-Our guests, Chad Carr and a group of his students from the Gettysburg Community Theatre gave a great performance during our meeting. Their song selection included an eclectic mix of classic oldies and patriotic songs. Some of the Optimist members happened to remember when some of these songs hit the Billboard charts! The Optimist Club is proud to continue to donate to this wonderful organization where the local youth feel “welcomed” and like they have “found a second home”. You can see more of these talented kids during their productions which include, “Dora the Explorer” this weekend, “Grease” May 17-19, and “Children of Gettysburg” during the month of June.

–Golf Tournament News: The date is fast approaching for this big event! An advertisement will be placed in the newspaper, encouraging sponsorship and golfers for the Thursday, May 23rd affair. Paul, the Assistant Pro from the Links attended the meeting and provided our group with some great suggestions to help us make this a successful fundraiser. Please continue to seek out sponsors and golfers and think about how you may be able to assist on the day of the event. There will be a sign-up sheet for people who will be volunteering at the Tournament at our next meeting.

***There will be a Golf Tournament Committee meeting at Bruce’s house (directions to follow) on Wednesday, April 24th at 6:30pm. You may contact Daryl ([email protected]) with any questions regarding this event.

–Car Parking sign-ups have begun. There are still 13 slots for the May 25-26th date and 8 slots available for the August 24-25th date. There are both morning (6:45a-12) and afternoon (12-5:30pm) positions available. Please contact Don Davis ([email protected]) if you can help or you may be getting a phone call!

-Other news: James Gettys will have their final Reading is Fundamental program this Friday, April 19th from 9a-3p. Please contact Marci ([email protected]) if you would like to attend.

If anyone is interested in making dinner for our outdoor meetings this summer, please contact Kris ([email protected] or 267-391-7834).

Consider coming out to cheer on the Veterans who are making the 112 mile journey between Washington D.C. and Gettysburg during the Wounded Warriors bike ride. The bikers are expected to come through Gettysburg at approximately 2pm on Sunday April 28th. Please contact Mark ([email protected]) if you would like more information.

Do we have any chefs interested in fielding an Optimist team for the Chili Cook-off sponsored by the Adams County Arts Council on Saturday July 13th? If you are not great in the kitchen, would you like to volunteer for the event?

Upcoming meetings: Wednesday, May 1st we will have a presentation by members of the Dollars for Scholars program. This meeting will be held on the Seminary campus in Valentine Hall (the building across the street and 2 doors down from the Refectory). There will be a board of directors meeting following the regular meeting.

Wednesday, May 15th will be our first outdoor meeting of the year. It will be located at the Lake Heritage Pavilion and we will have a presentation from the Boy scouts.

The Adams County Arts Council hosted this evening’s Optimist meeting.  The Arts Council offers numerous programs including more than 200 classes, summer camps, and after school or senior citizen programs.  Their goals include encouraging arts education, supporting local artists, and promoting economic development through the arts.  More than $25,000 scholarships have been made available for low-income children.  The council is currently showcasing a “recyclables” art show which allows students to turn trash into treasure.  Also, keep in mind that the building is open to visitors each First Friday from 5-7:30pm.  The Optimists gave a donation to the Arts Council to help support all their wonderful community programs.

TREASURERS REPORT: We are more than half way through our fiscal year and Tom says we are looking good!  Thus far our fundraisers have exceeded expectations.  Hopefully we will continue that trend.

OTHER NOTES: We received a thank-you note from the Stars Program for our recent donation.

UPCOMING EVENTS: Golf tournament planning is in full swing.  Keep seeking out sponsors and think about how you would help on the day of the event, Thursday 5/23/13.

Don has the sign-up sheets all set for the Soccer Tournament parking.  Start thinking about when you might be able to lend a hand the weekend of 5/25-5/26 and 8/24-8/25.

NEXT MEETING: Wednesday, April 17 at the Refectory with a presentation from the Children’s Music Theatre.

Apologies for the confusion about the next meeting location.  April Fools?!   The correct location for the next Optimist meeting on Wednesday, April 3rd at 6:30pm  is the Adams County Arts Council Building.  You can find the Arts Council Building at 125 South Washington Street, Gettysburg PA.

Tonight’s Optimist meeting will be held at 6:30pm in room 206 in Valentine Hall.  This building is located on the Seminary campus 2 doors down from the Chapel and directly across from the large parking lot that connects with the Refectory.

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.  This year the popular Oyster Feed grew to include a new addition to the menu, steamed shrimp, and the community responded with a record turn out and what is sure to become a record fund-raiser.

In addition to the new menu a new venue, the 1863 Inn of Gettysburg, welcomed more than he 236 diners from as far away as Scranton, Lancaster and York with more space and a brighter more sparkling environment.  It created some new and different challenges for the Oyster and Shrimp Team but in the end it was a successful afternoon of good food, great fun and lively social interaction between family and friends.  But 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 and 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, site acquisition, 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.

For more photos of the event, visit our Facebook page.