About 25 attended our AGM on May 11 where we elected the following people for next year's executive:

President: Geoff Connor

Vice President/President-elect: Beryl Cooper

2nd Vice President: Wyn McAra

Two year Directors:
Don Dick
Marion Loewen
Mike Trudeau
Lucile Story

One year Directors:
John Anderson
Walter Chernecki
Peggy Dick
Vernice Lind

Bert Hancock will be our Secretary, and Treasurers will be Keivin Wallace and Samantha Wallace. As no nominations came from the floor, thanks are extended to Past Pres Bert and the nominations committee for their work.

Other AGM highlights included a financial report by Opt Keivin. We earned $56K; $38K Bingo, $7,500 Eskimo parking and $6,800 refunds. Please note that we had a casino last year which made our income higher. We spent 100K, $18,500 youth safety, $16,800 Community Involvement, $10,500 youth sports, $10,100 meals & food , $11,200 District Board meetings, $9,200 District Convention, $8,100 Administration. A statement was prepared and records were made available.

We welcomed guest and New Member Elsie Mailer, sponsored by Helen Cardle.

Other guests included Autism and SPD speakers Linda Robertson, Betty Dean, Lori Tankhanel.

The trio spoke on Sensory Processing Disorder, a cause of Autism. Linda and Lori spoke about kids with SPD, a disorder that makes them unable to interpret information and respond to emotional, motor and other reactions. Betty Dean (retired Principal from the Alberta School For Deaf spoke about how these kids cope with this in schools. After a Q&A period President Clint presented them each with a creed plaque and club pin.

Please note and attend the following:

-Bingo: May 20 - Wed Afternoon, 11:30AM

-Lids for All: May 20-22,Youngstown Elemen

-Lids for All: May 23, 8am SAFE Strathcona

-Club Meeting: Monday, May 25, 6:15pm

-Lids for All: May 25-27, St. Catherine

-Car Seat Inspection: Thursday, May 28, 1:30pm

-Bingo: May 29, Fri Afternoon, 11:30AM

The CCDHH (Communications Contest for the Deaf and Hard of hearing) will be Thursday, June 4th, 7PM at the Alberta School for the Deaf, 6240 113th St., use the main door and someone will direct you to the contest area. The change was made by the School because of the long weekend.

The Beaver Bike Safety was May 5^th at the Britannia-Youngstown hall, and 18 Beavers attended, which was up from last year. Beavers are kids 5 to 7 years of age. Special thanks to the Optimists that operated the rodeo part, mechanical check and helmet program.

203 cyclists rode the Bikeree on May 9^th and about 43 Optimists and volunteers operated this project. About 70 helmets were handed out to kids who had outdated or defective hats. Here are some of the Emails we received:

* Thanks so much for all of your help with this - our boys had a fantastic time. One even said this was the best day ever to be a cub. We'll be sure to be there next year! 204 Meadows

* Thanks for a great time as always! See you in 2010. 59^th Greenfield Cubs

* We had a great time, it is one of the cubs most favourite events. We will be back next year. 207 Burnewood

* At the Bikeree, everyone had a great time and are enjoying their new helmets. Thanks again to the Optimist club. 2nd Leduc

* Thank you for the great day. I had nothing but good things said about the day. Even the boys that were hesitant had a great time. And it sounds like a great turn out. 102 Knottwood

* Just a note to say thanks once again for a great bikeree. Our boys always have a great time. We were very appreciative of the new helmets!!!!! 7 out of our 8 boys had to have them replaced so that was VERY generous. I would like to thank the Optimist Club people. Please pass along to everyone who volunteered their time a BIG THANK YOU from our pack. We had a great time, 2nd Spruce Grove Cub Pack

* This was a great day!! We had so much fun. I really appreciate all that you and the rest of the organizers and volunteers did. We didn't get rained on once either. All in all though, a great day and the 26th St Peter's Cubs had a blast!!

* Had a great time this weekend! Hope you did too. Thanks for organizing all of that - I know it's a lot of work, but the kids sure enjoy it. 129^th Cubs

* I wanted to thank you for your great work in pulling this off . . . it was awesome!! I am intimately aware of the huge volunteer hours that go into these events - so thank you very much for the time and energy. Enjoy the calm after the storm, 1st Hay Lakes

Scheduled "Lids for All" school distribution dates are as follows thus far: Youngstown Elementary May 20-22, SAFE Strathcona May 23 set-up about 8, event 10am-2 pm., St. Catherine May 25-27 (28th if needed) also needs to be confirmed by school.

In the Highlands of Scotland, a crofter's wife went into labour in the middle of the night, and the doctor was called to assist in the delivery.

To keep the nervous father-to-be busy, the doctor handed him a lantern and said, "Here, you hold this high so I can see what I'm doing."

Soon, a wee baby boy was born.

"Whoa there, Scotty!" said the doctor. " Don't be in a rush to put the lantern down. I think there's another wee one to come." Sure enough, within minutes he had delivered a bonnie lass.

"No, no, don't put that lantern down, lad," the doctor cried. "It seems there's another one besides!"

The crofter scratched his head in bewilderment. "Do you think," he asked the doctor, "it's the light that's attractin' them?"

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.

We have now also learned that the Brailtone casino will be Sunday, Oct 18th & Monday, Oct 19th/09. Forms and details available from Optpop.

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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 7:30PM
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 dates you are able to help. Last season we received about eight grand for this project.

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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:

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!

Edie McInnes

klaascus@telusplanet.net

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Upcoming AMS & NW Events & News

Congratulations to Optimist Helen Cardle who was inducted as new member on April 27. She is sponsored by Elsa Johnson. Helen is already active in the club and worked at the Beaver Bike Safety and at Bingo events. Please welcome Helen the next time you see her.

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Warren & Marion Loewen May 22^nd

Bill & Rhonda Dick June 25th

Amy Cooper June 7^th

Samantha Wallace June 18th

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:

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. Stay tuned for when the next meeting will be held.