The Optimist Club of Gettysburg met on Wednesday, March 6, 2024, 6 PM at 56 Winding Drive, Deatrick Village Community Center, Gettysburg. We had 14 members and 12 guests in attendance. Brian and Gary were on the food committee. Brent welcomed all in attendance. Wayne opened with the invocation followed by the pledge.

Business Meeting:

1. Secretary’s Report: Approved.

2. Treasure’s report: Approved – Brent reported we’re in the second quarter and OI club dues are paid. Brent thanked all members for paying their dues in a timely manner.

3. President’s Report:

a. Wayne introduced guests and prospective members Daniel and Mary Folkemer.
b. Brent subbed in Dan’s absence. Dan wanted Brent to stress that we need someone to step to the plate for Vice President so please be in touch with Dan ASAP.
c. Brent reported on the 2nd Quarter Zone Meeting attended by Gary, Dan, Brent, and Daryl in Elizabethtown and how active their club is in offering some great projects in their community.
d. Our next social event will be on Tuesday 3/19 at Appalachian Brewing, Gettysburg.
e. The Warrior Way Program awards/breakfast will be 3/27 @ Gettysburg Sr. H.S. time: 7:45AM.

Old Business

4. Optimist Basketball (Chair Brian Skidmore)

a. Brian and Ashley had extended an invitation to volunteer coaches to join us so we could recognize them for their participation in Optimist Basketball, a program with over 60 years running. We recognized (8) volunteer coaches including Brian and Ashley. We also had active participation from several Optimist members. Our program benefitted over 150 girls and boys on Saturday mornings in January and February.

5. Little League Baseball (Chair Al Parone)

a. Al reported opening day for Little League baseball is set for 4/13. This year 120 participants will experience little league baseball and 4 girls softball teams will be on the ball fields.

6. Respect for Law (Chair Doug Miller)

a. Resource Officers will be recognized at either our April or May meeting.

7. Gettysburg Wine & Music Festival Parking (Chair )

a. Please contact Dan, Brent, or Daryl if you are willing to chair this event !!

8. Adams County Foundation Giving Spree (Chair Joe MacDowell)

9. RIF (Chair Lyne Aurand)

10. Golf Tournament Fundraiser (Chair Gary Rappoldt)

a. Our Fourteenth Optimist Tourney will be held at The Links at Gettysburg on 5/16/24.
b. Our golf registration and information are available on our website. If you know of golfers, please help promote our golf tournament.
c. Suggestion for a wine raffle for golf tournament. The mechanics to be worked out.
d. Save the date 5/16/24 and we will need all hands-on deck to make this a successful fundraising event.

11.Brian had previously suggested a meeting to bring your adult child or friend as a prospective member.

New Business

1. Need a Vice President !!

2. 3/27 The Warrior Way Program ( formerly Stars) awards breakfast @7:45 AM located at the Gettysburg Sr. High School, sponsored by The Gettysburg Optimist Club.

3. 4/19, 20, 21 Face of America featuring our finest veterans and active military cycling from Washington DC to Gettysburg. Contact Mark for information on how you can help.

4. Brandon proposed sponsorship for youth basketball who supported Optimist Basketball with coaches and players. This will be addressed in our next budget.

Upcoming Dates:

  • 3/19 (Tuesday) Optimist Social @ Appalachian Brewing , 6 PM
  • 3/27 The Warrior Way Program awards breakfast @ 7:45 AM located at the Gettysburg Sr. High School
  • 4/3 Optimist Meeting, location, Deatrick Village Community Center, 56 Winding Way Drive, Gettysburg 6PM
  • 4/13 Opening Day Little League Baseball @ Rec Park
  • 4/17 (Wednesday) Optimist Social @ Four Score
  • 4/19, 4/20, 4/21 Face of America
  • 5/8 Optimist Meeting
  • 5/16 14th Optimist Golf Tourney

Respectfully Submitted, Daryl Aurand, Secretary

Unfortunately Optimist Basketball is canceled on February 17, 2024 due to the impending snowstorm and limited access to the gymnasium (as a result of the storm). We look forward to seeing you on Saturday, February 24, 2024 for our final session!

The Optimist Club of Gettysburg met on Wednesday, February 7, 2024, 6 PM at 56 Winding Drive, Deatrick Village Community Center, Gettysburg. We had 15 members and 1 guest in attendance. Gary and Daryl were on the food committee. Dan handled the beverages. Dan asked a moment of silence in respect for Randy Smith. Dan and Brent welcomed all in attendance. Gary opened with the invocation followed by the pledge.
Business Meeting:
1. Secretary’s Report: Approved.
2. Treasure’s report: Approved – Brent reported we’re in the second quarter and club dues, still outstanding, will be receiving friendly reminders for payment.

3. President’s Report:
a. Our Guest speaker from Gettysburg Area Recreation Authority – Director “Erin Peddigree” addressed our members with an informative talk starting with the Optimist Amphitheater receiving a new roof in 2023. Erin reported that numerous musical events were held at the Amphitheater in 2023 with plans for more events to be held in 2024. The skate park, dog park, and walking trail are being used year-round. Little League baseball will be kicking off in April with over 120 youth involved. Also, girls’ youth softball is back in action.
Home for the Farmers Market along with facility rentals are also some of the many activities afforded to the Gettysburg community.
GARA/Rec Park is alive and well with year-round youth and community activities. Our thanks to Erin and her staff for doing a great job. Go to the Rec Park website: gara-recpark.info and get all of the event’s information.

b. Dan announced Fred’s moving back to the Philadelphia area and thanked Fred for his contributions to the Gettysburg Optimist Club and we will miss him.

c. Our next social event will be on Tuesday 2/20, 6PM at Fourscore Brewery, Gettysburg

Old Business
4. Optimist Basketball (Chair Brian Skidmore)

a. Over 150 boys and girls are participating in our 2024 Optimist Basketball program being held Saturday mornings @ Lincoln Elementary from 9AM to 12PM.

b. Remaining Dates: 2/10, 2/17, 2/24

c. Brian is extending an invitation to all volunteer coaches to join us at our 3/3 general meeting.
All members are in for a treat if you stop by and witness Coach Brian and Coach Ashley in action. You will be exhausted just watching them in action.

5. Little League Baseball (Chair Al Parone)
a. We received a plaque of appreciation from Little League Baseball for our sponsorship.

6. Respect for Law (Chair Doug Miller)

7. Gettysburg Wine & Music Festival Parking (Chair Brian Skidmore)

8. Adams County Foundation Giving Spree (Chair Joe MacDowell & Fred Darling)
a. Joe reported another successful Giving Spree and Letters of thanking our donors are being mailed. We are also looking for another volunteer with Fred moving.

9. RIF (Chair Lyne Aurand)

10. Golf Tournament Fundraiser (Chair Gary Rappoldt)
a. Our Fourteenth Optimist Tourney will be held at The Links at Gettysburg on 5/16/24.

b. Our golf registration and information will be available on our website soon.

c. Save the date 5/16/24 and we will need all hands-on deck to make this a successful fundraising event.

11.Brian had previously suggested a meeting to bring your adult child or friend as a prospective member.

New Business
1. Motion was made and seconded for Dan Mattern to be President and Brent Smith to be Treasurer for the remainder of the 2023 – 2024 Optimist Year and membership approved.

2. We welcome new member Phyllis Smith, formally inducted into the Gettysburg Optimist Club.

3. The club approved continuing with (Constant Contact) due to the fact of keeping our name in front of our market with basketball as well as our golf tournament exposure.

4. 3/27 The Warrior Way Program ( formerly Stars) awards breakfast @7:45 AM located at the Gettysburg Sr. High School, sponsored by The Gettysburg Optimist Club. Thank you, Fred.

Upcoming Dates:
● 2/10, 2/17, 2/24 Optimist Basketball 9 AM – 12 PM
● 2/15 2nd Quarter Zone Meeting, (Dan, Brent, Gary, Daryl) attending. Call if you want to join us.
● 2/20 (Tuesday) Optimist Social @ Four Score
● 3/6 Optimist Meeting, location, Deatrick Village Community Center, 56 Winding Way Drive, Gettysburg 6PM
● 3/27 The Warrior Way Program awards breakfast @ 7:45 AM located at Gettysburg HS
● 3/19 (Tuesday) Optimist Social @ Four Score
● 5/16 14th Optimist Golf Tourney

Director of GARA (Rec Park): Erin Pedigree Treasurer: Brent Smith New Member: Phyllis Smith Sponsor: Brent Smith

Due to the snowstorm, GASD will not have the snow plowed and the gym open for us tomorrow, January 20, 2024. Basketball has been canceled and we look forward to seeing you next week! All players will receive their team t-shirts and be photographed on Saturday, January 27th. Bring your photo order forms when you come to the regularly scheduled sessions on January 27, 2024!

The Optimist Club of Gettysburg met on Wednesday, January 3, 2024, 6 PM at Lower Marsh Creek Presbyterian Church, Gettysburg. We had 11 members and 2 guests in attendance. Brent and Daryl were on the food committee. Dan handled the beverages. A special thanks to Phylis for being a great hostess.

President Brent welcomed all in attendance and opened with the invocation.

Business Meeting:

  1. Secretary’s Report: Approved.
  2. Treasure’s report: Approved
  3. President’s Report:
    1. Guest speakers from Adams County Special Olympics – Dave Miller/athlete addressed our members with reference to his involvement in Special Olympics as a 15-year athlete and as a volunteer for the last year. Dave has competed in most of the 10 sports and most recently in basketball, volleyball, and a national championship in tennis. Dave gave special thanks to his mentor Ed Dominguez and many others. As a mentor Ed’s enthusiasm was apparent as he could not give enough credit to Dave and spoke highly of Special Olympics and their positive mission to provide year-round sports training and competition for the athletes. They have approximately 110 athletes and 100 volunteers.
      On January 20 there is a fund raiser “Capital Area Region Polar Plunge” at Pinchot Park and Ed will be participating and we have an open invitation to participate.
    2. Thank you Gary, for inviting our guest speakers to join us this evening and discuss their mission that we support.
    3. Randy will be resigning as treasurer due to health reasons. Please keep Randy and his family in your prayers.
    4. Our next social event will be on Wednesday 1/17, 6PM at Fourscore Brewery, Gettysburg

Old Business

  1. Optimist Basketball (Chair Brian Skidmore)
    1. Dates are set for 2024 Optimist Basketball to be held Saturday mornings @ Lincoln Elementary.
    2. Sign-ups are going well with over 130 signed up at this time.
    3. Dates: 1/6, 1/13, 1/20, 1/27, 2/3, 2/10, 2/17, 2/24
    4. Brian is looking for coaches/volunteers to help with the program.
    5. Clearances are required to be completed for volunteers. On our Gettysburg Optimist website under Welcome Volunteer! are 2 links required. 1. PA Child Abuse Certification and 2. Criminal History Background Check. You will receive this information in another email.
  2. Little League Baseball (Chair Al Parone)
    1. Al reported we should investigate sponsorship signage and Daryl agreed to make a contact.
  3. Respect for Law (Chair Doug Miller)
  4. Gettysburg Wine & Music Festival Parking (Chair Brian Skidmore)
  5. Adams County Foundation Giving Spree (Chair Joe MacDowell & Fred Darling)
  6. RIF (Chair Lyne Aurand)
  7. Golf Tournament Fundraiser (Chair Gary Rappoldt)
    1. Discussed checking other venues/courses to hold the event.
    2. Gary will check on pricing and then hit the ground running at the end of January to have the tournament ready for 5/16/2024.
  8. Brian had previously suggested a meeting to bring your adult child or friend as a prospective member.

New Business

  1. Need for a Treasurer, assistance to help is available. Contact Brent if interested.
  2. The club approved continuing with (Constant Contact) due to the fact of keeping our name in front of our market with basketball as well as our golf tournament exposure. The club again recognizes Marci’s support.
  3. 2/9 STARS awards breakfast @7:45 AM located at the Gettysburg High School, sponsored by The Gettysburg Optimist Club. Thank you, Fred.
  4. Additional money was approved for new basketballs and a new portable basket.

Upcoming Dates:

  1. 1/6 Optimist Basketball, 1st session
  2. 1/13, 1/20, 1/27 Optimist Basketball
  3. 1/17 Optimist Social @ Four Score
  4. 2/3, 2/10, 2/17, 2/24 Optimist Basketball
  5. 2/7 Optimist Meeting, location Deatrick Village Community Center 6PM
  6. 2/9 STARS awards breakfast @ 7:45 AM located at Gettysburg HS
  7. 2/15 2nd Quarter Zone Meeting, Call Brent if interested in attending @ 717-334-8019
  8. 5/16 14th Optimist Golf Tourney

Respectfully Submitted,
Daryl Aurand, Secretary

Left to right, Daryl, Brent, Dave Miller/athlete, Ed Dominguez/mentor

Due to the Gettysburg Area School District closing their buildings earlier in the day and the potential impending winter storm, we will modify the schedule for our first week of the basketball program.  Sessions have been abbreviated to 45 minutes per age group for January 6, 2024 only.  We hope players are able to join us for the shortened sessions!

K-Grade 1 will be meeting from 9-9:45 a.m.

Grades 2 & 3 will be meeting from 9:45-10:30 a.m.

Grades 4-6 will be meeting from 10:30-11:15 a.m.

If sessions need to be canceled on January 6, 2024, it will be posted on the gettysburgoptimist.com website and Facebook.  Sessions will resume at the regularly scheduled times on Saturday, January 13, 2024.

Optimist Basketball (1)

Gettysburg Optimist Basketball: “Bringing out the best in kids!” for over 55 years.

It began way back in 1965 when the Optimist Club of Gettysburg sponsored the first Optimist Youth Basketball program for youngsters from the Gettysburg area. It sought to teach the fun and fundamentals of basketball to youngsters in grades K through 6, regardless of their individual skill level. At the start of the program, rules were very simple: all kids played, all focused on the fundamentals of the game, no scorekeeping and all participants were required to have fun.

Over 55 years later the Optimist Youth Basketball Program continues to observe the same set of rules and still reaches out to the youth of the community who want to learn the game of basketball, have fun, and share an experience that forms life-long memories. The free program is conducted on Saturday mornings over eight weeks of winter. Each one-hour session is held at Lincoln Elementary School in Gettysburg on Saturday mornings in January and February. The players are divided into grades K-1 and grades 2-3 and grades 4-6. All participants are encouraged to attend, even if they cannot commit to attending all the weekly sessions. Each participant will receive a free basketball t-shirt as a memento of their experience.

Free basketball sessions begin January 6, 2024, in the Lincoln Elementary gym and will occur every Saturday through the end of February. The schedule is as follows: Grades K & 1 from 9-10 am, Grade 2 & 3 from 10-11am, Grades 4-6 from 11-12pm. Children can be registered by completing an online form at gettysburgoptimist.com or by printing the paperwork from our website and mailing the registration to PO Box 3035 Gettysburg, PA 17325. All registration forms must be received prior to children participating in the program. Late registration forms will not be accepted after January 14.

The Optimist Club of Gettysburg Youth Basketball Program is one of the many youth-oriented programs conducted and funded by the local Optimist Club each year. Club members, parents and community volunteers act as leaders, monitors, coaches and mentors. Many of them were once young participants in earlier programs and are now coaching and mentoring their children and grandchildren. The Youth Basketball Program would not be a success without the help of our volunteers. Since its inception more than 5,500 area young people have participated in the annual basketball outings. Consider donating your time as a coach or station leader in order to help this Youth Basketball Program be a positive impact on the youth of the community.

 Online Registration

Print & Mail Optimist Hoops Registration Form

Gettysburg Optimist Basketball Schedule 2024

Saturday, January 6
Saturday, January 13
Saturday, January 20
Saturday, January 27
Saturday, February 3
Saturday, February 10
Saturday, February 17
Saturday, February 24

Are you Interested in Coaching or Volunteering? We’d love to have you join us.  Please start by filling out the following form and apply for the required clearances.  We “Thank You” as we couldn’t offer this program without the many gracious and generous volunteers.  Optimist Club of Gettysburg Volunteer Waiver

Starting our 65th year of ‘bringing out the best in kids’.   Every penny our volunteers raise goes to help fund local youth programs such as Optimist Basketball, Little League baseball, and Adams County Special Olympics. Educational programs such as RIF, STARS, and Gettysburg Community Theater.  Help keep a good thing going!  Donate to #71 Optimist Club of Gettysburg.

 

2023-2024 Officers & Board Members

The Optimist Club of Gettysburg met on Wednesday, October 18,2023 at the Mansion House, Fairfield PA for our annual officers and board of directors’ installation banquet. We were treated to hors d’oeuvres and a delicious meal.

We had 29 members and guests in attendance.

We began the evening with President Gary welcoming all in attendance. Joe Mac Dowell led us with the invocation.

Business Meeting:

Gary opened the meeting with the announcement of the completion of a great Optimist year while he was president. Gary thanked all the members for their support throughout the 2022-2023 Optimist year.

Recognizing the 2022-2023 OfficersOutgoing President Gary reviewed the past year and thanked the 2022-2023 officers: Randy, Al, and Daryl; Board of Directors: Fred, Wayne, Dan and Brian; as well as all members and spouses for their support.

The main order of business was the installation of new officers and Board of Directors for 2022-2023 by Past President Gary: (Officers) President-Brent Smith, Secretary-Daryl Aurand, and Treasurer-Randy Smith, (Board of Directors) Fred Darling, Wayne Hill, Gary Rappoldt and Brian Skidmore.

Brent Addressing the MembershipNewly elected President Brent Smith addressed the membership and his appreciation for the efforts from all members in making the Optimist Club of Gettysburg a great organization. President Brent looks forward to yet another year for our Gettysburg Optimist Club carrying our mission to the youth of our community.

The meeting ended with Wayne Hill leading us in the recitation of the “Optimist Creed”.

Upcoming Dates:

10/25/2023 Board meeting at “Four Score” 5PM and Membership Social 6PM
11/1/2023 Optimist Meeting, location Deatrick Village Community Center 6PM
11/9/2023 Adams CO Foundation Giving Spree (We are #71)
12/6/2023 Optimist Family Christmas Party @ Gettysburg Fireman’s Hall 6PM
12/19/2023 Salvation Army Bell Ringing, Sign-up sheet to be circulated
01/3/2024 Optimist Meeting
01/6/2024 Opening day Optimist Basketball

2023-2024 Officers and Board of Directors

2023-2024 Officers & Board Members
Left to right: Brian Skidmore, Wayne Hill, Gary Rappoldt, Daryl Aurand (Secretary), Randy Smith (Treasurer), Dan Mattern (Vice-President), Brent Smith (President) Missing: Fred Darling

Members have been bringing out the best in kids for over 65 years with support from folks in the community.  The Gettysburg Optimist Club will be participating in the 2023 Giving Spree.

#71

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