The Master’s is completed and with warmer weather approaching, it is time to start thinking about golf, and enjoying the chance to meet your neighbors and friends while supporting the youth of Gettysburg.  The Annual Gettysburg Optimist Golf Tournament is set for Thursday, 19 May, 2016 with tee off scheduled for 1:00 pm at the Links at Gettysburg.

The annual Optimist Golf Tournament features contests including a Scramble format, Longest Drive, Closest to the Pin, Green of Gold, and Putting contests with awards to the top three finishing foursomes.  Last years’ winner from the ACNB have declared their intention to defend their title predicting another victory.

The Optimist Club of Gettysburg invites the local community to join us for the afternoon. Although we come from all walks of life, Optimist Club Members share in the goal to make a difference in the lives of others, especially the youth in our region.  The Annual Golf Tournament is one of several fund raising projects the local club conducts in order to support more than 19 youth related programs throughout the Gettysburg area.

With this fundraiser, we hope to be able to bring more projects to the children of the community who need it most.  This is your opportunity to join the “Friends of Youth” in supporting programs including; Optimist Youth Basketball, Youth Appreciation, Respect for Law, Reading is Fundamental, S.T.A.R.S., GHS Outdoor Education, Gettysburg Community Theater (GCT), Holiday Family Outreach, GHS Musical Ensemble, Dollars for Scholars, Food Kitchen Meals and More, The Gettysburg Arts Council and more.  We need the support of the Gettysburg community to continue a fifty-six year tradition of providing these programs to our local youth!  Please fill out your team and mail in your entry form to insure your place to support our youth. Questions please contact Bruce Bradshaw at 359-7620 or for more information including registration paperwork, please visit here.

Opening night for the Gettysburg Youth baseball league. Our darlings are 4 to 6 years old and anxious to “Play Ball” and get their after game snack.

The Gettysburg Optimist Club met on Wednesday, April 6, 6:00pm,at the Refectory. President Bruce Bradshaw called the meeting to order at 6:40 pm asking for an Invocation and Pledge of Allegiance. This was followed by an excellent dinner provided by Stacey Green and her staff.

President Bruce introduced the speakers for the evening: Ms. Jessica Laganosky and Mrs. Dawn Smith from the Adams
County Library. They presented a program discussing the new electronic checkout system now being used at the library. The system enables you to view and check out books, audio books, and magazines from your home. All you need is a specific app. on your IPAD or IPHONE and you never need to enter the library again. They also discussed the various programs offered to children during the summer months.

President’s Report – Bruce congratulated everyone for a very successful Oyster and Shrimp Feed. Everyone’s efforts contributed to a great day !

The Gettysburg Little League will have their opening game on April 15. We would like to have a club member attend. Our club name is on one of the teams.

The Optimist State Convention is held in August at the Gettysburg Convention Center. Perhaps we may want to have some representation of our club there.

The 4H Club will be at our May 4 meeting to give a presentation.

Bruce suggested that since the Golf Tournament  is May 19 we might want to have our meeting there, instead of May 18. This was approved.

It is time to nominate officers for next year. Anyone interested, please contact Bruce.

Treasurer’s Report – General Fund  $3355.85    Activity Fund $10451.85
Oyster Feed – Income to date is $3461.38. We budgeted  $3500 and have another $110 coming
from Daryl, so we met budget!!

Golf Tournament – May 19 Frank reported that there are forms for more foursomes (4 or 5). Bruce covered sponsors who participated in the past, and is contacting others.  Forecast:  Around six to seven thousand dollars this year. Last year was $8000.

Soccer Parking – A signup sheet was circulated asking for help at the May soccer meet.

June 1 will be the first meeting  at the Pavilion.

President Bruce ended  the meeting at 8:20 with the Optimist Creed.

Submitted by Fred Darling

It all came together several decades ago, a feed just for oyster lovers and a project to raise funds in support of the Optimist Club of Gettysburg’s Youth Programs.  Truly an odd pairing to say the least, but it clicked in the hearts, minds and pallets of members, community leaders and citizens of Gettysburg who every year since continue to gather together not only for their appreciation for the slippery shell-fish but, more importantly, come together in their desire to make a difference in the lives of area youth.

Even though it may look easy, it is not.  Bringing it off so successfully just didn’t happen, it happened because of the hard work, dedication and commitment of many talented individuals, each focused on achieving a quality experience for all those generous people who showed up in support of the Clubs goals and objectives.

Terrific performing teams come together behind inspiring leadership. The Club followed Wayne Hill and Stacey Green, who for yet another year, pulled out all the stops to organize and lead the Optimist Team through the process of ticket sales, food purchases, cooking and cleaning.  For Wayne, Project Chair since its inception,(“shucking” has become part of his DNA) he has once again retained the crown as “Oyster King” and Stacy, of Biggerstaff’s Catering, mastered the difficult challenge of teaching the members some reasonable culinary skills.

As members we collectively offer our sincerest appreciation for the attendees, contributors, volunteers  and supporters of the Optimist Club of Gettysburg. Your continued and overwhelming support provides us the ability to reach out to the youth of our community through more than 19 Youth related programs each year.  We thank you for your kind efforts and invite you to become a member and join with us in making a difference.

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