Did you know that the original Optimist Club was chartered in Buffalo New York on April 11, 1911? Charter members agreed that the primary purpose of the club was “to promote a system in which the members refer business to one another.” The club bylaws stated that there could be no more than 2 of the same profession in the club. By 1917 the Optimist Club of Buffalo adopted “Make Children Happy“ as the club’s slogan.
Built by the Buffalo Club and chartered in 1914, the Optimist Club of Syracuse was the first club to act as “Big Brothers” to juvenile defenders and took “Friend of the Delinquent Boy” as their slogan. This would be adopted by Optimist International as the organization’s first official slogan in 1923.
At the convention in 1924 a resolution was proposed to drop the word “delinquent” from the official motto in order to reflect the organization’s commitment to helping all boys become good citizens. The delegates agreed and “Friend of the Boy” was adopted as the official slogan of Optimist International.
The revised slogan would continue to be the official slogan for the next 48 years. It was changed in 1972 to reflect the fact that Optimist clubs worked with both boys and girls and that they were, in fact, the “Friend of Youth”. Another 48 years has passed. Time for a new slogan?
Hey Optimists, remember Jim Czupor, ace PR guru for the auto industry here in Denver? He's the guy that gives the club tickets to the Auto Show? Sure you do. Well among his talents, he has written a book that Amazon rates as the #1 new release in contemporary poetry. It is entitled "The Big Weird: Haikus in Times of Pandemic and Chaos".
"The Big Weird: Haikus in Times of Pandemic and Chaos" is a new collection of haiku poetry by Z.J. Czupor. Inspired by the stress and fear of the COVID-19 pandemic, Czupor's wry observations and short, hot poetry captures how our world quickly went from what we thought was usual to the weird.(It sells for $4.99 on Amazon)
Anyone who has lived through this time, estranged, lost a loved one, lost their job, forced to find a new way to work and get through the day, and watched as our world erupted in peaceful and violent protests, will appreciate how this weird year has forever changed our lives.
Czupor's poetry is calming, funny, sublime, serious, and will cause you to think deeply about what's important. Reading while drinking your favorite libation is highly recommended. Here is an example:
Imagine that you had won the following *PRIZE* in a contest: Each morning your bank would deposit $86,400 in your private account for your use. However, this prize has rules:
The set of rules:
1. Everything that you didn't spend during each day would be taken away from you.
2. You may not simply transfer money into some other account.
3. You may only spend it.
4. Each morning upon awakening, the bank opens your account with another $86,400 for that day.
5. The bank can end the game without warning; at any time it can say, Game Over!" It can close the account and you will not receive a new one.
What would you personally do?
You would buy anything and everything you wanted right? Not only for yourself, but for all the people you love and care for. Even for people you don't know, because you couldn't possibly spend it all on yourself, right?
You would try to spend every penny, and use it all, because you knew it would be replenished in the morning, right?
ACTUALLY, This GAME is REAL ...
Shocked ??? OF COURSE YOU ARE!
Each of us is already a winner of this *PRIZE*. We just can't seem to see it.
The PRIZE is*TIME*
1. Each morning we awaken to receive 86,400 seconds as a gift of life.
2. And when we go to sleep at night, any remaining time is Not credited to us.
3. What we haven't used up that day is forever lost.
4. Yesterday is forever gone.
5. Each morning the account is refilled, but the bank can dissolve your account at any time WITHOUT WARNING...
SO, what will YOU do with your 86,400 seconds?
Those seconds are worth so much more than the same amount in dollars. Think about it and remember to enjoy every second of your life, because time races by so much quicker than you think.
So take care of yourself, be happy, love deeply and enjoy life!
Here's wishing you a wonderful and beautiful day. Start spending...
"DON'T COMPLAIN ABOUT GROWING OLD...SOME PEOPLE DON'T GET THE PRIVILEGE!
Paul Stratton 303-366-6375 Pat Bush 720-254-3741 Craig Eley 303-758-9499 Greg Young 303-759-3921
T H E O P T I M I S T C R E E D — Promise 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.
Due to Covid-19 protocol Friday meetings will be held on Zoom only until further notice.
