Gary Morgan Presents Program on Initiatives to Improve
housing and skills training in our community.

Pictured above (left to right) are Optimist President Jon Dorsey, Gary Morgan & Steve Craft. Steve invited our speaker who presented a fine presentation.

Mr. Morgan is the Director the the Gateway Community Development Corporation. In his speech he explained three initiatives underway in Henderson and Vance County to allow lower income individuals to improve their housing and rural individual to do likewise. Gateway is also supporting a program that offers occupational training for individuals in the building trades industry.  Mr. Morgan would welcome contacts about the good work going on the the community Call 252-492-6298 or email him at director@gatewaycdc@ncol.net.

Spouses' Night & ELVIS IS IN THE HOUSE!

Woody Caudle introduces "The King!"

Every king has an entourage & Elvis's was beautiful and spirited!
For more pictures of the evening with Elvis, Click Here.

Author and Educator Addresses Club

Beth C. Carroll spoke to the club on her latest book. She explained the process she follows to write and prepare the elements and action in the work. She gave tips and suggestions on writing and publishing. Beth is the daughter of Optimist member John Capps pictured above at the right. Club president Jon Dorsey stands at Beth's left.

Academic Awards at Eaton Johnson Middle School

Principal and Optimist Member Larry Webb leads the Awards Assembly
in which several Optimist Attendance Awards were presented. 
For more pictures, Click Here.

Halloween is Optimist Party Time!

More Gouls and Optimists: Click Here.

New Optimist Officers Inducted for 2009-2010

President Jon Dorsey with Lt. Governor Carey Foster. Carey
conducted the induction for the new officers.

New Officers for 2009, left to right: Bob Hubbard, Tommy Haithcock, Thurman Murphy, Jon Dorsey (President), Kay Ayscue (Past President) , Carey Foster (Lt. Governor), Ellen Foster (District
Officer), Denise Usher, and Fred Carswell.

Recognition of 2009 Optimist
Memorial Scholarship Winner

Pictured above is Aaron Hargrove, a graduate of Northern Vance High School. Aaron will receive a total of $3000.00 from the Henderson Optimists over his four years of undergraduate studies. He will attend the prestigious Morehouse University in Atlanta next year to begin course work that will lead him to medical school.
We wish Aaron the best of luck and hope that he will return to Vance County to practice his art when he finishes his studies. Congratulations, Aaron.

Henderson Optimist Club hold annual
Respect for Law Dinner at the Aycock
Recreation Center. Officers pictured
below received awards from their Leaders.

Pictured below are left to right, top to bottom:

     Officer David Pittman, Jr. – Police Officer of the Year
     Patrolman Elliott Fuller – Trooper of the Year
     Lieutenant Ronald Roberson – Fire Fighter of the Year
     Lt. Curtis Brame–Deputy of the Year  (Curtis Brame is one of our own, in that he used to attend Optimist Meetings frequently when we had our own building and cooked our own meals some years ago)

Optimist Faces in the Crowd
at Durham Bulls' Game in June
courtesy of B&B Productions

Ed White accepts Recognition
for Optimist Attend & Win and
Read & Win Programs at Aycock Elementary

A "standing room only" audience honored the achievements
of all Aycock Elemetary Students on June 9, 2009

In the pictures above Aycock Principal Laura Rigsby presents Ed White with a recognition packet honoring the club's year-long support of  students who have excellent attendance and outstanding reading.
A drawing was held among those students in the lower and upper grades who had perfect attendance and no tardies for the entire year. Ed presented the bicycles and received an unexpected 'THANK YOU" from one of the students.

The practice is open all weekdays and can be reached 252-430-8000. They are located on 414 Dabney Drive between NCOL and Golden Skillet. Personable and well-trained with several years of experience, they enhance the local medical offerings in our community. We thank them for their enlightenment.

Dotty Crocker Presents the Optimist
Essay Contest Winners for 2009

Left to right are Jake Thompson (2nd place),  Jordan Richardson,
(1st place) and Freya Orr (2nd place.) These outstanding young people were selected out of over 25 contestants. The first place winner received $150.00 in scholarship money; second place received $100,00; and third place won $50.00. Congratulations to these fine young people from our community. Also, a big THANKS to Dottie Crocker and her committee for staging the event.

Above is the Chowan-Edenton Optimist Club performing one of its many, many service projects. This one was at the fantastic "2009 Pilgrimage of Homes" in its community. Among its efforts are providing fireworks for the Fourth of July and supporting local youth sports. Way to go guys. Theirs is one more local Optimist Club "Bringing out the Best in Kids."

 Kay Ayscue presides over
the induction of four new members.

  
Zach Ayscue                                  Wayne Harp

            
John Capps                                  Betty Bobbitt

Some of us needed a chaperone

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2009-2010 Optimist President Jon Dorsey.
To read a message of greeting from Jon,
click on his picture.

UP-COMING EVENTS

è Support the Henderson Kiwanis Club's Fish Dinner Fundraiser: Monday, March 1, 2010, at 220 Restaurant from 4:00 - 7:00. The cost is $6.00 a Plate. Come out and support our fellow civic club.

è  Look for information of our upcoming visit to The Masonic Home soon.

u    Henderson Optimist Club Essay Contest. We sponsor a essay contest for all students who have not reached the age of 19 by December 31, 2009. Mrs. Cheryl Elman are the chairs of this project. Students and teachers can find about the rewards and benefits of this contest by Clicking Here.

Click here to read the 2006-2007 North Carolina East Winning Essay by Henderson's own Kathleen Carswell. You will need Adobe Acrobat to open the document.

u    NC East District Meetings: 2008-2009.  Click here for all information on dates and registration for District Events from the North Carolina East Optimist Web site. Then go to the "Meetings and Conventions" tab.

u You can also to the "Calendar" page on our Henderson Web site. Click Here. (The Summer conference information will come later.) It is suggested that you go through Thurman Murphy to
book your accommodations and registrations.

u Go to an Optimist International Convention! Applications are available at www.Optimist.org. Below are the dates and places of up-coming Optimist International Conventions:

• July 7-10, 2010 in Denver, Colorado
• July 3-6, 2011in Baltimore, Maryland

• July 11-14, 2012 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin
  July 3-6, 2013 in Cincinnati, Ohio

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u Need to access the Members' Directory? The user
name is "Optimist" and the password is the one-word,
 lowercase name of our first president. (seven letters in all.)

u  For Photos on last year's Valentine Party, Click on:
Photo Gallery 5.

u  About the Henderson Optimist Club & "Bringing out
the Best in Kids": Would you like to learn more about the Henderson Optimist Club?  Click here to read about the officers, the history, and other useful information.  Click here to send us an email: Contact Us.

u Contact Us: If you would like to submit an item for our calendar, please click here to Contact Us.

u  Meetings: Regular club meetings take place on
the second and fourth Tuesday of each month at 6:15 p.m. at the Wildflower Cafe at 200 South Garnett Street in
downtown Henderson.  The Executive Board meets the
third Tuesday of each month at 6:15 p.m., also at the
Wildflower.  In a month with five Tuesdays, a Social is held. It may or may not take place on that fifth Tuesday.

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Click on Thumbnail image(s) to view larger photo.

Trish and Bob Verne Present
"Kisses for Cancer Program"

Trish gives Thurman a "Kiss."

Past NC East Governor Bob Verne holds
Dottie's hand and gives her a kiss also.

Trish Verne, NC East District Childhood Cancer Campaign Chair,presented a the "Kisses for Cancer" program that began in the Chapel Hill Optimist Club and is spreading across Optimist clubs in Eastern North Carolina. Optimist and JOOI club members solicit funds at grocery stores and department stores in exchange for Hersey's candy kisses. Chapel Hill takes a business approach to the effort. Records are kept by the location, weather, and the shifts on which money is collected. They have developed strategies for location and advertising as well as methods for encouraging appropriate contributions. Chapel Hill and other clubs have raised thousands of dollars with this initiative.

Our Henderson Childhood Cancer Committee has secured the vests and other equipment needed for the effort an plan to try out the program in the near future. We thank Trish and Bob for their informative and inspirational program.

Our Local Wendy's Manager Supports
the Optimist Read and Win Program at
Aycock and Rollins Elementary Schools.

Pictured above is Laura Mims receiving congratulations
from Optimist Ed White. Ms. Mims and Wendys donated gift certificates to reading scholars in all grades. The generous support from Wendys helped recognize outstanding readers and their diligence and achievement.

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District Convention at Atlantic Beach a Great
Success (And Great Fun!)

Past International Vice President Dennard Harris sponsored a
cookout at his Marina on the first day.

Optimists always know how to eat and socialize and our
Henderson bunch scored well in this category. Just above
Kay and Thurman engage Santa/Elvis/Tom Lamont of the
Boys and Girls Homes of NC in conversation.

AND OF COURSE Ricky/Fifi Gray provided a LARGE presence
or the local club at the Womanless Beauty Contest!

Thank you letter addressed to Secretary/Treasurer
Thurman Murphy for our contribution to
Duke Medical Center for Childhood Cancer