The Beaver Bike Safety is May 5^th at 6 pm at the Britannia-Youngstown hall, 15927 - 105th Ave. We understand a couple of beaver colonies (kids 5 to 7 years of age) will be attending. Optimists are needed to operate the rodeo part of the event. Please contact Opt Beryl for complete details.

Great news, about 145 are registered so far for the Bikeree which will be held on May 9^th. We expect 200 from at least 15 Cub packs to attend. ALL Optimists are needed to operate this event at various safety stations located in the River Valley. We are now looking for about 15 prizes, and past examples include helmets, bells, water bottles, Frisbees or just about anything that an 8 to 10 year old would like. Please contact your resources for these items. These prizes are above the grab bags we provide and are issued on a draw basis, one per cub pack.

Please note and attend the following:

-Bingo 23 Apr 2009 - Thu 1130A

-Car Seat Clinic 27 April Mon Afternoon 1P

-Club Program Meeting 27 April Mon 6:15P

-Bingo 04 May 2009 - Mon Afternoon 1130A

-Beaver Bike Safety 05 May 2009 -Tuesday 6P

-Bikeree meeting - Thursday May 7 at 7P

-Bikeree May 9 - River Valley at 8AM

-Club AGM 11 May Mon 6:15P

-Bingo 12 May 2009 - Tue Afternoon 1130A

What do fish say when they hit a concrete wall? . . . Dam!  What do you get from a pampered cow? . . . Spoiled milk. What do you call cheese that isn't yours? . . . Nacho cheese.

We have learned that the Strathcona Place Seniors Casino is Monday, Aug 31st and Tuesday, Sept 1st, 2009. Please contact Optimist Keivin if you wish to volunteer to work this Casino which will be held at ABS Argyle. This is one of the Casinos that our club supports.

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Edmonton Dinner has been asked to help out the Edmonton Eskimos with the parking for the following dates

Wednesday, June 17th 7PM
Thursday, July 2nd 7PM
Thursday, July 16th 7PM
Thursday, July 30th 730PM
Thursday, August 13th 7PM
Thursday, August 27th 7PM
Friday, Sept 11th 8PM
Saturday, Sept 26th 4PM
Friday, Oct 9th 7PM
Friday, Oct 30th 7PM

Please contact President Clint and indicate the date you are able to help. Last season we received about eight grand for this project.

Future conferences include Havre, MT on May 1 & 2 for the 3rd Quarter Board Meeting, the International Convention on July 8 - 11 in Orlando, FL, and in Regina, SK on August 13 to 15 for the District Convention. All members are encouraged to attend. Contact Opt Keivin or Pres Clint for details. Six members are off to Havre, MT May 1 & 2, for the 3rd Quarter Board Meeting. This event features the district oratorical contests.

The Alberta Regional Contest was held at our club office in the Elmwood School. Jackson and Jessi, winners from our zone contest competed against Lucas and Nancy, winners from the Calgary area. Congratulation to Jessi and Lucas, who will compete for the scholarship in Havre, MT on May 2. Thank you to timers Doreen and Roger, lunch Coordinator Keivin, SOA/President Clint, and to Contest Chairman Wyn for a most successful contest. LT gov Marilyn Bushell and others attended from Calgary.

About 10 contestants from the ASD will compete in the AMS&NW CCDHH Communication Contest. All Optimists are urged to attend the event on May 15 at the school located at 6240 - 113 Street. Congratulation to Opt Wyn and her committee for another successful year in Oratorical and communication contests.

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Optimists support over 30 Projects

Thank you to Secretary Lucile for preparing this list:

Boys and Girls club
Brail Tone College Optimist Club
Brail Tone Music Society
Britannia / Youngstown Community
Childhood Cancer Campaign
Essay Contest
Oratorical Contest
Istar
Juvenile Curling
Kids Help Phone
Kids with Cancer Campaign
Kids Up Front
Kokopelli Choir
Little Warriors
Scouts
Guides
School for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing
St. Catherines School
Santas Anonymous
Schizophrenia Society
Shriners Clowns
Spina Bifada Association
Stollery Children's Hospital
Numerous sports teams
Youth Emergency Shelter
Youth Injury Prevention
Bikeree
Beaver Bike Safety
Car Seat Inspections
Lids For All
Zebra Society

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Optimist International

In June, Optimist International will celebrate its 90th year of serving the needs of youth. Millions of children have benefited from the work Optimist Clubs have done during those 90 years. The budget the Optimist International Board of Directors is proposing for the 2009-2010 administrative year is $283,000 in the red.

After careful consideration and much debate, the Board of Directors will recommend to the delegates at the International Convention in Florida in July that the annual International dues be increased by $10. This $10 increase (which amounts to about 3.2 cents per day) will assure that the organization will be able to operate balanced budgets.

NEW YEAR BRINGS CHANGES FOR CANADIAN SUPPLIES

After 25 years of existence, Optimist International Canada is entering a new era. In fact, on January 2, 2008, the sales department passed the torch to Promotions Corall, from whom you will be able to order your promotional articles. Karine Yankioua, sales coordinator, will act as a link to the suppliers and will continue to attend District quarterly meetings and conventions. Optimists can contact her by phone at (514) 739-9555 or (866) 739-9555, by fax at (514) 739-7558 or by e-mail at karine@corallgroup.com.

Optimists can also make purchases online at www.optimistcanada.com.

While supply and sales operations will change, Optimist International Canada will continue to concentrate its efforts on growth, development and members' visibility.

For more information, go to www.optimist.org and click on the Friend of Optimists button in the upper left corner of the page.

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Upcoming International Optimist Events

Upcoming District Meetings are:

Havre, MT: May 1 & 2 - 3rd Quarter Board Meeting

International Convention: July 8 - 11, 2009 - Orlando Florida

More information can be obtained from www.amsnwoptimist.org or check out the Winter issue of The Optimist magazine.

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Hundreds of Clubs have already made a contribution to the Optimist International Foundation this Optimist year. The good news is that those Clubs that have contributed have made a difference with their contributions:

* They have helped fund scholarships for essay, oratory and CCDHH contests.

* They have supported youth leadership and service through JOOI.

* They have aided Optimist International programs including the Childhood Cancer Campaign and Junior Optimist golf.

* They have allowed OIF to support OI marketing efforts, pension service, and the establishment of a new grant program for Clubs.

Good news - OIF surpassed its goal to reach $1 million in unrestricted gifts this year! It was a historical achievement to reach this goal.

OIFC also attained its goal of reaching an unrestricted gift total of five percent higher than last year.

Again, Clubs are the lifeblood of the Foundations' support -- and the Foundations are pleased to assist Clubs without charge for a variety of services from Pass Through/Outsourcing to endowments and Club Campaign funds. If you have given this year, please convey an enormous thanks to your Members. If you have not yet contributed in support of the Foundation, please consider a gift before September ends. Please join us in Helping Optimists Help Kids!

Over this next quarter until the third quarter board meeting in Havre, MT, everyone who brings in a new member will be given a large balloon full of helium. Danny Peterson from Great Falls, MT and Alex Wilson from Regina, SK will be in their "little baskets" and we will be tying these helium balloons to their baskets. Our district goal this quarter is to be able to lift these two "pilots" off the ground at the third quarter board meeting in May. Let's have some fun!!!

Edie McInnes

klaascus@telusplanet.net

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Upcoming AMS & NW Events & News

- Havre, MT: May 1 & 2 - 3rd Quarter Board Meeting

It is with a great deal of sadness that I report to you that Emma Collins has passed away. The funeral will be at 10AM Wednesday April 22nd at Howard and McBride at Westlawn 10132 - 163rd St.

Emma came into our club through the Saturday Morning Communications Club, now known as the Brailtone College Club, and worked as a mentor in that project until her health put a halt to it. She worked hard on our Board of Directors and served as President of our club when she initiated our Child Car Seat Safety projects, and she helped out with the Oratorical Program when she could. Emma also was very active in the Toastmaster Organization and belonged to several of those clubs as well and was a Past Governor, as well as President of several Toastmaster Clubs. There is an advanced Toastmasters Club named after her at the U of A where she worked before retiring.

Toastmasters International wrote: I have forwarded the news to several active toastmasters that knew her well. I had the distinct pleasure of meeting her in June of 2005 and sitting beside her at a end of the year banquet for the Golden Mountain toastmasters club. I then joined the Emma Collins Advanced toastmasters club, and had that opportunity to meet and talk with her extended. We will all miss her a great deal. However, she is not suffering in pain anymore, which is a blessing. Her memory will live on forever. Please extend all our sincere condolences on to her family for us.

Dave Cartledge, DVM
Division F Governor 2008-2009
Toastmasters International

My fellow Optimists:

We have left the Sunnyside of the street for a while
To pay tribute to our dearest friend who past away
She'll join the many Optimists who went before her
We will miss her dearly, a trusted friend, we can say
The title 'Friend of Youth' is well deserved dear Emma
You can rest now, your help - made the kid's future better
We promise to continue the work you did so well

- pvm/04/09

Thank you Peter for the above submission. Please see the Zone Farewell at http://acr-optimists.org/news.html#Emma

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Maureen Bishop - Apr 23

Belinda Lim - Apr 25

Lacey Hoyland - Apr 26

Helen Sopchyshyn - Apr 28

Ron Story - May 1st

Ruby Anderson - May 10th

Happy Anniversary to:

Warren & Marion Loewen - May 22

Anyone who is doing something special please e-mail me: Brian Wallace

ABC Child Seat Program

Here are the Capital Health child car seat safety clinics dates which the optimists are needed to help. All Clinics are at Fire Station 9, 5604 - 50th St and Station 25 at 8403 - 167th Ave and are from 130Pto330P and are as follows:

Monday April 27th
Thursday May 28th
Tuesday June 30^th

Complete 2008 inspection dates are available on the Capital Health Web Site

      Black Gold OC of Leduc

The Leduc Club is a sponsor in the Black Gold Rodeo, specifically the Smiles Rodeo for about 250 kids. Other projects they are working with is the super-grad. The Club recently held their officer elections and congratulations are extended to Shayne Bevridge as president elect.