The Optimist Club of Gettysburg has been sponsoring the youth basketball program for more than 40 years. The free program is open to all youth in grades 1st through 6th regardless of the level of individual talent.
Sign ups are scheduled for Saturday, December 03, 2016 and Saturday, December 10, 2016 from 9-11 am at the Gettysburg Area Middle School Cafeteria.
The season begins in January 2017 at the Gettysburg Area Middle School, Lefever Street in Gettysburg.
For more information, click here!
Basketball Season is upon us, and Optimist Basketball is right around the corner! Sign-ups for the 2017 Basketball program will be held on Saturday, December 3, 2016, and Saturday, December 10, 2016, from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. at the Gettysburg Middle School cafeteria. The program is free and open to students grades 1 through 6. 2017 School Flyer
Hope to see you there!
It’s never too early to start planning your golf team and locking up that scratch golfer that will help you win one of the first Scrambles of the year! This tourney will help support The Optimist Club’s support for programs such as Little League Baseball, Reading is Fundamental, Gettysburg S.T.A.R.S., Dollars for Scholars, Gettysburg High School Orchestra, Environmental Education, Gettysburg Community Theatre, Adams County Art Council and Meals and More. Be sure to mark your calendar for Thursday, 18 May, 2017 and check back for more details!
The Gettysburg Optimist Club met on November 16, 2016 at the Refectory.
Bruce Bradshaw opened the meeting at 6:30pm with the Pledge of Allegiance and an invocation prayer. An outstanding dinner was served by Stacy Green and her staff.
After dinner Bruce proceeded to present two very informative videos. The first video dealt with childhood cancer and focused on a couple with a child who was a patient at the Childhood Cancer Treatment Center at Penn State Hershey. They were being assisted by the Four Diamonds program at the center. Four Diamonds provides direct support to about 600 children with cancer. The organization has been able to assist more than 3700 children and families since 1972.
The second video dealt with children who have autism. It featured a family who had a child with autism and how they worked with their daughter over several years. Eventually, as she grew older, her condition improved to the point where she reached the stage of “inner voice out” , improving dramatically.
Youth Basketball – Mindy and Kris reported that Youth Basketball sign-ups will be 12/3 and 12/10 , at Gettysburg Middle School 9-11.
Bell Ringers- The Salvation Army is looking for Christmas Bell Ringers. An email will be sent to everyone in order to determine who might be interested.
Magic Show- Doug reported that the show will be 12/9 , 7:00pm , at Lincoln Elementary. Tom reported that $ has already been received.
Secretary- Please note that February 11 is a Youth Basketball Day. Please add it to your calendars.
Treasurer’s Report- Tom Reported
Christmas Party- The annual Optimist Club Christmas Party will be Wednesday, December 14, 6:00pm at the Refectory.
Tom said that since our club has excellent financial condition. The charge for the dinner may be reduced to $20.00.
Members- Brian Skidmore thanked the club for the nice basket sent to him after his recent operation.
Bruce Bradshaw closed the meeting at 7:40pm with a recitation of the Optimist Creed.
Submitted by: Fred Darling
The Gettysburg Optimist Club will meet Wednesday , November 16 , at the Refectory. Please join us for social time at 6:00pm and dinner at 6:30.
Bruce Bradshaw will be presenting a video about adult autism and childhood cancer and the 4 Diamonds support network for children’s cancer at Penn State Children’s Hospital at Hershey.
Reminder: There will be no club meetings in December. Next meeting will be Wednesday, January 4, at the Refectory.
The annual Gettysburg Optimist Club Christmas party will be Wednesday, December 14,6:00pm at the Refectory.
Dinner will be $25 per person.
Help “Bring Out the Best in Kids” at the Annual Gettysburg Optimist Oyster and Shrimp Feed
The Annual Gettysburg Optimist Club Oyster and Shrimp Feed will soon be here! Gettysburg’s Premier Seafood event will take place this Friday March 4, 2017 between noon and 3 pm.
The popular event will be held at the Gettysburg Fire Hall located at 35 North Stratton Street, in Gettysburg. The annual All U Can Eat Oyster & Shrimp Feed includes oysters (raw, steamed, stewed, and fried), steamed shrimp, ham, steak fries, beverages, and desserts for a donation of $35 per person!
“The Oyster & Shrimp Feed is an opportunity for the community to gather and support the youth in our community. We have been hosting the Oyster & Shrimp Feed for over thirty years, allowing our organization to further the Optimist’s mission of “Bringing out the best in Kids” said Wayne Hill, Oyster & Shrimp Feed Chair, of the Optimist Club of Gettysburg. “Fundraisers such as this one are essential to putting all of our plans into action,” Wayne continued. “With this fundraiser, we hope to be able to bring more projects to the children of the community who need it most.”
Member preparation will begin Friday evening, March 3 at 6:00 pm. at the Fire Hall. The doors will open on Saturday, March 4, beginning at 11:00 am and continue through 3:00 pm. For questions on how you can volunteer to help the Optimist Club of Gettysburg or to purchase tickets for the 2017 Oyster & Shrimp Feed, please contact the club.
The Gettysburg Optimist Club met at Valentine Hall on the campus of the Gettysburg Lutheran Theological Seminary on Wednesday, November 2nd, 2016.
President Daryl Aurand called the meeting to order at 6:35 p.m. with the invocation and the Pledge of Allegiance. Stacey Green provided her usual wonderful meal.
Our speaker for the evening was introduced by Bruce Bradshaw. Shannon Harvey is the Vice President of the Harrisburg Area Community College (HACC,) at the Gettysburg Campus. Shannon talked about the evolution of her position at HACC. This community college has been in Gettysburg for 26 years and Shannon has served as a campus administrator for 18 of those years. For 13 years she was the Academic Dean and she enjoyed this opportunity to develop curricula, hire professional staff, develop programs, etc. She was an assistant to former Jennifer Weaver who retired and Shannon assumed her position. Shannon is a Gettysburg girl who enjoys her current role of attending community meetings – especially at night, because she doesn’t have to cook dinner!!
The nursing program is the most prominent program at HACC and the program has graduated over 600 nurses since its inception and 85% of these graduates are working in the Gettysburg/Hanover-Adams County area. HACC is so connected to the community. It is the largest community college in Pennsylvania. When we speak of current enrollment – there is a “Dual Enrollment” of 2,000 students with 450 of those who are high school students. HACC is very proud of this, in that, high school students, beginning in their junior year, if they are approved as “college-ready” by their principal, may take college coursework in the high school setting. This coursework may be transferred to a college of their choice upon enrollment in college. Most colleges will accept this credit although some “highly -selective colleges may not.
It is a statistical fact that, in 2016, college admission rates are high, however, graduation rates are low. Only 57% of those admitted, actually graduate from college. Student college financial debt, nation-wide, is actually greater than the country’s credit card debt……wow! The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation recognizes this problem and is supporting the idea that helping transition to college may increase graduation rates. In Adams County, 50% of children receive free and reduced price lunches. This is poverty, folks. HACC has reduced tuition rates in the HACC Dual Enrollment Program to make this more affordable.
The Gettysburg Optimist Club could contribute to the “HACC Dual Enrollment Scholarship.” This fund currently holds $20,000 in funds and hopes to endow this money. Adams Electric and Kennies Market are foundational contributors.
Mecatronics is a new course developed last year. It is a 1 year certification program for the Repair of Industrial Maintenance Equipment in the Hanover/Gettysburg area. Two other new programs are “Medial Assisting” and “Physician Office Assistant (Patient Support Specialist.)
Shannon is particularly proud of the DUAL ADVISING PLANNING MODEL – which, combines the planning of a college counselor and a high school guidance counselor for a 4 year plan for an individual student so the readiness for junior year college coursework is well-understood by the student and the parents.
The average age of a HACC student is 22. (Primarily due to the “mix” of high school students and adult students.) Vice President Harvey presented a wealth of information about our local community college and we appreciated her presentation.
President Daryl thanked Mindy and Kris for their extensive work with our Optimist Basketball Program. Sign-ups are Dec. 3rd and Dec. 10th at the Gettysburg Middle School @ 9-11 a.m.
The Christmas Magic Show with Chmn. Doug Miller, is all ready to go. Dec. 9th at the Lincoln Elementary School. Magician is highly-talented. Great show!
The annual Oyster/Shrimp Feed is March 3rd at the Gettysburg Fire Hall.
Daryl spoke about the advisability of each of us inviting someone to be an Optimist and seeing what we are all about.
The non-profit status of the club is being explored by Sam and Rich Finkenbinder. It was mentioned that most donors give to us irregardless of our 501(c-3) status.
The Quarterly Zone Meeting will be attended by Daryl and Gary Rappoldt.
Joe MacDowell won the 50/50. Joe said, “Finally, I will be in the minutes!”
Meeting adjourned at 7:55 p.m.
The Gettysburg Optimist Club meeting will be held Wednesday November 2 at 6 PM.
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