OPTIMISTS LOOK BACK AND AHEAD

Special awards: President Dick Decker presented three special awards as he concluded his year as president. Special honors went to Lester Maevers, Leonard Bodenschatz and (not pictured) Robert "Red" Clifton. Jackson USA Signal/Mark Evans

Oath: The 2000-2001 slate of Jackson Optimist Club officers were sworn in Tuesday night by incoming Missouri East District Governor Ben Bradshaw. Jackson USA Signal/Mark Evans

After highly praising the continued accomplishments of the Jackson Optimist Club, long-time Optimist International staff member Ben Bradshaw encouraged members to "do just a little bit more" in the coming year.

Bradshaw, the incoming Missouri East District governor, who served on the staff of Optimist International 1967-1997, was keynote speaker at the Jackson Optimists' annual installation dinner Tuesday.

"I hope that we might do in the coming year, just a little bit more," he encouraged the large crowd. "You have been fantastic representatives of human beings standing up and being counted in your community. Don't get tired. Don't develop the attitude Ive done that.' Do a little bit more for those kids out there. Do a little more so this club can be a little greater than it has been."

Bradshaw, active in local Optimist clubs in Idaho as a business owner, returned to active club leadership following his retirement from Optimist International in 1998. (An unwritten law discourages staff members from holding elected positions.) He served as lieutenant governor 1998-99, governor elect 1999-2000 and will be governor this year.

"In 31 years on staff, I never missed a a day and never had a day without joy and gladness of belonging to such an organization," Bradshaw said.

He noted that the international organization with more than 122,000 members "holds highly the accomplishments of our clubs who have served so long and so well."

The Jackson club was organized in 1939 and has been highly lauded for its efforts in behalf of local youth ever since. Bradshaw quoted Dizzy Dean's famous mantra, "It ain't braggin' if you can do it," and urged members to "start bragging" on the accomplishments of the club.

Meanwhile, local leadership changed hands for the 61st consecutive year. Billy Joe Thompson, Jr. -- whose father, Bill Thompson, was 1969-1970 president -- was sworn in as the club's new leader. He replaced President Dick Decker.

"I've been following the Optimists since I was 10 years old," Thompson said, recalling helping his father and others siphon water from the bleacher footings during the construction of the current Leonard Sander Field near the armory in the 1950s. "We're gonna go forward, no doubt. We have a lot of places to go."

"I know we're going to have a great year, here in Jackson," said Don Sievers. "I've met great Optimists all over the world and have always bragged on the clubs in Southeast Missouri."

"The state of the Jackson club is strong," Decker said. "I've enjoyed experiencing the willingness of the members to volunteer and step forward to do whatever they could to make events and activities a success. I thank the members for a smooth and successful year and for the support I've received."

Decker presented special awards to Lester Maevers, Leonard Bodenschatz and Robert "Red" Clifton for contributions made to the club during the past year. He also expressed confidence in Thompson.

"He has the energy and the enthusiasm and is at the right age to be able to propel us into the next year," he said. "We have the potential to have the greatest year in he history of the Jackson Optimist Club."

The rest of the slate of new officers featured Internal Vice President Mike Rice; External Vice President Tim Gutwein; secretary Tim Maevers; Treasurer Mike Gantz; Seargant-at-Arms Mike Ruppel; and Chaplain Walt Pierce. New board members are Tom Anderson, John Kenner, Larry Huter, Steve Sebaugh, Clifton and Bodenschatz.

Outgoing officers were Decker; Internal Vice President Wayne Maupin; Secretary Chris Hutson and Chaplain Larry Nowak. Gantz and Gutwein are retaining their 1999-2000 offices.

Perfect attendance pins were also given out. Hutson noted that he went ahead and ordered a pin for Nowak, former Jackson mayor, who died this year. He would have had 49 years perfect attendance. Those with 40 or more years of perfect attendance were Arnold Strickert (47) and Richard Lewis (41).

Prior to the meeting, the members and guests were entertained by the Jackson High School Ensemble, led by Jean Schweain.