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Here’s a junior Optimist working at the Port Franks community garden. Ausable Port Franks Optimists have two plots and all food grown will be donated to local food programs. 
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President’s Message : Greetings fellow Optimists, I hope this warmer weather and sunshine we have been having has filled your hearts with warmth and optimism. Spring is the season of renewal, the birds return, bulbs start growing, and hopefully for all of us it signals the beginning of returning to some of the normal activities in our lives. As I write this note we are beginning to see some changes, parks and trails are reopening, some local businesses are able to reopen, but many things still remain very different. As optimists our core beliefs have not changed and many are finding new ways to share their optimism, however as a club, things still remain quite different. Currently, we are still unable to access the community centre and all of our activities have been cancelled or postponed. As we hear news on this, we will keep you posted. Last week I shared an invitation for members to attend this year’s virtual International Conference. I have recently been notified that SWONT will provide financing for two members of our club to attend. lf you are interested in attending please let either Linda or I know and we can provide further details. In the past few weeks the board has held virtual meetings to discuss new ideas on how to keep our club active and provide for the children in our community, during this challenging time. Please take a look at the ideas we have come up with below and see if there is something you would be able to help with. If you can think of any other ideas or feel there is a need we are not addressing, please contact either Linda or myself. Also, if you would like to be included in any of our virtual meetings again, please reach out to either Linda or myself. In closing I will borrow from our Optimist creed and encourage you to wear a cheerful countenance at all times and give every living creature you meet a smile. Take care and be safe. Yours In Optimism Karen Puzara President Read the full newsletter: 
I have been working with our wonderful Oratorical Chair throughout this competition time of year. I know that so many of us feel that this time of the year is when we get to feel our service as Optimists makes a real difference. With the District Oratorical Contest, each year our Optimists gather to watch some of our area’s most outstanding youth display their courage, brilliance and skill for performing the spoken word.
We are happy to report after some test runs that we’re confident we can bring this annual classic to our members near and far through Facebook Live! Just because a world pandemic has placed us in isolation doesn’t mean we can’t host and hold the same wonderful things we always have. We just need to come at it from a different direction. It is times like these that we need to be creative and we need to be louder and prouder than ever as the world needs Optimists But Optimists need to hear from Optimists too. Let’s support each other as it feels so good. Just like the Eastern Ontario Optimists who held their 3rd Quarter Conference yesterday via Zoom. They did it so well, that at times I was brought to tears by the wonder of it all. We too can support our members and bring them the wonders of SWONT. So please pass onto our members that on May 30th at 2:00pm they can tune into our SWONT Optimist Clubs - Optimist International group on Facebook and watch the 9 speakers we have competing for the 3 scholarships. https://www.facebook.com/groups/SWONT.Optimists/?ref=share Special thank you to Chairperson Carrol for taking this wonderful technological step to bring smiles to other Optimists. Yours in Optimism, Tracy Huxley 2019-2020 Int’l Chief of Staff 2018-2019 Int’l Leadership Development Chair 2016-2017 SWONT District Governor “By providing hope and positive vision Optimists bring out the best in youth, their communities and them selves” Ken Neil our SWONT district treasurer/secretary is seeking support from our membership so that the Conductive Ed Trust Fund can receive a donation. Please take a few moments to place your vote by clicking on the 'vote now' link below. Thanks Karen Puzara President Ausable Port Franks Optimist Club Conductive Education Trust Fund
What the Organization Does: Our organization runs a program each summer that helps kids with Cerebral Palsy get up and moving. With this program, kids get help moving and building and toning muscles that are rigid and uncontrollable. Through long days of repetitious exercise in our 4 week program kids will be able to take a few steps, they may be able to feed themselves and go to the washroom if they couldn’t before. It helps greatly with their motor skills. Parents are so grateful for all the help this program gives to their children. What will the Money be Used for?: All the money we raise goes to paying instructors that we hire from Hungary from the Peto Institute. This is the only place where this program is provided. It also provides equipment for the children to work with. It is run in 4 centers, Sarnia , Chatham, St Thomas and Windsor which are rented. This is the 15th year we are running this program . Conductive Education is solely run and funded by club donations and fund raising by the SWONT District Optimists and the trustees of Conductive Ed Program. Vote Now Our Free to Create Youth Art Exhibition and Sale has been moved from early May so that we can still be a part of the Grand Bend Arts Eats & Beats tour which has been rescheduled for late September. Kids stuck at home - a great time to free your creativity and produce a piece for the show! See our website for more https://freetocreateyouth.weebly.com/
Yes, some things have had to be cancelled, others temporarily suspended or rescheduled to a later date and we must maintain physical distance - but lots of things remain the same: optimism, fellowship, connection, love, friendship and family! Read our monthly newsletter for inspiring words from President Karen Puzara and get the latest updates.
PLEASE NOTE: THE GRAND BEND ARTS EATS & BEATS TOUR ORIGINALLY SCHEDULED FOR THE BEGINNING OF MAY HAS BEEN MOVED TO SEPTEMBER. IN ORDER TO STILL BE A PART OF THIS GREAT EVENT, WE HAVE RESCHEDULED OUR FREE TO CREATE YOUTH ART EXHIBITION AND SALE TO SEPTEMBER 26th and 27th.
OUR VERY POPULAR WEDNESDAY NIGHT ARTS AND STUFF IS SUSPENDED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE AND WE REGRET TO SAY THAT THE MOCCASIN WORKSHOP HAS BEEN CANCELLED. A message from our President:
After discussion with other board members I am announcing that March's Souper Sunday and our Annual Easter Egg Hunt in April will both be cancelled. Following guidelines from health authorities and Optimist International this seems to be the right decision. We will update you regarding our monthly membership meeting within the next few weeks. In the meantime I hope you all remain healthy in body and spirit. Keep Optimism in your heart! Karen Puzara. This month's general meeting was of the ever-popular potluck variety! A great evening of fellowship and our President Karen Puzara took the time to share some of the inspiring stories of optimism sent to her in response to her challenge. Affirmation that optimism is a wonderful thing, and Optimists are a powerful force for good in their community! We were also thrilled to have Past President Walt Michielsens share the many awards and recognitions conferred on our club at the Second Quarter Conference last month. Click on the pictures in the gallery below to see the full image and caption: |
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