NEW BINGO HALL FOR OSHAWA OPTIMIST RE-KINDLES THEIR FUTURE

July 15, 2009

OSHAWA, July 14:- It was a long day that ended at 1:30 am as the Oshawa Optimist Club returned to Bingo after a six month layoff. Recently the Oshawa Optimist where accepted and approved by the Red Barn venue to operate monthly after their 28  year old venue at Whitby’s Hideaway hall closed it’s doors officially on January 31st.

The Optimist members where  accepted the Red Barn. Despite being forced to work  late night games. We’re the new kids on the block said president Optimist  Petrina Perrineau and we must accept what we can get. “We require this revenue outlet” continued Perrineau as the club is broke and living on a shoestring. Without bingo the Oshawa Optimist where considering folding. At present the Oshawa club are raffling off the General Motors ‘09 Vibe in support of their 26th annual Christmas Food Hampers/Toy deliveries for needy Oshawa families on Dec. 20th as selected and screened by the Salvation Army.

Working our first bingo where Perrineau, Stephen Hambley who had to be at work early this morning while John Zarowny and Jim Shaw are both retired.Both Zarowny and Shaw where mainstays at another Optimist community project at the annual Downtown Oshawa Side Walk Sale thus creating lack of sleep for this quartet.

Procedures  at the Red Barn are slighly different by comparision to the Whitby Bingo’s. A night’s end the final tally was a mere $1.00 short. Next Oshawa Bingo goes on Monday, July 17th.

OSHAWA OPTIMIST BACK IN BINGO BUSINESS STARTING JULY 14

June 15, 2009

Oshawa, June 15:- Over one hundred and eigfhy days will have pasted since the Optimist Club of Oshawa Inc members have operated a Ontario Lottery Bingo,

A pioneer in the bingo business since 1982 operating out of Whitby’s Hideaway Hall located with in the LeGala Banquet Hall (Lower Level) the hall closed it’s doors on Januart 31st citing a variety of reasons for the closure.

Since February lst, Jim Shaw Oshawa Optimist Bingo chair considers his club has lost ove $10K of pooling revenue. Those funds where designed to support the Oshawa Optimist mandate being a Friend of Youth. The final pooling cheque received for working the January Bingo’s was just over $2,000.00. As of to-day our bingo account was closed with $3.65 remaining. A new bingo account will be opened at the Auto Workers Credit effective July lst.

Frank Sobil the Red Barn (Oshawa) Charities president informed the Oshawa club of their official acceptance effective July lst. Oshawa Optimist had official applied for a Oshawa license back in February. Oshawa Optimist have been alloted three scheduled seesions (one per month) commencing Tuesday July 14th. This will be followed bt Monday, August 17th, and Tuesday September 22nd. Our initial license covers a three month period compared to the familiar six month contract in Whitby. The initial license has the Oshawa Optimist operating from 10:15 pm till midnight. Volunteers will be requested to appear before 9:15 pm. for duty instructions.

Despite the reduction in alloted dates in comparsion to the Hideaway venue, Oshawa chair person Jim Shaw remarked “it’s better than having NO BINGO – at lease we will have revenue coming in’

OSHAWA OPTIMIST BACK IN THE BINGO BUSINESS?

June 11, 2009

OSHAWA, June 08 - A positive sign has finally hit the Optimist Club of Oshawa Inc members. We could be back in the Bingo Business.

The Oshawa club main fundrasiser weekly bingo at the Hideaway Bingo Hall ceased operation on Jan 31, 2009. The Whitby venue has been home for weekly Bingo’s since 1982 and the lost of revenue has hurt the sponsorship of Youth and Community events. We lost an estimated $10,000.00 in charity revenue said Bingo Optimist Bingo chair Jim Shaw. That lost money has resulted on cut-back or  elimination on the sponsorship agenda for this summer.

Earlier this week Freda Baldson offered a tentative verbal approval for the Oshawa entry at the Red Barn venue in Oshawa to operate once a month bingo’s commencing July 2009.  Thats a major drop inbingo  events however it allows the Oshawa Optimist a fresh starting on the road to recover At the present time the Oshawa Bingo account stands at a lowly $3.65 the lowest point ever in the club was formed on July 22, 1982.

Current plans call for all the Whitby clubs to transferred to either Oshawa or Pickering Bingo Halls. This would result in only two bingo halls within Durham Region from a previous high of upwards to twenty. The  Oshawa/Pickering agreement calls for a two year contract and will be reviewed by the Ontario Lottery and Game Commission in 2011.

Offical Oshawa approval will become officials once they produce a “Letters Patten” signed agreement that was produced in 1982  the  year the club was formed. This is a  Ontario government document and without  the cooperation of Oshawa/Whitby MPP Jerry Ouellette  this number document 623686  couldn’t be located. We expected this information will be  dispatched to the Oshawa officials in time to meet the June 30th deadline. Seems no current members  new the whereabouts of this document. An advance cost of $155.00 was charged  to conduct the search.

OTW REPORTER FOLLERT SAYS OCO SUFFERS WITHOUT BINGO

April 26, 2009

PUBLISHED BY OTW (Metroland) On April 22

OSHAWA- When the Optimist Club of Oshawa got its start in 1982, it had more than 100 members.

Today there are a dozen who keep things going.

It’s not a new story- service clubs every where have seen their numbers decline as original members age and few young people come on board as replacments.

At the end of January, the bingo hall in Whitby, where the club hosted its fundraiser games closed its doors.

They’ve tried to replace the funds with euchre parties, “but the proceeds don’t come close”

Club spokesman Jim Shaw said bingo was their biggest source of income, bringing in funds required to accomplish their youth and community requirements. Shaw estimates at least $3,000 in funding has been since the closing at the Hideaway Bingo Hall. Shaw continued saying the Optimist require roughly $50,000. a year to keep the Optimist program afloat.

“There is jyust no way we can make up the money” said Mr. Shaw. who is a past president and current club treasurer. “We have to beg, borrow and steal” to remain solvent. And we’re going to have to cut back or elimate our various events.

The Oshawa Club of Oshawa sums up its mandate in three words. “Friend Of Youth” The club operates numerous Youth and Community programs averaging about one per month including the quarter century old, Christmas Food Hampers and Toys deliveries to 100 needy Oshawa families, eliminatary school pancake breakfasts, various sports tournaments, Durham College Athletic Scholarship, annual CCDHH Contests, Wado Kai Karate annual tournament, Blast Ball for Youth ages 3 to 10 just to mention a few.

“All events are vital and import” to the community and with fundraising it’s going to hurst our community as a whole says Shaw. We use to issuing complete scholarships but in rececent years we’ve be reduced a mini dollar amount.

“There is just no way we can make up the money from Bingo Profits” say OCO Jim Shaw”

In an effort to make ends meet, the Oshawa club is seeking new fundraisers until their application to operate Bingo is Oshawa is approved.At  present their application is hung up in “City Red Tape”

From May 8 thru the 10th the Optimist Members will be hosting their first ever Lob-Ball fundraising tournament at the historic Alexandrs Park.  Alexandra Park is the orginal home of softball in Oshawa. OCO are seeking 16 entries. To enter a team the cost is $270.00 with a guarantee of 3 games. Also included in the price is the famous Opti-style team breakfast on Saturday, May 9th. Game day bottled water and a batboy (girls) will be supplied to each upon request.

Another fund raiser is a huge Euchre downtown tournament during the annual downtown Oshawa sidewalk sale operating from July 15 to the 18th, a major undertaking is a car raffle is on the drawing board.

OTW Photo Located At: http://newsdurhamregion.com/article/124062

DOOR OPENS FOR POSSIBLE BINGO RETURN BY MAY 1ST

February 20, 2009

WHITBY, Feb 19: The door was opened for the possible return of Bingo for the Optimist Club of Oshawa and the other 34 charities who had operated at the Hideaway Hall located  in the lower level of LaGala Banquet hall venue.

Binod Singh owner/operator of that establishment informed the  crowd representating 28 of the 35  charities he could re-open as early as next week providing he receives approval from Charities steering committee headed by Judith Barker.

He caution  those in attendance his immediate plans call for  a new smaller location at 1650 Dundas Street East  (The front half only of the old Cherney Furniture) on May lst, 2009. Singh’s opening statements stated he attempted to receive prior approvalto the Thursday meeting  from the Charities Association  but received no response.

Bingo’s stopped operating  on January 31st. Mr. Singh  informed said ” his reason was three  fold, first he wasn’t turning a profit,  secondly he had an offer from a unnamed purchaser to buy the venue and his creditors wanted to forclose”. The proposed sale eventually fell through.

The Hideaway’s operated with 16,000 square feet while the proposed  venue would be between 5 to 8,000 square feet and would house a estimated 200 players. “With the moved to a smaller site  the hall operating cost would be reduced from 40 to 50 percent compared to the former location” said Singh.

Paul Jones representing the Town  of Whitby said “he could see of any problem with zoning  providing the renovations meet the standards”.

Chairman, Jones, stated openly “that the riff that exists between the Hall operator and the Charities Steering Committee must cease for a larger profit, furthermore both groups must  trust each other. He provided a comparision chartciting the difference in  profits with other G.T.A. operated  halls.

GTA Halls                                                           Hideaway Hall (Dec 2008)

Wager $3.8 m                                                   Wager $930,000

Prizes Awarded $2.9 m                                 Prizes Awarded $785.00

Gross Profit  $0.9M                                          Gross Profit  $145.000

The marjority of charities spokespeople  remarked in this open forum that they really didn’t trust the operator as he’s provided only broken  promises in the past.

In December 2008 the local charities each received $237.03 per event worked. The 35 charities share the profits equally on a monthly basis. It was reported the January profit sharing cheques where  in the mail however $28,000.00  remains  unpaid by the hall operator to the charities.  In the monthly revenue cheques the charities also  receive a share from the canteen sales/ B.O.T. tickets operated by the Hall.

A 19-9-vote in favour of the Bingo’s to resume has  provided approval for  Mr. Singh to re-open providing he  can supply a detailed workable  business plan.

In attendance was Gary White and Jeff Longhurst representing  the Provinicial Gambling Association.

The Oshawa Optimist have been operating bingo’s  since 1982 at the Hideaway the use the profits to support their mandate bing a “Friend Of Youth”  and community projects.  They are one of five pioneer  Bingo Charities still operating in Whitby.

BINGO MAY BE RENEWED – SPECIAL MEETING FEB 19

February 16, 2009

Whitby Feb 19: The membership of the Optimist Club of Oshawa remain Optimistic that Bingo maybe renewed afterall.

A special meeting has been called for all Charties who operated Bingo at the Hideaway Bingo Hall location at 65 Sunray Street in Whitby have been invited to attend a meeting on Feb 19th at 7:00 pm. Binod Singh the official license holder of Bingo’s in Whitby wants to talk about a possible new location in the municipality.

The Oshawa club have been 28 year supportor of the Whitby location bingo’s and have used that revenue to support their Youth & Community activies in past. The Hideway Hall ceased operations, closely their doors after the January 31st events.

This meeting will conducted at the Town Of Whitby Municipal Building located at 575 Rossland Rd. East in Whitby.

The agenda will contain the following subjects”

(1) Status of relocation of the Bingo Hall – Binod Singh

(2) Is there interest in options other than Bingo? (IE-Break Away Tickets)

(3) What will be different at a new location? What measures can be taken to:

(A) Improve the relationship between the Hall Owner/operaor and Charties Association

(B) Ensure Profitability

(4) Survey of Charities to see if they will continue with Bingo – Town of Whitby

(5) Other Matters

(6)Adjournment.

RUMOUR BECOMES REALITY – BINGO DOORS WILL CLOSE JAN 31

January 30, 2009

WHITBY, Jan 31st- The endless rumouirs became a reality with the announcement the Hideaway Bingo Hall will be closing it’s doors to-night.Daily bingo have been operated by the Sunray Charities Association in conjunction the hall management. The official verbal announcement was made by Bill Lewis the veteran Hall Manager on Wednesday during the matinee session operated by the Optimist Club of Oshawa membership. A total of 35 charities will be effective from the closing.

The Oshawa Optimist have operated bingos for the past twenty eight years at the Hideaway. When the LaGala Banquet Hall officially opened the Oshawa club where one of the five organizations to move from the Garrard Road/Highway 2 location to 65 Sunray Street. just north of the AMC theatre complex.

“It is a difficult pill to swallow” remarked Optimist Bingo chair Jim Shaw when the announcement was made.

Our club have realied heavily on the bingo revenue serving our mandate being a “Friend Of Youth” and serving the community of Oshawa. Shaw continued saying “bingo has a major part of our Optimist life and has served as our main fundraiser for other a quarter of a century”.

With revenue secured from Bingo the Oshawa Optimist averaged one major project serving the Youth and Communty including the major project the annual Christmas Food Hampers & Toy deliveries for one hundred needy Oshawa families. On Dec 21st, 2008 marked the 25 anniversary for this event.

For the first 28 years, the Oshawa Optimist operated on alternative Saturday evening having a “prime-time”" spot. The OCO requested to switch time slots from Saturday to back to back bingo’s on Wednesday

effective January lst, 2009. As a result the club gained six additional bingo’s per month now operating the AM-Moosehead sessions followed by the noon hour matinee, The extra revenue secured from the six bingo bingo created needed revenue for their monthly events. Attendance woes have prevailed as the crowds have been unbelievable low. For example during the month of January 2009 less than 400 patrons in total attended nine separate bingos.  Prior to revenue sharing the Oshawa club use to average 300 players per session. As a results revnues have been dropping steadil and the Optimist Club have either had to eliminate or reduce the number of projects.Bingo have always been our staple fundraiser.

Many reasons can be cited for the closing. The government non-smoking rule in public buildings, competition from nearby Casinos, goverment interferance, the poor local ecomony just to mention a few.

Ajax, Brooklin, Oshawa and Whitby Optimist Club are affected by the closing.
Endless financial details remain unaswered and the Town of Whitby. Hideaway Management and our Sunray Charities Association are planning for a possible alternative location and have meeting planned.

Binod Singh the owner of the Bingo Hall has expressed a desire to re-open a new Hall at a yet unnamed location. However the only address currently zone for bingo in Whitby is at the Sunray location according to Judith Barker president of the Charities Association. Should a new location be found than an amendement for re-zoning would be required remarked Ms. Barker in an official statement release to the member clubs.

 

ANOTHER GORDON WINS MONDAY NITE OPTIMIST EUCHRE

January 27, 2009

OSHAWA, Jan 26th.  It’s back to back victories for the Gordon family at the  weekly Monday Nite Euchre sponsored by th Optimist Club of Oshawa membership at Johnny’s Original Eatery.  Another superb crowd who support this event in aid of “Youth Actives” watched  Marilyn Gordon work her magic scoring 77 points including four lone hand efforts for a first place finish. It was Marilyn’s first appearance of the year. She arrived all pumped up – sporting a new hair style and nifty new glasses.  She freely admitted after her triumph she came to prove to her husband Gus that  should match his win of 85 points recorded on Jan 19th.  In the past  Marilyn played Optimist Euchre  on alternative Monday’s  as she supports a Bridge events on the similiar evening.

It was a tight triumph as Ms. Gordon outlasted runner-up Donald Richardson at 74, the fast improving Isle Gilchrist 73, veteran Ronald Hele at 72 while Pat Gunter and Steve Street finished deadlocked both with 71 points.  For her  effort she pocketed $20.00 in Opti-Cash.

Meanwhile the youngest player Stevie Milosh took home a bottle of Optimist Napa Valley Wine after posting the most lone hands during the evening’s ten games. He nailed five solo efforts giving him 31 on the year. He is in a three way tie with Ruth Bell and Greg Bamber who missed play while enjoying a well deserved Caribbean vacation this week. Ronald Hele tops all players with the most lone hands for the season. The defending champion now has 40. Last season he posted 66 covering 24 games played. George Hagerty retained his runnerup-position with 36.

Donna Flammino continues to hold the top rung with the best percentage for players who have played  more than 12 weeks. She boast a marvellous 70.1%, Only 4 percentage points separate the top ten including George Hagerty 68.3%, Greg Bamber 67.9%, Miles Richardson and Frank Kavanagh both with 67.7%, Eric Goodwin and Ruth Bell have 67.6%, Margaret Conway has slipped to 67.5%,  vastly improving Pat Gunter stands at 66.5% and Pat Brooks rounds out this select list with 66.1%

Tid Bits... Likeable Norma Hubbell finally won a 50/50 payday. She collected $56.00 . After 17 weeks this draw has a YTD payoff of $823.00. …. Perfect attendance after 17 weeks of action has John and Pat Brooks Gary Fossum, George Hagerty, Jimmy Shaw, Margie Ross, Neil Metcalf, Pat “Baba” Passfield and Kevin Woodcock with unblemished records…. Is there a marriaga in the future??? while maybe.  Wendy Dupont received a promise ring last week from her suitor Kevin Woodcock. At Euchre she couldn’t remove the smile from her face… Four new 1,000 point members players jhave joined this  select list are Gary Fossum, Eric Goodwin, Ronald Hele, and Neil Metcalf…. Happy Upcoming Birthday wishes to Jay Kimble. Her big day is Thurs. Feb. 5th

BINGO ATTENDANCE WOES CONTINUE FOR OPTIMISTS

January 22, 2009

Whitby, Jan 21. For the third consecutive week reduced attendance prevailed at the Wednesday back to back Optimist Club of Oshawa sponsorsed Bingo’s.  This marks another week of low end support from the patrons.Less than 100 for both events.

At the Moosehead 10 am just 14 paying customers appeared followed by another patron shortfall of 73 for the 12 noon matinee series of games.  In  the last three weeks, covering six bingos  less than 300players  have attended.

The Optimist Club of Oshawa like the other 35 charities who sponsor/operator  events at the Whitby Hideway Hall  are feeeling the pinch. All  organizations use the Bingo  fundraisering to support their associations/club activies. Since pool sharing was adopted over a year the Oshawa payoff has dropped nearly 85 percent in net profit. This will  force the OshawaOptiist  to seek other avenues of fundraising to support their mandate of being sponsor of Oshawa Youth and Community projects. Without the required cash many long term events will have to be drastically reduced or completely eliminated as the local economy has hit a bottom.

At the 10 am Moosehead gross receipts resulted with $307.00, while the  gross profit was  $110.25. A deposit of $151.86 was made with overage of $0.65 reported. Meanwhile at the 12 noon matinee session the payout of $4,190.00 was more than the receipts taken in of $2,705.00. The bank deposit was  $794.75 as  the average player spend $71.01 each.

Optimist Bingo chair Jim Shaw offered accoldates for his co-workers – Gary Fossum, Ken Ferrill and Stephen Hambley for doing a outstand job operating both events.

BUSY DAYS AHEAD FOR OSHAWA OPTIMISTS. JIMMY “D” RESIGNS

January 18, 2009

Oshawa, Jan 18th. Who says the members of the Optimist Club aren’t a busy group. Starting to-night Jan 19 four special events are scheduled including three on Wednesday, Jan. 21st.

To-night it’s one of our favourite events – weekly Progressive Euchre Party commencing at 7:00  pm at Johnnys. This year we have enjoyed fifteen weeks of sure fun and bonding attract 69 different players to the tables. Bring a friend Monday and he/she will be your friend for a lifetime.

On Wed. Jan 21 it’s triple header action as a full day has been prepared. Starting at 10:00 am it our weekly back to back bingo’s, kicking off with the Moosehead games. Sales commence at 9:30 am. This is following by regular bingo at 12 noon with sales starting at 11:20 am. The Hideaway Bingo’s are hosted on the lower level of the LaGala Building 65 Sunray St in Whitby just north of the AMC Theatres on the right side of the street.

We’re always on the look-out for dedicated, loyal, honest Bingo volunteers. To help call 905-576-6919 and ask for Jim.
The Ballhoo Wednesday continues at 6:30 pm. with the Annual Appreciation Dinner at Johnny’s. Once a year the Optimist Club of Oshawa roll out the “Welcome Mat” for our dedicated volunteers and community minded sponsors who have helped over the past twelve months. This is always a Gala affair to attend.

Sad news prevailed late last week with the acceptance of Optimist James (Jimmy “D”) Dimitroff resignation from the Hideaway Charities Association (HCA) Board Of Directors Post. The email dispatched from Judith Barker HCA President is below:

Good Day Jimmy:

It is with regret that we accept your resignation from the Sunray Charitable Group. Thank you for your participation on the board. We trust that you will be able to continued being actively involved as a member of the Whitby Optimist Club’s bingo events when you are not enjoying life on the “Rock” .

Best Regards

Judith

« Previous Page — Next Page »