July 27, 2021 For Immediate Release:

Bring out the best in kids! Gettysburg Optimist Basketball Summer Clinic

The Optimist Club of Gettysburg has sponsored a community youth basketball program since 1965 teaching fun and fundamentals of basketball to children in grades K through 6. Traditionally, the program is conducted on Saturday mornings for eight weeks. The rules are simple; all children play, focus is on the fundamentals of the game, no score keeping, and all participants have fun and share an experience that forms life-long memories.

Unfortunately due to the pandemic, the 2021 Winter Optimist Youth Basketball Program was not offered. The Optimist Club is proud to announce this year’s Summer Basketball Clinic where the rules will be followed for a fun filled afternoon.  With the help of the Gettysburg Area School District’s Girls and Boys basketball coaches, Jeff Bair and Marc McLean, and players, the Gettysburg Optimist Club is offering a free basketball clinic at Gettysburg Area Recreation Association Park on Sunday, August 29, 2021.

Registration is on-line now through August 28 and onsite at the Rec Park Firemen’s pavilion from ­­­­12:30 PM to 1:00 PM the day of the event.

Children can pre-register by completing the online form or by printing the paperwork from the Gettysburg Optimist website https://gettysburgoptimist.com/gettysburg-news/2021-basketball-clinic/. Email registration to [email protected] or mail to

Gettysburg Optimist Club
c/o Basketball Committee
PO BOX 3035
Gettysburg, PA 17325

The 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM clinic schedule will begin with a demonstration session led by the Gettysburg Area School District basketball girl’s and boy’s coaches and players. The next session will be a circuit training for youth attending in grades K through 6. If time allows, there may be youth basketball games. The players will be divided into groups of girls and boys separately; Grades K-3 and grades 4-6.

Refreshments will be provided for volunteers and participants at the conclusion of the clinic.

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. Since its inception more than 5000 area children have participated in the annual basketball events.

We look forward to spending the afternoon with you on Sunday, August 29, 2021 from 12:30 PM to 3 PM.

About the Gettysburg Optimist Club

The Optimist Club of Gettysburg was chartered in 1958 and continues to be dedicated to providing young people with positive activities and learning opportunities. Club members are men and women who come from all walks of life and who are united in an effort, “To Bring out the Best in Kids!” To learn more about the Optimist Club of Gettysburg and their many programs, activities and a membership opportunity, visit https://gettysburgoptimist.com/, visit us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/OptimistClubofGettysburg?ref=hl or call 717-220-3416.

 

Optimist Hoops Paper Registration Form

Optimist Hoops Online Form

The Gettysburg Optimist Club met on Wednesday, June 2,2021, at the Lake Heritage pavilion. Fourteen members were present.

President Brian Skidmore called the meeting to order at 6:00pm and opened with an invocation. This was followed by an excellent dinner provided by Stacey Green and Biggerstaff Catering.

After dinner President Skidmore opened the business session of the meeting:

Treasurer’s Report   Tom Barako reported on the financial status of the club.

Activities $12084    General $4641

Tom also reported that a few donations were given since the last meeting

He also reported that the club made $5866 from the Golf Outing

Finally he reported that the club is doing well financially with expenses being low.

Speaker                    Joe Macdowell shared a story about a buoy that is displayed  in his den. It had to do with his lifelong love of boating and buying a large boat when he retired. The boat was eventually donated to the St. Michael’s Museum.

President’s Report   The next meeting will be at Wayne and Sue’s on July 14. Food will be assigned alphabetically.

August 4 Zone Meeting at Lake Heritage

August 24 Basketball Clinic 12-3. There will be a sign-up sheet for this.

September 11 and 12 Wine and Music Festival, club will be doing parking

November 5 Giving Spree

March 26 Oyster Feed

Brian reported that the club is in need of officers for next year. We need President, Vice President, and Treasurer.

It is possible that the meeting structure of the club may be changed. Under consideration is having one formal meeting per month and one social meeting per month. This will be discussed at the next meeting and a survey will be sent to the membership.

Member comments.

Randy Smith commented about club checks being cosigned.

Tom Barako mentioned that next year at the Golf Outing golf balls may be dropped from a helicopter. The balls will be labeled and redeemed for a prize.

President Skidmore closed the meeting at 7:45pm with recitation of the Optimist Creed.

Optimistically Submitted, Fred Darling

Please find the call in below for tonight’s meeting, March 3, 2021 at 7pm.

To avoid the circus we experienced last meeting (Ecuador anyone?), There is a new call in with a new password and waiting room feature.  So upon entry you will need to provide the new password, be placed in a waiting room and approved to join the meeting.

Gettysburg Optimist is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

Topic: Optimist General Membership Meeting
Time: Mar 3, 2021 07:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting
https://zoom.us/join

Meeting ID: 369 660 4694

Passcode: email [email protected] for passcode.

Looking forward to chatting with everyone this evening!

Topic: Optimist General Membership Meeting
Time: February 3, 2021 07:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/3696604694?pwd=cXBDc2dhczhmWUZxWjFhcWpaOVN4QT09

Meeting ID: 369 660 4694

By Computer Passcode: Hello

By Phone Passcode: 010932

We look forward to seeing everyone!!!

The Optimist Club of Gettysburg met on Wednesday, January 6, 2021 at 7:00 PM by Zoom. We had 8 members who met by zoom. This makes our first virtual membership Gettysburg Optimist Club meeting for the new year.

Business Meeting:

• Secretary’s Report: Approved
• Treasure’s Report: Approved
  1. General Account: $2,768
  2. Activities Account: $7,492

• President’s Report:
  1. Sadly, we had to cancel our in-person Holiday Party that had been planned for 12/16/20
  2. Our Salvation Army Bell ringing event was a success on 12/11/20 and Brian thanks everyone who volunteered to help.
  3. Our club is still looking for a Vice President

• Giving Spree: We made $1,710.00 from this event. 28 donors total with 13 members contributions and 15 non member contributions. Considered a success for our first time. We discussed ways to improve this fund raiser such as asking our membership for (10) prospects with mailing addresses and email address.
• An idea for a new fund raiser proposed by Dan Mattern is a “Bicycle Ride”. We need a committee as Mark Cropp volunteered along with Dan. If you are interested in helping with this committee contact Dan.
• 11/17/20 – 1^st Quarter Zone Meeting, was attended by Brian along with Fred.
• Optimist Basketball update will be held in the spring with the date to be determined
• Oyster & Shrimp Feed planned for March 2021 is still under consideration and look forward to an update for this project.
• 5/20/21 – Optimist Golf Tournament
• 2/03/21 Regular Meeting using Zoom
• 2021 Meetings: Per our calendar our meetings are set to be virtual using Zoom for the months of January, February, and March. We will review our membership meeting status regularly. We all prefer in person meetings but in these times our virtual is our safest alternative.

Respectfully Submitted,

Daryl Aurand, Secretary