Welcome to Our Club!
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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
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