CITY BREAKFAST CLUB MEETS EARLY

Many people have trouble maintaining their optimism at 6:30 in the morning, but members of the Breakfast Optimist Club of Cape Girardeau don't seem to mind early meetings.

The Breakfast club's meeting time makes it unique among its area counterparts.

"With the hustle and bustle and family affairs of everyday life," said club President Kinsey Russell, "the time we meet gives an opportunity to take part in a service club to people who might otherwise not have had the time."

The club was founded in May of 1956, when 29 early risers met at the old Idan-Ha Hotel to organize the group under the sponsorship of the Cape Evening Optimists. Its charter banquet was held in July of the same year.

One of the club's first endeavors was to install a second-hand popcorn machine in Capaha Park for baseball games. Proceeds from the popcorn sales were used to support club projects.

As the club's membership has grown, so too has the number of its activities. Among the many undertakings of the Breakfast Optimists are a fishing rodeo, essay and oratorical contests and Salvation Army bell ringing.

The club also takes part in Safety Village, sponsorship of a Cub Scout pack and a girl's softball team, sending delegates to Boys' State, D.A.R.E., child identification programs and a Just Say No club at May Greene elementary school.

"We've held closely with to the Optimist International premise `Friend of Youth,'" said Russell. "All of our ongoing activities are related to young people of the community."

The club holds a spaghetti dinner each fall and a speedball contest each summer at Riverfest to support its activities.

The club first earned the Optimist International honor of Distinguished Club in 1967, under the presidency of William Winkler. It has been awarded the honor several times since and has been named Honor Club on numerous other occasions.

Other officers of the club are secretary/treasurer Terry Tuschoff and president-elect Finley Maddox. The club meets at 6:30 a.m. each Monday at the Drury Lodge.