The Palisades Optimist Club will hold its next meeting on Tuesday, March 19, at the Palisades Presbyterian Church at 15821 Sunset Boulevard. Coffee, pastries and fellowship are at 9:30 am, brunch at 9:45 am and the meeting begins at 10 a.m. People who are curious about the Optimist Club are welcome to attend.
Guests will include members of the Palisades Will Rogers Run Foundation. This Foundation runs the Fourth of July Will Rogers 5/10K Race.
Annually, nearly 3,000 runners/walkers participate in the Will Roger 5/10K race.
Photo: Shelby Pascoe
After race expenses, the Foundation gives the Optimist Club a check so they can distribute it to nonprofits that work with youth. The race proceeds fund numerous local charitable, educational and community organizations through the Optimist Grant Program.
Additional guests at this meeting will include the CEO and the Chief Communications Officer of the Optimist Youth Home CEO Todd Sosna. OYHFS, a nonprofit, operates residential care facilities for 85 boys on its main campus, four group homes for boys and girls, a charter school, multifaceted mental-health programs for community youth and adults, after-care services and a foster care and adoption agency.
There are residences for foster kids with the Optimist Youth Homes.
OYHFS also provides help for kids aging out of foster care. About 40% of youth experience homelessness within two years of exiting foster care.
OYHFS provides housing and robust wraparound services to support wellness, positive relationships, education and career goals, all building blocks for success transitioning into adulthood, and beyond.
Also speaking at the meeting will be Palisades High School Band Director Peter Ye.
Optimist Rich Wilken presenting scholarships to Palisades High School students in 2018.
Come hear a “usually” great joke, such as the one from Optimist Richard Wilken.
“I asked a supermarket employee, ‘Where can I find the canned peaches?’
He said, “I’ll see,” and walked away.
I asked another employee and he also said, “I’ll see,” and walked away.
In the end, I gave up and finally found them myself . . . in Aisle C.”
Optimist Creed:
At the end of the meeting The Optimist Creed is recited.
Promise Yourself
To be so strong that nothing can disturb your peace of mind.
To talk health, happiness and prosperity to every person you meet.
To make all your friends feel that there is something in them.
To look at the sunny side of everything and make your optimism come true.
To think only of the best, to work only for the best, and to expect only the best.
To be just as enthusiastic about the success of others as you are about your own.
To forget the mistakes of the past and press on to the greater achievements of the future.
To wear a cheerful countenance at all times and give every living creature you meet a smile.
To give so much time to the improvement of yourself that you have no time to criticize others.
To be too large for worry, too noble for anger, too strong for fear, and too happy to permit the presence of trouble.
Thank you for this introduction to the philosophy and work of the Optimists. I had no idea, despite knowing of them in the community for the past 40-something years.