CAPE EVENING OPTIMITS, FORMED IN 1926, WAS GIVEN AREA'S FIRST CHARTER

When the Optimist Club of Cape Girardeau received its charter several decades ago, it was the only group of its kind in the area.

Now, 65 years later, the Cape Evening Optimists are among five fellow clubs in the region, and Optimist growth never seemed more likely.

The club was organized in August of 1926 at the Terminal Cafe, Independence and Main. At that time, the population of Cape Girardeau was about 10,000, which led the club organizers to believe that the city could support another service club.

Optimism was officially born in Cape Girardeau in October of that year, when the club was chartered. Among those present at the ceremony were R.H. Limbaugh, Fred A. Groves, Alvin Macke and John F. Lilly.

One of the Evening Optimists' first projects was church league basketball, which the club still sponsors. Through the years, the club has been active in Youth Appreciation Week, Youth in Government Day, Respect for Law Programs and Operation Desert Shield/Storm Pen Pals.

They have donated $7,000 to the Help Them Hear program and have established Tot Lots in most city parks and a county park. They sponsor three Junior Optimist Clubs at the Cape Civic Center, Cottonwood and Group Home 17 and three Just Say No clubs at Washington, Jefferson and Clippard elementary schools.

One of the delegates the club sent to this year's Oratorical Contest won a $1,500 award.

"We do so many projects," said club President Bob Hafford, "so we end up in the top five of the clubs every year. That's one thing we're known for; we're very progressive when it comes to our activities."

Besides being the oldest local Optimist Club, the 80-member Cape Evening Optimist Club is also the most diverse, according to Hafford.

"We take great pride in diversity," said Hafford. "We moved from an all-white, male club from a few years ago to a more diverse club. Now we have both males and females, blacks, whites and Hispanics.

"You name it, we've got it."

Working with Hafford as officers of the club are vice presidents Greg Hutsell and Bill Ramsey and secretary/treasurer Allison Stiles. The Optimist Club of Cape Girardeau meets each Thursday at 6:30 p.m. at the Drury Lodge.