NOON OPTIMIST CLUB OF JACKSON HONORED

The Noon Optimist Club of Jackson has earned the Honor Club and Distinguished Club Award from Optimist International for its community and you~ service efforts.

The Honor Club and Distinguished Club Awards recognize the club for achieving levels of excellence in youth service projects, membership growth, club administration, and community service involvement. Beverly Nelson served as president of the Optimist Club during the 1997-98 club year and accepted the award for the club. Nelson was presented a watch and a certificate by past President J. Wayne Smith of Optimist ~International

Thir~teen clubs in the East Missouri District earned the Distinguished Club status this past year. The Cape Girardeau Evening Optimist Club was also honored.

"These awards exemplify the highest level of service by an Optimist Club to its community. My sincere thanks and congratulations go out to this club on these great accomplishments," said Smith, who made the presentation during the East Missouri District convention Feb 6 in St. Louis. Noon Optimist Club members also attending the convention with Nelson~ were President Phyl~is Tallent and Board Members Chris McReynolds & Patty Reisenbichler.

The Jackson Noon Optimists also had the distinction of being the top club in the District for the 1997-98 club year. Since their organization in 1991, the Noon Optimist Club has been awarded Honor Club or Distinguished Club status on 3 other occasions under the leadership of past presidents Geneva Hartle, Marsha Thompson, and Mary Sue Oldham.~

Other awards received ~included first place honors in the Community Projects Awards for their "Safety City USA" program, as well as their annual "Kids Day in the Park" project. The Club was also recognized for their work in Community Service and the ABC (Always Buckle Children program).

The Jackson Club has also received two previous International awards for their Safety City USA project. Safety City was selected as the "Best Overall" in community project awards competition held among Optimist clubs worldwide in 1993. The project, which features safety classes held at Safety City USA (a miniatu~re child-sized town located in the Jackson City Park) also received a first place recognition in 1997.

The members of the Jackson Noon Optimist Club also sponsors numerous other youth projects which include "Little Indians Flag Football" as well as Girls Basketball. Their "Kids Day in the Park" project, held on the first Saturday in June each year, is their "Optimists in Action " project and always receives great response. More than 800 children enjoy this outdoor event each year, which features numerous game areas, face painting, safety displays and demonstrations, and finger painting done by the Jackson Police Dept. This event is free to the children of the Jackson/Cape area.

El~even clubs in the East Missouri District were honored by Smith for their outstanding achievements in membership. Clubs installing 12 or more new members during the '97-98 club year will receive a tree, symbolic of growth, to trees planted in a prominent place in their communities. Under the leadership of Ch~airperson Dixie Moore, the Jackson Noon Optimists enlisted 15 new members to achieve this recognition.

The East Missouri Dis~trict will be honored as the number one ~district in Optimist International at the conventions to be held July 4-7 in Toronto. Henry Adams of Jackson, a member of the Cape Girardeau Evening Optimist Club, served as governor of the East Missouri District for the 1997-98 club year.

Missouri Governor Mel Carnahan signed a proclamation designating Feb. 6 as ~Optim~ist Day~~~~~ in Missouri, to honor the Optimist Clubs for their service to the youths and communities in Missouri.

Optimist International is one of the world's largest and most active service club organizations, with over 150,000 members in 4,200 Optimist Clubs located worldwide Carrying the motto, ~Friend of Youth ~, the Optimist clubs conducted positive service projects which reach more than six million young people each year. The organization is made up of a group of volunteers whose focus is on the needs of today's youth.

Membership into the Optimist organization is usually by invitation. Anyone interested in membership should contact a member of one of the Optimist Club in the Jackson/Cape area.

"I would encourage anyone who has a special interest in the youth of our area to visit an Optimist Club and consider becoming a member," Nelson said. "The more members we have, the more youth we are able to serve."