By Sue Appleton/Secretary

The Optimist Club of Jasper started their new club year with an Installation Banquet held on Monday, September 23, 2013 at the Last Catch Seafood Restaurant.Mark Shriver, former President of Optimist International and a member of the Woodstock Optimist Club, was our special guest. Mark installed the new officers and provided insight on how Optimism affected his life and how living the Optimist creed can be a way of life personally and to help one’s community.

A special award called Builder of Excellence was presented to Judge Brenda Weaver for building a new Optimist Club in Blue Ridge, GA. Bruce Godfrey, out-going president of the club, recognized many in the club for their efforts in projects and their leadership on the board.

New club officers for 2013-2014 are Jim Kirk, President; Larry Starr, President-Elect, Dave Slade, Vice President; Bruce Godfrey, Past President; Bob Lewis, Treasurer and Sue Appleton, Secretary. Board members are Reeder Burch, Tom DiPuma, Olivia Hattan-Edwards, Kirk Kondos, Matt Moore and Paul Ray.

Each year the club holds three major fundraisers which provide funding for donations to children-oriented organizations and monies for the annual STAR banquet and scholarships as well as prize money for the Essay and Oratorical contests and more! In November, the Optimist Club of Jasper will be selling fresh Georgia pecans so be looking for them soon.

The mission of the Optimists is “bringing out the best in kids”. By working in the community with youth through our Junior Optimist clubs in the middle schools to supporting the Youth of the Month awards with the North Georgia Boys and Girls Clubs to our Annual Respect for the Law breakfast and more, the Optimist Club of Jasper makes a positive contribution to our community. If you are interested in being part of this dynamic service organization, we invite you to attend our breakfast meetings held the 1st and 3rd Thursday each month at 7:00 AM at Last Catch Seafood Restaurant as our guest. To learn more go to our website at www.jasperoptimist.blogspot.com and “like” us on Facebook!