Hallie Optimist Club News

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1 President: Linda Soltis-Schroeder Vice President: Gale Haas Secretary: Etta McDonald Treasurer: Harold Snortheim Past President: Jodi Arriola February/March 2016 Hallie Optimist Club PO Box 3011 Eau Claire, WI Hallie Optimist Club News APPLY FOR SCHOLARSHIPS NOW! Chippewa Valley graduating seniors accepted to a college, vocational or other accredited school can apply for a $500 scholarship from the Hallie Optimist Foundation. Motivated applicants who are carrying a grade point average between 2.5 and 3.5 are especially welcome. Since 2000 Hallie Optimist awarded 147 scholarships totaling $74,000. These scholarships are often awarded to students who may not receive merit scholarships to further their education, explained Hallie Optimist Foundation President, Jodi Arriola. Candidate selection is based on community involvement, life experience, peer relationships, and mentor recommendation. Applying is easy. Your school counselor has the instructions and application. Complete the application. Add an essay of 200 words or less outlining why you have chosen your career; include any special projects relating to your career interest and any factors you wish the selection committee to consider. Attach a list of your extra-curricular and community service activities, one letter of recommendation, and your High School transcript. The applications must be postmarked on or before March 1 and mailed to the Hallie Optimist Foundation Committee. OPTIMIST DONATE TO SPECIAL KIDS DAY, INC Tom Lueck, Special Kid s Day, Inc., accepts $500 from Hallie Optimist President Linda. Special Kid s Day gives special needs students an educational and social experience and thanks the teachers and staff who work so hard to help others accomplish so much. OUR MISSION By providing hope and positive vision, Optimists bring out the best in kids. 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.

2 ALUMINUM CANS HELP CHILDREN WITH CANCER Cathy Finney (rt) of Joshua s Camp accepts a $1500 check from President Linda. Donating your aluminum cans is an easy way to support the Optimist Childhood Cancer Campaign. Gale Haas, Club President-Elect, gathers the donated cans and takes them to Spickler Salvage and Equipment. Spickler s has supported the Hallie Optimist Club for many years and helps us raise $1000 to $1500 each year. The funds directly support local families of children with cancer. Hospital social services workers, teachers, and doctors can refer families. We want to make a difficult time a little easier for families, commented Linda Soltis-Schroeder, Club President. All referrals are kept confidential. We want to make this difficult time a little easier for families. Meetings: Mom s Kitchen 3035 N Hastings Way, Eau Claire, WI 6:45 am Thursdays except Thanksgiving and the third Thursday of each month Third Thursday meeting The Avalon 1009 W Park Ave, Chippewa Falls, WI 5:45 pm in the Clearwater Room Board meeting follows the evening meeting. Subject to change call Linda at This year funds were donated to Joshua s Camp and Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation Ride for Kids. Joshua s Camp is a safe haven where everyone in the family is given the opportunity to step back, relax and experience a feeling of solid ground. The Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation is the world's largest nonprofit funder of childhood brain tumor research. If you know of a child who is struggling with cancer, please ask their family to contact Linda at To donate cans contact Gale at Optimist Jerrie Powers accepts a $500 check from President Linda for the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation Ride for Kids. 2

3 BREAKFAST WITH THE EASTER BUNNY Enjoy a great breakfast, take photos of your children with the Easter Bunny, and donate to an organization that supports local youth and youth activities. It s BREAKFAST WITH THE EASTER BUNNY on Saturday, March 26 from 8 am to 11 am at the Lake Hallie Town Hall, th Avenue, Chippewa Falls, WI. Children 12 and under are free and adults pay only $6.00 per person for a breakfast of pancakes, sausage, applesauce, orange juice, milk, and coffee. This year Thrivent Financial has awarded a $250 Action Team Grant to the event so even more of the proceeds will go to youth programs. The Hallie Optimist Club holds this annual fundraiser and kid pleaser to raise funds that support youth programs in Eau Claire, Hallie, and Chippewa Falls. Some of the programs that have benefited are Special Kids Day, Joshua s Camp, Chippewa Area Mentoring, Hallie Ball Field, Irvine Park, Youth Scholarships, Feed My People and more. In addition to helping children develop to their full potential, Optimist Clubs work to develop leadership qualities in members. To find out more about this dynamic organization call Linda at Bring your camera to capture the little one s excitement at meeting the Easter Bunny!

4 SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS! Please help us get the word out about our community events. Support our sponsors! Would you like to help? Ads are $120 per year for six ads. Contact Jim McDonald at THRIVENT FINANCIAL HELPS! Do you invest with Thrivent Financial? Did you know you can direct your Choice Dollars to the Hallie Optimist Club Foundation? The Foundation awards scholarships to graduating seniors. Did you also know you can create a Thrivent Action Team for one of the many youth events we sponsor over the year? Contact Linda at to see how you can help! VOLUNTEER SPOTS! Sometimes our speakers and the organizations we work with give us information about volunteer opportunities. Once Upon A Prom provides prom dresses and accessories to girls who can t otherwise afford them. Girls who participate receive positive self-image and confidence, and have opportunities to give back to their community. You can help by donating prom/ formal dresses, shoes and accessories to Eau Claire High Schools, Boys and Girls Clubs of the Chippewa Valley, Williams Diamond Center, or Plato s Closet until March 28. Seamstresses are always needed to help with minor alterations. See more or register at Contact Liz Poteete at or onceuponaprom@yahoo. com 4 ESSAY CONTEST WINNERS ANNOUNCED The Hallie Optimist Club is proud to announce the winners of the Lead by Example: Reality or Fiction essay contest. First place is Shealin Thompson, 17, Stanley, WI; second place is Kyle Lindgren, 18, of Augusta, WI; third place is Broden Dean, 15, of Eau Claire, WI. All winners attend Liberty Christian School in Chippewa Falls, WI. They will also read their essays at a Hallie Optimist Club meeting. Students will be awarded medallions and a cash prize of $150 for first, $100 for second, and $75 for third place. Thompson will be eligible to compete for a $2500 scholarship in the Wisconsin and Upper Michigan Optimist District competition. It is always interesting to see how these students interpret and present their views on the topic, stated Jim Bakken, Essay Contest Chairperson. It can be difficult to BREAKFAST WITH SANTA GREAT SUCCESS! organize your thoughts in a 700 to 800 word essay. Teachers at all schools and of all grades are encouraged to have their students participate in the essay contest. The topic is posted at by October and essays are due to the Hallie Optimist Club mid- January. Breakfast with Santa was a great event again this year! The 26 Optimists served 132 children and 144 adults to raise over $750. Special thanks to our sponsors Hallie Kwik Trip, Praxair, Santa Claus, students of the North High Band and an anonymous donor of holographic glasses! Everyone really enjoyed the morning!

5 DISTINGUISHED SERVICE RECOGNIZED The Hallie Optimist Club, Past President Jodi Arriola, and Vice President Gale Haas, and Lieutenant Governor Rich Carlson received Distinguished Club and Distinguished Rich Carlson, Jodi Arriola, and Gale Haas Lieutenant Governor Awards for recruiting the UW-Eau Claire Optimist Club and maintaining a high level of membership and involvement. UW-Eau Claire Optimist Club received Honor Club recognition. Congratulations and thank you for your hard work! Many of the students we recognize have done remarkable things at a very young age. TEACHERS! HELP US RECOGNIZE FIFTH GRADE STUDENTS You probably know a student that works hard, helps others, befriends new students, or otherwise makes your classroom more interesting or enjoyable. Would you like to give that student the recognition they deserve? You can through the Hallie Optimist Club Youth Appreciation Event. Many of the students we recognize have done remarkable things at a very young age, noted Paula Otte, Committee Co-Chair. Everything from organizing a fundraiser for a classmate with cancer, to orienting a new student to their classroom and school. There are spectacular children who think nothing of doing extraordinary things. To nominate a student, write a short essay about why you think they deserve to be recognized. Include your name, school, and contact information. Students are treated to a movie and pizza party at Micon Cinema and receive a certificate with your words highlighting their good deeds. Families and teachers can also attend the movie and join the pizza party. Nominations must be mailed to Hallie Optimist Youth Appreciation, PO Box 3011, Eau Claire, WI by April 2. If you have any questions please direct them to Jodi Arriola at CALENDAR OF EVENTS Breakfast with Santa December (Hallie Town Hall) Essay Contest January Youth Appreciation March-April Breakfast w/easter Bunny March 26 (Hallie Town Hall) Safety on Wheels: Bike Rodeo May 5 (Longfellow School) Youth Fishing Event June 4 (Lake Hallie Sportsmans Club) Golf Tournament and Golf Ball Drop June 25 (Lake Hallie Golf Club) 5

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