SCHERTZ-CIBOLO OPTIMIST CLUB

Formation Letter

Jun 02, 2005

Dear Friends,

I wanted to be sure and let everyone know that the Optimist Club is trying to charter a new chapter in our area. You may or may not have heard of the Optimist Organization before - every optimist club was formed by people who wanted to reach out to help the local youth and community, and what a club can do is limited only by the imagination and resources of the club members. We have a good number of people who have decided to join, but we are still in need new members to help make our new Schertz/Cibolo chapter a success - currently there are 30 people who have committed to joining the group.

Each chapter of the organization decides on the types of projects they want to conduct in their community. Here is a list of some of the projects other Optimist Chapters have implemented in their communities to give you an idea:

?• Working directly with local schools to enhance education
?• Conducting substance abuse prevention programs
?• Coaching youth sports teams
?• Tutoring and mentoring young people
?• Painting the homes of the elderly and needy
?• Providing food baskets to needy families
?• Assisting disaster victims
?• Reading to children
?• Childhood cancer campaign - providing support to children with cancer and their families
?• Youth appreciation - build local students' self esteem by helping them recognize their talents
?• Respect for law - honoring law enforcement officials, initiating block parent programs, and starting neighborhood watches - helping keep children safe
?• Youth safety programs - bicycle safety, car seat safety, etc. . .
?• Scholarship programs through essay contests, oratorical contests, and communication contests for the deaf and hard of hearing

The owner of Harmon's Barbecue in Cibolo has joined the club and has agreed to host club meetings in the large meeting room in their restaurant. The next club meeting will be held on Tuesday evening May 10th from 7-8 - arrive at 6:30 to order a BBQ dinner. At this point the meetings are mainly designed to be informational - to help people interested in the group learn more about it.

On the financial side once a new club is formed, two separate accounts are set up - one for annual dues and another for fundraising efforts. The initial dues for each member to charter the new club are just $30. Once the new charter is formed, the elected board members set the annual dues for our chapter - which run on average about $100 per year for other clubs to give you an idea. These dues cover the clubs operational expenses. The separate fundraising account is used solely for charitable work and projects in our community. If you're interested in the group, please email or give me a call, and if you know someone who might also be interested, please pass this along to them.

Thanks!