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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.
Local
Medical Team Presents
very Interesting Program on their Henderson Wellness Center

George "Brandon: Taylor, Doctor of
Chiropractic Medicine and KaKesaha Richardson, Certified Physician's
Assistant, presented a fine program on the services they offer to complement
and enhance the offerings of physicians in general practice locally. The
combine chiropractic and medical care at many levels of service, bringing a
wide variety of training and skills to serve patients.
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."
Read & Win
Scholars announced at
Aycock Elementary School

Third through Fifth Grade Best Readers Recognized

Pre-K to Second Grade Best Readers Recognized

Chris Ortega receives a reward as
highest
rated reader for the entire school at Aycock
Elementary School from Ed White
as his Principal and Assistant Principal look on.

Mrs. Cummins Fifth Grade Recognized
a second time for outstanding attendance

Mrs. Kwiatkowski's class
recognized
for outstanding attendance.
Helping
local people get jobs.

Pictured above, Tyler Poteat
(Employment Counselor of the DSS of Vance County) and Jimmie Terry (Work
First Coordinator for the Vance County Chamber) present an interesting
program on what they do to educate and support committed job seekers
in our community. They stress job readiness and conflict resolution
skills, among many other activities. Their success rate is high. They noted
that one necessary but often overlooked need is for "diaper money" to allow
parents to enroll very young children in daycare facilities.
Their presentation was concise and informative, and they fielded many
questions from members of the club. Mr. Terry can be reached at 252-438-8414
or at www.workfirst@hendersonvance.org.
President
Kay Ayscue presides over
the induction of four new members.


Zach Ayscue
Wayne Harp

John Capps
Betty Bobbitt
State
Trooper Burke Brooks provides
program on safety and operations.
For more information check
out Dean Thornton's
notes in the Newsletter section.
Click
here.

Burke Brooks
Jerold
Murdock CCC Raises $1,600+ with Yard Sale.
Congratulations to Gene Ayscue and his committee.
Optimists
Say "Goodbye" to the Wildflower &
Celebrate a "Family" gathering for Valentines

Goodbye Patricia--You and your
crew were the very, very best
We wish all of you the best. We will miss you.

Some of us needed a chaperone






Gary Morgan
presents program on Initiatives
by the Gateway Rural Development Corporation
to improve housing in local communities

Mr. Morgan told of his "conversion" to
religions and civil service after an extensive and successful career in
private business and educational administrative positions. He outlined his
commitment to improving the substandard housing situations of many of our
area's citizens. He explained various plans the USDA Rural Development
Housing Repairs Program. The program invites individual citizens, civic
groups, and churches to link their efforts to his organization's goals and
efforts. To contact him call 252-492-6298, fax him at 252-492-9088, or come
by the headquarters at 314 S. Garnett Street in Henderson.
The Henderson Optimist Club
appreciates this fine presentation and wishes Gary well in his efforts to
make our community a better place to work and live.
Hines
Brothers present Digital Photo Class at Meeting
Some results below:

Jon Dorsey

Kathie Harris

Ron Dorsey
Return to top of this page.
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President Kay Ayscue
To read a message of greeting,
click on Kay's picture.
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Current Club Newsletter posted.
Click Here.
Charity Bike Ride
in Memory of
Eddie Graham Vaughan, Jr.
The event is
sponsored by Instruments of Shining Hope
Cancer Ministry of South Henderson Pentecostal Holiness
Church,Hender-
son NC on
Saturday, May 23, 2009, at 10:00 AM,
with a Rain Date of May 30, 2009. Proceeds of the ride will help cancer
patients in Vance County. 30, 2009.
Eddie Vaughan was a NC Wildlife
Officer serving in the Vance County Area.
* The Start/Finish Location : 905 Americal Road
(at the church).
* Registration fee: $20 per BIKE (with RIDER $25.)
* Tickets must
be purchased by 10:00 AM on ride date.
* Registration
time: 8:30 AM - 10:00 AM.
* 1/2 Chicken w/trimmings plate lunch (non-rider lunch
$5.00.)
* Door Prizes : Two Gas Grills, etc. (Bikers Only).
For
More information call 252-492-7116.
From
the Raleigh News & Observer
on
PAGE ONE
at Christmas
time:
"Helping out for the
Holidays:
"Buy a Christmas
Tree, support youth work
"David Peebles of the
Optimist of Raleigh has a pitch for folks still looking Christmas trees.
Buy one of the Optimist Club, he says, and you'll not only get a good
deal but you will also be supporting programs. Proceeds from the
Christmas tree sales support the club's youth sports and activities,
youth appreciation week, the essay and oratorical contest, and the Mile
of Hope program, a weekend beach outing for young cancer patients and
their families. The sales also support The Optimist Farm, located south
of Lake Wheeler on Optimist Farm Road, where the club has camping,
sports, nature, and 'Take A Kid Fishing Day' activities.
"We specialize in
working
with youth. All of our
projects have to do with
youth in this area.
David Peebles"
It looks like we are not the only
Optimist Club that supports youth works with Christmas Tree sales!
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 8-12, 2009 in Kissimmee,
Florida

Gaylord Palms'
Resort & Convention Center in Kissimmee
- 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
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.
Return to top
of this page
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.
Return to top of this
page.
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
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I want to formally express my thanks for
your recent generous
contribution from the Optimist Club of
Henderson to the Road
to Life Fund of the Division of Pediatric
Hematology-Oncology
at Duke Children's Hospital. It is truly
gratifying to know that there
is such dedication in our
community and State in support of our
efforts to provide
outstanding care to children with cancer and blood disorders.
Your generosity reinforces our daily efforts on behalf
of our
patients. I would be delighted to speak with you more
about our
efforts, to show you and around Duke Children's
Hospital, or to
come speak to your group. Please do not hesitate
to contact me
at any time to set something up.
I can assure you that we will put your
contribution to good
use, helping our patients and their
families endure their
difficult journeys towards a cure. On
behalf of my colleagues,
thank you again for your thoughtfulness and continued support.
Best Regards,
Dan Wechsler, MD, PhD Chair, Pediatric Hematology-Oncology Associate Professor of
Pediatrics, Duke University Medical Center
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Optimists
arrive in high style in Williamsburg

However, a few seemed to have gone
astray...for a while!
Northern
Vance Wins Optimist Bowl


President Eric Pierce presented
the Optimist Bowl Trophy and wisely stepped out of the way. Northern
Vance, breaking a long drought, won the game 42 to 0.

Leslie Carswell introduces our guest speaker, Dr. David Mack.

Dr. David Mack
Dr. David Mack is a Medical Oncologist
who works from
Duke University through Maria Parham Medical Center. He
presented a well-received program on all phases of adult cancer
with expert
knowledge and layman's language. Clearly an optimist
at heart, Dr. Mack was
drawn to his field by the opportunity to be
a positive and reinforcing force
in people's lives.
Dr. Mack presented a broad picture of
cancer in general and often
filled in the details with reference to both
research and personal
experiences from his patients. He stressed the
environmental
influences that make us prone to get cancers while
acknowledging
the hereditary contributions. His optimism shown through as he
highlighted the ever-growing survival and even cure-rate that
has been going
on for the last 30-40 years. Finally, he stressed
the that we need to attend
to the potential of getting cancer by
looking for signs of cancer early and
often in our lives. The earlier
the detection of a cancer generally the
greater the opportunity for
survival and/or cure.
We thank Dr. Mack for a thoroughly
professional yet easily
understood presentation on the current status of
cancer in
our society and lives.
Optimists
given award for service to our friends from Oxford

Carol Dorsey & Kay Ayscue
receive award. For more pictures, click here.
New Members
Inducted

Jan
Peek is awarded her Optimist Pin by Cheryl Elman-Modjoros Elman.

Nicole Howell receives her Optimist Pin from President Kay Ayscue.

Welcome Jan and Nicole to
the world-wide Optimist Family.
We look
forward to joining you in "Bringing out the Best in Kids."
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