Program for:

  Program for:   November 20 - Youth Appreciation Recognition                            December 11 - Grant Presentation from our Foundation                                   

Banner in front of the new cabin, Aztec, we purchased for Camp Carson

Members tour the new cabin our club purchased and ate lunch with the kids.   From left - Jeff Olson, Ken Dennis, Dan Phillips, Ron Eberhart, Dr. John Bender, and Mark Scoular,

             Food, Fun, Fellowship. Come Join Our Club and Help Kids! To read our latest newsletter about our last meeting, click this link Evansville Downtown Club History:  Born:  May 13, 1921 Dr. Charles Hartloff, the first president of our club, was born on Friday the 13 th , and he felt that the 13th was the most wonderful day in the monthly calendar, and when it falls on a Friday, it only adds to the real value of the day. Bish Thompson, a former member of our club, was an International Vice President. He was a longtime member of the club and a writer for the Evansville Press." He wrote a daily article for the paper and hosted a five-minute radio show. Bish wrote a book, "Of Dreams and Deeds",which is required reading for Optimist member participating in the "Personal Growth and Involvement"(PGI) program.  Each year, our club presents the with financial support. When Camp Carson was built in Princeton, Indiana, the Downtown Optimist Club supported them with money to help with building one cabin.  We again donated money to build a new cabin, Aztec.  The construction was completed in 2015 . Over the years, we have supported the Camp with gifts of furniture, boats, and money. Each year, we have a meeting at the Camp to be with the kids who we help sponsor and are unable to pay the Camps tuition. We celebrated our 100th Birthday on October 2, 2021 at Bali Hotel (Tropicanna), Downtown Evansville. Our 100th Anniversary Celebration Was A Huge Success. We are 100 years old and still going and growing strong.  We celebrated our anniversary on Saturday October 2nd at the Tropicana Hotel.  We have sponsored several clubs throughout our 96 year history including the Evansville Westside and Eastside Clubs and a club in Santa Claus, Indiana and most recently, the University of Southern Indiana college club comprised of students.   Our club was Chartered on Friday, May 13,1921 and was the second club chartered in Indiana and the 15th in the world. There were eighty-six charter members. Our club is a member of Optimist International, a worldwide organization, whose purpose is to serve the youth in our communitys.  Currently, we have approximately 50 members. We are members of the Indiana South District which is associated with Optimist International.  What differentiates Optimist Clubs from any other volunteer opportunity is simple -- OPTIMISM.  Optimists take their upbeat approach and work every day to make a difference for themselves. and for the people around them. Optimists are people who believe that live action in their communities they can create a better tomorrow.                                                 Our 100th Anniversary Pictures        

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