The 7804 Optimist: Celebrating milestones and achievements...

Past president Latoya (l) holds
court with Desrene Green (c)
and new member Optimist Doreen

On Tuesday evening, March 25 a small band of Optimists gathered in Kingston, Jamaica to celebrate a milestone at an after-work Lyme hosted by club president Optimist Tetrice Prendergast and event co-coordinator, director Optimist Marc-Maurice Frankson. Fifteen years ago on March 25, 1999, the Sunset Optimist Club of Liguanea was chartered with Charles Reid as president. Charter member Optimist Glaister Green expresses pride in the milestone achievement. "I came over to Optimism as a way of continuing voluntary work which actually brings a lot of satisfaction, and the fact that we have been able to work with children in such concentrated manner over the years is quite fulfilling", reflected past president Green.

Immediate past president Lavern (l)
and Optimist Joan

Optimist International is a voluntary service organisation dedicated to "bringing out the best in kids". With 2,600 Optimist clubs and 75,000 members spread across the USA, Canada and the Caribbean, some six million young people benefit from approximately 65,000 service projects conducted each year by Optimists.
Past club president and fellowship chair, Optimist Heather Chin-Walker, the first of five club members to serve as zone 4 lieutenant governor, opened the celebratory Lyme with prayers as is the custom of Optimist gatherings. President Tetrice in welcoming club members noted that the club has done a lot over the years and expressed appreciation to the membership for their continued support which has been the lifeblood of the club.

Director Horace always having fun

Two audio visual presentations were thrown into the mix of light background entertainment. One paid tribute to the presidents over the years and the other acknowledged the tremendous project activities executed by the club. The Sunset Liguanea family of Optimists has brought the spirit of volunteerism and positive outlook to inner city community basic schools doing infrastructure upgrading (including play, dining and reading areas), breakfast programmes, and community health fairs. Several projects such as book drives, library upgrading, greening of school yards, mentoring, and field trips have been done with primary and high schools across Kingston, St. Andrew and St Catherine.

Past president Marc-Maurice (l)
chats with Optimists Dahlia and Larry

The club has also sponsored many young people in such Optimist International standard programmes as the essay and oratorical competitions, communication contest for the deaf and hard-of-hearing and tri-star sports clinics. Hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash and equipment have also gone to the Bustamante Hospital for Children and University Hospital of the West Indies Children's ward in St Andrew, the Annotto Bay Hospital in St Mary, as well as children hospices Mathew 25:40 and Dare to Care.

Meanwhile, president Tetrice says it's easy to see why the club is still standing strong after 15 years. "We are blessed with dedicated members who believe in service and legacy. Old and new members always feel like they have joined a family and, because of that, we will continue to grow". According to the incumbent, "Our members will always pass along the positive attitudes and outlook to fellow Optimists and friends of Optimists; and I'm certain that with this approach our club will still be strong and growing in another 15 years".

The Sunset Optimist Club of Liguanea meets on 2nd Thursdays at 6:30 pm for business and fellowship at the Mayfair Hotel in Kingston, Jamaica and provides a perfect platform from which to engender hope in the future through voluntary service with and for children.