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FUND RAISERS:  In addition to dues, the Club raises funds through the Don McVaney Memorial Golf Tournament, pancake breakfast, and other fund raisers.

YOUTH FOUNDATION:  The Club established the Youth Foundation to receive and disburse funds for youth and community activities in the metropolitan area.  Club members are elected to serve on its board.  The foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization, and contributions to the foundation are tax deductible.

ACTIVITIES:

·        Oratorical and Essay Contests – Annually, middle and high school students participate in contests at the club and district levels.  The local competition is held at a club meeting with the winners receiving medals.  Winners at the club level go onto the district contest where the district winners  receive college scholarships.

·        Students of the Month – Each quarter the Club recognizes selected students from Western Hills Magnet School, Lewis and Clark Middle School, and Marian High School.  The sponsoring faculty member at each school introduces the students and their parents to the members at a regularly scheduled weekly meeting.

·        Academic Decathlon – In addition to providing financial support for this activity through the Youth Foundation, the Club joins other Optimists around the state in providing volunteers for the regional and state level competitions occurring in January and February of each year.  The Nebraska Academic Decathlon is the only Optimist-sponsored state decathlon in the country.  Club members also serve on the board of the Nebraska Academic Decathlon Foundation.

·        Scouting –Boy Scout Troop 402 and Cub Scout Pack 549 have been chartered to the club since 2005 and Cub Scout Pack 402 has been charted to the club since 2010 by the mid America Council, Boy Scouts of America.  Members of the club work with Scouting units and the club provides some financial support .              

·        Childhood Cancer Campaign – The Club joins other Optimist clubs through the Metro Area Youth Foundation (MAYF) to raise money annually for the support of the families of children with cancer.  MAYF works with the staff of the Pediatric Oncology Unit at the University of Nebraska Medical Center and the Hematology and Oncology Clinic at Children’s Hospital to identify families in need.  Funds are also provided to Camp CoHoLo and Camp Quality Heartland.

·        Salvation Army Tree of Lights Campaign – Each year in November or December, Club members volunteer time to ring bells and encourage shoppers to donate to Salvation Army.  For several yeas the scouting units chartered to the Club has assisted with this.   Members also make personal contributions on behalf of the Club.

·        Respect for Law – Each May the Club honors someone within the Omaha community for their work, good deeds, or other activities promoting respect for law.

·        Club Member Programs – Fun and fellowship characterize Club meetings and events.  Birthdays and professional achievements are recognized, and a weekly drawing provides members with an opportunity to win cash while at the same time raising money for the Youth Foundation.  Members receive recognition for their work on Club projects, activities promoting the purposes of Optimism, or sponsoring new members by selection at Optimist of the Month or Optimist of the Year.

PAST  PROGRAMS:

Jerry Spencer - The History of Ak-Sar-Ben                                Thomas Warren – Urban League of Nebraska

Margo Ricks - Better Business Bureau                                       Shere Ireland - - Architect - Burlington Station Renovaton

Susan Toohey – Marian High School                                          Lt Col Sarah Cleveland - Offutt AFB - Public Affairs

Andrea Skolkin – One World Community Health Center   Jean Stothert – Mayor City of Omaha

Trev Alberts – UNO, Athletic Director                                       Rosalie Shepherd – Alzheimer Association

Dr Shawn Gibbs - UNMC Biocontainment Unit                      Andrea Zardetto Smith – UNMC, Brain Research

Linda Dugan - VP Global Operations, PayPay                         Todd Snell - Nebraska Ethanol Board

Rick Cunningham – City Planning Director                                Shane Farritor – UNL, Miniature Surgical Robotics

Herb Hames – College World Series                                          Beverly Kracher – Alliance for Business Ethics

Dana Markel – Omaha Convention and Visitors Bureau  Brent Rasmussen - Paraolympics

Bridget Bloom – UNO, Islamic Studies                                       Patrice Slaven – Omaha Parks and Recreation

CLUB ADDRESS:

Optimist Club of Omaha

P.O. Box 390793

Omaha, NE 68139-0793