raffle. That will go a long way to support this years activities. Thank you again to all. We will put these funds to good use. It is 6:30 AM and the Gilbert Club is ready for its annual garage sale. Julie Wersin and Yvonna Burkle checking out a beautiful yard furniture set which quickly sold.

4 NOVEMBER 2015 Headlight Page 4 Gilbert Optimists Donate Caps to Community Organizations that serve families in need For our "Caps For Kids"project, Em Schroeder presented Ted Taylor, Director of Family Promise of Greater Phoenix, with over 80 caps of various sizes and colors. These caps were knitted by Em's friends at GoodLife Resort in Mesa, who generously donated their time over the summer, for our worthwhile project. See In Operation since 2000, Family Promise Greater Phoenix has provided more than just shelter for families. For the past 13 years, the programs at Family Promise have helped over 500 families. These programs have enabled families to move from homelessness to self-sufficiency.

5 NOVEMBER 2015 Headlight Page 5 WE SUPPORT RANCH ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Ranch Elementary School invited the community to a Veteran s Day Celebration November 10, honoring the Courage and Service or our Veterans. Gilbert Optimists were invited to share in the celebration. Thanks to Gilbert Optimist and Principal Susan Kruse and the staff and student body of Ranch Elementary for giving their community an outstanding patriotic program. Preschool and Pre-K: Pledge of Allegiance Principal Susan Kruse: Introduction, Welcome and Tribute to Veterans 5th Grade: Play Celebrating Veteran s Day Kindergarten: Thank You Soldiers 3rd Grade: Preamble of the Constitution 2nd Grade: Wind Beneath My Wings

6 More photos of Ranch Elementary School Veteran s Day Celebration NOVEMBER 2015 Headlight Page 6 1st Grade: God Bless the USA 4th Grade: Honor Our Military 6th Grade: Nifty Fifty United States Whole School: My Country Tis of Thee Principal Susan Kruse and her proud students RanchElementary has a beautiful campus. This poster, prepared by the students, greeted veterans as they entered the celebration. Each vet received a personal appreciation letter written by one of the students.

7 NOVEMBER 2015 Headlight Page7 Christmas Party News Save the date! December 12 is the day we have our white elephant gift exchange at our morning meeting. Then we have our Gilbert Optimist Christmas Gathering at the home of Ron and Joanne Kontak. See Joann s letter below. Here is the address: E. Reins Rd. Queen Creek AZ What s the plan? 4:30 Christmas Family Gift Wrapping (Please bring bags and boxes). 5:30 Dinner - Catered Dinner (You may bring a dessert.) We will also have a homemade cookie exchange. Bring two dozen and take two dozen home. (Don t forget to bring your container.) Please RSVP to Joanne at (480)

8 GILBERT CLUB CALENDAR OF EVENTS 12 Dec - Regular Club Meeting 8:30AM; White Elephant Gift Exchange 12 Dec - Christmas Party at Joanne s home 26 Dec - No Meeting, Christmas Holidays 9 Jan - Regular Meeting 8:30AM 23 Jan - Regular Meeting 8:30AM; Jan. Board Meeting Follows 13 Feb - Regular Meeting 8:30AM Feb - 2nd Quarter Dist. Conf. Phoenix 27 Feb - Regular Meeting 8:30AM; Feb. Board Meeting Follows PLAN TO ATTEND SECOND QUARTER ARIZONA DISTRICT CONFERENCE FEBRUARY 19-21, 2016 featuring the Communication Contest for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing on Saturday February 20, Radisson Phoenix North North Metro Parkway East Phoenix, AZ (602) NOVEMBER 2015 Headlight Page 8 THE OPTIMIST CREED Promise Yourself - To be so strong that nothing can disturb your peace of mind. To talk health, happiness and prosperity to every person you meet. To make all your friends feel that there is something in them. To look at the sunny side of everything and make your optimism come true. To think only of the best, to work only for the best and to expect only the best. To be just as enthusiastic about the success of others as you are about your own. To forget the mistakes of the past and press on to the greater achievements of the future. To wear a cheerful countenance at all times and give every living creature you meet a smile. To give so much time to the improvement of yourself that you have no time to criticize others. To be too large for worry, too noble for anger, too strong for fear, and too happy to permit the presence of trouble.