“Optimists bring out the best in kids by providing hope and positive vision.”Central City Optimist Club: SC District # 22, Zone #4, and Club #375

Central City OptimistsApril 2015 Newsletter

2014-15 Officers

Karen OwensPresident

Susie HintonPast President

Lonnie HarveyVice President

Roy BlakeVice President

Charlie RobinsonSecretary-Treasurer

Board Of Directors

James SmithClara WaltersDonna RandallDenise KhaalidLillian GilmoreMike Smith

Mission

Greetings Fellow Optimist,

Spring has sprung! (Even though we are still experiencing some cold days.)Flowers are blooming, days are longer, kids are engaged in outside sports andRock Hill Schools are on SPRING BREAK (March 30-April 3)!

This is a time for all of us in education who work so diligently with our youthto get refreshed, renewed and restored so that we can end this school yearwith a BANG. We know that we are doing ALL that we can to ensure thesuccess of all the students that we serve.

EASTER and SPRING are also times that remind us of how life triumphsover death. With all that being said, it is time for us to continue what wehave started in the name of Optimism. This month our focus is on theSPECIAL OLYMPICS at Cherry Park. Please come out Friday morning aswe cheer on our youth as they compete and strive for excellence and victory!

Other events in our community this month include the COME-SEE-MEFestival! This festival is fun for all and includes food, live music and lots ofother activities.

Our other focus for the next few months is MENTORING! Please considersigning up to eat lunch with a kid or two. The sign-in sheet will be availablefor any and all that would like to sign-up. Also, please go to the Rock HillSchool District website and complete a volunteer application. Everything canbe done on line for your convenience.

If you are already mentoring one or more youths, THANK YOU for getting itdone in such an AWESOME way! Please let us know who and where you arementoring so that we can properly document.

So, what are you doing to get it done?

SAVE THE DATE to BRING A FRIEND to the May Central City Optimistmeeting!

Yours in Optimism,

Kay Owens

Saturday, April 4th, 2015 at 9:00 A.M.St. Mary’s St. Martin Center

John & Elaine Coleman 1st

Jerry & Valerie Sims 19th

Charles Mobley 5thCharles Z. Robinson 21stJoyce Argo 23rd

Please check out our club’s website at www.centralcityoptimist.org.A special thanks to Lonnie Harvey for managing our website.For more Optimist information visit: www.optimist.org and www.optimistsc.org.

"Depend on it, God's work done in God's way will never lack God's supplies." — J. Hudson Taylor

Happy Birthday! Happy Anniversary!

Our speaker will be our own Wendi Smith.

Event: Special OlympicsDate of Event: April 10, 2015Time: 10:00 AMLocation: Cherry Park

Hello Fellow Optimist Members:

It is that time of the year again to get involved in one of our best EVENTS of theyear. It is the one time of the year I can hardly wait for; I get excited because ofthe excitement of the participants.

This notice is to remind you that we need your help to make this EVENT a success.We will gather at Cherry Park on Friday around 9:15 AM. I will let you know ourassignment at that time. If you haven’t attended this EVENT, you don’t knowwhat you are missing. The sheer joy of the young people when they cross the finishline is electrifying.

Please join the rest of the volunteers for a day of good fun.

Michael D. Smith

2014-15 ACTIVITY CALENDAR

Karen Owens – President

Lonnie Harvey - Vice President (Internal) Roy Blake - Vice President (External)

ACTIVITY DATE/FREQUENCY PLACE SPONSOR CHAIRPERSON

FLOWER FUND RAFFLE MONTHLY CLUB MEETING INTERNAL JOYCE ARGOYOUTH OF THE MONTH & YEAR MONTHLY CLUB MEETING EXTERNAL DENISE KHAALID

MEMBERSHIP/NOW PROGRAM QUARTERLY TBA INTERNAL LILLIAN GILMORE EDUCATOR OF THE QTR & YEAR QUARTERLY CLUB MEETING EXTERNAL DENISE KHAALID

NEW OPTIMIST CLUB BUILDING ONGOING TBA INTERNAL CHARLES Z. ROBINSONSR. CITIZENS BANQUET DECEMBER ELK’S LODGE MAIN ST. EXTERNAL LARRY & GLORIA BURNSIDETOYS/CLOTHES FOR CHRISTMAS DECEMBER TBA EXTERNAL REV. DORENE BOULARMENTORING ONGOING TBA EXTERNAL ???ADULT DAYCARE PROJECT DECEMBER FLINT HILL & 1ST CALVARY EXTERNAL LARRY & GLORIA BURNSIDEESSAY CONTEST FEBRUARY TBA EXTERNAL LINDA MOBLEYJOOI CLUB ON GOING ST. MARTIN CENTER EXTERNAL SUSIE HINTON, DONNA RANDAL

& CRISTINA. HIDALGOORATORICAL CONTEST MARCH TBA EXTERNAL LONNIE HARVEY, JR.SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM APRIL CLUB MEETING EXTERNAL BELINDA NIXSPECIAL OLYMPICS APRIL CHERRY PARK EXTERNAL MICHAEL SMITHRELAY FOR LIFE CANCER WALK MAY TBA EXTERNAL JOSEPH EVANSRESPECT FOR LAW JUNE CLUB MEETING EXTERNAL ARTHUR GREENCHARITY GOLF TOURNAMENT SEPTEMBER SPRING LAKE COUNTRY CLUB PRESIDENT LONNIE HARVEY, JR.ROLLING IN ROCK HILL PAINTING SEPTEMBER TBA EXTERNAL LYNN WATSONAWARDS BREAKFAST OCTOBER 2015 ST. MARTIN CENTER INTERNAL WENDI SMITH& OFFICERS’ INSTALLATION & CLARA WALTERSPROGRAM ON GOING ST. MARTIN CENTER INTERNAL SUSIE HINTONFELLOWSHIP ON GOING ST. MARTIN CENTER INTERNAL WENDI SMITH

& CLARA WALTERSNEWSLETTER MONTHLY INTERNAL FRANK HINTON & MELANIE JONES

A Message from the Secretary/Treasurer1st, 2nd and 3rd quarter Optimist dues are now due. Please bring to our club meetingon Saturday or mail to (CCOC, Post Office Box 446, Rock Hill, South Carolina29731). If you have any questions regarding your dues please call Charlie M. Robinson at327-4547 or e-mail: charliem.robinson@yahoo.com. Thank you in advance for yoursupport!

Thanks to everyone who signed on to be team leaders forRelay for Life. The event will be on May 16, 2015.Please try to turn in your donations or contributions to meno later than the May meeting.

All your efforts are greatly appreciated.

Thanks again,Benny

*****1 Peter 4:14 (NIV)If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of gloryand of God rests on you.

April 04, 2015 9:00 A.M. ST. MARY’S/ST. MARTIN CENTER May 02, 2015 9:00 A.M. ST. MARY’S/ST. MARTIN CENTER June 06, 2015 9:00 A.M. ST. MARY’S/ST. MARTIN CENTER July 11, 2015 9:00 A.M. TBD August 01, 2015 9:00 A.M. ST. MARY’S/ST. MARTIN CENTER September 05, 2015 9:00 A.M. ST. MARY’S/ST. MARTIN CENTER October 03, 2015 9:00 A.M. AWARDS BREAKFAST ST. MARTIN CENTER

Remaining 2014-15 Board Meetings

April 23, 2015 7:00 P.M. Bannon Hall May 28, 2015 7:00 P.M. Bannon Hall June 25, 2015 7:00 P.M. Bannon Hall July 23, 2015 7:00 P.M. Bannon Hall August 27, 2015 7:00 P.M. Bannon Hall September 24, 2015 7:00 P.M. Bannon Hall

Follow Us on Twitter@CentralCity4

Or

Go to the website and search forCentral City Optimist.

www.twitter.com

*****Proverbs 14:31 (NIV)He who oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker, but whoever is kind tothe needy honors God.

Shekinah Nissi Lightner

Optimist Essay Contest Winner

Congratulations to Shekinah Lightner, a junior at Southpointe HighSchool, in winning the Central City Optimist Club Essay Contest. The studentswrote a 700 word essay on the topic: “Optimism Should Be A Priority.”Shekinah’s essay was forwarded to the District where it will be judged again withother club winners to determine the District essay winner. The District winnerwill receive a $2,500 scholarship.

2nd Place winner was Chloe Gill.3rd Place winner was Brandon Knode.

A special thanks to the Judges: Ella Wells, Leonard Adams and Raven Mobley.

Linda C. Mobley

Optimism Should Be A PriorityBy Shekinah N. Lightner

Optimism can be defined as a sense of hope or the anticipation of the best in all circumstances. The enthusiasmdwelling in optimistic individuals has served as the driving force for the advancement of the human race and hasmotivated the greatest of individuals to overcome injustices in all aspects of life. When Helen Keller stated,“Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement. Nothing can be done without hope and confidence,” she exemplifiedwhat it means to be optimistic and her words support the ideal that the achievements of the human race have beenmade possible by the infinite quantity of optimism present in the world. In the current global community filled withconstant conflict and disturbances and as new technologies are continually developed and improved upon it isnecessary to maintain an outlook founded in optimism in order to continue to see the light of positivity that is alwaysshining even in the darkest of moments and failures.

Optimism is a crucial quality as it allows individuals to combat the negative circumstances that are continuouslypresent in society. With violence imposed by ISIS in the Middle East, debate surrounding police brutality and raceequality in the United States, and many more trying global affairs, optimism is essential in combating these dilemmasand creating a brighter day for future generations that will inhabit this world. Just as Martin Luther King Jr. stated,“We must accept finite disappointment, but never lose infinite hope,” when fighting for equality for blacks in theUnited States. There must be a constant flow of optimism and desire in order to stand up to and slay the turmoil thatattempts to and occasionally seems to overthrow the serene and fair conditions intended for the enjoyment of all.

Optimism is not only essential to withstand adverse circumstances in the evolving society, but is necessary to beprogressive and successful. Throughout history when creating new technology and proclaiming new philosophies,individuals have persevered through past failures and plentiful amounts of doubt in order to reach success. Successful,revolutionary individuals all share the characteristic of optimism which is necessary for continuance through stressfultimes to ultimately meet and exceed goals and expectations. Thomas Edison, an inventor who revolutionized themodern way of life, was the epitome of an optimist as illuminated by his quote, “I have not failed. I've just found10,000 ways that won't work,”. This quote shows that despite numerous failures Edison found hope and inspiration inwhat should have been unfavorable results to help create an operational and innovative product. Likewise, WilliamJames, one of the most prominent psychologists of the United States, coined the statement, “Pessimism leads toweakness, optimism to power,”. James’ revolutionary philosophies and words show that optimism is a fundamentalpart in creating change and gaining influence that serves the greater good. A pessimistic viewpoint only leads tofragility and self-doubt and aids strikes that bring down prosperity and the development of successful concepts.Similar to these inventors and thinkers of the past, individuals of today must continue to feed off of optimism in orderto propel new ideas and technology even in the midst of failures.

As society continues to cope with an abundance of pessimistic events and ideals, a sense of optimism must remaina priority in fighting these adversities. Many individuals who have paved the way in creating the bright, modernsociety relied upon their inner optimism to remain persistent in breaking down old ideologies and battling thenegativity that tried to extinguish the light of positivity. As the world now tries to resolve and dissolve problematiccircumstances such as turmoil in the Middle East, racial and political disputes in the United States, and overall globalunrest, society must continue to draw upon the hope and positive outlook of optimism. When combating these currentglobal issues the words of Winston Churchill, “The pessimist sees difficulty in every opportunity. The optimist seesthe opportunity in every difficulty,” serve as inspiration to tackle the difficult issues instead of letting difficultiestackle the optimism that is essential for the continued advancement of the human race. As pessimism seems to tightenits grips, individuals must go on basking in the light of optimism.

Bibliography"Helen Keller." BrainyQuote.com. Xplore Inc, 2015. 20 January 2015. http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/h/helenkelle164579.html"Martin Luther King, Jr.." BrainyQuote.com. Xplore Inc, 2015. 20 January 2015. http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/m/martinluth297522.html"Thomas A. Edison." BrainyQuote.com. Xplore Inc, 2015. 20 January 2015. http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/t/thomasaed132683.html"William James." BrainyQuote.com. Xplore Inc, 2015. 20 January 2015. http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/w/williamjam378646.html"Winston Churchill." BrainyQuote.com. Xplore Inc, 2015. 20 January 2015. http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/w/winstonchu103739.html

We offer our condolences and prayers to club member Arthur Greenon the loss of his sister. Sorry for your loss Arthur.

Ms. Mary RoperMary Roper CHARLESTON - Funeral services celebrating the life of Ms. Mary Roper will take place on today, SundayMarch 29, 2015 at 1:00 p.m. at the First Baptist Church of James Island, 1110 Camp Road, Charleston, SC 29412. She will belaid to rest in Stem Point Cemetery, James Island, SC. She leaves to cherish her memories her children: Maryetta Green,Isaiah Green, Jr., Russell M. Roper, Jr. (Deanna), Jamie Roper (Tonya) and Byron Roper; her former husband: Russell Roper,Sr.; her siblings: Lila Mae Middleton (Elijah), Elijah Green, Jr., Marsha Williams (Jesse), Thomaseia Shepherd (Robert),Prophetess Sandra Stovall and Arthur Green and a host of grandchildren, cousins and other loving relatives and sympatheticfriends. She was preceded in death by her son Edward Green. Expressions of sympathy may be sent to the family atwww.palmettomortuary.com. - See more at:http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/charleston/obituary.aspx?pid=174474970#sthash.LtOcq4sd.dpuf

“The Early Learning Partnership of YorkCounty believes in school readiness! Gettingcounty kids ‘ready to read’ and ‘healthy tolearn’!”

-Teresa Creech

Executive Director of The Early LearningPartnership of York County

The March Club Meeting

Donovan Isaiah CharlesMarch Student Of The Month

Donovan Isaiah Charles is a senior at Rock Hill High School who has maintained a 3.6 grade point average. Heis the son of Lincoln and Seymonia Charles, and has three siblings – Natasha, Lincoln (II), and Cedric.Donovan has vast interests which include reading, poetry, basketball, animals, religion, society, classical andjazz music, and paintball. At Rock Hill High, he is involved in the Writers Club, soccer, cross country, track,and the Prom Committee.

He states that what matters most for him is the respect and recognition of his talent and character by his peers.Donovan would like to attend the College of Charleston where he plans to major in English Literature andphilosophy because he feels that he was born to be a writer. He states that Ms. Janus, one of his teachers, andhis friend Evan have proven to be his greatest sources of physical support. He is also inspired by the famouswriter T.S. Elliot. He eloquently writes that he is “a quiet soul that just sits on the outskirts and observes theculture in which [he] was born.”

Congratulations Donovan!

Down the street little Johnny came waving a five dollar bill. “You’ll never guess how Iearned this,” he told one of his little friends. “So how did you?” His friend asked.

“I get paid to go hiking. My neighbor likes to come over every so often and talk to my dad. Ilike to go into the living room and sit while he’s talking. He usually begins to stare at meafter about five minutes. Then he hands me a five and says ‘Here kid. Now take a hike.’ “

The March Club Meeting

Mrs. Stephanie Evans

Mrs. Stephanie Evans was recognized as Educator of the Quarter. She holds an undergraduate degree in physicaleducation from Winthrop University and a master’s degree from Columbia College. Mrs. Evans has been aneducator for over ten years. She is currently a physical education teacher at Northwestern High School where shehas taken on additional responsibilities such as coaching girls’ basketball and track. Northwestern guidancecounselor Bridget Elmore describes her as “a role model, mentor, big sister, mother and friend. She is respected…because of her kind spirit, bubbly personality and genuine smile.”

Mrs. Evans is married to Wesley Evans. They have three children – McKenzie, Mason, and Miles. She is also amember of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.

Congratulations Mrs. Evans

Educator Of The Quarter

The March Club Meeting

We said goodbye to Carrie (left) and Mattie (right)who prepared those delicious breakfasts for manyyears.

Thank you Mrs. Venerable and Mrs. Hope!

The optimist was heavily into gymnastics.She had a remarkable and unbelievabletalent. She could do summersaults for longperiods of time.

A handsome pessimist moved in next door soshe decided she would impress him. She sawhim standing outside and said “I think I’ll goto the market.” Down the sidewalk she wentdoing summersaults. Whup, whup, whup,whup. Later she came back even faster.Whup, whup, whup, whup, whup.

He looked her way but said nothing. “Don’tyou have anything to say?” She asked him.

“Yep,” he replied. “You need learn how todrive.”

Many of thequalities thatcome soeffortlessly todogs - loyalty,devotion,selflessness,unflaggingoptimism,unqualified love -can be elusive tohumans.John Grogan

Charissa Mobley, AKA “Charm” won the showcase on ThePrice is Right worth over $35,000. The prizes included abrand new Volkswagon Jetta, trip to Costa Rica and others.

Charissa is the daughter of club members Charles and LindaMobley.

Congratulations Charissa!Reprinted from Gazette.Net March 6, 2015“I love game shows, and I've always wanted to do 'The Price is Right.'It's just crazy,” said Mobley, a 32-year-old fitness specialist.Mobley was called to “come on down” as a contestant on “The Priceis Right” Feb. 4. Her episode aired Friday on CBS.Mobley said she travels to Los Angeles annually to visit friends, andalways tries to get tickets to be in the audience of a game show whenshe's there.

My neighbor came home one afternoon to find her thirty three yearold son still in bed. “What would you do if I won the lottery anddecided to give you half the money?” she asked him.“Wow!” he replied. “I would definitely find my own place andlive the life.”“Well I bought three tickets and won ten dollars,” she said. “Takethis five and get out!”

The Optimist CreedPromise Yourself

To be so strong that nothing can disturb your peace of mind.

To talk health, happiness and prosperity to every person you meet.

To make all your friends feel that there is something in them.

To look at the sunny side of everything and make your optimism come true.

To think only of the best, to work only for the best, and to expect only the best.

To be just as enthusiastic about the success of others as you are about your own.

To forget the mistakes of the past and press on to the greater achievements of the future.

To wear a cheerful countenance at all times and give every living creature you meet a smile.

To give so much time to the improvement of yourself that you have no time to criticize others.

To be too large for worry, too noble for anger, too strong for fear, and too happy to permit the presence of trouble.