St. Cloud Morning Optimist Club
Meets Weekly:
Every Wednesday at 7:15 A.M.
Because of the Stay in Place Recommendation
we are meeting via Zoom Conferencing
Find the weekly Zoom meeting link in your email
7:15 Prayer and Pledge of Allegiance
7:16 Short Business Meeting
7:30 Program
7:59 Recite Creed
8:00 Adjourn
Optimist Weekly Programs
October and November
Oct 7 Carmen Bakken - DMM Governor
Oct 14 Sheriff Steve Soyka
Oct 21 SCSU Optimist Scholarship
Matthew Andrew
Oct 28 Charitable Gambling Report
Nov 4 BSA Melissa Stricherz
Nov 11 Make a Wish
Nov 18 CMYFC Scott Anderson
Nov 25 Youth Appreciation Week
Dec 2 Charitable Gambling Report
October 1, 2020 is the beginning of our new Optimist Year. As our year moves forward, watch for our weekly programs, projects, awards, new members and Optimist International programs which we sponsor giving youth in our community scholarship opportunities.
On September 27 the St Cloud Morning Optimist Club
had our installation banquet to kick off our new year 2020-2021.
Past president Makayla Wijeratne hands her gavel to our new president Don Berger
DMM Governor Sally Damm installed our new President Don Berger and his board
Sally Damm installed a new member Nicki Blake-Bradley
Renee Dingmann thanked Makayla for the great year we had and congratulated her on being the Zoom Meeting Queen
Several awards were also given. Ginny Bisek received the Optimist of the Year Award for her years of service, Renee Dingmann was given the President Citation, Jacki Templin was for recognized for her 15 years as club treasurer and Marge Bates was awarded the Volunteer for the Year.
Youth Appreciation Week
During the month of November, the St. Cloud Optimists seek nominations for outstanding youth from various local youth service organizations. On November 25th, during Youth Appreciation Week, the Optimist Clubs recognized area youth who were nominated for their efforts in community service work. This is a perfect opportunity for clubs to make a difference in their community and demonstrate the Optimists' commitment to young people. These nominees are invited to a Youth Appreciation Breakfast and given a plaque for their efforts.
Optimist Toy Project in October
Optimists were invited to tour TLC workshop
TLC Toys exists as a nonprofit organization whose primary function is to bring some happiness to less fortunate children in the five-county metropolitan area of Minneapolis/St Paul, as well as across the country. For the second year, the St Cloud Morning Optimists coordinated with TLC to accomplish their mission by providing toys to needy children. Our club chose 11 different organizations that work with children in the St Cloud Area. TLC heirloom quality toys are made from quality materials and are handcrafted by many talented volunteers. Their toymakers come from all walks of life and are not required to have any special skills, but they all share a desire to make a difference in a child's life by showing them that someone cares. This year we distributed over 1246 toys. The toys were distributed to 11 area organizations: Anna Marie's Alliance, Catholic Charities, CentraCare, Central MN Council of Boy Scouts, Hope Academy Child Care Center, Lovely Child Care Center, Promise Neighborhood, Salvation Army and Sartell Police Dept.
At the end of our 2019-2020 Optimist year we give any profits to our community
Our club members approved over $59,000 in donations to almost 50 non-profit organizations, schools, booster clubs, food shelves, and foundations in and around the St. Cloud and the surrounding area this month. Funds are raised via charitable gambling at our wonderful host businesses: G-Allen's Restaurant & Sports Bar in Sartell, R&F Service in Sauk Rapids, and Searles on Fifth and Stop 'n Go in St. Cloud. Thanks to these businesses and to all who support them!!