2010 Respect For Law Honorees Announced
The Optimist Club held its annual Respect For Law ceremony and banquet at the Hawthorne Inn & Converence Center on May 17, 2010. The law enforcement officers honored this year were Sgt. Stanley L. Barr, Forsyth County Sheriffs Office, Officer Derek R. Marion, Town of Kernersville Police Department, Special Agent Andrew N. Newsom, NC State Bureau of Investigation, Trooper James L. Seagle, NC State Highway Patrol, Sgt. Mickey G. Hutchens (posthumous), City of Winston-Salem Police Department. Each recipient of this award was recommended by their commanding officer.
Also honored was Dr. Carl Bowen, past president of Optimist International. Dr. Bowen and former Federal Bureau of Investigation Director J. Edgar Hoover had a discussion that resulted in the birth of the Respect For Law program in 1965. Forsyth County District Attorney James R. O'Neill delivered the keynote address. The Club would like to thank the Respect For Law Committee: Deborah Mills-Chairperson, Dot Rickard, Tom Rucker, Richard Basham and Jim Annas.
Paisley Middle Student Wins Oratorical Contest
Tamriage Martin, a student at Paisley Magnet Middle School, has won the Western District Optimist Oratorical contest. The final competition was held at the Clarion Hotel in Greensboro, site of the NC West District Optimist third quarter meeting on May 8, 2010. Tamriage competed against four boys and four girls in the final competition. Each contestant had won all their club, zone and regional contests in order to compete in the finals. The subject of the speaches was "Cyber Communication-Progress or Problem". Tamriage won a $2,500 college scholarship. His teacher at Paisley is Marshall Marvelli, a perennial supporter of Optimist programs. Dot Rickard was the chairperson for this year's contest.
What is an Optimist Club?
An Optimist Club is a civic club of concerned volunteers, representing a cross-section of our community, who are in action for the good of the youth of the community. Through the various projects we carry out, we provide role models for the youth to emulate in realizing the true meaning of success and living life to the fullest. We are non-denominational and non-political. Our focus is serving the youth of the community.
What does an Optimist Club do?
As a member club of Optimist International, located in St. Louis, MO, each Optimist Club determines its own programs based on the needs of the community and input from club members. The activities of the Winston-Salem Club are as follows:
» Youth Appreciation Week (Scholarship for 10 High School Seniors)
» Optimist Youth Soccer & Field Hockey Leagues
» Bell Ringing for Salvation Army
» Optimist International Junior Golf
» Scholarships for Public School summer enrichment program
» Student essay contest (high school)
» Student oratorical contest (middle/high school)
» Respect for Law Week
Grants for 2010
Do you ever stop to think what happens to the registration fees you pay to participate in our soccer or field hockey programs? A portion of the fees are used to operate these programs i.e. field maintenance, referees, equipment, uniforms, insurance, administration, financial reserves and so forth. The remainder goes back to our community in the form of grants and donations. In addition to the 2010 high school scholarship recipients, grants were made to Diggs Elementary School, Optimist Childhood Cancer, Optimist International Foundation, Goler Institute for Development & Education, Diggs faculty luncheon, Southmountain Children & Family Services, Boys & Girls Homes of North Carolina, The Children's Fund for Glucogen Storage Disease Research, YMCA Camp Hanes and the Salvation Army. We are a not-for-profit 501c(4) organization with no long-term debt and have been wise stewards to the community since 1948.
Want to get involved?
email us at wsoptimist@windstream.net