MAYOR JOHN GRAY & OPTIMIST GOVERNOR TOM McNAUGHT TO LEAD 26th ANNUAL XMAS FOOD HAMPER & TOY CAVALCADE

December 7, 2009

OSHAWA, Dec 6th: An all-star cavalcade featuring over 100 vehicles will be lead by Oshawa Mayor John Gray and Cenon Optimist Govenor Tom McNaught from Oakville at the 26th annual Optimist Club of Oshawa members sponsored Christmas Food Hamper and Toy deliveries on December 20th. The local Oshawa club where formed and chartered on July 22nd, 1982.

The Oshawa nearly folded this past spring due to lack of funds to operate. Their main fund raiser weekly Bingo’s ceased on January 31st in Whitby when the business went into receivership. The Oshawa club was the mainstay for Zone 8 (Durham Region) with clubs operating in Ajax, Brooklin, Uxbridge and Whitby. When the local ecomony suffering a severe downfall from the closures of the GM giant auto plant closures, layoffs and forced retirements the future was bleak at best for a Optimist recovery.

Starting with a lowly bank balance of $2.86 and a commented budgeted items the membership decided to roll the dice for a comeback. Using the recycled fund raiser the group decided to raffle off a 2009 General Motors produced Pontiac Vibe commencing sales last spring in mid-May during Victoria Day weekend as first prize. Wal*Mart SuperCentre added to the first price take donating $1,500.00 in groceries to the winning ticket holder. Despite unwanted problems and growing pains this project has seen a new attitude develop, has incourage new members in supporting the Optimist mandate of being a “Friend Of Youth and our Community”

Devoted volunteers and members have logged over 9,000 hours in making this turn-a-about possible. Certainly a Cinderella Story” with a anticipated happy ending. Newly elected Optimist president Stephen Hambley said “our volunteers have been remarkable, when we originally printed 10,000 tickets it seemed receiving that figure was only a dream”. Local citizens have responded to the marketing strategy making believers  in purchasing of tickets at $5.00 each or the bargin basement price of 5 tickets for $20.00. Many business firms and fellow Ontario Optimist Club purchased $100.00 packages in boosting  ticket sold to  12,000.With two weeks remaining to the December 20th draw date 15,000 tickets seemed to be a reachable amount. This weekend our raffle gang are selling tickets in Bowmanville at the Metro Food Store on Dec 11,12,13 from 11:00 am to 06:00 pm The final sales weekend will be held at the Wal*Mart SuperCentre on Dec 17,18,19 from 11:00 am to 06:00 pm.

Optimist ticket sellers have been pro-active with in high traffic chain stores plus the Oshawa Centre, Auto Fest, Downtown Oshawa Sidewalk sale and the Five Points Mall.  The bulk of sales conducted every weekend for the past 31 weeks. The largest ever one day sale was conducted in Cobourg during the summer securing $1,700.00 in sales.

On Dec. 20th after the hampers/toys have been delivered a special cermony will be conducted within the R.S.McLaughlin Oshawa Armouries located at 53 Simcoe St. N. To-date over 9,000 volunteer hours have been accumulated by the Optimist and volunteers.  The volunteers are deeply committed. On numerous occassions tickets have been sold at three different locations on the same day. No one is paid for their efforts with all profits going to help the needy families and other Oshawa Optimist Youth events during the calendar year.

GENERALS SHUTOUT THE OPTIMIST

Originally it was felt – the announcement of winning ticket holder would be conducted at the multi-million GM Centre build by citizen of Oshawa. The Optimist where in contract with OHL club in early June and their management seemed very interesting in out suggestion in our face to face meeting. After 18 telephone calls/emails with no reply’s afterwards the anticipated love affair never happened. The “GO turn into a NO GO” for this no-brainer community project. The OHL Generals rent the GM Centre from the City of Oshawa. High profile individuals including elected City of Oshawa elected officials, Chambers and Commerce, GM Centre management and even super fan himself Terry Kelly a mainstay in the errection of the Civic Auditorium couldn’t convince the Generals Management team permitting the announcment. Plans called for a local soldier who served in Afghanistan to draw the winning ticket. The Optimist club wanted to saluate our armforces serving to protect our freedom for Canada. The Optimist membership offered to fill the unsold GM Centre  tickets and donating them to Oshawa’s youth for the Owen Sound vs Oshawa Generals game on Dec. 20th. Again the Generals never responded.

Jim Shaw – Car Raffle coordinator is disappointed with Oshawa Generals. A noted sports broadcaster, reporter he has aided the Generals for over 40 years however with new management they seemed non-interested in local community efforts.

As it now stands, the Optimist will employ the R.S.McLaughlin Armouries located at 53 Simcoe St. North for their Dec. 20th showcase.

Upwards to 150 volunteers will meet within the north parking lot north of armouries (off Richmond St) at 12 noon for  deliver for the 26th consecutive year of Food Hampers/Toys. Each vehicle are requested to deliver to two families each.

Each family will be supplied for two weeks (14 days) of groceries containing two boxes of staple food, one box of meats including a 15 pound average festive turkey with the fourth box jammed full or produce products Family members will be allotted three new toys each for children ages 14 and under. Toys are supplied by the Martin Chiropractic Clinic (19th year) and the Nursing Staff located on the 4th main floor at Lakeridge Health at OGH. The toys are sorted by gender and age for Optimist delivery. Last year the outlets collected 1,208 toys including 108 build a bears.

Kasey McBride 19 a Oshawa Cadet graduate will make the draw. He joined the arm forces this past spring . Prior he trained under deceased Jerry Kehoe whose wife is a super active volunteer with the Optimist Club. He be escorted by the Oshawa 1933 Cadet Band to make the official announcement.

The winning ticket holder name will be published in the local media, advise via telephone or email and his/her name will be published on the Optimist web site www.oshawaoptimist.ca

Anyone wishing to help delivery can contact Optimist event coordinator Jim Shaw at 905-576-6919 or via email at jimshaw15@rogers.com

2010 EXECUTIVE INDUCTION NITE DEC. 02 – HAMBLEY RETURNS AS PRESIDENT

November 21, 2009

OSHAWA, Nov 19th – Stephen Hambley will commence his 3rd term as president of the Optimist Club of Oshawa Inc effective January lst, 2010. He and his new board will officially be inducted on Wednesday, December 02nd at Optimist Headquarters – Johnny’s Original Eatery located within the King/Thornton Plaza 850 King St. West. Hambley now ties Donald Webb who sat in president’s post for a trio of separate terms. Hambley replaces Petrina Perrineau who has step down from her one year term for health reasons and her busy and demanding  work schedule.

Joining the “Hambley Team” will be president elect Sybil Dewhurst,new treasurer Marjorie Ogden and secretary Jim Shaw.

In asccepting another engagement as president he stated ‘Our club was on the verge of  folding as  the lack of funds was drying up to  support our community and youth projects. The Oshawa’s club  main fundraiser since they where  founded on July 22nd, 1982  was Bingo . The Whitby based bingo hall closed it’s doors on January 31st,2009 going into receivership.  Hambley continued to say, with no revenue in-coming in  and with prior committment expenses directed towards  to our youth and  community plus a reduced membership to  seven the outlook forcast looked glime at best.

Our city suffering from finanical woes due to General Motors and their feeder plants occuring heavy layof eliminations of jobs, early retirements The outlook seemed impossible to repair.

Employing an  Optimistic outlook,  Hambley using strong support from our Monday Nite euchre volunteer support group started with  $2.86 in their bank account. It  now appears the Hambley group are on thr rack track to recovery. His new 2010 executive members will include president elect Sybil Dewhurst a Optimist veteran who has joined the Oshawa organization serving for years in the Caribean, treasurer Marjorie Ogden and secretary Jim Shaw.

James Dimitroff a former Cenon Lt. Governor will officially welcome the new exeuctive on board.

CENON QUARTER BOARD IN BURLINGTON NOV 21-23

October 13, 2008

‘The first Quarterboard meeting for the 2008-2009 Optimist year will be held in Burlington from Friday, Nov. 21st till Sunday November 23. Cenon member clubs may register NOW at a reduce rate by contacting Sheril Thomson at 1 Catering Road, PO Box 256 Sutton, On LOE 1RO prior to November 12th.

Rooms have been block off under ID#141937 at the Holiday Inn Guelph Line located at 3063 South Service Road in Burlington L7N3E9 tele 1-905-639-4443 or toll free 1-888-987-4888 or email unh2248res@whg.com Be sure to check out their website  www.hiburlington.ca.  Accomodation price rate are $125.00 for a standard room, $135.00 Business King and the King Executive is slotted in at $140.00 per night’s stay. Taxes are extra.  A special luncheon has been prepared with the menu including caesar salad, roasted pork loin with apple and maple stuffing, chef’s choice of potato and two veggies, rolls, butter, apple crumble with whipped cream and your choice of tea or coffee.

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FIRST QUARTER DISTRICT CONFERENCE IN MILTON

October 28, 2007

New Cenon governor Brian Wick from Brooklin is requesting all Optimist to meet in Milton on Nov 16/17 for the first quarter District Conference in Milton at the Holiday Inn Express at 2750 Highpoint Drive. Telephone number 1-905-876-4955.

Wick wants to have our Cenon Optimist branch re-energerized. motivated, and education about the world wide Optimist movement during his reign.

First Quarter District Conference Being Held At Nearby Milton

October 14, 2007

Milton, Nov 16-17. New Cenon Governor Brooklin’s Brian Wick has a open invitation for all Optimist to attend the first quarter two day District Conference set for Friday Nov. 16 and Saturday, November 17th at Milton Holiday Inn Express located at 2750 High Point Drive in Milton at Tele 1-905-876-4955.

Wick wants the Cenon Optimist to become energized, motivatedand educated about the Optimist movement during his reign. Special Optimist standard room rates have been made available at $109.99 plus taxes, This included a Continental Breakfast.

When booking refer to “CENON”.A block of rooms have been reserved until Oct 16th. On-line pre-registration via the internet via telephone 1-905-876-4955 or …… visit their website