RECORD NUMBERS OF PEOPLE ATTEND KIDS IN PARK DAY

Jackson Optimists sponsored their annual Kids Day at Jackson City Park's Safety City.

Two, ever-popular trampoline-like castles were available as well as games, hot dogs, chips and soda.

Also available for the children were a smokehouse for children to learn what to do if a fire occurs, a play area for romping by Main Street Fitness, games of all kinds, face-painting, a remote-controlled ambulance, and an inflatable policeman.

Optimist Club member Bev Nelson said more than 1,300 children and their families attended the June 9 event.

"We had a record number in attendance this year," she said.

Many grandparents came equipped with lawn chairs and sat in the shady areas while their grandchildren were amused.

The Optimist organization had its beginnings in 1919 and has steadily grown to be one of the world's largest service groups. There are 119,000 Optimist members in 3,600 communities in the United States. Active Optimist clubs can be found in 19 countries.

This year, Optimists will conduct more than 60,000 projects that will help 6 million children and teens. These community service projects give Optimist members a chance to make a real difference in the lives of children. As a role model, mentor, leader, teacher or friend, Optimists help children develop a more positive attitude, gain self-confidence and encourage them to "be all they can be" in order to reach their full potential.

Optimists believe children are the nation's greatest assets and in working with these children, Optimists help build a better tomorrow.

Locally, there are 105 Optimist Club members in the two clubs. The Optimist Club of Jackson, in existence for more than 60 years, meets Tuesday nights at the Knights of Columbus Hall. The Noon Optimist Club meets at noon Wednesdays at Delmonico's.

Both clubs are very active in the community and conduct a variety of projects for children each year.

Optimist Club members volunteer countless numbers of hours teaching bicycle safety, conducting fishing rodeos, sponsoring girls and boys basketball clinics, wrestling programs, organizing golf tournaments, awarding scholarships, conducting essay and oratorical contests, as well as participating in other community-sponsored events.

As a "Friend of Youth," Optimists think they can be that someone.

To learn more about the Optimist organization, visit the Web site at www.optimist.org.

For information about the local clubs, contact LaDonia Beggs, president of the Jackson Noon Optimist Club, or Billy Joe Thompson Jr., president of the Optimist Club of Jackson.