Washington County Girl Scout Christmas Breakfast

Michelle Wachsmuth

  Last Tuesday, Michelle Wachsmuth from the Washington County Girl Scout Christmas Breakfast visited to inform the Hillsboro Optimist Club of their big yearly event, their Christmas Breakfast!

    Christmas morning, volunteers will help feed families at the Hillsboro Community Senior Center. Families will also be given clothing that has been donated throughout the season, a box of food for those in need, and toys and gift cards for the children in their families.

    Volunteers are needed for several different tasks leading up to the big event on Christmas morning, and those interested in volunteering, or donating, can visit: www.christmas-breakfast.org for times and locations.

    The club will also be gathering clothing donations that will be collected by Michelle on Dec. 17th. At that time, the Club Board will also be presenting a donation check for their breakfast as well. Please make sure to attend and show your support.

Murphy’s Tree Lot Schedule Released!

Getting excited for the holidays? Have another reason to be cheery! Our annual support of Murphy’s Tree Lot is about to begin! On Tuesday, Kathy Hogan spoke to our club about the schedule for this year’s volunteering. Proceeds from the tree sales will once again go to the Hillsboro Boys and Girls Club.

    Two volunteers are needed for each shift, and volunteer dates that are still available are as follows: To sign-up for any of these shifts, please e-mail Sarah.

• Friday, November 29th, 4-7 p.m.
• OPEN
• Saturday, Nov. 30th, 4-7p.m.
• OPEN
• Sunday, Dec. 1, 10-1p.m. & 1-4p.m. & 4-7p.m.
• OPEN
• Friday, Dec. 6, 4-7p.m.
• OPEN
• Saturday, Dec. 7th, 4-7p.m.
• OPEN
• Sunday, Dec. 8th, 10-1p.m. & 1-4p.m. & 4-7p.m.
• OPEN
• Friday, Dec. 13th, 4-7p.m.
• OPEN
• Saturday, Dec. 14th, 10-1p.m. & 1-4p.m. & 4-7p.m.
• OPEN
• Sunday, Dec. 15th, 10-1p.m. & 1-4p.m. & 4-7p.m

District Meeting Holds Exciting News for New Year

The last week in October, members of the Pacific Northwest District of Optimist clubs met in Hood River to kick off the 2013-2014 Optimist year. From round-table sessions, to board meetings, great information was presented!

    Here are just a few of the great things to keep in mind for our new year:

Leaders at the District Meeting
(during the Halloween Party!)

• Our leaders have been chosen! The District Meeting was a great place to meet almost all of the District Committee Chairs as well as the Board of Directors. Members can contact these District leaders by visiting the District Website.

• The next District Meeting is a Regional Meeting taking place in Clackamas on February 1, 2014, attendance is $35 and includes lunch. Find out more here.
  
  
• Membership Challenge! Join other club members across the district in reaching 151 new members for the year against the current District Board of Directors! The prize is to be served by the losing team at the 4th Quarter Convention in Canyonville, OR.
  
  

• 

  'Dollar a Day' patch!

  Visiting from California, Vice President of the West Region - Bill Meyers - spoke at length on the importance of remembering why we are Optimists. Memorable words to live by, “In the end, what we do [as Optimists] is create memories.” and “Optimism is nothing if it’s not a call to action.”
  
  
• Our club also received a banner patch for donating ‘A Dollar A Day’ to the Optimist International Foundation. The ‘365’ patch was presented to President Kathy Jungels at the meeting.

Optimists take on Operation Christmas Child Once Again

For the second year in a row, Samaritan’s Purse members Gail and Andy Haboush visited the club to enlist help with Operation Christmas Child. Operation Christmas Child is a yearly program that sends shoe-box sized gifts to children in need around the globe.

    Individuals or groups pack the boxes with items for children that are age appropriate and sometimes a luxury, such as a toothbrush for a child in an orphanage that only has one toothbrush. Other items can be small toys, school supplies, socks, washcloths, soap, etc.

    This year the collection dates for completed boxes are Nov. 18-25th, and donations can be dropped off at either their Banks location (Banks Community United Methodist Church, 42451 NW Depot Street) or at their Hillsboro location (West Valley Community Church, 5215 NE Elam Young Parkway).

    The cost to ship the box to a child is $7 again this year, and if you pay for the shipping online here, they can let you print out a barcode that will be scanned, and the final destination country of your box will be provided to you.

     Optimist members interested in filling and shipping a box can pick up empty boxes at the Tuesday meetings, and bring them filled, to club member Sarah Newton on Tuesday, November 19th for delivery to the Hillsboro location that morning.

Spreading Hope with the Salvation Army

This week’s guest speaker, Lieutenant Jared Arnold of the Salvation Army, spoke to us about the different kinds of outreach and ministry the Salvation Army is known for world-wide as well as in Washington County.

     Arnold, an Arizona transplant with his wife Christina and their two children, works with the Hillsboro Salvation Army office. The local office is a ministry, providing church services, in addition to the food boxes, toys for the holidays, and holiday meal boxes for families in Washington County.

     This year, the Washington County Salvation Army location that Arnold works at, is trying to access at least 500 more families this year that are in further out areas of the county.

     Arnold reminded club members that they are, “Trying to feed the human need in the community.” Stating that the contact some recipients have with them might be the only contact they have all week.

     As for how the Hillsboro Optimist Club can help out, their yearly ‘kettle’ drive will begin the day after Thanksgiving, and makes up a significant portion of their funding for the rest of the year. Arnold suggests making an Optimist Day at a kettle where volunteers switch on and off all day and help raise money for the organization. Club members Tony Montes and President Kathy Jungels both showed interest in making this happen and will be contacting the volunteer coordinator for the Salvation Army.

    The ‘kettles’ are also a great way to give back directly to the community, with 98% of the funds used for social services, and only 2% being used for administrative costs.

    Optimists can also donate kettles by visiting the Salvation Army website, or they can volunteer directly by dropping in at the Hillsboro location and speaking with Arnold about ways they can help.

William Temple House West, In Need

Yesterday, Linn and Jack Pedersen visited from the William Temple House West. Linn Pedersen spoke about the needs of the program, and it’s mission.

    The William Temple House provides goods, mainly groceries, to those in need in Hillsboro and Washington County. Each Tuesday, between 650-950 pounds of food are delivered to their location at the All Saints Church in Hillsboro where volunteers shelve the items for those in need.

    With the cuts to the SNAP program looming, and restrictions already in place (can’t be used for toothpaste, toilet paper, etc.) the William Temple House West fills a vital hole in the lives of those that use their services.

    Donations can be made out to William Temple House West (At All Saints Episcopal Church, 372 NE Lincoln Street, Hillsboro Oregon 97124) or of food, school and household supplies. Donations can be dropped off at the church on Tuesdays between 4 and 7p.m.

                                 

(L to R): Linn and Jan Pedersen at Optimist meeting, Linn speaking to the club.

Photos Courtesy of Hillsboro Optimist Club member, Jack Thornton

2013-2014 Calendar and Committees to be selected

At last night’s Board Meeting, it was decided that the October Board Meeting would include committee member selection. If you are interested in spearheading one of our club programs, please contact incoming President Kathy Jungels for more information.

    The calendar for the year will also be reviewed, and a renewed search for a weekly meeting space is beginning. It was also reconfirmed that the monthly Board Meetings will now take place on the 2nd Wednesday of every month.

News in Brief:

• Judge Gayle Nachtigal is retiring from the Bench, after 22 years, on September 1.  She is a member and longtime guest of the Hillsboro Optimist Club.  A retirement party will be held on August 23 from 4-6:30pm at the Sheriff’s Office and all members are welcome.
• More sponsors and teams are still needed for the Annual Golf Tournament. Contact Kathy or George for more applications or donation request flyers.
• The 2013-2014 Officer Installation will take place on Saturday, September 28th. The location and time are yet to be determined. Those interested in helping may contact Club President Monte Akers.

August Respite before Special Olympics Frenzy

Last week, guest speaker Kathey Gidley, from Special Olympics of Oregon informed the club of all the available ways individuals can volunteer and support their organization.

    Each year over 8,000 volunteers contribute to the programs of Special Olympics of Oregon. From coaching a competitor through an event to helping with a one-time volunteer job, the people who help out make a huge difference in the lives of the competitors.

    The Special Olympics of Oregon currently offers three seasons of sports, fall, winter and summer, with activities ranging from golf to skiing to bowling. The program promotes good sportsmanship, humility and the value of teamwork in addition to promoting healthy and active lifestyles.

    

    Volunteering with the organization will, “Change you for life” says Gidley. Anyone interested in volunteering should visit their site at www.soor.org.   

PGDA Royalty visits Hillsboro Optimists

     Tuesday, Luis and Michelle Nava, amateur disc golfers from Beaverton joined the Hillsboro Optimist Club to talk about their upcoming PGDA championship.
     Luis and Michelle, brother and sister, are both joining disc golf players at the World Championship in Emporia, Kansas in July to compete for the title.
     Luis, a disc golfer who is about to turn pro, is very excited for the opportunity to play on a disc golf course of his dreams, and is excited to see how his little sister will compete.
     The Hillsboro Optimist Club board will be meeting this month to discuss possible funding opportunities for their trip.

Michelle and Luis Nava

More fun with the Bike Safety Fair!

For another year the Hillsboro Optimist Club volunteered with the Northwest Bicycle Safety Council at the Jackson School Elementary Bike Safety Fair, outfitting children with helmets and providing safe cycling information to families.

       

  

L to R: Member Bruce Buffington fitting helmets. Members of the Hillsboro Police Department, Det. Hahn, Brandy Gilbert and Juli Carrasco. Member Tammi Hilp with Beaverton Optimist Club members Susan and Rudy.

Big Thanks from WL Henry Elementary School

     Special guest Alison Paulus, Principal of WL Henry Elementary School expressed her thanks to the Hillsboro Optimist Club for their support of the school.

     The club recently finished a toy drive for the school, as well as helped with their SOLV Cleanup this past weekend.

 

(Top to Bottom): Club King Monte Akers, King Aker’s Minion Jack Thornton, and Principal Alison Paulus thanking the club for their continued support.

Youth Appreciation Day A Success

     The 2013 Youth Appreciation Day program, Co-Chaired by Club Secretary Tammi Hilp and Club member Mike Chapman was a big success with over 50 guests in attendance.

     Youth from four area middle schools were rewarded for their ‘all-around citizenship’. Nominations for the awards came from their teachers and principals. The program also contained a list of activities that the club does, but member Bill French explained our purpose well, “What do we do? Well, we bring out the best in kids.”

 2013 Youth Appreciation Day Winners

(Aubrey Ware, Ryan Hall, Grant Macgregor, Cameron Ferrante, LauraTuffli, Mariana Godinez,

Sabrina Nemec, Hannah Hawthorne, Kellyn Poe, Caila SurrettBrown,

Michaela Truesdale,

Marlene Vera and Ramon Mercado.)

Help one of the 4,000 kids in need in Washington County...

Today’s guest speaker, Elaine Underwood, Volunteer Recruiter for CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) educated the club on the work that is done in Washington County on behalf of children in need.

    CASA was specifically designed in the 1970s by a judge that wanted there to be an advocate for the wants and needs of children in the judicial system. Different from a child’s attorney that is obligated to advocate on behalf of the child’s rights by law, CASA volunteers advocate for what the child might want/need personally.

    “When a child is in foster care, there is state statute that says that each child has an advocate, but it’s an unfunded mandate,” said Underwood.

   That’s where the important work of the CASA volunteers comes into play. Each year new advocate volunteers go through 30-hours of training and make a 2-year commitment to see court cases and events in the life of a child through to a happy conclusion. Each advocate is given one case, which could mean one child, or a group of children, and follow them through the court process of settling into foster care.

    The funding that CASA does receive helps to pay for paid supervisors for the CASA advocates. Training of new advocates occurs every few months.

    “Being a CASA advocate is the most challenging, yet rewarding volunteer program you’ll ever be in,” said Underwood.

    To become an advocate, or find out other ways to help CASA, contact Elaine Underwood at eunderwood@casahelpskids.org or by calling (503) 846 - 8309.

Tuesday Marketplace Volunteer Hours Confirmed

     Once again the Hillsboro Optimist Club members will be volunteering their time for the Hillsboro Tuesday Marketplace. Starting Tuesday, June 11, and ending Tuesday, August 27th, club members will serve as alcohol monitors. Six club members will be stationed at the entrances, from 6:15 to 8:45. They are charged with not allowing people to leave with open containers of alcohol and to act as representatives of the Marketplace and answer questions, etc.
     At the end of the season the club will get a check for $2,500, which goes into the general fund. Volunteers can sign-up with Steve MacKenzie. Reminders of the volunteering will be posted on Facebook along with a map of the volunteer locations.

Market map for volunteering.

St. Patrick’s Weekend of Volunteering a Success!

Optimist Club members showed support for their community, with volunteers at the Shamrock Run Registration Event on Friday, and then club building at the Murphy’s Furniture St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Hillsboro.

  

Treasurer Chris Knight with Award for Most Irish Vehicle! (L to R): Board Member Tony Montes, Treasurer Chris Knight, Club Member Sarah Newton, Club President Monte Akers, and Club Member Neal Knight at the St. Patrick’s Day Parade. (L to R): Board Member Dennis Sprague, Board Member Tony Montes, Club Member George Young, and Club Member Harold Baesler.

Making a difference, “as simple as a can opener”

    Last week’s guest speaker, Ron McDonald, President of the Hillsboro Society of St. Vincent DePaul spoke about the needs of the organization and the benefits that club members can feel by helping those in need through volunteering and donating to the organization.

    The Hillsboro location is run ‘grocery store’ style, with donated items on shelves that those in need can choose from. The donated items that are needed are non-perishable foods, furniture, toiletries, and personal care items.

     To find out more information, call the Hillsboro location at (503) 693-7528.

Butternut Creek Elementary girls are on the RUN!

This year, the Hillsboro Optimist Club will be teaming up with the GOTR (Girls on The Run) through Butternut Creek Elementary to sponsor girls running in the Starlight Parade this summer. Funds for the girls were approved at the February 27 Board Meeting, a $600 contribution from the club.

Lindsey Akers, GOTR Coach at Butternut Creek Elementary is also looking for volunteers to help cheer the girls on at practices, prepare gifts for the girls at the end of the campaign, and assist with their fundraising. More enthusiastic volunteers will also be needed to be running-buddies with the girls for the parade. They are looking for women runners that would be willing to practice with and run with the girls for the run this summer.

The Hillsboro Optimist Club is full of excited volunteers and benefactors, club member Fred Nachtigal has offered to pay the club $100 if club Sergeant-At-Arms John Meek will also run with the girls in June, and not come in last place. John happily agreed to start training. For more information, contact Club President Monte Akers.

Take a Swing at the Annual Golf Tournament!

 Teams for the Annual Hillsboro Optimist Golf Tournament will be able to sign-up soon, with applications coming from Kathy Jungels, Optimist Club Vice-President and Golf Tournament Chairperson.
    This year's tournament will be held at the Forest Hills Golf Course on September 21st. The goal for the club this year is to get at least 20 teams playing. If you are interested in either volunteering or getting an application, please contact Kathy Jungels.

Scholarship Season!

The deadline for the 2013 John Bareis Essay Contest has been set for February 18th. If you or someone you know needs an application, you can download one by clicking on this link: LINK.
     Don't forget that the winners will receive a cash prize, with the first place winner advancing to the PNWD competition, with a larger scholarship prize available.
     The 2013 Oratorical Contest is also approaching, with the deadline April 1, 2013. The speeches will be given and judged on Saturday, April 6, 2013. Winners will also receive cash prizes, with the opportunity to advance to the PNWD competition with a larger prize as well. The application can be found here: LINK.