Breakfast Optimist Club of Kalamazoo

06/12/2025

Today was a Fellowship meeting, Fun with Flags led by Theresa.

---🚨 New/updated announcements—
⛳️Looking for volunteers for golf outing on 9/14 at Eastern Hills Golf Club on G Ave. See Val or Dave. Also looking for teams to participate (flyer in photos) as well as sponsors. We have been passing an envelope at meetings to purchase prizes. Proceeds go to Bronson Children's Hospital for Journey Beads. $80 per golfer. Sponsorships at $50, $100 and $250 levels

🪙Dime a day is still being accepted, contact Lyn

🐘Start looking for white elephant gifts for auction at July evening meeting

🏠Hospitality House - book self, we are taking book donations. New or gently used books for children. Pre-K to 2nd grade. Taking books through end of June

🏆last week's trivia event raised $2,620 for the Right Start Campaign Of the participants, 50 were none BOCK members (or as an optimist would say - future BOCK members). this year’s goal for the campaign is $6,000 so we are still trying to raise money.

--- 📢Past announcements - ongoing/future events---

🍻June 19 hang out at Steinspark Biergarten and Food Court on Milham - an evening of fellowship, 6 pm

📚 July 1 Beartown by Fredrik Backman, Aug 5 Pride & Prejudice by Jane Austen

🐘July 24 - OIF fundraiser (blind auction)

🧺Wednesday. Aug 6 4-6 Family & Children Services Picnic - looking for volunteers.

🧷Aug 19, 5:30-7:30 Care Collective - thank you to all of those that signed up to help. All slots are full.

🧺Sept 6, BOCK picnic at the Meyers house in South Haven, more details as we get closer

⛳️Sept 14 our golf outing will be at Eastern Hills, more details to follow

06/07/2025

BOCK ROCKS! You never know when we'll start dancing. I haven't seen this at a 7:30 am meeting yet, but with this group, anything could happen. Let us know if you have any interest in joining us for a meeting.

06/07/2025

What a great evening of Trivia! Glass Half Full made out with back-to-back wins. Will they make it a three-peat this fall? Stay tuned.

Many thanks to Millennium Resturant for donating the winning team prizes. Also thanks to the Trivia Committee, dessert makers, Flyer maker, centerpiece maker, those that helped with set up and clean up, and those that pulled double duty with various volunteer roles during the event. And of course, thank you to all the teams! BOCK ROCKS!

06/05/2025

Today's speaker - Andrea Tramel, Development Director, Ministry with Community
Some takeaways:
*47 years, daytime shelter & resource center. *Serve breakfast and lunch.
*4100 served in 2024, anticipating 5,000 this year
*99% of funding is private $2.7 million a year.
*Laundry services and showers are available
*Social services available 7 days a week
*Vital records- birth certificates
*Boxer briefs for men, socks are a major need

Next week Fun with Flags Fellowship

---🚨 New/updated announcements—
⛳️Looking for volunteers for golf outing. See Val

🪙Dime a day is still being accepted, contact Lyn

🐘Start looking for white elephant gifts for auction in Juy

🏠Hospitality House - book shelf, we are taking book donations. New or gently used books for children. Pre-K to 2nd grade level

👏Julie earned an OI Benefactor pin

--- 📢Past announcements - ongoing/future events---

🍻June 19 hang out at Steinspark Biergarten and Food Court on Milham - an evening of fellowship, 6 pm

📚 July 1 Beartown by Fredrik Backman, Aug 5 Pride & Prejudice by Jane Austen

🙈July 24 - OIF fundraiser (blind auction)

🧺Wednesday. Aug 6 4-6 Family & Children Services Picnic - looking for volunteers.

🧷Aug 19, 5:30-7:30 Care Collective - thank you to all of those that signed up to help. All slots are full.

🧺Sept 6, BOCK picnic at the Meyer’s house in South Haven, more details as we get closer

⛳️Sept 14 our golf outing will be at Eastern Hills, more details to followed

06/04/2025

Self proclaimed “Best Book Club Ever” discussing the latest read. Please consider joining us.

05/29/2025

Today's speaker was Threasa Hawkins, Executive Director, Helping Hands Wellness Center.

A few takeaways from Threasa:
●They are grant funded by Stryker for 6 years, they are in their 3rd year of that grant
●They are open Monday,Wednesday, and Friday, 10 hours each day
●They have doubled their number of patients. In April 2025 they served over 500 patients
●They are also in the Comstock & Kalamazoo schools and will start in Vicksburg this summer.
●26% of Kalamazoo County is without insurance.
●They take appointment and walk ins
●June 7, Helping Hands Wellness Center Second Annual Summer Kick Off to Wellness, check their page for details.

---🚨 New/updated announcements—
👏Cathy Balik - honored benefactor for OI

😊Update on JOI club, Dan & Theresa will continue to be advisors. Cheryl, a PCHS teacher, will be the JOI faculty member.

🏆We have extended the deadline for the June 6th trivia to Monday, June 2. We still have a couple team spots open, contact Katie

--- 📢Past announcements - ongoing/future events---

📚 June 3 - Hang the Moon by Jeannette Walls. July 1 Beartown by Fredrik Backman

🏆June 6 at 7 pm, Trivia Night for Back to School shopping. $150 per team of up to 6 people. We’ll be looking for people to make desserts again. One payment per team please.

🍻June 19 hang out at Steinspark Biergarten and Food Court on Milham - an evening of fellowship, 6 pm

🙈🎁July 24 - OIF fundraiser

🧺Wednesday. Aug 6 4-6 Family & Children Services Picnic - looking for volunteers.

🧷Aug 19, 5:30-7:30 Care Collective - thank you to all of those that signed up to help. All slots are full.

🧺Sept 6, BOCK picnic at the Meyers house in South Haven, more details as we get closer

⛳️Sept 14 our golf outing will be at Eastern Hills, more details to follow

05/28/2025

The Portage Central Rise and Shine Optimist Club chalked the walk this morning sharing uplifting messages and beautiful art.

05/24/2025

05/23/2025

This weekend as you gather with friends and family, why not see if they would like to form a trivia team?

This is the major fundraiser for our back to school shopping program for under-resourced children in our local community. A good first day of school has been shown to help ensure success! Let's work together and fill the room.

05/23/2025

Tonight's speaker, Sarah Joshi, Deputy Director of Services and Planning at Kalamazoo Metro Transit
Topic: Kalamazoo Metro Transit Services, More Than You Think

Please see photos for Power Point presentation and photos of brochures.

---🚨 New/updated announcements—

🔨July 24 evening meeting - our annual auction

🎡Wednesday, Aug 6 4-6 Family & Children Services Picnic - looking for volunteers

--- 📢Past announcements - ongoing/future events---

📚 June 3 - Hang the Moon by Jeannette Walls. July 1 - Beartown by Fredrik Backman

🏆June 6 at 7 pm, Trivia Night for Back to School shopping. $150 per team of up to 6 people. We are looking for people to make desserts again. One payment per team please.

🍻June 19 hang out at Steinspark Biergarten and Food Court on Milham - an evening of fellowship, 6 pm

🧷Aug 19, 5:30-7:30 Care Collective - thank you to all of those that signed up to help. All slots are full.

🧺Sept 6, BOCK picnic at the Meyers house in South Haven, more details as we get closer

⛳️Sept 14 our golf outing will be at Eastern Hills, more details to follow

05/18/2025

Some of our members cheered on the participants of Girls on the Run this morning. They were joined by a momma killdeer cheering along while protecting her nest. No word yet if she'll fill out a membership application.