Optimist Club of Bellaire, Texas

Founded 1954

Meetings

Time: Every Monday Night at 7:00

Place: Little Woodrows 4235 Bellaire Blvd., Houston Texas

Officers

President: Tara Morgan

Treasurer: Jean Olson

Secretary: Dean Smith, Jr.

Club Activities

Fund Raising Activities

Softball (year round) Club runs an adult co-ed and men softball leagues 4 nights a week at a city field. The club maintains the field for the softball leagues and the City soccer leagues.

Holiday in the Park (December): City of Bellaire’s annual event. The club serves brisket sandwiches, hotdogs, nachos, Frito pies, and hot chocolate

Lights in the Heights (December) we sell brisket sandwiches, turkey legs, and sausage on the stick at a community gathering in the Heights (Houston)

Super Bowl Bar B Q (February) this is an exceptional fundraising event for us although it does require a lot of manpower and time. Members call past clients for orders and we also check our hotline for orders. Supplies and necessities are purchased and the festivities begin usually first week in February. Last February, we cooked over 4,600 pounds of meat Super bowl weekend. Briskets were donated to our local police department, parks department, for their help with the cook, and briskets are donated to the nature center as an auction items. Members organize a men’s softball tournament which is played during this time as well. .

Little League Opening Day (Late February or March) we cook food for Bellaire Little League each year for their opening day ceremonies. We serve brisket sandwiches and hotdogs while our local “boys of summer” usher in a new year of baseball.

Canada Day (July 1): We sell brisket and other food items for a local Canadian Pub in Houston.

Groups supported with contributions from fund raising activities

Girls Scouts (January): the club makes our annual donation to the Girl Scouts of San Jacinto Council (GSSJC). We donate to the Emerald Circle Scholarship, the Winter Gold Award, and Campership fund. Members of our club attended the Winter Gold Award ceremony where we are presented with a very nice plaque from GSSJC in appreciation of our continued support. It is always a very proud moment for us and we are honored to be recognized by the Girl Scouts.

Special Olympics: Last January a coach from an area Special Olympics team made a heartwarming and uplifting presentation to the club. As many know this is a very deserving organization and some of the financial burden falls on participants, many of whom are unable to afford additional expenses. The club was more than pleased to make a donation to this group and it is our intent to make this an ongoing contribution and continue this type of support.

Bellaire Little League (March): club purchases a sign at the league’s main field.

Bellaire Girls Softball (March): club sponsors team or makes a contribution to their general fund

College Scholarships (August): usually we give 14 to16 scholarships to area students

Queens Middle School (September): Queens is a Title One school in Pasadena, Texas where one of our members is a teacher and coach. Money is used for additional equipment for their sports programs.

Chicken Club at Condit Elementary (September): Optimist Chicken Clubs are a say no to drug program. We have been supporting this program with club T-Shirts for over 15 years.

Other Club activities

Annual Christmas party for members: A white elephant gift exchange and pot luck supper is enjoyed by all members.

Trolley Run (May): help the Bellaire Parks and Recreation Department with traffic control in their annual fun run.

4^th of July parade- this is an annual parade in Bellaire that was originally started as a youth bike parade by the club over 20 years ago. Many years ago the City increased the size of the parade to include cars, vans, floats, fire trucks and more. We still do crowd control and organize the youth parade.

Tents in Town (August): urban camping in Bellaire where we will once again cook for residents